“IThere are many talented authors and writers in the Haut Var!” loudly proclaims Agnès Leroux. For those who doubt it, the president of the Horizon association (1), has decided to organize the 1st Salernes Book Fair. An event which will bring together around forty local authors. Organized in partnership with the Terra Verde association, the towns of Salernes and Villecroze, and the independent Aups bookstore Caractères Libres, the show – soberly titled “Les plumes du Haut Var” – will take over the Terra Rossa museum, this Saturday, throughout the daytime.
42 local authors expected
The idea of embarking on such an adventure was born from an observation. in the winter of 2023, Agnès Leroux walks through the aisles of different Christmas markets, in Dracénie and in the Haut Var. “I then noticed that several regional authors were presenting their books in the cold.” Neither one nor two, the project then sprouts to bring together these writers around a single setting. “I said to myself: “Why not organize a fair reserved for authors from the Haut Var…?” »
Agnès comes into contact with several of them. Word of mouth works. And quickly, it’s the plebiscite. “Little by little, the list of authors interested in the project grew.” List that she will submit to Marie-Laure Tortosa, “about a year ago”. Then first assistant in Salernes, the elected official gives her agreement and the small team gets started.
Ultimately, no less than 42 authors are expected on site. “We were even forced to refuse people…”assures the organizer. All come from the upper Var, “98%. We were also a little overwhelmed with authors from the Alpes-Maritimes.”
“A living room”
And you shouldn’t expect a tasteless and soulless salon. Beyond interactions with the authors, the organizers intend to create a “living living room.”
“For me, this type of event should not resemble a book hypermarket. The show should be punctuated by different activities.” So the team developed a careful program. With in particular a theater component. “We asked the Salerno association Les Tiroirs to read selected texts. Three young actors, in costume, will therefore launch into theatrical interpretations.” Real stagings of texts, proclaimed in costumes with certain speaking skills, while adopting different postures. History of bringing words to life.
Music will not be left out either, “with musical readings supported by different instruments.”
On the author side, let us mention the presence of Marie-José Aubourg-Iberti. “A relatively well-known writer. She is notably the author of a work on burn-out entitled Work, work when you kill us. But also an interesting book on 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 of the thirties and surrealism. “Maybe our living room size…”, smiles Agnès.
Among the authors welcomed, we will also find Marie-Hélène Dumas, novelist and translator, artist, journalist and feminist, engaged in the fight against the XXL landfill in Aups. Or Laurence Belhomme, former radio presenter who became a mobile teaching assistant, specializing in children’s novels.
Throughout the stands, all genres will be represented. “Children’s books, comics, historical novels, or others that take place in rural areas, “local novels”…”Agnes list.
A round table has also been announced, on the theme “Literature, an openness to others”. “Here, the idea is to discuss the role of literature in opening up to others. The speakers, with different profiles, are great travelers. They will talk about their encounters during their wanderings. And how which they are reproduced in their books. For example, Félix Chabaud was very marked by encounters in the desert, with people who lived on nothing. On his return to France, he got involved in helping refugees. . The opening to the other, it can be that, but it takes on many faces…”
A first show which will undoubtedly meet its audience. While waiting for a second edition already planned for next year, this time in the neighboring town of Villecroze.
1. The Horizon association’s mission is to reduce inequalities, particularly those affecting young people, within the framework of the Local Schooling Support Contract. She also intends to open the cultural field to young people.
