Antoine Laurain

Antoine Laurain was born in Paris in the early 1970s. As well as being a novelist, Antoine has also directed short films and written screenplays. His latest book, the wonderful The President’s Hat was released in March by Gallic Books. We had a chat with Antoine and asked about his ideal dinner guests, whether he’s a planner and which book has had the most impact on him…

Can you describe your typical writing day?

You mean the ideal writing day… I feed my cat before going to do the market. I spend the morning reading over what I wrote the day before; meanwhile I’ve got a pot au feu on the stove. Lunchtime arrives and I eat the pot au feu, then I work until aperitif o’clock and … that’s the writing over for the day.

Can you tell us a little about your latest book, The President’s Hat.

It’s a fairytale for grown-ups, featuring an unusual object: the hat worn by the president of the French republic, François Mitterrand. Once upon a time there was a president who lost his hat in a restaurant … That was the starting point; over the next 200 pages I tried to write what happened next. Given how well the book is doing, I think I did a reasonable job of it.

When starting The President’s Hat, did you plan or have the idea and simply start writing?

Yes and no. All I started with was the scene in the brasserie with the character Daniel, who would go on to leave the hat on a train. I knew I wanted several other characters to wear it after him and that it should come back to the president in the end. The exact plan and choice of characters worked themselves out as I wrote.

Do you edit as you go along or wait until you finish your first draft?

No, I edit as I go along ; you can’t really go back once you’ve come to the end. It’s like working on a canvas after the paint’s dried. It’s very difficult to pick up where you left off.

As well as being a novelist, you’re also a screenwriter. Does one have much influence on the other?

No, it’s very different. The only thing they have in common is narration: telling a story. It’s tricky … the novel gives you more freedom, but it’s also more complex.

Magic is a theme in the novel. If you could have a magical power which one would you have?

The power to know what my next book will be about! I never know what I’m going to write. Except for my next book, because I’ve just finished it…  But I’d love to know what’s going to come after that.

Your character in the book finds the hat after having dinner. Who would be your ideal dinner guests?

Ha, good question! A dinner with Sacha Guitry, Michael Caine, Greta Garbo, Somerset Maugham, Billy Wilder, Marcel Proust, Cléo de Mérode and Lady Diana. So … anyone got Michael Caine’s mobile number?

Which book/author has had the most influence on you?

Possibly Patrick Modiano, whose books I’ve carried with me for so long.

Do you write in silence or do you prefer noise?

Silence, no question, though with a bit of train noise, since my windows look out on one of Paris’s famous railway stations. I know a few writers who work to music, but I have no idea how they do it.

Do you get writers block? How do you combat it?

With a glass of very good Burgundy. A Fixin or a Nuits-Saint-Georges.

Which character from fiction would you like to meet?

Anna Karenina, so I could win her over and convince her to run away with me instead of throwing herself under that train.

Are you working on anything at the moment? Can you tell us about it?

Sorry, I can’t say much about it. Just a little taster – the line I’ve chosen for the epigraph, from Alain Fournier : ‘There is little else but the sublime to help us through the humdrum of existence.’ It’s coming out in France in January 2014.

Five tips for new writers?

– Remember the stories you had read to you when you were a child. Think of the pleasure you got from hearing them.

– Pick apart one (or several) of your favourite novels in order to see how the author went about writing it.

– Write something short to begin with. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. 

– Think of launching into writing your book as being like a detective launching an investigation.

The President’s Hat by Antoine Laurain is published by Gallic Books, £8.99 paperback and available to buy here

Antoine’s Website.

Laura’s Review of The President’s Hat.  

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.