The essentials Every year the association organizes a book fair that changes several times. “The Appameans of the Book,” written by a group of novelists and writers, celebrates its thirtieth anniversary next spring.
At the cradle of the Appameans of Books, when the association was founded almost thirty years ago, there was a small core of outstanding writers and local historians, such as Alain Rouch, Georges-Patrick Gleizes, Louis Claeys and even Christine Clairmont.” The aim was to expand the area and to highlight its authors,” recalls Alain Rouch, who was president of the association for more than ten years until 2015. But the book fair has gradually changed over the years.
Hikers from Capelles to Jeu-du-Mail
So the salon changed locations several times during the pandemic, from the Jeu-du-Mail room to the Maison des Oeuvres to the high school… “The first year, as I remember, was in the Capelles room,” continues Alain away Rouch. It wasn’t renovated yet. She was in her old juices. And there we welcomed Jean Giono’s daughter! She hadn’t said anything, but I think she found it unwelcome.
Stone by stone, everyone contributed to the construction. Alain Rouch, for example, is the initiator of the short story competition that was restarted in 2003 and which had previously existed episodically. “We receive between 80 and 220 responses every year,” continues Alain Rouch. The starting point will be announced at the end of the month. We do not specify a specific topic, only the first two words of the text, also its length… There are still some restrictions.”
Nicole Bernard-Villa and Monique Itier want to give the book fair a new face. DDM – DDM
I’m trying to get a makeover
The salon has also changed its character and become more diverse. “Today we work with primary schools and even middle schools,” emphasizes Alain Rouch. The show has opened up to new themes: “For this year we have chosen L’Imaginaire,” continues Nicole Villa, who took over the presidency of the association last January. This theme allows us to appeal to a younger audience and also offer innovative meetings.” A round table could thus bring together several CNRS researchers around the construction and roots of imagination. The organizers also contacted a publisher, “Les Moutons Électriques,” which publishes books “but whose content is very modern and current on “pop culture,” “geek culture,” fantasy and mythological fiction, exactly in our theme,” continues Nicole Villa fort. The publisher is aimed at a wide audience of teenagers, young people and young adults. Of course, nothing is certain yet. We are just looking and the path from the cup to the lips is always long.
Transform yourself into a “book festival”
Especially since the book fair is planning a new metamorphosis. “We have to renew ourselves,” confirms Monique Itier. The idea is to turn the show into a festival, reveals Nicole Villa. For example, we are thinking about bringing food trucks so that the audience and the guest authors can have a moment of relaxation together if they wish. A new development, but no candles, for this thirtieth edition of the book fair. The event and the association that has supported it since its beginnings prefer to turn to new pages when writing.
This year the edition of the Salon du Livre will open with a conference moderated by the writer Pascal Quignard, writer, Prix Goncourt 2002. He recently published Les Heures Heureuses. To contact the association: [email protected]