BOOKS Fionnuala Kenny to help author celebrate debut novel

A party and a high-profile guest? Pour moi?


Julia Stagg’s debut novel ‘L’Auberge’ is already being hailed as summer must-read, and Stagg, whose father MicheΡl is from Hollymount, is delighted by its immediate success.
Stagg, who normally resides in France, will be in Mayo to celebrate the publication of ‘L’Auberge’ with a French-themed evening at the County Library in Castlebar on Tuesday, June 14, from 8pm. Introducing the event will be Fionnuala Kenny, wife of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who is herself a big fan of the book.  
‘It’s amazing,’ said Stagg, clearly bowled over that Fionnula Kenny will be present on the night. ‘I thought my parents were just arranging an informal event to mark publication. But suddenly it’s taken on a whole new dimension.’
Although the book, ‘L’Auberge’, has a French title and is centred around a small village in the French Pyrenees, Stagg is adamant that anyone living in a small community will be able to identify with the plot. “Basically it’s about local politics and the intrigue and deception that arise from outsiders entering a community which is initially hostile to their presence. It could be based in any rural setting.”
The idea for the book, which is French for a small hotel, arose from Julia’s own experiences. She spent six years in the Pyrenees running an auberge with her husband. While the characters in the novel, which is a comedy/drama, are purely fictional, the setting is very much the area in which she lived.
“I was lucky in that the dramatic landscape that surrounded us became another character in the book. And my French neighbours can’t wait for the French translation so they can try and identify each other!” ‘L’Auberge’ has already generated a great deal of interest across Europe, with translation deals having been signed in many countries.
The launch is being supported by Castle Book Shop, Castlebar, and by the County Library. And in true French fashion, wine and refreshments will be provided on the night. All are welcome.
For more details, contact Castle Book Shop on 094 90 2422.

‘L’Auberge’, by Julia Stagg, is published by Hodder and Stoughton. It is the first in a series of five books set in the French Pyrenees.