AUTHOR

Questions to Marguerite Hottua

 

What prompted you to write this novel?

I wanted to make the history of the village known to children, it is so rich! Even most adults only know the story of the tavernier who sold more than a hundred times the glass in which Napoleon drank.
It was time to put forward this treasure which is our Patrimony! Heritage including historic facts, buildings, but also nature.
On the other hand, I had to romanticize the facts, so I wrote, at the end of the book, a part to explain what is true and what I invented.
I hope that this story will make the children aware that we need to protect our villages, our old stones, and our forest.

 

When did you start writing?

I have been writing since childhood, but without paying much attention to it, it has always been for pleasure. My head has always been full of ideas!
For Robur, I started writing in 2011 ...! A life of working Mom leaves little time to writing; Like that, one must persevere and always believe in it, even at 40 years, it is not too late!
On the other hand, when I started writing it, I did not think of publishing it one day, I imagined just printing two copies to give to the schools of the village.

 

How did you learn everything you know about Saint-Vallier?

I fell in love with this village and these inhabitants as soon as I knew it. And right away, my curiosity was fueled.
I have already searched for myself in the various existing books (and there are a few!) And in the archives, then I came closer to the historians, who have all passed on their passion to me.

Where are you going to draw your inspiration?

I have always read a lot, and I traveled a lot in my childhood, in South America, Polynesia and Africa, I think that helped develop my imagination.
What is your promotion strategy?

Social networks, my blog, articles and contacts with journalists and other written press, and especially word of mouth.

 

What is your bedside book?

At least twice a year, I re-read "The Night of Times" of Barjavel. I like Guillaume Musso, Marc Lévy, and my classics (very varied) are "1984" by George Orwell, "L'impure" by Guy des Cars, "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier, "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen , "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer.