Being published can have several meanings, the one that interests Patrick Holster concerns the publishing of works. Since the end of his career as a nuclear engineer, he has already published three works and the fourth is in progress. We discover his link with our department with his first book dedicated to his father, Le veto de Marvejols. He recalls the ten best years of the life of his father Alain Strohl, veterinarian in Marvejols during the post-war period. A work that he came to present in 2022, the year of its release, at the Marvejols Feuilles d'Automne salon and he will be there again this Sunday. “It was moving to meet people who remembered my parents. At the time, the veterinarian was an important person in a village. There were only four for all of Lozère”says Patrick, who took his stage name Holster.
It was a bit by chance that he started writing while he was down. Finally, today writing has become his therapy. “Writing is a journey. Christian Bobin once wrote that he asked books what was the meaning of life? But they didn't answer him. This is why I continue to read and write. »
The writings remain…
His father was also attached to writing. He had taken notes, written down anecdotes on paper to leave a trace, not to forget… Little papers which were very useful to Patrick in writing the 183 pages of the work intended to keep the memory of his parents. “It was important for me to leave a trace of their history. I chose to write short stories but also poetry and then I can't help but add a little humor. On the other hand, I changed all the names because the people I am talking about all existed. »
After this book, in homage to the work of his father, Patrick Holster, his pen name, launched into a fanciful scenario. “It’s a gag novel about the 2024 Olympics and the Olympic flame which is kidnapped. » But we must not divulge this little 80-page short story, self-published with a publishing house in Cantal.
Because it is not easy to be an author among “hundreds of thousands of people who write while the readership tends to decrease”. But nothing to discourage Patrick Holster. For his first book, somewhat personal, he sold around a hundred works, the second was printed in 1,000 copies.
It's not the number that counts
It doesn't matter how many sales it has as long as it has reader feedback. “I'm happy to receive reviews from readers. I was very touched by a person who wrote to me that he had the impression of seeing the characters I was talking about. » “I don't just write, I'm also very busy. I live in La Ciotat where I also cycle and play bridge. Writing is something I want to continue. In the third book that I have just released I use my passion for astrophysics in the service of history”. The work that the author describes as a literary UFO, speaks precisely of extraterrestrials who will exterminate life on earth. A virtual French Academy will then compose the last text of humanity.
Patrick Holster finds in writing a way to give free rein to his fantasy. However, he remembers that as a child: “I was pretty good at spelling but I hated writing”. Proof that tastes evolve over time. From now on, Patrick Holster participates in short story competitions and sees his style evolve. “I feel like I write in a more refined way. There is always a bit of irony but also nostalgia. And then maybe writing helps me fight my demons”says the author who we should continue to see at book fairs in Lozère.
This year after Chanac, Patrick Holster will be at the Marvejols multipurpose room on Sunday November 24 where the Autumn Leaves show will be in full swing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other authors and booksellers will be present at this event which concludes the literary week. The invited authors are Pauline Comis and Marc Lizano with the participation of the Papyrus and Le rouge et le noir bookstores.
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