Beth Haslam

I love and support Indie AuthorsThrough my writing journey, I have met a lot of Indie Authors with amazing colorful lives from my favorite FB network group, WLM (We Love memoirs), one of them is Beth Haslam, a best selling author.

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Beth was brought up in Wales and her childhood was spent on a horseback, of helping the gamekeepers raise Pheasants or out sailing.

A serious car accident made her give up her full time career and transition into a Human Resource consultancy business. Semi retirement mode beckoned and she and her husband, Jack decided to buy a second home in rural France.

Computers and mobile phones were swapped for understanding French customs and wresting with French vocabulary. Definitely a life changing event. Her experiences are encapsulated in 5 part series of ‘Fat Dogs and French Estates’
”Buying a country estate in France? It’s that simple, right?” Ask Beth.
1. Tell me about yourself.
First, a big thank you, Mitos. It’s very kind of you to invite me on your blog.

I grew up on a farm estate in North Wales. It was a sleepy, countrified place in tune with the changing seasons and the livestock it nurtured. Surrounded by baaing sheep, lowing cattle and playing around knee-deep in cornfields, life for me was bliss. Our family had lots of animals, and I spent most of my time on horseback or messing around with dogs, cats, waifs and strays. The sea featured strongly in my upbringing too. My father’s side of the family were a watery lot, so we regularly fished and sailed in the Menai Strait, a stretch of water between Anglesey and the mainland. I finally left Wales after graduating from university. My career was spent in the Midlands and London, where I met my husband, Jack. Work was fun, exciting though demanding. As early retirement beckoned, we decided to buy a second home in France. At that time, we naively thought it was a simple idea. The escapades that followed became the subject of my memoir series. I am now occupied as never before – raising and saving animals, writing, and embracing everything that rural France has to offer. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

2. Synopsis of your book/series in one sentence.
The crazy but true adventures of a British couple and their two fat dogs as they search for a country estate in France.

3. I love the title of your series. How did you come up with the title?
That’s kind, Mitos, thank you very much. It resulted from finding a simple, catchy way to convey the light-hearted writing style and central themes that run through my books.

4. Why did you write these books?
When we set out, I had no intention of writing about our trip. The things we saw, the situations we found ourselves in, and the constant doggy dramas changed all that. Jack, musing over a gin and tonic one evening, made a telling remark. “Our experiences are so far-fetched you should write a book about them.” So I did.

5. What sort of animals do you have on your estate?
We share our forest with wild boar, roe deer, foxes, hare and a whole host of smaller mammals. Our feathered animals have included partridges, quail, pheasants, geese and hens. But, strangely, no ducks. I’m sure we’ll find ourselves looking after one or two sooner or later!As well as our furry family members, we regularly provide a temporary home to abandoned waifs and strays. Mainly dogs and cats, although we have rescued two Vietnamese Pot-bellied pigs, one of whom is now part of the family. And I’m sure there will be more.

6. What message or lessons did you want your readers to take from your books?
H’m, that’s a good question. I am a storyteller, and my books are intentionally light-hearted, so readers should not go looking for profound messages. What they do contain are several lessons we learned along the way that might be handy for anyone considering a move abroad.As a couple of business people, we thought we had everything nicely organized. We had no idea how different things would turn out to be. Nevertheless, we hung onto our aspirations. Being flexible and expecting the unexpected stood us in good stead.Trying hard to learn the adopted country’s language is also very important. We did this whilst immersing ourselves in French culture. We surrounded ourselves with local folks and celebrated their customs. Before long, they became ours too. Our lives have become enriched, and we have made lifelong friends with genuinely delightful people. Endeavours like these have increased our love affair with France.

7. Which part of France are you in?
We live in rural southwest France, about an hour’s drive from Toulouse.

8. What is your favorite place in France and why?
Gosh, lame though it sounds; I honestly couldn’t name just one. A favourite town is called Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val. It’s an ancient settlement situated in the spectacular gorges of the Aveyron river. I love the cobbled streets, medieval houses, and Roman remains. Mooching around there is endlessly absorbing. And, of course, there is the fortress of Carcassonne. I would visit that extraordinary city every month if I could!But however remarkable the French villages and towns are, every dog walk we take features breathtakingly stunning sights. Exploring the countryside is a perfect way to discover the natural beauty of France.

9. Given what you know now, would you do it all over again?
Surprisingly, given that we had so many disasters, yes. Without a doubt! We had a grand adventure, and it isn’t over yet.

10. Are you writing at the moment?
Yes. I am currently working on a prequel in which I’ll share stories about my upbringing in Wales. Myths, castles, druids and dragons, it’s all in there, though I may be a little heavy on the myths at the moment! All being well, it will be published in 2022.

11. If you are not writing, what are you doing?
I am a passionate animal lover and gardener. When I’m not pottering around with a wheelbarrow, I’ll be on a daily ramble with our dogs, discovering more about our natural environment. I love exploring too. Our area is peppered with gorgeous ancient villages and towns, many of which have traditional fêtes and expositions. Visiting a new one now and again is a great treat.

12. What advice can you give to emerging Indie authors?
Gosh, that’s a tricky question. I don’t feel qualified to give expert advice. However, here’s what I can offer.Be brave, follow your heart and persevere. Don’t get hung up on detail such as grammar. That can be fixed. Focus on producing the story in your words. Develop broad shoulders but never lose your grounding. Listen to, and learn from constructive comments, and never give up hope. After all, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscript was rejected twelve times.

13. What are you reading right now?
A birthday present from my sister! It is Richard Osman’s hugely successful mystery, The Thursday Murder Club, and it’s terrific.

14. If you were a fruit or a vegetable, what would you want to be and why?
Ooh, that’s tricky. Probably a spud (potato). A bit knobbly on the outside, with a reliable, versatile centre. 🙂

You may get the book here:
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Check out more of my author interviews here.

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