A new group in North-West France hopes to bring an end to the isolation felt by many English-language book authors living in France. Grand Ouest Authors (GOA) provides a free network for writers in Brittany, Normandy and the Pays de la Loire, and it's seeking new members who are interested in joining forces to promote themselves and their books.

Membership is free. The only requirement is that you have one or more books in print (via a mainstream publisher, or self-published) or that you are working on a book project with the aim of publishing in the near future. All subjects and genres are welcome, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art and photography.

"Many authors, even those with contracts from major publishing houses, can feel as though they're on their own when it comes to promoting their books," says the group's founder, freelance writer and journalist Steve Mansfield-Devine. "This isn't made any easier when you live abroad and are effectively writing in a 'foreign' language."

The GOA website provides a shop window for authors and their books, a group blog, an online shop and a forum to exchange ideas and organise events.

But the aim is also to have a presence in the real world, with authors collaborating on activities such as group book signings, attendance at cultural events and marketing to local retail outlets.

For more information, go to: www.grandouestauthors.com

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