1 / Tell us about your work as an author …
Since I was little, I have been writing stories, but especially poetry. Writing for me has long remained my secret garden, an intimate space to express myself and free myself. The idea of showing my designs and being published came late, when I was 40 years old. By dint of reading children’s albums to my students no doubt… And then my husband encouraged me to give some of my texts to read…
2 / How did you compose your last album which is called quite simply “Christmas”?
My editor The Green Elk was looking for a soft text to evoke the preparations for Christmas. So I rhymed the story of a little boy waiting for Santa Claus. The making of cupcakes, the embellishment of the windows, the Advent calendar, the candles, the decoration of the Christmas tree, the snowman and the walks in the cold… So many moments which punctuate the days preceding the festival. It is a text that I read and reread aloud, I wanted it to sing, purr, all round, peaceful.
3 / Is Christmas an important holiday for you?
Without hesitation: yes! For me, who lives in Schœneck in Moselle, near the German border, Christmas is a moment of joy and celebration with the family. In November, I had already sent an Advent calendar to my son who is studying in Nancy, that’s to say! In the book, I evoke a rather Germanic tradition: the little boy places a glass of milk and cookies at the foot of the tree on the evening of the 24th: all my childhood! But Christmas this year would be special with the Covid and that saddens me.
“Noël” by Valérie Weishar-Giulani, illustrated by Hervé Le Goff – 13.70 euros – L’Élan Vert edition – From 3 years old. Valérie Weishar-Giulani’s blog is here. His Facebook is there.
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