At 93 years old, this Nice native will be the oldest author at the book festival which starts this Friday, May 30 in Nice.

Twenty-one books published. It's the accomplishment of an entire writing career. At 93, Lucien Nasarre is undoubtedly the oldest author present at this year's Nice Book Festival , which begins this Friday, May 30 and ends this Sunday, June 1. This is the seventh edition he has participated in, always measuring his luck. "There are few self-published authors at the festival. But I managed to slip in," he rejoices.

And since he doesn't have a publisher, he writes, lays out the layout, and then sends his project on a USB drive to a Nice-based printer who handles the printing and binding. Before this stage, however, he calls on relatives for proofreading, including his sister-in-law and his wife. The latter also designs the covers of some of his works. But this status as an independent author makes it difficult to distribute his books outside of festivals. " In bookstores, they keep 35% of the price of each book ," the author laments.

Still around fifteen texts to be published

He began writing his first stories at the age of 11. The story in his first published book takes place in Nice, his hometown. " It was a trial run. Very modestly, I printed 200 copies, telling myself that if it worked, I would continue ." The result: 900 copies sold. He then considered republishing it.

Of his works, he claims to have sold around 3,000 volumes. " What made me happiest was a reader who immediately recognized me at a book festival. He told me he loved my latest book. It's so nice to hear that," says Lucien Nasarre, grinning from ear to ear and holding his hand on his heart.

His talents are solely a result of his desire to write every day. " He has ideas," laughs Christiane, his wife of almost 64 years. However, he has set himself a publication schedule: one book per year at most. " Today, I have a good fifteen left in my computer, but no matter how hard I calculate, I'll die before I've published them all, " says Lucien Nasarre ironically.

Writing is purely for his own pleasure. " I'll stop writing when I'm dead," he often tells his wife. Because he earns nothing (or almost nothing). To avoid losing money, he has a simple principle: " I wait until I've sold enough books to cover my initial investment before releasing another one ." It's not for fame either, because he hates authors who get big heads. " At the festival, when I see them parading in front of me," Lucien Nasarre mocks, puffing out his chest to imitate them.

So he always wrote alongside his multiple jobs. First at his parents' restaurant for 25 years. Then in several stores as a salesman. Lucien Nasarre admits: he never did a job he liked. " Since I had no diploma and no knowledge, finding work was very difficult, " he regrets, holding only a preparatory primary school diploma (allowing one to go from primary school to secondary school during the Occupation). Now retired, he has all the time in the world to write. And even then, on paper! " I have to write at least the first chapter by hand. Because I have trouble thinking while typing on a keyboard ," he explains. This need for paper, to touch the material, to feel the soul of books, of the object. " How many people have invested in e-readers before abandoning them to buy real books ?" he mocks.

Seven works presented at the Nice book festival

What does he expect from the Nice Book Festival? " A little recognition and to sell as much as possible. That way, I can release the next one, which is already ready, " enthuses the author. In total, he will present around seven titles, including his two new releases: The Prince of Fort-Hercule (a historical novel whose hero is a prince of Monaco) and The Bloodsealers of the Night (a science fiction detective novel).

This is what characterizes Lucien Nasarre: a free style, from historical novels to fantastic detective novels. The art of multiplying genres, always with the same desire to learn and elevate oneself through writing. A philosophy of life: " The pleasure of knowledge is one of the rare, perhaps the only, that is sufficient in itself ."