If Anne-Marie Bougret grew up in the department of Isère, it is in Bayeux, renowned for its tapestry and its cathedral, that she put down her suitcases.
This former dancer, who today lives for the pleasure of telling stories in her self-fiction novels, is a fan of the American author Paul Auster. But it was thanks to the literary encounter with the Anglo-Saxon author, Virginia Woolf, that she first began to read, travel and then write.
His novels have crossed the Atlantic Ocean this month to his delight.
Anne-Marie Bougret
A decisive meeting
For twenty-two years, Anne-Marie danced. She even ran a dance school which brought her the happiness that was enough for her then. Following a health problem, she finds herself looking for a job. Here she is immersed in reading, which then becomes the main occupation of her long days. She discovers by chance Virginia Woolf which leads her on the paths of her conversion as an author. Of Virginia Woolf, she wanted to know everything! She decides to take up English, to hope to read the author in the original version and to get even closer to her. She goes for the first time to Brighton in Great Britain in the footsteps of the novelist. She will return several times. From this first trip, she decided to draw an autofiction novel, “Intrigue chez Virginia Woolf”. ” I also liked Virginia Woolf’s feminist fight, at a time when women had to fight to be recognized. I’ve been a feminist at heart since my earliest years. says Anne-Marie passionately.
Telling yourself, an essential exercise for Anne-Marie Bougret
The Norman author has undergone training so that her novels are constructed with rigor. She then enrolled in classes to master social media. Learning does not scare this alert retiree, who indulges without indulgence in her self-fiction novels, sometimes drawing an unflattering portrait of certain wanderings in life, especially in her relationships with men, those we should never meet. Her books speak – through her – of women, their stories and their place in society. Yesterday and today. In her novel “The Story of Anna B”, the heroine leaves for New York. A premonition?
New York and Paul Auster, a dream to satisfy
Anne-Marie does not know the United States, but it is above all the Big Apple that makes her fantasize. The city of one of its masters, Paul Auster. For her, discovering New York one day means entering into the intimacy of the American author. Anne-Marie has read everything about Paul Auster, but also about Paul Auster, both his biographies and analyzes of his literature. She is waiting for this trip of a lifetime to dedicate a novel to her, as she did previously for Virginia Woolf. She advises those who would like to discover Paul Auster “The Book of Illusions”, “The Music of Chance” or “The Solitude of the Labyrinth”. Anne-Marie likes solitary authors, who ultimately resemble her.
Now distributed in the United States, it takes its first step towards America
It was the head of the French reading committee of Rencontre des Auteurs Francophones, Jean K, Saintfort, who spotted the author. Anne-Marie is delighted and welcomes the arrival of her novels in early March on American shelves. ” It’s great and I would like to be in the place of my novels. It’s a great adventure to be present today in this country at the end of the world. says Anne-Marie with satisfaction.
Anne-marie would like to take part one day in an event in New York to smell the city of course, but also to meet a different public, that of the French settled under American skies, but especially that of Francophiles and French-speaking Americans. If not in 2022, it will schedule it the following year. It is his personal commitment and his project for the months to come.
His next project?
« My father still guides me today “. Jean Bougret was a recognized painter in his region of Montluçon and many retrospectives are regularly scheduled. Jean Bougret would have been 100 years old in 2022 and he will again be greeted during a beautiful exhibition. But he will not come alone since Anne-Marie is also invited to sign her novels. ” My father continues to take me by the hand since we are going to experience this event together. I also wrote my Anna B novels to keep him alive and to get closer to a family I didn’t know. Some members of this unknown family recognized each other and introduced themselves to me… Another little magic of writing! »
Anne-Marie Bougret’s novels are available in the United States on Meeting of Francophone Authors
–
