Toby's Tails tell of a dog's life in France

Toby and Susan take a break from walking and writing

FROM her home in the Sarthe département of north western France, Susan Keefe tells the tale of sheepdog Toby and his French adventures.

Susan wrote Toby's Tails for children to highlight the needs of animals and the importance of kindness to all living creatures.

Here Susan answers a few questions about her life in France, the inspiration behind the book and how her plans quickly changed resulting in her heading across the Channel.

Craig McGinty: How did you find yourself in France? What was the reason behind the move and were you writing in the UK as well?

Susan Keefe: I have always loved France since my first school trip to Paris. When my children had left school and I remarried one of our wedding presents was a flight to Tours, Michael, my husband fell in love with France too.

Not long after we bought a ruin in the middle of nowhere, our paradise, with a five year plan to stay in the UK and do it up, that lasted less than a year and we found ourselves finding any excuse to come back here as much as possible.

So in the end we sold up and moved over. Now, over six years later we still have a lot of ruin to do up but are sublimely happy. I didn’t write in the UK although I did discover lately a very old primary school report where my teacher said she enjoyed my stories and thought I had a flair for creative writing.

CM: Where did the idea for the book come from and what prompted you to start it?

SK: I have always loved the countryside and nature, my Suffolk dad and granddad used to take me for long walks and teach me about wildlife and the natural world.

I have always bonded strongly with my animals and after loosing one of my Golden Retrievers I by chance visited someone with a Border Collie litter, I fell in love with Toby and he became part of our family.

One day I just sat down and started writing, the book then just grew on the computer, his exploits, our wildlife discoveries, our observations of French life and local places as well as trips to the Loire Valley and further afield tumbled out, and Toby’s Tails was written.

CM: Do you have a typical writing day, any steps you take before starting, any tips to pass on to other writers?

SK: In the peacefulness here I find I can write at any time. I just sit down, Toby, my constant companion wraps himself around my feet, the chair, anywhere as long as he is as close as possible and I begin.

The only tip I would pass on, and I know it’s not original, is write about what you are passionate about and know, I have found that by loving my subject the words just flow.

CM: What inspiration do you draw from the French countryside, as well as the people, for your writing?

SK: Toby and I walk into the beautiful Forest de Berc, which is just behind our house, every day. He is well trained so I never have to call him; we walk in peace and silence.

As a consequence we see plenty of wildlife and meet other people such as our French neighbours working their land, and of course mushroom pickers in season. Everyone knows us and are greeted by Toby before I arrive!

I have found the French people living around us very friendly, we attend village events but otherwise keep ourselves to ourselves and they respect that.

CM: What are your future writing plans? Can readers expect more French adventures?

SK: I am writing Toby’s Tails two (not the real title) where Toby will have lots more adventures, make more discoveries and visit new places.

My husband and I launched on March 1, 2012 a new free online magazine in English about pets called Your Pets Magazine which aim is to teach children about responsible pet ownership.

Amazon.co.uk: Toby's Tails by Susan Keefe