Reading straight from South Touraine under the tree at Christmas. This is the intention of visitors to the Loches Christmas Book Market, 16e of the name, which takes place all weekend, until Sunday, December 15. Local history, biographies, fantasy… At the Moulin des Cordeliers, there are around fifty writers promoting their latest work. A stop, at the end of the Saturday market, for many passers-by, curious or with a specific idea.
“It’s complicated to make a living from copyright”
An unmissable event for many writers from South Touraine, who are trying to find a place in a booming environment. “There are more and more authors, lots of people who want to tell things. We receive a lot of manuscripts”confides publisher Hugues de Chivré, president of Signature Touraine, the association of authors and publishers in Touraine. The show is the perfect time to win over new readers, explain your approach, your ideas. “For a local author or one who does not have national status, you have to seek out the reader”admits Patrick Gilles, specialist in medieval history.
For everyone exhibiting this weekend, writing is a passion. “There are even very few authors who make a living from their pen”supports Hugues de Chivré. Many write to occupy their retirement, their free time, before or after their work day, sometimes very busy like Dr Juliette Tchuenbou, gastroenterologist, who talks about digestive health in My suicide on the menuor Lionel Cruzille, who evolves into fantasy. “It’s complicated to make a living from copyright, you’d have to sell thousands of books”he explains. With his sales, he slowly manages to glean a thousand euros per year. “To make a living from it, you have to be an author like Marc Levy or a politician who sells more than 100,000 copies”confirms Patrick Gilles.
A small piece of the cake
On a book, a writer only receives around 10% of the sale price, sometimes up to 15 for the most generous houses. “I mainly have small print runs, we oscillate between 8 and 10%”confirms Hugues de Chivré. A book is like a cake that must be shared between the bookseller (30%), the printer (20%), the publisher (20%), the distributor (20%) and therefore the author, who often inherits the smallest share. So, selling directly is the assurance of increasing your margin, without having to pay the bookseller and the distributor. “Luckily we are passionate”smiles Lionel Cruzille, who mainly earns his living as an editor.
It is therefore necessary to increase the number of events and hold trade fairs, often around ten per year. A lot of time invested for a few benefits. But money is not a goal or a driving force. “It’s like music, it’s a passion, we are guided by the desire to tell stories”he adds. A quick glance at the themes covered, sometimes niche or very local subjects, helps to illustrate this. “Their motivation is not financialconfirms Hugues de Chivré. They are just trying to be read and seeking recognition for what they do. » Passion, nothing but passion.
Sunday December 15, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Cordeliers mill. FREE ENTRANCE.
Loches puts on his Christmas clothes
The magic of Christmas takes over downtown Loches, Sunday December 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Destination de Noël. On the program: Christmas market in the streets with 70 exhibitors, stuffed animals on wheels, makeup stand, Ludobus and photos with Santa Claus on the Place du Marché-aux-fleurs; Bus’Onnière farm on the Place du Marché-aux-légumes and pony ride, Place de la Marne. From 5:30 p.m., fire show with Les Féeries Pyromaniées, rue Descartes. Between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., strolls with Noël au balcon and La Locomotive de Noël, parade of majorettes at 10:30 a.m.
