Second Salon de l’Ecrit at Wissant, 18^th-19^th April 2009

Alan, Ros and Marilyn had a great time representing Deal Writers at the second Salon de l’Ecrit at Wissant. The event was organized by Signe d’Opale, an association of writers living on the Opal coast, between Boulogne and Calais, with the common aims of fostering local literary talent and cultivating a sense of regional identity through their writing.

The hall was crowded with some sixty tables taken by a variety of local publishers, individual writers, illustrators, bookshops and, of course, Deal Writers. All genres were represented – novels set in the Pas-de-Calais, short story collections, poetry, books on local history, memoirs, books for teens and children, books to help teachers of English and hand-printed artists books. There was a steady throughput of bibliophiles and buyers and we were very impressed with the support shown by the local community – at times there were so many people we had to shout to make ourselves heard.

A story-reading corner for children run by the village library, an excellent exhibition of historical photographs showing the history of Boulogne’s fishing fleet put on by the town’s Archives and a calligraphy teacher who scribed each of our names beautifully in Arabic all added to the general liveliness, as did a series of workshops and talks in a marquee outside.

We all enjoyed the chance to meet fellow writers and to learn more about the French publishing industry. There is a real commitment and enthusiasm for local presses publishing local authors writing on local subjects.

We were overwhelmed by the welcome we were given. Everyone was at pains to stress the links between Kent and the Pas-de-Calais, from Count Eustace II of Boulogne, who married Godgifu (twenty years older than him and the sister of Edward the Confessor) with a weather eye to the English throne, through to the derivation of place names such as Wissant (from White Sand) and Bazinghem (the last syllable being cognate with our –ham).

Our heartfelt thanks to Thaddée Segard and all the members of Signe d’Opale for organizing such an interesting and enjoyable event and for making us so welcome. Thaddée has expressed a desire to bring a party of French writers to Kent to strengthen ties and we look forward to welcoming them.

                                                                                                            Marilyn Donovan

 Back to News