Come and explore “My France” - a book that reads like a blog and entices like Instagram

A joyous journey

MY FRANCE: A SOUTH AFRICAN'S GUIDE

My France: A South African’s Guide is a colourfull travel guide by Olivia Loots, a young South African, which includes useful tips on travelling, interesting sites to visit and experiences across France. Extra website links, personal photographs and sketches make this a compact guide – an international multimedia coming of age story.

The story unfolds as follows: in 2014, Olivia Loots published a very intimate book, titled ek. frankryk. 246 dae. (me. france. 246 days.) consisting of the journals that she kept while living in France in 2013. Her writings are combined with her own colourful drawings and photographs also taken during this time. She was taking a gap year before the commencement of her studies and ready for a big adventure, not knowing that she would finally have an experience much more enriching than she could ever have dreamed of. These emotions she wanted to share with a broader public. Shortly after the book’s launch, she was contacted by the Embassy of France in Pretoria to discuss the possibility of an English version of her Afrikaans travel journal, and My France: A South African’s Guide is the realisation of this request.

My France is a pay it forward for:

• dreamers of worlds of art and food
• those who feel like exploring, but who have more questions than answers
• those who are scared of travelling (and who do not have to be)
• those with an appreciation for new experiences

So, dear lovers of words, get your copy today and join the multilingual conversation!

More about the author Olivia Loots

Born and raised in Pretoria, South Africa, Olivia matriculated at the Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria in 2012. During her high school years, she had the opportunity to study French from two very passionate teachers. The language’s captivating sound inspired her to take a gap-year after school to immerse herself in the French language, to marvel at the beautiful landscapes of France, and to share the homes of a variety of friendly host families across the country. Upon her return early in 2014, Olivia studied Visual Studies, Psychology and Languages at the University of Pretoria.

Olivia is currently working on her master’s degree at the University of Pretoria, watering her herb garden when she remembers, expanding her sentimental archive (all too rapidly) and speaking French when she meets a fellow language-lover.

Programme:

1. Welcoming and a word of thanks
2. Book discussion: Olivia Loots and Samantha Miller
3. Lucky draw
4. Book signing and sales in die foyer of the auditorium
5. Refreshments and meet the author