An evening with Hinemoana Baker, Villa Antipode, and French lauréates
Current writer-in-residence, Hinemoana Baker addressed an enthusiastic audience at the National Library on 21 November.
Julien Blanc-Gras
A study in contrasts: Randell Cottage writers Hinemoana Baker and Julien Blanc-Gras
Randell Cottage invites you to A Study in Contrasts: writers Hinemoana Baker and Julien Blanc-Gras
Julien Blanc-Gras receives ‘feel good’ award
In a special ceremony in Paris, our most recent writer-in-residence, Julien Blanc-Gras has been honoured for Bungalow, his record of travelling in Asia with his partner and son shortly before their New Zealand visit.
Julien Blanc-Gras’ new novel, Bungalow, will be released 2 May
Bungalow, the new novel by Julien Blanc-Gras, is due to be published on May 2.
Published by French publishing house Stock, Bungalow, is about a French family leaving Paris to travel to South-East Asia, in order to escape professional burn-out, digital madness and Western depression.
Julien features at the Alliance Française
Julien Blanc-Gras addressed a large French-speaking audience in Wellington on the evening of 22 March, as part of ‘Le Mois de la Francophonie’ hosted by the Alliance Française. His talk reflected the wry, humorous and insightful style that he brings to his published works.
Julien Blanc-Gras features in ‘Le Mois de la Francophonie’ in Wellington
During the month of March, the Alliance Française is hosting a range of different events, designed to showcase French-speaking countries and cultures, and the diversity of the French language. Two of these feature Randell Cottage resident, Julien Blanc-Gras.
New French writer meets Randell Cottage supporters
On a perfect Wellington evening, Friends and Trustees of the Randell Cottage Writers Trust, along with French Embassy representatives, gathered at the home of Pip and Simon Murdoch to meet Julien Blanc-Gras and his wife Aurore.
From snowy Paris to sunny Wellington
The 2024 French laureate has just taken up residence in Randell Cottage. Julien Blanc-Gras and his son were welcomed at Wellington Airport by representatives of the Randell Cottage Writers Trust and the Embassy of France.
Julien Blanc-Gras announced as the French resident for 2024
Julien Blanc-Gras now joins the prestigious tradition of writers in residence at Randell Cottage, where he will reside in Wellington from January to May 2024.
Julien Blanc-Gras – 2024
Julien Blanc-Gras is a writer, traveller, journalist, and father, and has explored the four corners of the world, drawing inspiration from his journeys for many of his works.
His debut book, Gringoland, was awarded at the First Novel Festival in Chambéry in 2005. Among his other works are Paradise (before Liquidation) and A Bit of a Special Envoy, written during the lockdown to counter the prevailing atmosphere.
He has also contributed extensively to the print media, with publications in renowned outlets such as M le magazine du Monde, L’Obs, Philosophie magazine, Le Temps, Le 1, Long cours, Aller-Retour, GQ, Technikart, and Grazia. He is also a presence on Radio France with the podcast Oli and a travel column on France Inter, as well as on Radio Nova with a literary column.
Following the birth of his son and his account of his experiences during his partner’s pregnancy in In Utero, he was entrusted with a column in Parents magazine. In his novel Like in War, he continues to explore the theme of fatherhood in our modern world.
Further reading
- Julien Blanc-Gras – Randell Cottage Residency Report
- Julien Blanc-Gras – Rapport de reėsidence Randell Cottage
Watch an interview with Julien Blanc-Gras