The Publishing Performance Show Gillian Harvey - The 11,000-Review Author: How French Living Created Bestselling Women's Fiction
Sep 23, 2025
35:54
Gillian Harvey is a successful author of women's fiction with nine published books, including the bestselling "The Year in the French Farmhouse" and "The Bordeaux Book Club." Living in France for many years before recently returning to the UK, she brings authentic French culture and experiences to her novels. Her latest book "The Little Provence Bookshop" combines elements of mystery, humor, and magical realism in a French setting.
In this episode:
- Journey from teaching to full-time writing
- Experience of moving to and living in France
- Writing process and plotting techniques using 40-point story outlines
- Naturally incorporating humor into storytelling
- Building successful author-reader relationships through reviews
- Transitioning between publishers and working with Boldwood Books
- Balancing social media presence across platforms
- Importance of in-person author communities and events
Resources mentioned:
- Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody: https://www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Writes-Novel-Writing/dp/0399579745
- Emily Dickinson poetry: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emily-dickinson
- Chocolat by Joanne Harris: https://www.amazon.com/Chocolat-Novel-Vianne-Rocher/dp/0140282033
- Norfolk and Suffolk author communities
Book recommendations:
- Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
- Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel: https://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Hall-Hilary-Mantel/dp/0312429983
- The Year in the French Farmhouse: https://www.amazon.com/Year-French-Farmhouse-uplifting-feel-good-ebook/dp/B0B5CY4RNG
- The Little Provence Bookshop: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Provence-Book-Shop/dp/1805499688
Connect with Gillian Harvey:
- Website: https://www.gillianharvey.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillplusfive/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gharveyauthor/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GillPlusFive
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