ARTISTE – AUTRICE
During the writing process of Fantastic L.A, I drew sometimes elements of the story. To create the fictional character of Hortensia Tercero, I was inspired by the first women’s fencing competitions. The action takes place in the 19th century. Hortensia decides to take a stage coach, firmly deciding to go to the place.
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Radio is an important vector of information and culture. Before writing the first draft of my book Fantastic L.A, I supplemented my research by reading books on California history, articles and also by listening to the California Dreamin podcast series.
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The plot of my new book named Fantastic L.A takes place in Los Angeles. Because I never visited the city, I asked myself many questions about the history of L.A and the geography of its neighborhoods. I did not hesitate to seek advice from an artist living there. Pleasant Gehman has drew up a plan and answered my questions in writing. Collaborating with other professionals is a rewarding experience. Similarly, when I was researching numismatic, I called on a specialist in this field who worked in a Museum of the Pyrénées-Orientales. This allowed me to have a precise idea on the historical level. Then for the plot part, I let my imagination free to plunge the readers with me into a fantastic universe.
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When I’ve written a story, go to the places that inspired meaning. And very often, my visit reveals supposed elements that I had not thought of. As part of “duel in Albi”, after a walk in the park and in the city, I discovered several historical monuments as well as two museums, one dedicated to Toulouse Lautrec and one dedicated to fashion. It immediately made me think of fairy tales and theater stage costumes.
All authors have their writing habits. Some like to write quietly in their home, others in a park or any other place that inspires them. For my part, I like to write in my office and from time to time in another place. It’s like a kind of exercise that allows me to learn to adapt to different writing conditions. I sometimes go to a tea room where the decoration of objects fascinates me. Then, I need a little time to adapt to refocus. The type of writing is different from my office. I invite you to change your habits in writing in another places. Here are some photos.
Internet allows you to research a lot of data and to save time. However, they need to be verified for each project and to go deeper is necessary. Very often, I follow specific training courses. Let’s take the example of detective stories and mysteries. Taking a few forensic science courses gave me some insights. Just like listening to authors of historical fiction expose their problems of writing. I have always thought that being opened to new knowledge and perfecting oneself in one’s profession were essential. Exactly as to teach them afterwards. All these exchanges are humanly enlightening.
Very often, it is our visual sense that is the most solicited. As far as I’m concerned, I like to experience the following from time to time during a walk: I watch and describe the landscape. It is a field where the hay has been cut, all around the trees and in the sky the birds. Then I close my eyes and listen. I hear their singing, the sound of a vehicle in the distance, the blowing of the wind.
Then I feel a cool breeze on my skin that gives me goosebumps.
Now I smell the multiple smells all around.
Then I touch a blade of grass. What gives me the most difficulty is the use of taste so I drink some water that I brought on my bike.
To improve the description of a text, I like to perform this exercise. It is possible for any chapter or scene.
On Sunday, May 22, a Book Fair in Palau del Vidre (Pyrénées-Orientales) will take place.
At 3 p.m., I will participate in a discussion with the authors Catherine Barcelonne and Elisabet Guillot about the fantastic novel. At this time, I will reveal some of my writing processes and we will talk about the different influences of this style. Come and meet us for an interesting theme.
Throughout the day, activities will be offered to you with speakers and many writers. Do not hesitate to come and discover them.
The full program is below:
10:00 a.m Opening of the book fair
10:30 a.m Reading of an extract by Jean-Philippe Lapeyre
10.45 a.m Reading of an extract by Thérèse Cau
11:00 a.m Reading of extract by Adrien Ballayre
11:30 a.m Reading of an extract by Fabienne Clolus Pierre
11:45 a.m Reading of an extract by Laetitia Bonnafos
2:00 p.m. Discussion : “multifaceted literary creation” with Matthieu Urban, author and composer. Questions from the audience.
2.30 pm Discussion: “artistic creation and communication around the book” speakers Jules Morice – addon, Emma Morice – amme gallery. Questions from the audience.
3:00 pm Discussion : “the fantastic novel” with the authors Céline Valette, Catherine Barcelonne, Elisabet Guillot. Questions from the audience.
3:30 p.m. Reading of an extract by Catherine Barcelonne
4:00 p.m. Reading of an extract by Christelle Assenat
4:30 p.m. Reading of an extract by Christian Dang
5:00 p.m. Reading of an extract by Gisèle Gonneau
5:30 p.m. Reading of an extract by Marité Kurtz
Children’s corner with Haikus creations filmed by the students of the Jules Verne school.
6:00 p.m. Closing
The book fair is organized by the Town and CAC 66 (authors association)
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Feedback about this event
We were 35 authors and everything went well. I met the public and professionals. My conversation about the fantastic novel met some success. I enjoyed working on this theme with Elisabet Guillot and Catherine Barcelonne and listened to readings of other authors. Thank you all.
When I write improvisation grids for the guitar, I use libre office. Sometimes I need to draw chords diagrams. There is a useful extension that I would like to share with you:
https://extensions.libreoffice.org/en/extensions/show/chorddiagrams
As a professional, I think about the evolution of writing. And, of course, I ask myself all kind of questions to which I try to find a solution. They are not necessarily the best but having a vision of the future allow you to anticipate.
Here are three issues we should think about :
As an author we can facilitate accessibility by offering files whose content is structured through the use of style sheets. Publishers will then be able to continue the accessibility process.
Regarding the recycling of paper, there are labels that are more compliant than others, similarly vegetable inks are possible. That said, print on demand seems an alternative.
Finally, DRM does not seem to me to promote the dissemination of a book for the public. Similarly, the multiplicity of formats according to a particular type of equipment restricts reading.