Does My Story Sound 'Too Foreign'? Writing for a Global Audience

Dec 12, 2025
38 mins

Episode Description

If you’ve ever worried your story sounds “too foreign,” this conversation is for you.

I sit down with Brussels-based writer and coach Dr. Anne Randerson (pen name Mickey Brent) to discuss writing stories that cross borders and languages without losing the reader. We discuss setting, voice, intentional use of foreign words, and navigating a publishing world that often favors the familiar.

Anne shares the long road behind her Brussels-centered novels and a sequel set in Santorini, thirteen years and thirteen rewrites before her first yes. We talk revision, resilience, reader expectations, translation, and how to protect tone and humor when your work moves across languages.

We also provide practical advice for non-native English writers, address imposter syndrome, and share book marketing that actually works—live events, libraries, bookstores, and community conversations—without relying on gimmicks or constant posting.

Have a comment? Text me!

Support the show

📚 Writing a book and feeling stuck?


Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha on Substack for practical guidance, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights on finishing your book—from idea to final draft.


See all episodes

Never lose your place, on any device

Create a free account to sync, back up, and get personal recommendations.