Selected French Authors

French-speaking authors at the 2010 Vancouver International Writers Festival

Marc Levy (France)

Marc Levy is the most read French author in the world
The combined sales of Marc Levy’s 10 novels, translated into 41 languages, have exceeded the 20 million copy mark (all editions worldwide combined)
Studied management and computers at Paris-Dauphine University; created a company specializing in computer graphics in France and the US. When he lost majority control of that company, he resigned and started up an interior design and construction company, one of the first office architecture firms in France.
Began writing at 37, published his first novel If Only It Were True which Steven Spielberg acquired the film rights to and produced the 2005 Hollywood hit Just Like Heaven, starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo
Now dedicates himself to writing full-time
His latest novel, The Shadow Thief, was published in France on June 17, 2010

Susie Morgenstern (France)

One of the most popular authors of children’s literature in France
Born in Newark, New Jersey, and went to France for love (she married a French mathematician), knowing three words of French
Holds a PhD in Comparative Literature
Lives in Nice, and taught English at the University of Nice for 38 years
Written more than 75 books in French
Named a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in honour of her distinguished literary contributions
While her books are aimed at children—from about age 7 to young adults—her work is also popular among adults
Since retiring from teaching, she went on tour (France, U.S.A., Belgium) with a one-woman show based on her book Confessions of a Fatso directed by Daniel Sanzey

Erin Mouré (Québec)

Published more than 15 books
Works as a freelance editor, translator, and communications specialist in Montreal
Translator of French, Spanish, Galician and Portuguese
Her own work (poetry) is written in English and Galician
Twice nominated for the Governor General’s Award for Poetry and the Griffin Poetry Prize
Her 1988 work Furious won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry

Jacques Pasquet (Québec)

Born in France, but has lived in Quebec since 1973
Lecturer in the department of Literary Studies at the Université de Québec à Montréal
Advisor for the development of French-Inuit communities in Nunavit
Speaker at Arctic-focused conferences because of his knowledge of Inuit culture and life experiences
Recent work :
- Legendary Tales of the Far North (2004)
- Comment l'ours blanc perdit sa queue (2003)
- Le courage de la jeune inuit (2003)
- Immaaluk, (2002)
- Contes Inuit de la banquise , (2000)

Pierre Pratt (Québec/Portugal)

Best known as an illustrator of children’s books
Author and illustrator of Le jour où Zoé Zozota
Illustrated Jacques Pasquet’s book L’Étoile de Sarajevo

Pascale Quiviger (Québec)

Writer and painter
rites in both French and in English
Lives in England and Italy, married to a former British MP
Published her first volume of short stories, Ni sols ni ciels (Instant même), in 2001, and her first novel, Le Cercle parfait, in 2004
Le Cercle parfait won the 2004 Governor General's Award for French Fiction; its English translation by Sheila Fischman, The Perfect Circle, was shortlisted for the 2006 Scotiabank Giller Prize

Zachary Richard (Québec and Louisiana)

Militant environmentalist, cultural activist, poet and one of the foremost singer-songwriters in the French-speaking world
Received his first recording contract at the age of 21
During his early days in New York, he purchased a Cajun accordion which would focus his career on the French language culture of Louisiana
Lived in Montreal from 1976 until 1981, recording seven French language albums including two gold albums, Mardi Gras and Migration
Returned to Louisiana in the early 1980s to record in English and earn an international following
Published three volumes of poetry, receiving the prestigious Prix Champlain for Faire Récolte in 1998
With his daughter Sarah, published three children’s books
Decorated Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres de la République Française;
Also initiated into the Ordre des Francophones d’Amérique by the government of Québec, and has received three honorary doctorates, from the University of Moncton (New Brunswick), the University of Louisiana (Lafayette) and Ste Anne’s University in Nova Scotia
Produced and narrated numerous television documentaries

Mauricio Segura (Québec)

Born in Temuco, Chile, in 1969 and immigrated to Quebec with his parents as a child
Studied economics at the Université de Montreal and French literature at McGill University
Author of two novels and a book about French perceptions of Latin America
Lives in Montreal, where he is a journalist and commentator on immigrant issues
His first novel, Black Alley, was originally published in French in 1998 as Côte-des-Nègres

Jennifer Tremblay (Québec)

born in 1973 in Forestville, Quebec
In 1990, published Histoires de Foudre, a collection of poems
Graduated (1995) in Creative Literature from the University of Québec in Montréal
Began her masters in literary research, focused on the works of Dany Laferrière, but left her studies on his advice to focus on her own writing projects
Wrote close to 100 episodes of the children’s television show Les Chatouilles (Radio-Canada) and a few episodes of Bouledogue Bazard
Published her first adult novel, Tout ce qui brille, in 2005
Founded Les Éditions de la Bagnole in 2004
Awarded the Governor General’s Award for her stage monologue La Liste (The List)
Published numerous children’s books:
- Un secret pour Matisse (A Secret for Matisse)
- Deux biscuits pour Sacha (Two Cookies for Sacha)
- Sacha et son sushi (Sacha and his Sushi)
- Miro et les canetons du lac Vert (Miro and the Green Lake Ducklings)
- Madame Zia (Madam Zia)
- Matisse et les vaches lunaires, (Matisse and the Moon Cows)

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