On the trail of an imaginary kingdom: this deputy brigade commander in Saint-Tropez publishes his third novel

Don't imagine he could have chosen a more accessible path, the one that leads to crime fiction. Apparently, a genre closer to what he experiences daily as a police officer. Absolutely not. Guided by his desire to escape, Laurent Palombo prefers to travel to unknown lands.

Here is the third volume of a medieval saga, "Aux larmes du fou", for which this deputy brigade commander in Saint-Tropez worked for a year and a half.

The story: A peaceful world is under attack from an autocrat, armed with technology and machines. Who will triumph between good and evil in this universe shrouded in gray and porous zones?

"It's a bit like a Mad Max atmosphere, a difficult atmosphere to breathe. I wrote it like a film," he explains, voluble about this all-consuming passion. With a first volume designed for his young son, the author has transformed himself into an author in search of adventure scenarios.

A quest for justice

In this ^3rd part, it is a supporting character, present alongside the heroes of his previous volumes, who enters the light. "I have always found that the secondary characters who help to resolve the quest are interesting. I wanted to create a story around these peacemakers. They know how to talk to people, ensure proximity and dialogue." Almost like his daily role on closer inspection. "More Jedi than policeman," he smiles, camouflaged in his writer's skin.

A profession that naturally infuses the work of an author. "There is always an investigation or rather a quest for justice. This judicial framework, I have it deep inside me in my writing, but it is more about feeding an adventure." While the "Fantasy" genre serves as the backdrop for his narration.

The influence of readers

Since the publication of his first volume (2017), he has appreciated the public's feedback and never tires of it, during literary meetings.

"I owe it to all those who have entered my world, " he proclaims, as if carried by a mission. "When readers ask you for the sequel, it's a tremendous fuel for an author." Readers who, like his characters, he admits, guide him in his exploration.

To map this entirely imagined universe, he drew inspiration from landscapes he travels with his family; the Gulf coastline is also a source of inspiration.

What's next? " I still have stories to tell, but it won't be right away. I need to recharge my batteries to nourish my inspiration. These three books deserve to be kept with me. I don't want to abandon them just yet ."