BooksChatter: ℚ♫ The French Impressionist

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Rebecca Bischoff to talk about The French Impressionist (6 December 2016, Amberjack Publishing, 250 pages), a Contemporary Young Adult novel.

"With enough mystery to keep adults entertained, readers will not be able to put this down... The well-crafted storyline was excellent... One of the best YA books of the year." ~ Entrada Book Review

"A deeply unsettling portrait of love, psychological abuse, and the hell of good intentions." ~ Kirkus Reviews

|| Synopsis || Trailer || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Rebecca Bischoff; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

Here at BooksChatter we love music; do you have a music playlist that you used in The French Impressionist, or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"Here are a few links to some things connected to my book (or the writing of the book). One is a song by Edith Piaf that I came across while writing the book. Rosemary hears one of her French host parents singing a snippet of the song.

There’s also a reference in the book to a popular Italian song from the 90’s, although I pretended that it was a French song Rosemary heard on the radio and slightly changed the lyrics.

Finally, there’s a link to the official book trailer for my book."

What was the inspiration for The French Impressionist?

"I came across an article online about an apartment in Paris that had been left locked up for over seventy years. When it was opened, it was discovered to be full of beautiful furniture and many works of art, including the portrait of a woman in a pink dress. That portrait was found to be the work of Giovanni Boldini, an Italian artist. The portrait later sold for quite a bit of money.

I couldn’t help wishing that I could be the first to make such a discovery. What would it be like to set foot inside a place like that? I think it would be like walking into a life-size time capsule, giving you a glimpse of a past life. The story really began to evolve from there and I ended up with my YA novel, “The French Impressionist.”"

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"I am a speech-language pathologist and that is definitely reflected in the story, since my main character has a communication disorder.

Over the past eighteen years I’ve been around many kids who struggled to make themselves understood and I saw their frustration. I’ve met many people who had to use alternate methods to communicate, including sign, pictures, or technology such as computers or tablets. This played a big role in my novel.

I’ve also known what it’s like to be incredibly shy, to the point where I was afraid to speak. Though I’m not exactly like my main character, I did feel that my own experiences helped me know a little about what she went through and what it’s like to feel so isolated from everyone else."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for The French Impressionist - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I did not choose the concept or the artist but love what Amberjack Publishing did for the cover! Rosemary, my main character, feels as if she has no voice, and the girl on the cover of the book has no mouth. The picture is captivating and slightly disturbing at the same time, and I think it portrays Rosemary’s battle very well."

Why should we read The French Impressionist and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Rosemary is a girl who is afraid to speak for fear she won’t be understood. Many individuals, especially those with communication disorders, tell of how often they try to avoid social situations or times when they’ll have to speak in front of others. I think there are many people out there who feel the same way."

Can you tell us something quirky about The French Impressionist, its story and characters?

"One of the things I loved about this book is that the mysterious apartment Rosemary enters is based on an actual apartment that was found in Paris not too many years ago, which I mentioned above. I was so fascinated by that story and wanted something like that to happen in my book.

And the cat in the book is based on a real cat, one I met in Paris. I’ve always thought of him as “Fat Cat.”"

Who would you recommend The French Impressionist to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Who recommend to??? There’s nothing I think readers need to be warned about. Rosemary’s angst might be a little painful for some. I’ve had a few people tell me that Rosemary is way too neurotic for them!"

If you could / wished to turn The French Impressionist into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"I can’t think of any actors or directors...the only thing I can say about this is that if a movie were ever to be made, it would absolutely have to be filmed in Nice, France, since that’s where the book takes place. It would be such a beautiful location!"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I love to write about whatever comes into my head. I love YA contemporary and historical fiction, as well as mysteries. Because of this, I’ve explored writing historical fiction.

I like to try writing other genres, as well. I’ve tried science fiction, and let’s just say that I figured out quickly it wasn’t my “thing.” :-)"

What is your writing process?

"When I have a quiet house, I write. When I’m not at work and the kids are at school is a good time for me. I tend to do better in the mornings so I write early in the day whenever I can.

An ideal writing day for me is when the house is quiet, I have at least 3 -4 hours to myself, and plenty of chocolate on hand."

What is in store next?

"My book isn’t part of a series, but I’ve been working on many other projects. I have been writing historical fiction, as I mentioned above, and am also working on a contemporary Middle Grade novel that has a lot of humor in it."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?