I talk to Emmanuelle Payot Karpathakis about her Pixie books for expat children

I first met Emmanuelle Payot Karpathakis at the Families in Global Transition Conference in Washington DC last March. I knew she was writing books for 5-7 year old expat children about a little donkey called Pixie. What I did not realise was that she was publishing them in six languages. Emmanuelle is mother to four TCKs of her own and she has seen first hand how normal things like moving house and going ‘back home’ on holiday have affected them. This is why she invented Pixie.

JP: Tell us about your book. What is it about? Can you describe it in just a few sentences?EPK: Pixie’s Holidays is about old and new friendships. Pixie, who moved from her home (see the first book in the series: Pixie’s New Home), goes back to visit her old house for the first time. Unfortunately she does not recognize the place and her best friend does not know her anymore. Pixie has to find a way to adjust to this and enjoy her holiday.

JP: Why did you write it?
EPK: I noticed how difficult it was for my two eldest children to see how their best friends had changed and had new friends. It was a big challenge for them to understand and accept it.

JP: Why do you think your book needed to be written?
EPK: There is little literature to help expatriate children during a transition and this problem of old versus new friendships is rarely mentioned.

JP: Who do you think will read your book? Or who would you like to read your book?
EPK: I would like expatriate families to read it, as well as teachers in internationals schools and coaches for expatriates.

JP: How did you choose your publisher and publishing method? Why did you decide to go down this route?
EPK: Anne Claude Lambelet introduced me to Jo Parfitt of Summertime Publishing. I decided to do this because I don’t know anything about press releases, publicity and distribution. She does everything I cannot do!

JP: Now you have written this book, what has writing it done for you, your family, your self-esteem or your business?
EPK: My self-esteem is soaring! For my family seems to understand that Mommy is more busy but happier, so they are happier too. My children are proud; it is very cute. They all want to participate and the eldest two give me ideas and even advice sometimes.

JP: If you were to give advice to someone else who is thinking about writing a memoir, what would be your number one tip?
EPK: Take time to dream, think about it, then write slowly because there are new ideas which come slowly. Take time to correct it and reread it. Share it with close friends and listen to some of their advice. Patience is my word.