For its second publication, the brand new publishing house La Linotte (January 2024) in Périgueux, has chosen “Thalie, the secret of the last fairy”. Meeting with its author Daniel Guiraud, alias Edmon.
In June, La Linotte published the story of “Nanukaa”, of which you are also the author. Is “Thalia” part of this lineage?
“Nanukaa” was the story of a little girl who lived 18,000 years ago. It was a tale illustrated by Lecomte, like “Thalie”, which worked rather well. But this time, we transport the reader into contemporary times.
What is the story you chose to tell with “Thalia, the Secret of the Last Fairy”.
We always follow a little girl, Rose. I had two so that must have influenced me (laughs)! During a walk in the forest, she thinks she hears the voice of a fairy, and through meetings with several characters, it seems that this idea is confirmed: Thalie is indeed a fairy and she could be the last. worrying observation because, if bees pollinate plants, fairies pollinate our dreams. Without a fairy, there will be no more dreams.
On this point, without wanting to hammer home an ecological message, you still raise questions about the environment.
Yes, because the absence of fairies means not only more dreams, but also more nature. In the book, I say that the fairies dance twice a year, on the moon for the round of the seasons: which corresponds to the winter solstice and the summer solstice. Seasonal changes therefore occur because the fairies take care of nature. I also wanted to distill the idea that there can be fairies, people who work for nature, around us, and that you just need to be attentive to see them.
What are the projects of La Linotte, of which you are also the founder?
I must publish “The Périgord Diet” very soon. A book on Périgord cuisine, which includes recipes made at the Café de la gare, the inn that my great-grandmother ran in Coulaures. I wanted to highlight this women's cuisine, based on short-circuit products, which we prepared for food and not for show, as we confuse it today. I also have in mind the story of a little boy named Thal, who lived in prehistory
“Thalia, the secret of the last fairy”, by Edmon. Editions La Linotte. Price: 14.50 euros.
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