Have you ever had unusual encounters in waiting rooms, like your two characters? ?
Virginie Grimaldi. Ah, that’s a good question! (Laugh). No ! On the other hand, I have happened to meet people at the psychologist, and I find it terribly embarrassing even though we are all there for the same reason. So, we shouldn’t have to hide… There is a kind of common fear that can be seen on faces. I remember a gentleman I met in a waiting room, who was waiting for the results of a very important test, to monitor his lung cancer. I too was waiting for important news. Something had happened, we had changed a few words, it was an encounter that I have never forgotten, so yes, I find that strong things happen in the waiting rooms.
How similar are your two characters to you?
Vincent is a lot like me because he started writing out of necessity. Today, he still doesn’t have self-confidence despite his success, but he deeply loves his readers and writing. Elsa undoubtedly resembles me more in her journey as a daughter and mother, and in her fragilities. What is important about Elsa is the fact that she has long wanted to respond to the injunction to happiness and that today, she can no longer do so. She allows herself to get bad. That’s something I have in common with her…
Nine months ago, you lost your dad, who is also at the heart of this novel. What legacy did he pass on to you?
He gave me great freedom. I realize that he was a rebel, who never conformed to labels and what was expected of him. He was a complainer, I’m a big complainer! (Laugh). And above all he passed on his humor to me. He was an extremely funny person, he always acted stupid to make people laugh. It was also our language, like Elsa and her father in the book. It’s something we developed together and I believe it’s his greatest legacy.
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