Mary Relindes Ellis is a finalist for the prix litteraire des lyceens et apprentis de la region PACA award and visited France, February 1st through the 8th, courtesy of her French publisher, Butchet Chastel, and the women of the PACA Literary Award.
Mary visited schools, libraries, and bookstores in the Aix en Provence, Brignoles, Cannes, Martigues, Sisteron, and Briancon in the Provence for the prix litteraire des lyceens et apprentis de la region PACA of which she is a finalist in the category of best novel for her novel, The Turtle Warrior (published as Wisconsin by Buchet Chastel in France). This award is chosen in collaboration with the high school students, teachers and PACA Art Agency and will be announced in May 2009.
This was a wonderful trip in that Mary visited with many high school students, answered questions on stage at the forum in Cannes, and met her French editor, Marc Parent, for the first time. Please see some of the following pictures for highlights of the trip.
Mary's first school visit was in Brignoles. A enlightening and delightful visit with the mostly female students.
Mary's interpreters for the occasion was Marc Parent, a bilingual editor form Buchet Chastel and English teacher Mickael Mauger. The students asked many astute and intelligent questions, and Mary enjoyed the discussion enormously.
In addition, this article was printed on the web:
http://prix.livre-paca.org/index.php?id_prix+5&id_prix=5&pg=page_recontre@recherche=Mary+Relindes+Ellis&id=425
The forum at Cannes involved nearly all the finalists. The audience of mainly high school student and their teachers asked many questions. Mary's French editor for Buchet Chastel, Marc Parent, served as her intepreter on stage.
The finalists, in novel and graphic novel, are excellent. They are as follows:
Audimat circus by Thierry Maugenest
Choc des civlisations pour un ascenseur Piazzo Vittorio by Amar Lakhous
Itineraire d'enfance by Duong Thu Huong
Les Adolescents troglodystes by Emmanuelle Pagano
Les Tambours de pierre by Christian Astolfi
Wisconsin by Mary Relindes Ellis
Figurec by Christian De Metter
Kiki de Montparnasse by Cate & Bocquet
Mourir Partir revenir Le Jeu des Hirondelles by Zeina Albirached
Les Vaincus by Frantz Duchazeau
Putain d'usine by Efix & Jean-Pierre Levarary
Trois Ombres by Cyril Pedrosa
Although translation was difficult, because Mary does not speak or read French, she found her visit with the other writers she met very enjoyable.
Mary signed books at a restaurant on the beach at Cannes and said goodbye to her editor who had to return to Paris.
Mary was escorted and supported by the various women who head up the Literary Arts orginization from the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur. She is deeply indebted to all of them, especially to Runa, a Norwegian intern serving the the organization, taking these pictures. Ah! Teenage boys are like teenage boys everywhere. What made her visit so joyful was the hope brought by the election of President Obama. The French African student in this picture lifted his sunglasses and said "Obama's brother."
Mary's editor from Buchet Chastel, Marc Parent, who was invaluable on this trip as a bilingual interpreter.
Mary visited the students at the school in Martigues where the students planned a wonderful surprise. They sang happy birthday (Mary turned 49 on February 4th in Cannes) and made her "American desserts" such as pancakes with maple syrup, rasberry crisp, banana bread, carrot cake, and American "dirt" cake. The students videotaped an interview with Mary as part of their end of the school year project. Three of the young female students later read excerpts from the French translation of her novel at the bookstore in Martigues
Mary visited the schools of Sisteron and Briancon--pictures forthcoming. The French Alps were gorgeous and the library turnout in Briancon was amazing. The French countryside is beautiful and the French Alps are breathtaking.
Mary's last visit was on February 7th at an "English bookstore" in Aix. Most of the audience could read and speak English and hence, Mary did not need an interpreter. The interest in the literature from the Midwest was gratifying and she enjoyed this evening very much. Mary is grateful for the warmth and kindess of her hosts: Elsie Deblaise, Leonor de Nussac, Marina Pollas, Aurelie Giordano and Runa Skartveit Rogne.
She also had some outstanding interpreters along the way especially Annaliese and Noelle from Briancon (a memorable and magical visit).
