10 July 2015 – The 26th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair will take place from 15-21 July, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This year, the World of Knowledge Seminar Series continues to invite popular authors from around the world to share their writing journeys with readers. With the support of the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macao, three popular French authors are invited to take part in the seminar series, including Illustrator of the The Small Chicks—Christian Heinrich, award-winning teen fiction literature writer Timothée de Fombelle, and best-selling romance literature author Christophe Ono-dit-Biot.
Christian Heinrich: Illustrations Enlighten Thinking
Christian Heinrich has been a French Children Illustrator since 1989. He is the author of the series Les P'tites Poules. Mr Heinrich has been focusing on inspiring children and establishing readers’ understandings through illustration.
The Small Chicks is one of Heinrich’s signature illustrative efforts. The series comprises 12 picture albums and has been translated into 20 languages, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian. It has sold millions of copies worldwide, notably gaining success on the Chinese mainland.
“Creativity comes from personal experiences and inner emotions, may they be happiness or sadness. The series involves elements such as fear, care, expectations and dreams that children have. I believe any place in the world will have resonance,” said Mr Heinrich. He further explained by citing a French saying “In place of thought, in response to the world,” regarding the success of The Small Chicks.
The Small Chicks is an adventurous story of a chicken family. Through humorous scenes, penetrating ancient and modern celebrity paintings illusions, Mr Heinrich hopes the book can enhance children’s knowledge during leisure reading.
Timothée de Fombelle: Merge Education with Entertainment
Timothée de Fombelle is a French teen fiction writer, who is also committed to education and entertainment in his works. Education has been a key element as he taught in France and Vietnam in his earlier years. His works often include important messages, allowing readers to enjoy reading and to reflect at the same time.
From his first teen fiction Tobie Lolness, Mr de Fombelle brought out the concerns and doubts he had towards society and environmental protection. With the background of an educator, he was able to display positivity through his works, allowing youngsters to have hope, while acknowledging problems in reality.
Tobie Lolness was translated into 29 languages and received 21 awards in children’s literature including the Prix Saint Exupery. Apart from writing fiction novels, Mr de Fombelle is also a popular playwright in France, where his play The Lighthouse was performed and received enthusiastic response in Russia, Canada, and other countries.
“I am curious about the teen fiction development in Hong Kong and Asia. This visit would be a great opportunity to discover more,” Mr de Fombelle said. “Although I have been to a lot of places, I do not know much about Hong Kong and its culture. I hope this trip will bring me inspiration and stimulation for my future works.”
Christophe Ono-dit-Biot: Purify Souls by Romance
Christophe Ono-dit-Biot, a French writer, reporter, and blogger, has written many romance novels, including Désagrégé(e) and Birmane, Plonger.
Mr Ono-dit-Biot created his blog le journal de l’énervé in 1997, which was considered to be one of the first blogs in France, and published his first novel Désagrégé(e) three years later. In 2007, his work Birmane was awarded the Prix Interallié, while Plonger won the French Academy Novel Award in 2013.
“Being a reporter and blogger is like sprinting, while being a novelist is like running a marathon, and because they demand me to bring characters to life,” Mr Ono-dit-Biot described. “Novels allow authors to walk into the readers’ thoughts and engrave personalities. Therefore, it is often said that reading can change one’s life.”
His latest work Plonger is about the male lead searching for the reason of the death of his beloved, encountering time traveling in older Europe and a futuristic new world. Mr Ono-dit-Biot wants his readers to reflect on the concepts of freedom and purity by reading this love story. Plonger sold more than 100,000 copies in France, and was awarded the Grand Prix de l’Académie française and the Prix Renaudot des Lycéens.
Diverse Activities for Cultural Exchange
With the support of Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macao, children travel book author Isabelle Demenge, photographer Romain Jacquet- Lagrèze, and graphic designer Emilie Saint Pé are invited to host a series of workshops and hold autograph sessions at the Hong Kong Book Fair.
Isabelle Demenge will be displaying various aspects of French culture, from food to architecture through photo albums. On the other hand, Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze has always been fascinated by complex structures and architectures. His publication Vertical Horizon has raised international awareness by showing Hong Kong’s landscape in unique photographic techniques. Jacquet-Lagrèze will introduce his work Wild Concrete at the fair. The book combines the concepts of concrete and forest, exploring Hong Kong’s balance of prosperity and nature. Emilie Saint Pé will promote French language and culture by hosting children’s workshops displaying her graphic designs.
