Graphic novelist Pénélope Bagieu at the young age of 31, won the Chevalier des Art et des Lettres for her contribution to art and literature in France
You've won the Chevaliers des Art et des Lettres and have been knighted. But for those who are new to your work, could you tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm 33, I was born and raised in Paris. I'm a cartoonist and I've been doing this for 10 years. I also work as an illustrator for magazines and advertising. Oh, and I love to travel, so that's what I do with all my free time and money.
Can you tell us a bit about your graphic novel Exquisite Corpse?
It's the story of Zoe, a young Parisian woman, who works as a 'booth babe' in conventions and fairs and is very unhappy with her life. One day she meets this very famous author named Thomas whom she's never heard of before, because Zoe never reads and has never entered a library. They fall in love and she discovers his strange world. But Thomas has a big secret, something of a literary scandal, that she's about to find out about, and she's never going to believe it (and neither will you).
How popular do you think graphic novels will be in the world of publishing?
It is very popular in France. It's the sector of publishing that works best, even in these hard times for book selling. In some countries, like Japan, it is an incredible business for publishers.
From the drawing board until you see the book in hand, how long does it take you to produce graphic novels?
Totally depends on the book. For me, one to two years. First I write the story, especially the dialogues and once I'm sure the story won't change anymore, I start drawing. That's a very long (and very lonely) process.
Do you see graphic novels as art or as literature?
Both, I guess. It's very hard for me to enter a story if I don't like the art at first sight. But I can drop the book after 30 pages if the story is boring, no matter how beautiful the art is. That's what so tricky about making graphic novels, and so great about reading them!
Who are your favourite authors?
It's always very hard to answer that, because there are so many, but to name only a few: Alison Bechdel, Charles Burns, Guy Delisle, David B., Alex Robinson and Jaime Hernandez.
Who are the graphic novelists you draw inspiration from?
I don't. I totally separate the reader from the writer. I draw inspiration from movies and picture books more than I do from comics.
What genre of books do you like to read?
All kinds! French romance, American novels, historical biographies... Anything with good characters that I'm sad to leave at the end, that's all I ask.
Any advice for young authors?
Don't wait till you have the perfect piece to let people read it. Even if it's intimidating. We all write for the sheer selfish pleasure of writing, of letting it out. But we have to force ourselves to give it away to other people and make it enjoyable for someone who doesn't live inside our head with us.
If you had to fake your own death, how would you do it? And what life would you escape to after that?
I'd pretend I had a very rock'n'roll death, like an overdose, or a heart attack during an orgy. And then I'd move to a cabin in the woods with my family, where I'd cook pies for my husband and my kids and write books under a fake name.
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