the essential
Three months after the release of Olivier Norek’s historical novel “Winter Warriors”, 130,000 copies have already been sold and three literary prizes won. In addition to translations abroad, comic book and feature film adaptations are planned.
For a first foray into the world of white literature (which is not genre literature), Aveyron author Olivier Norek and his editor Elsa Lafon, from Michel Lafon editions, have achieved a masterstroke.
“When I write, I let myself be caught by the story, the characters, the emotions that I like to convey. When there are cops it’s a thriller, love is a romance and if that takes place a century ago, it’s a historical novel. It was only at the end of writing that I understood that it would be classified as a historical novel in white literature”, explains the former captain of. policeman turned writer, already author of seven detective novels, several of which have been rewarded.
“I gave it to Elsa Lafon to read: if she found it just good, we normally took it out. But if she saw a little something extra in it, we could try the big merry-go-round of the literary season, a first for Elsa and me. We are told so much that crime fiction is a subgenre, that we come to wonder if we are underwriting, I said to myself why not confront the sometimes harsh criticism. But they have all been good! The book became a bestseller in the first month with 50,000 copies, a very strong signal for me, which meant that I had not lost my crime fiction readers, but that I had also gained another readership.
Then came the selections, with a huge surprise: “The Winter Warriors” was selected in all the literary prizes, which I think is unheard of or rarely seen. It was there, with the dream, that I also experienced something terrible whose venom we underestimate: hope and doubt. Am I up to it? Can I qualify for these prices? These incredible selections of Goncourt, Renaudot, Interallié, Giono, Malraux, Saint-Exupéry…”
Translations, comics, films…
The novel “Winter Warriors” won three literary prizes: the Saint-Exupéry, the Jean-Giono and the Renaudot des lycéens. And found himself in the final of the Renaudot and Goncourt high school students “it all came down to one vote”. The book is still in the running for the Visionaries Prize (proclamation in April 2025). “Elsa and the publishing house team were there at every moment. There is a very strong team concept.”
Three months after its release, “Winter Warriors” is still one of the best sellers with 130,000 copies sold.
And the great adventure continues: with translations planned in Russia, Spain, Italy, England and Finland (by Otava, the country’s largest publishing house): “I met the Finnish ambassador to France, who congratulated me and who saw that the book could be a bridge between our two countries. A ceremony took place last week with 120 guests, elected officials, generals, the UNESCO ambassador to Finland, two attachés. ministers of Rachida Dati, Franco-Finnish expatriates But also the children and grandchildren of the heroes who are in my book and who took me in their arms to tell me that they had finally understood what was happening. passed into the hearts of their parents and grandparents. The book will be released translated in Finland in August 2025, and 10 days of promotions are planned in September.
“The Winter Warriors” will be adapted into a comic book by Dargaud; while negotiations are underway with a major producer to produce an international feature film.
Olivier Norek will continue to promote the book through trade fairs, bookstores, media libraries, etc., in France and in Europe: “My diary is full until April”.
“Between two worlds” distinguished in England
Without forgetting the audiovisual sector: after the recent broadcast of the 4th season of “Invisibles” on France 2, a series that he designed; 2025 will see the broadcast of two TV films of “Everybody lies”, with Vincent Elbaz; and the broadcast of the series “Surface”, filmed this year in Tarn and currently in post-production.
Other big news: “Between Two Worlds” has just been named “Best detective novel of the year” in England by The Times and The Sunday Times. Foreshadowing future meetings across the Channel.
Also, a few days of rest in Aveyron for the end-of-year celebrations will not be a luxury for Olivier Norek: “I have to be able to find an hour to sleep,” concludes the Aubinois.
Local signings in December
Olivier Norek will be at signing sessions on December 8 at the Laissac press house; December 12 at the Le Livre en fête bookstore in Figeac; December 14 at the Carmaux press house; on December 18 at the Pont Virgule bookstore in Espalion (he will previously meet high school students from Espalion who worked on part of the book) and on December 21 at the La Maison du livre bookstore in Rodez. You can also find all his meetings and signings on his Facebook “Olivier Norek official”.
“The Worst of Christmases” for the benefit of Le Rire doctor
Olivier Norek enjoys these meetings with his readers. The opportunity to exchange, to sign books; but also to present “The Worst Christmas”, a collection of short stories written by the authors of thrillers who are members of the Ligue de l’Imaginaire, including Olivier Norek who wrote “Santa & Associé private detectives”, one of the short stories from the work mixing the marvelous with the bloody. “It’s time to explode the frozen logs and come and make a mess of your New Year’s Eve!”, smiles Olivier Norek.
“The Worst of Christmases” was published in Paperback at the price of €7.90. For each book sold, €2 will be donated to Rire doctor to finance the association’s interventions in hospitals, and the personalized shows offered to children, their families and caregivers.
