Back Watch himThe writer won the 2023 Goncourt Prize at the age of 52. He who appeared as a stranger then enjoyed his happiness at the Brive-la-Gaillarde book fair. For one lucky writer to enter our Autopromo interview game.
My state when the Prix Goncourt was announced on November 7th.
Emotional earthquake! We were toasting defeat because the announcement took so long. My family and I consoled ourselves with the idea of being in the top three. That wasn’t bad enough. I was walking out of the publishing house when I heard the cheers of the team from the street.
Talking about myself in a promo is cool? ?
I care more about sharing my happiness and the wonder of being there. Tell the young people I meet that you should always believe in your dream and that with hard work anything is possible. And then, telling the story behind the scenes doesn’t necessarily dispel the magic.
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The nicest compliment I’ve ever received ?
“You have women’s writings?” Perhaps it comes from the fact that I’m not afraid to deal with supposedly feminine topics, such as emotions. I am hypersensitive. it has to be felt.
To write I need…
A sense of security, appearing with my wife Berenice, my muse and my first reader, who is a ceramicist in Cannes. On the other hand, there should be no excitement, just sitting at my table.
The subject that throws me off my hinges ?
Any form of intolerance, extremes, and writers in a completely different field who don’t work on their structure and yet have talent.
The nicest compliment I’ve ever received. Telling me I had a woman’s handwriting
Jean-Baptiste Andrea
My trigger for this historical, picaresque, fiery and loving story ?
reading the cycle of ThibautBy Roger Martin du Gard andeast of eden by John Steinbeck. I summarized what narrative length brings to emotional power. There was also a shot of the crucifixion in the church in the film Silvio and others, By Paolo Sorrentino, a director I respect.
A place that looks like me ?
The Cote d’Azur, where I live since I was 7 years old, in a Technicolor environment, with the intensity of nature, culture, perfumes.
Writing…
The joy, the meeting with the editor Sophie de Sivry, a beautiful and wonderful woman who recently left us, and thanks to whom I embarked on a literary adventure. my queen, my first novel. This was rejected by fourteen publishers, but Sophie de Sivry went with me on it. Together we flew into the void. Later, he enlightened me with his kindness for every page.
My first novel was rejected by fourteen publishers
Jean-Baptiste Andrea
The music I was listening to was on repeat as I wrote ?
“Nesun Dorma” aria from the opera Turandot, by Puccini, sung by Pavarotti and recorded for the 2006 Turin Olympics.
My ideal interview outfit ?
Featured t-shirt, jeans, sweater.
Promo in temptress or warrior mode ?
I write for myself, I also feel the desire to present what I see. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to know that my readers have supported me since my first piece. To seduce is to communicate. But I am not interested in seduction for the sake of seduction.
I’m a social hermit at heart
Jean-Baptiste Andrea
What I like people to say about me ?
That I am sincere.
Last time I was proud of myself ?
The day after the proclamation, when I landed. This feeling could occur in a vortex. But I was quite proud to have made my family and my publishing house proud.
What am I going to do after this interview? ?
Go and isolate yourself in the mountains. I’m a social hermit at heart.
Watch him , by Jean-Baptiste Andrea, Éditions de L’Iconoclaste, 580 p., €22.50.
Source: Le Figaro
