Jean Cerfontaine Interview

Happy Sunday! I’m glad to be here with you, again, sharing a new interview with another very talented individual! Jean Cerfontaine is an author from South Africa, and he spends his time marketing, writing, and pitching his book to an agent to become a TV show! If you want to read his book, learn more about him or his books; then follow him on his Author Website!

Are you an indie author or a traditionally published author?

I am an Indie Author

Tell me a little about your writing journey, thus far. 

My serious writing started in academics, with two Masters’ Degree dissertations and a Ph.D. thesis. Then it shifted to opinion pieces on healthcare policy, which was picked up by the local press in South Africa. “Where do you go to” is my first fiction work, but will not be the last.

Do you write under a pseudonym? If so explain why.

Yes, I do. The reason is two-fold.  My real name does not sound particularly European, and with a book set squarely in Europe and Paris, and with publication in Europe as the aim, I figured a more appropriate nom de plume was required. There is also the aspect of anonymity, which is much less of a problem if you don’t sell millions of books

What genre do you write and why?

I write Historical Fiction. My first book was based on the Peter Sarstedt song, “Where do you go to (My lovely?)”. The song was set in the 60s and one, therefore, had to set the book in the same time-period.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on a follow-up novel, which explores a different side of my main character. This was the plan from the start, so I have already sown all the necessary Easter eggs into my first novel.

What inspired you to write your books?

I have always enjoyed writing, and for this specific book, I was listening to the song by Peter Sarstedt while on a road trip and thought “I want to write the story behind this, it is such an epic, inspiring tale and I want to know the detail, even if only for myself.” 

What are your top 5 favorite books?

Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Dark Place by Dean Koontz
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

What does literary success look like to you?

I am a South African. In my country, the top-selling local fiction book sells about 2000 copies. If I can get anywhere close to that, I will be quite happy with it. From a broader point of view, I think that my work has potential as a TV Series and I am working on getting an agent to do that pitch. 

How many hours a day do you write? What is your writing routine?

I write about 2-3 hours a day, usually in the evenings late, in bed. Friday’s I take off, and I might do a bit more during the weekend on Sunday morning. Currently, I am focusing a bit on marketing my first novel, so the writing is going a bit slower.

If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it be and why?

I would have loved to write “A Year in Provence,” by Peter Mayle. The book was based on his own experience in France, and I would love to be able to settle in France. Living in Paris and writing a book about would be a wonderful experience.

What advice would you like to give to aspiring authors?

One has to persevere. If your aim is to get published, keep working on it. Writing the book is only half of the effort. It often takes a lot of agent pitches to eventually get representation. If a traditional publication does not happen, publish independently on Amazon. The Kindle Direct Publishing route is not as complex as one thinks and can still guarantee that your book gets out there. Self-Marketing is a challenge of its own, though. Don’t pitch to agents before your work is ready. You probably only get one shot with an agent, so use it wisely.