French Novel and History with Author Anne Dumontier

In this presentation, Anne Dumontier introduces her novel Disparue à Pétra, which was published in France in January by éditions Nouvelle Cité. The novel is a blend of historical facts and personal narrative, inspired by the tragic 1963 flood in Petra, Jordan, where 23 French tourists lost their lives—a story that captured media attention at the time, including coverage in Paris Match.

Ms. Dumontier will discuss how this historical event served as the foundation for the novel and explain the personal motivations behind writing it. The presentation will delve into the writing process, from the extensive research on one of the victims of the Petra tragedy to the creative steps of blending autobiographical elements with fiction. She will share how her interest in themes like family secrets and psycho-genealogy shaped the story, creating a novel that explores how unresolved traumas are passed through generations.
Additionally, Ms. Dumontier will reflect on her experience of publishing and promoting the book over the past six months, sharing insights on the responses from readers and her own family and how the novel has impacted her personally. The presentation will end with an interactive Q&A session, where attendees can engage directly with the author and ask about her journey in writing Disparue à Pétra.

Bio: Anne Dumontier is a former scientist and then teacher of French at H. Gunn High School in Palo Alto for ten years. She is currently the president of the AATF chapter and director of the Grand Concours in Northern California. She also serves as a regional leader of the Bibliothèque Orange and has founded the Club BD ADDA and LirEncor. She has been promoting the French language and culture with books and graphic novels in our region of California for 25 years.

Note: This event will be held in French