The Liberty Interview: Vicki Archer

It is with such great pleasure that Liberty Post begins it's new feature, The Liberty Interview, with the intriguing and interesting woman, Vicki Archer. The interview came about because one day I saw a comment on this blog from Vicki. I gasped! Could it be? The real Vicki Archer? The famous author! Could she be reading Liberty Post? And to my bliss, the answer was yes! A few emails later and voila!....The Liberty Interview was born. (Thank You Vicki)

Vicki Archer was raised in Sydney, Australia. She took her first overseas trip at the age of ten that sparked a passion for travel and adventure that has never ceased. In the last twenty years she has travelled extensively throughout France and become enamoured with the French way of life. Since 2000 Vicki has lived between London and Provence with her husband and three children.

In 1999 Vicki Archer made a lifelong dream a reality when she moved into a seventeenth-century property in Saint-Remy-de-Provence with her husband and three children. She spent three years lovingly restoring the farmhouse, bringing back to life the abandoned apple and pear orchards and planting an olive grove of more than two thousand trees. In her book, ‘My French Life’ Vicky shares an insider’s view of France, telling her personal tale of taking risks, facing challenges and falling in love with all things French. Intertwined with Vicki’s words are lavish photographs by Carla Coulson, which reveal the essence of instinctive French style.

If you do not own the sumptuous book, My French Life, you may want to add it to your very special 'Holiday 2008 Wish List' and you will want to add Vicki's glorious blog, French Essence, to your blogroll (and share, bookmark and delight in it daily). Vicki's book, blog and life are sheer escapism for all! With no further ado, Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Vicki Archer.

"If you don't have the time or money to go to Paris, this is the next best thing. The photos are dreamy and really wonderful. Put on French music, poor a glass of wine and your there!!!" - A reader of My French Life

1. What project are you working on now?
I am working on a new book for Penguin that will be published in November 2009. Carla Coulson, the photographer I worked with on My French Life, is taking the photographs and this book is very much about living life with ambiance - something I think the French understand completely.

2. How do you celebrate the holiday season?
I spend Christmas with my husband, children and friends at our farm in St Remy de Provence. This year we will spend Christmas Eve at our friend's home and then on Christmas Day they will come to us with some other friends, I think in all we will be twenty and a great mix of ages. I adore Christmas it is my absolute favourite time of the year - the decorating, the festive atmosphere, the food (especially in France) and the best part, having my children home for the holidays.

3. Do you have any specific goals for 2009?
Yes - finish my new book and then take some time off with my husband and maybe travel a little around Europe, especially to Eastern Europe, Scotland and Ireland. I have been living in Europe for nine years and there are so many places I haven't visited - I am hoping 2009 is the year to change that.

4. What advice do you have for new writers?
Write - every day and anything. It doesn't matter how long or how good but keep the imagination alive and moving.

Don't be afraid if one day you cannot think of anything to say - this happens and as quickly as your words dry up they can return. A great way to unblock is to imagine writing a letter to a best friend or family member; it is amazing the freedom that comes when the pressure of writing for a living is exchanged with writing for fun.

Observe - to be a writer one must be an observer. Spend time soaking up your environment, wherever it may be, because it is the little details and the telling of those that make for a great tale.


5. What are your thoughts on blogging?
I love, love, love it...
I am a new blogger and have only been up and running with French Essence since late August. The great thing is that the blog is like a diary - short and concise entries about all that appeals and all that you want to share. I like the relaxed and instantaneous nature of blogging - you write it and you post it. It is a wonderful way to meet like-minded people and I am constantly amazed at how much I am learning. I find blogging a visual feast - with the click of a button I can see so many beautiful images and each morning I love waking up to find out what my favourites have to show and tell...

Thank You Vicki! I know my readers will be so happy to hear you speak on this blog in your own words. Thank you again for sharing with all of us! Happy Holidays to you and your family from all of us here!