Prize Wepler Fondation la Poste 2017

 Le Prix  Wepler Fondation la Poste2017  20th year

…by  Jane Rosenstein

Poster designed by Christien LaCroix

The literary prize  Le Prix-Wepler Fondation la Poste celebrated its 20th year on November 13, 2017 with 500 people in attendance at. Brasserie Wepler, a brasserie here in Paris famous for its seafood and oysters, located at 14 rue de la Place Clichy, near Montmartre has been hosting the prize since its beginning in 1998.

The restaurant, which started out as a lemonade stand over a hundred years old was a place where famous authors such as Céline, Max Jacob and Henry Miller met for dining here.

I went with Momar Ndiaye a consultant in  bio diversity living in Paris; We were amazed at the large crowd, standing room only,  and the interest they had to see who woud win the prize and honorable mention.

Dani, a famous French singer entertained the crowd with songs from the 70s. A band Les Poulbots de Montmartre was present with their drummers to entertain the crowd.

Each year authors whose works are not well-known and not written for commercial purposes compete for the prize. Brasserie Wepler closes its doors to customers to host an elegant soirée. Michele Bessière also provides delicious food and beverages to those in attendance.

Each year authors whose works are not well-known and not written for commercial purposes compete for the prize. Brasserie Wepler closes its doors to customers to host an elegant soirée.

Michele Bessière also provides delicious food and beverages to those in attendence. This year it was assorted petit fours and fried shrimp and desserts. A large white  birthday cake  to celebrate 20 years complete with candles was presented  in but eaten up very fast.

Le Prix Wepler- Fondation la Poste was the idea of Marie-Rose Guarniéri owner of the bookshop La Librarie des Abesses in Montmartre. In 1998 she organized the prize and event with the Fondation de la Poste, an organization of the post office and Wepler Restaurant whose owner is Michèle Bressière.

When the organizers created the prize their objective was to promote authors whose innovative works were not written mainly for profit. The jury changes each year to get new opinionsLe Prix Wepler- Fondation de la Poste was the idea of Marie-Rose Guarniéri owner of the bookshop La Librarie des Abesses in Montmartre.

In 1998 she organized the prize and event with the Fondation de la Poste, an organization of the post office and Wepler Restaurant whose owner is Michèle Bressière.

When the organizers created the prize their objective was to promote authors whose innovative works were not written mainly for profit. The jury changes each year to get new opinions.

Michele Bessière and JaneLe Prix Wepler- Fondation la Poste was the idea of Marie-Rose Guarniéri owner of the bookshop La Librarie des Abesses in Montmartre. In 1998 she organized the prize and event with the Fondation de la Poste, an organization of the post office and Wepler Restaurant whose owner is Michèle Bressière.

When the organizers created the prize their objective was to promote authors whose innovative works were not written mainly for profit. The jury changes each year to get new opinionsLe Prix Wepler- Fondation de la Poste was the idea of Marie-Rose Guarniéri owner of the bookshop La Librarie des Abesses in Montmartre.

In 1998 she organized the prize and event with the Fondation de la Poste, an organization of the post office and Wepler Restaurant whose owner is Michèle Bressière. When the organizers created the prize their objective was to promote authors whose innovative works were not written mainly for profit. The jury changes each year to get new opinions.

As is the custom, twelve finalists are selected. One wins the first prize and is given a check for 10,000 Euros. The winner’s editor agrees to put a natioanl banner and advertisement of the book and the prize in the literary pages of a large French newspaper.

The prize for honorable mention is a check for 3000. Marie-Rose Guarniéri thanked the jury, her book ,Michèle Bressière from Wepler and those at the Fondation de la Presse. Then the prize winners were announced.

Guillaume Poix was the winner this year for his book  Les fils conducteurs  ( The conductor wires) published by Verticales. It is his first book. The story takes place near a port of Accra in Ghana where  Issac and Moses instruct Jacob about the obsolescent industrial products. He tells the story with good lyrical style and humor. Guillaume was happy to receive the prize and thanked the jury.

Gael Octavia received the honorable mention for her novel  La fin de Mame Baby  ( the end of Mame Baby)published byContinents Noirs, published by Gallimard;  It is about a neighborhood in a small suburb of a little city where four women meet and form a close relationship. She was happy to receive the honorable mention prize and thanked the jury.

After the prizes were awarded and we enjoyed the good food and drink provided by Wepler and then  we danced to the music played by  the DJ.

Jane Rosenstein

Jane Rosenstein is a U.S. citizen living in Paris, France. She is a professional translator/interpreter. She is the owner of The International Connection which does international marketing consultation including sales of wine, interpretation, and translation. She enjoys the cultural life that living in Paris offers and has talents in organizing events. She speaks English, French, and Spanish.

She has a B.S. degree in mathematics from University of Pittsburgh and an M.B.A. degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA.