Pauline PERRIER (TBS 2019) - Writer and Web Author of ''Là haut dansent les étoiles''

30 March 2021 Diplomas

Interview with Pauline after the publication of her novel "Up there where the stars dance"*

Can you tell us about how this novel came about ?

I started to write it about ten years ago, but I then forgot it in the depths of my computer. Last year at my publishing house, we had decided to test out the young adult-soft romance litterature market. The novel started out well, but I was frustrated by the fact that it wasn't the polished version I was hoping for. Since it turned out there was a demand from readers, I dived back into the story.

Can you give us the synsopsis ?

The book's storyline is about building one's self image. It talks about the way we make ourselves as objective as possible to sell ourselves to the world, and how that process can cause us to go mad. Alana and Alexzander are two brothers and sisters who are ready to do just about anything to make a name for themselves in the music business. Once they get to the tope, the young woman becomes obsessed with her image, in a search for perfection, and slowly slides down a self-destructive spiral.

What was your reason for writing about this topic ?

The topic came to me very clearly. I believe that I was inspired by the omnipresence of social media and the fact that I spend a great deal of time on them. People on instagram (chearfully called "influencers" to create a certain distance with the truth about their job which is to distribute promotional codes) are gradually replacing other forms of promotion. They create a stage all the time and loose all spontaneity, building up an image that they finally believe is their own. I think I wanted to delve into the levers that are hidden behind this kind of behaviour and their danger.

The story is wrapped up in a love story and family secrets to be revealed.

Here is the back cover for those who want to know more (in French)