From falling in love with a killer to navigating expat life in the little-known world of Yemen, there are lots to unpack in Franca Sol's exciting debut book.
The ExpatWoman team caught up with Franca Sol, an author and humanitarian aid worker. She has lived and worked in the Middle East for the past 10 years – including Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Oman, covering several crises and conflicts.
We are thrilled to present you her debut novel 'Little Adventures in Yemen', which follows her navigating love and life in Sana'a, the capital city of Yemen.
From a local lad with an arranged marriage to a fugitive mercenary posing as a dentist, Franca's romances and everyday life in the city offers readers a thrilling glimpse into one expat's adventures and misadventures.
Image credit: Sarah Aljoumari (@s.jamjam) | Instagram
Q. What motivated you to start writing 'Little Adventures in Yemen'? Was there a light bulb moment?
"When I left Yemen, with a suitcase full of feelings, anecdotes, and a lot of love for the country and its people; this was the moment I started the novel. I felt the urge to express myself, to write and let the readers know more about this culturally rich and little-known country."
Q. What do you find was the most fun about writing your book?
"Making fun of absolutely any situation that happened in Yemen, no matter how good or tragic it was. It was a great catharsis as the book is inspired by my own experiences in the country.
Also, to see some of the scenes such as the “bowling in abbaya” illustrated by Sarah was really fun. She really added to the book."
