“ILya many authors and talented writers in the top Var! “ proclaims Agnès Leroux loudly. For those who doubt it, the president of the Horizon association (1), set out to organize the 1st Sallernes book fair. An event that will bring together around forty local authors. Organized in partnership with the Association Terra Verde, the cities of Salernes and Villecroze, and the independent Librairie Auxpsoise characters, the Salon – soberly entitled “Les Plumes du Haut Var” – will invest the Terra Rossa museum, this Saturday, the whole daytime.
42 local authors expected
The idea of embarking on such an adventure born from an observation. In the winter of 2023, Agnès Leroux was walking in the aisles of different Christmas markets, in Dracénie and in Haut Var. “I then realized that several regional authors presented their books in the cold.” Neither of one nor two, then germinates the project to bring these writers together around a single and the same case. “I said to myself: “Why not organize a living room reserved for authors of the Haut Var …?” »
Agnès comes into contact with several of them. Word-to-watch works. And quickly, it is the plebiscite. “Little by little, the list of authors interested in the project has grown.” List she will submit to Marie-Laure Tortosa, “About a year ago”. Then first assistant to Salernes, the elected official gives her agreement and the small team launches.
In the end, no less than 42 authors are expected on site. “We were even forced to refuse people …”assures the organizer. All are from Haut Var, “At 98%. We also overwhelmed a little with authors from the Alpes-Maritimes.”
“A living lounge”
And you shouldn’t expect an insipid and soulless living room. Beyond the interactions with the authors, the organizers intend to create a “Living lounge.”
“For me, this type of event should not look like a hypermarket in the book. The living room must be punctuated by different activities.” So the team developed a very caring program. With in particular a theater component. “We asked the Salernoise association the drawers to read selected texts. Three young actors, in costume, will therefore embark on theatrical interpretations.” Real staging of texts, proclaimed in costumes with certain talents of speakers, while adopting different postures. History of making words alive.
Music will not be outdone either, “With musical readings supported by different instruments.”
On the authors side, let us quote the presence of Marie-José Aubourg-Iberti. “A relatively known writer. She is notably the author of a work around the burn-out entitled Work, work when you kill us. But also an interesting book around psychogenealogy, for example. “
-Also note the presence of Olivier Salazar-Ferrer, “Villecrozien and professor at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.” A specialist in existential literature in the thirties and surrealism. “Maybe our size of the living room …”, Smiles Agnès.
Among the authorities welcomed, we will also find Marie-Hélène Dumas, novelist and translator, artist, journalist and feminist, engaged in the fight against the discharge XXL in Aups. Or Laurence Belhomme, former radio host who has become a mobile teaching holder, specializing in youth novels.
Over the stands, all genres will be represented. “Youth books, comics, historical novels, or others that take place in rural areas,” terroir novels “…”Agnès list.
A round table is also announced, on the theme “Literature, one opening to the other”. “Here, the idea is to discuss the role of literature in opening up to the other. The speakers, with different profiles, are great travelers. They will talk about their meetings during their wanderings. And in the way of which they are returned in their books. .
A first fair that will undoubtedly meet its audience. Pending a second edition of Ores already envisaged next year, this time in the neighboring town of Villecroze.
1. The Horizon association’s mission is to reduce inequalities, in particular those which affect the young audience, within the framework of the local support contract for schooling. She also intends to open the cultural field to young people.
