#expatlife – Brightside Story Studio

February 9, 2021March 16, 2021

Louise Ross on Documenting the Expatriate and Immigrant Journey

Australian Louise Ross has lived abroad since the mid ‘80s and her current home is Portugal. Her book, Women Who Walk, shares interviews with 20 expatriate and immigrant women, about what led them to Portugal. The sequel, The Winding Road to Portugal shares interviews with 20 men. Read on to learn why Louise moved, what she has learnt through compiling these interviews and her future plans. Continue reading Louise Ross on Documenting the Expatriate and Immigrant Journey

December 10, 2020January 19, 2021

Christmas Book List 2020

In a year when travel went out the window, my 2020 Christmas shopping list takes you vicariously around the world. Continue reading Christmas Book List 2020

November 10, 2020November 24, 2020

Lisa Beazley, From New York to Singapore, PR to Author

Lisa’s debut novel, Keep Me Posted, was conceived and written after she moved to Singapore as an expat. But landing a publishing deal was only half the battle and she later realized how much was required to market her book. Join me to find out what she learnt about expat life, writing and book promotions. Continue reading Lisa Beazley, From New York to Singapore, PR to Author

September 29, 2020October 13, 2020

Patti Miller on the Art of Life Writing

Patti is a prolific author with a wealth of experience in teaching and mentoring authors. Her specialties are life writing and creative non-fiction, and she works for writing centres in Australia and around the world. Please join us for a chat about her books, her training courses and the joy she derives from working with … Continue reading Patti Miller on the Art of Life Writing

September 1, 2020September 15, 2020

Nicole Webb From Newsreader to Author

Journalist Nicole Webb worked her way up to become a newsreader at Sky News Australia, but then gave it all up on a whim to move overseas. After six years in Hong Kong and then Xi’an, China, she returned to Sydney a different person and completed her memoir, China Blonde. Read on for more about the transformative nature of her expat life and writing journey. Continue reading Nicole Webb From Newsreader to Author

August 6, 2020September 1, 2020

Calling Expat Writers

An invitation to the Facebook group Expat Writers for bloggers, authors, editors, memoirists and anyone else who puts fingers to keyboard about their experiences living away from home, even if it’s simply write emails to their friends. Continue reading Calling Expat Writers

October 17, 2019April 27, 2020

Theresa Commadeur on Dealing With Change

As a natural health practitioner, or ‘emotional health coach’, Theresa taps into this personal experience to help others going through change. She understands that transitions involve a grieving process and has seen how important it is to be adaptable and to step outside your comfort zone when assimilating to a new environment. Continue reading Theresa Commadeur on Dealing With Change

August 8, 2019April 27, 2020

Gbenga Yusuf and The Perfect Dance

A week to write, cast and rehearse a show was a big ask, but was it impossible? Not for a director who’s been pitching for three years to secure the opportunity to produce a show. And not for a writer with a script in the wings that she was longing to push onto stage. Continue reading Gbenga Yusuf and The Perfect Dance

July 25, 2019April 27, 2020

Long Distance Staff Writer

During my Lagos years, working with Buddy Agedah, I became the staff writer for Dance & Art Alive under the name Jo Demmer. Continue reading Long Distance Staff Writer

March 28, 2019April 27, 2020

How to be an Unhappy Expat

Ever suffered from expat loneliness? At some point, most of us go through it. This was my turn. In the most recent blog about my expat journey, A Week in Lagos, I’d reached the end of my time in Lagos and moved to Houston. You might think that after four years in Nigeria, living in the … Continue reading How to be an Unhappy Expat