Chris Pavone, author of 'The Expats'
Chris Pavone lived for two years in Luxembourg, Europe and used his time to write a novel. ‘The Expats’ is a story about an american couple that emigrates to Luxembourg – just like the author and his spouse did. It’s a book full of thrills and on it’s way to become an international bestseller. Collect-Online.Com’s François Besch had the opportunity to talk to Chris Pavone about his time in Luxembourg and his book.
Q: ‘The Expats’ is your first novel. You already wrote a little book about wines and edited several about cooking. What took you to write a detective story?
A: I worked in the book publishing business for nearly two decades, mostly as a nonfiction editor, including a good number of cookbooks. I had always wanted to write a novel, but never found the time until I was an expat in Luxembourg. And it wasn’t a detective story I started out to write, but rather a more true-to-life book about being an expat. But that manuscript bored me a bit, so I turned into an espionage thriller.
Q: What did you know about Luxembourg before you came here with your spouse?
A: Nothing. We visited on a preview trip in June, when the days were long and the weather was wonderful. Then we moved in August, still knowing almost nothing. But at least we had already found a place to live, on rue de l’Eau.
Q: There are – I suppose – many autobiographical aspects in you Novel. Not concerning the story. But concerning your stay in the Grand-Duchy. i.e.: Have you bought a car at Losch’s in Esch-sur-Alzette during your stay in Luxembourg?
A: Yes! We did buy our second-hand Audi at Losch’s. And I did many of the things that my protagonist in the book does—I went on the same trips, I did the same chores, I passed my time in mostly the same way. All the real-life atmosphere of the book—what expats do, and where, and why—is true to my experience. Just not the major plot points.
Q: What are your souvenirs of our country. What did you like most, what didn’t you (the roundabouts)?
A: I loved the expat community, and our friends. I hated the weather. And, yes, I also disliked the roundabouts (which I reference in the book); I much prefer the clarity of traffic lights.
Q: Do you plan a continuation of the story? (I would be happy to read more and to know if Julia really abstains from her part of the money, and what Dexter’s, Kate’s, Bill’s – and Hayden’s future brings)
A: I definitely plan to continue the story! But that probably will not be in the next book I write.
Q: Will you write another Novel on the topic of banking and cyber criminality? Are you writing another book this moment?
I am indeed writing another, and it too is a novel of suspense, but it’s not about the main characters in The Expats, nor is it about banking or cyber criminality. Something different!
Q: Could you tell me in which languages the novel will be translated, with the approximate dates of release?
The book is already in bookstores in Spanish. There have also been translation deals with publishers in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, the Czech Republic, Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, Brazil, and Japan. But I don’t know when any of these editions will hit bookstores. I think beginning this summer.
Q: You novel has been critically acclaimed. Did you expect such a euphoric reaction?
A: No, the book’s reception has been a tremendously pleasant surprise at every turn, beginning with the book deal—we accepted an offer two days after submitting the manuscript to publishers—and then the early endorsements from people like John Grisham and Patricia Cornwell, and then the positive reviews from the New York Times and others, and now the book is on various American bestseller lists! It’s an embarrassment of riches.
Q: Has nobody yet issued the wish to make a film adaption of ‘The Expats’? (The film-industry in Luxembourg is growing.)
A: I’m sorry to say for the Luxembourg film industry that we have indeed sold the film option to someone in the American film industry. It’s very exciting!
