The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/ Lucile De Peslouant

Lucile de Pesloüan writes intimate, direct, poetic, and committed texts.

Author of poetry, children's literature, and general literature, she also publishes in literary journals and magazines. Among other things, she is the author of Pourquoi les filles ont mal au ventre? , the first volume of a triptych of graphic novels illustrated by Geneviève Darling, which have received several awards and distinctions. For ten years, she has been creating fanzines under the name Shushanna Bikini London. 

Lucile is the author of novel Tout brûle  2024 in France is part of the selection for the Fnac 2024 Novel Prize. It is published by La Ville brûle in France and by Editions Leméac in Quebec.

Her new picture book, The World of Maxime, illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn was released on May 20th.

Welcome Lucile and Jacques, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about yourselves and your book.  

Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing? What is your favorite type of book to write?)

J’écris depuis que je suis petite, des journaux, des lettres… mais c’est en 2012’que j’ai commencé à publier mes textes sous forme de fanzine. Puis j’ai publié mon premier livre illustré pour adolescents en 2017. Depuis, j’ai publié de la poésie, de la littérature jeunesse et des romans. J’aime écrire et jouer avec les différentes formes que peut prendre un livre.

I've been writing since I was little, diaries, letters... but it was in 2012 that I started publishing my texts in the form of fanzines. Then I published my first illustrated book for teenagers in 2017. Since then, I have published poetry, children's literature, and novels. I love writing and playing with the different forms a book can take.

It is wonderful to "meet" you Lucile! And discover this stunning book. Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or your favorite book as a child? 

Matilda de Roal Dahl bien sûr ! Matilda by Roal Dahl of course! 

Les quatre filles du docteur march The Four Daughters of Doctor March

Tous les romans de Judy Blume All novels by Judy Blume

Quentin Blake Quentin Blake

Sempé Jean-Jacques Sempé

Thank you for this great list of books and creatives, What was the inspiration or spark of interest for The World Maxime? 

J’avais envie de raconter l’histoire d’une petite fille sensible pas comme tout le monde.  Je me suis inspirée de ce que je ressentais enfant et d’une longue conversation que nous avions eue à propos de sa fille. Maxime est une petite fille qui réfléchit sur tout tout le temps, elle est parfois dépassée par ses émotions et la rencontre avec la vieille dame va lui faire du bien. Je pense qu’il y a beaucoup de clins d’œil à la relation que j’avais avec ma Grand mère.

I wanted to tell the story of a sensitive little girl who's not like everyone else. I was inspired by what I felt as a child and by a long conversation we had with Jacques about his daughter. Maxime is a little girl who thinks about everything all the time. She's sometimes overwhelmed by her emotions, and meeting the old lady will do her good. I think there are many nods to the relationship I had with my grandmother.

One of my favorite parts is the relationship of Maxime and brusque Catmamou. What was the toughest part of writing The World Maxime? What was the most fun?

Le plus difficile est de trouver les mots justes qui parleront aux enfants. De ne surtout pas créer un décalage avec un langage trop adulte, sans écrire « pauvrement »

La partie langage plus amusante a été de créer les dialogues !

The hardest part is finding the right words that will resonate with children. It's important not to create a disconnect with overly adult language, without writing "poorly." The more fun part about language was creating the dialogue!

You succeed wonderfully with both aspects! How long did it take from the first draft to publication for the text and illustrations of The World Maxime?

J’ai écrit le texte au printemps 2020, je pense que nous avons commencé à travailler sur le story board en 2021 puis le livre est sorti en 2022 au Québec et en France.

I wrote the text in spring 2020, I think we started working on the storyboard in 2021 and then the book was released in 2022 in Quebec and France.

I'm so glad it is finally being released in the US! Lucile, did anything surprise or amaze you when you first got to see Jacques’ illustrations? What is your favorite spread?

C’est merveilleux de voir ses personnages s’animer sous les crayons de Jacques.

Ils ont pris vie alors qu’ils n’existaient que dans ma tête, c’est une sensation formidable.

J’ai écrit le texte en pensant à Jacques, à son univers. Je ne voulais que ce soit personne d’autre qui l’illustre. Sans lui, le livre n’aurait pas existé.

C’est donc un rêve qui s’est réalisé ! 

Text © Lucile de Pesloüan, 2025. Image © Jacques Goldstyn, 2025.

Ma page préférée ? Difficile à dire elles sont toutes si belles !

J’ai un coup de cœur pour celle où Maxime lit le dictionnaire avec son amie imaginaire à Plat ventre devant la bibliothèque !

It's wonderful to see these characters come to life under Jacques's pencils. They came to life even though they only existed in my head; it's a wonderful feeling. I wrote the text for Jacques and his world in mind. I didn't want anyone else to illustrate it. Without him, the book wouldn't have existed. So it's a dream come true!

My favorite page? It's hard to say; they're all so beautiful! I have a special favorite for the one where Maxime is reading the dictionary with her imaginary friend, in front of the library!

I agree, it is really hard to pick a favorite spread with this book. What's something you want your readers to know about The World of Maxime? 

Petite anecdote, la fille de Jacques s’appelle Maxime, Je suis tombée en amour avec le prénom et j’ai eu envie de créer un personnage. Puis j’ai prénommé ma propre fille Maxime ! Il existe trois Maxime exceptionnelles !

A little anecdote: Jacques's daughter's name is Maxime. I fell in love with the name and wanted to create a character. Then I named my own daughter Maxime! There are three exceptional Maximes!

That's so special. Thank you for sharing that with us!

Thank you, Lucile and Jacques, for sharing with us a bit about yourselves and your newest picture book.

To find out more about Lucile de Pesloüan, or to contact her:

Website: https://www.luciledepeslouan.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucile.depeslouan

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/luciledepeslouan?igsh=MWVmOG05cnB4aWs5eA==&utm_source=qr