Leila, a Toulouse heroine, a novel born from a trip and an overwhelming encounter

With Leila, his last novel published by M +, Guillaume Coquery immerses us In the heart of Mauritania and questions the reports of domination, of ethnocentrism and the female condition in a country still marked by heavy inheritances. Similarly, Meeting with its author who, after Fucking karmaconfirms that he is a High voltage suspense master.

The opinion of the Touloustope – Leila, toulouse heroine, novel born

After having amazed us with fucking karma(rewarded with the Job price) Guillaume Coquery returns to the front of the stage with Leila. Furthermore, proves, once again, thatHe handles the suspense with a formidable dexterity.

From the first lines, impossible to drop out. Moreover, History cloves you, confuses your mind, pushes you to believe that you hold the key … Moreover, before overthrowing the table without warning. Similarly, The hypotheses are shattering. Nevertheless, the leila, toulouse heroine, novel born certainties melt: Guillaume Coquery takes pleasure in walking you, to Play with your nerves until the last page.

More Leilait’s not just page-turner. It is also a Studycarefully informed, led by a spicy and irresistible heroine … Meanwhile, and above all, Toulousaine! Direction Mauritaniaits traditions, its gray areas, and its truths far removed from ready -made images. Therefore, Total immersion.

An idea born in the Mauritanian desert – Leila, toulouse heroine, novel born

“Leila’s idea came to me from my trip to Mauritania. Nevertheless, I stayed there for six months, says Guillaume Coquery. Consequently, It is an unexpected encounter that triggered everything : I met Mériem. However, a young woman I helped get a position to which she could not claim, leila, toulouse heroine, novel born only because of her birth. Similarly, »»

This relationship. However, which the author describes as “of the order of the father-daughter relationship, even the figure of the old wise”, He opens a door to a social reality he was unaware. “She told me about her life, her youth, her hopes. Therefore, I told myself that it was an extraordinary material to make a book. Consequently, “Today. Meanwhile, he no longer has contact with Mériem,” our reports have been distended under social pressure, “he confides without bitterness.

Read an extract from Leila

An extremely documented novel – Leila, toulouse heroine, novel born

Reading Leila. Consequently, Impossible not to feel almost ethnographic immersion in Mauritanian society. Nevertheless, How did the author work this clarification?

“The big subject of this book is ethnocentrism. Nevertheless, When I arrived, I was a complete beginner. I discovered a company that I loved as much as hated. leila, toulouse heroine, novel born In addition, Love for this country went hand in hand with a deep misunderstanding of certain aspects: interethnic relationships. the remains of slavery … “
Guillaume Coquery describes A brutal reality : “In Mauritania. I met people still in a state of slavery for whom this situation is completely normal. From school, children are separated according to their origin. I saw beautiful and other terrible things there. It’s not easy to talk about it with our Western eyes. But it’s essential. Racism, ethnocentrism, relations of domination do not concern only one continent, only one skin color. »»

Leila. a Toulouse heroine

Leila is not just a social testimony, it is above all a novel, carried by A strong character. Why is Leila a woman? And why is she from Toulouse?

“At the start, I wanted to write to Rwanda. But I did not have legitimacy. So I imagined leila, toulouse heroine, novel born a Rwandan heroine, collected by a couple of French cooperants, who grows in Toulouse. It has African roots, but French codes. »»

For Guillaule Coquery. This narration could only exist through a woman : “In Mauritania, the position of a single woman is much more complex than a man. There is a total absence of contact between men and women. Putting an adventurous woman at the center of the story allowed me to explore this invisible border. »

And he insists: “It is not to check boxes. This is because this story had more strength told by a woman of color. faced with a society where everything is partitioned. »»

Discover fucking Karma by Guillaume Coquery

A long writing. a permanent doubt

Leila was not a long, quiet river to write. “” It was the book that asked me the most efforts and caused me leila, toulouse heroine, novel born the most doubts. I wrote three radically different versions. The first was a long, a little too static monologue. The second evolved thanks to one of my first readers. And the third is the one you read today. »»

The writing has spread over three years. “I started even before the release of Fucking karma. I let the manuscript sleep several times. At one point, I even decided that he would never come out. And then I was pushed to resume the project, to restructure everything. Today, I do not regret it. »»

A sequel to Leila?

Is the universe of Leila closed? Guillaume Coquery leaves the door ajar. “The structure of this novel, I can only do it once. But I would really like some characters to come back. I am thinking in particular of the mysterious John, or Darius. »»

The latter is inspired by leila, toulouse heroine, novel born a real character, he says. “” Darius is a real villain that I met in life : a Polish, tattooed, scales. In my book, he is almost nicer than in reality. »»

In parallel, the author is already working on two new projects. “I have a manuscript of pure thriller already written, and a second in progress. But Leila could well come back, differently. »»

Guillaume Coquery

During a long path who led him to: sell housescars. Encyclopediasskis, hold a gas stationwork in a motor racing team, Build reduced models of glidersplanes, build digital machinesdevelop software, refine your amateur luthier techniquemake acoustic guitars leila, toulouse heroine, novel born and at the same time, Draw a bunch of mechanisms and other special machines To make a living, Guillaume Coquery has always written. Before being published. this eternal dissatisfied that everything passionate started a dozen novels which all found the way to his paper basket (fortunately, he adds with a wink). A few years ago, finally, he participated in Some news competitions And discover enthusiastic readers … the long -awaited sign! Four novels later, his head full of projects.

Follow Guillaume Coquery’s news on Facebook et Instagram