Bonjour. I mean, hello. Let’s talk about bringing your story to French readers.

So, you’ve written a book. Or you’re writing one. Or you’ve been staring at chapter one for six months, wondering if the French market is even worth it.

(Spoiler: it is. French readers are wonderful. And slightly obsessed with American romance novels. Just saying.)

Welcome to this little corner of Quill & Curiosities — the only section of this blog written entirely in English, for English-speaking authors who are curious about the francophone market, literary translation, or simply want to know what happens to their book once it lands in a French translator’s hands.

My name is Amélie. I’m a French translator specializing in English-to-French literary translation — romance, young adult, thrillers, children’s books. I’m also a passionate reader of English-language fiction, which means I’m not just translating your words. I’m reading your story as a reader first, and a translator second.

I hold a Law degree and a Master’s in Human Resources — which sounds wildly unrelated to literary translation, until you realize that precision, nuance and the exact right word matter just as much in a courtroom as they do in a romance novel. Possibly more in the novel, honestly.

In this section, you’ll find :

• Practical advice on preparing your manuscript for translation
• Insights into the French publishing market and francophone readers
• Behind-the-scenes looks at the literary translation process
• Tips on working with a French translator
• And honest, occasionally humorous reflections on what it means to carry a story from one language to another

Pull up a chair. Let’s talk about your book.