The Joyfully Imperfect OneCoraline Solemare, aka Stupid French woman (so says the Viking) and Snow White (so says It)
“I’m turning my chaos into a creative gold mine. Creating sets me free!” (ch. 1)
“My pen is my No.” (ch. 47)
“My gallery of imperfect gems.” (ch. 2)
“If you think I’m flawless, you’re mistaken. But let me reassure you straight away: I don’t own up to all of them.” (ch. 2)
“I suffer from an incurable allergy to being controlled and to unsolicited advice.” (ch. 2)
“I picked up a pen to recycle my anger into creative compost. It’s very eco-friendly.” (ch. 1)
“I chose to create, not to take a shot!” (ch. 1)
“I’m angry… and too clear-sighted to stay that way. I’d rather laugh and be free than be right and cry about it.”
Tchoutchourit — puffy eyes when you wake up.
Tchaffé — squashed, shrivelled.
Tchoufa — it’s gone phut, collapsed like a soufflé.
Magna Magna — the little nibbles with drinks.
Bum-numbingly awful — the ultimate degree of polite boredom.
The great reset — dropping everything to start afresh.
Read the summary of her journey, chapter by chapter
Who is she?
The heroine and author of the novel
The narrator of the novel: the whole book is seen through her eyes. Angry, she picks up a pen in chapter 1: she turns her anger into creativity.
On set, the journalist invites her for the launch of The Hammock and the Hummingbirds. She’s come to stand up for her truth.
The author — “Well yes, because I do what I like, I’m the one drawing. You try drawing airy bohemian hair, I’m not Einstein!”
What she created
Her novel, The Hammock and the Hummingbirds — My pen is my No: 47 free chapters to read online and listen to as an audiobook or on Spotify.
Her original songs, from her own lyrics: the playlist of original songs, to listen to on the Songs of the novel page, on Spotify, YouTube or Suno. For example, the song for chapter 1. And the playlist of songs quoted in the novel, to listen to on the Music quoted in the novel page.
A call to readers — Composers, over to you: her lyrics are waiting for your music.
Her website, lehamacetlescolibris.com: she shows her work there and invites everyone to show theirs. The Gallery of Imperfect Gems brings together readers’ creations, the Directory of the Joyful Imperfect puts their creators on the map and anyone can create their creator profile. There are also practical guides, exercises to create and the world map, from the South to the North.
Her books, made from the novel: the paperback and the e-book, Laughs from My Pen with the funny lines, the Dictionary of Invented Words and The Hummingbirds’ Kit with the practical guides. Coming soon: the creative notebook, the blank notebook and the illustrated book of the journey to the Nord Ultima.
Her objects: the hammock, of course, the hummingbirds that go with it and a pen picked up one angry day.
Bonus scenes
Coraline and Viking food
The author — Personally, I prefer broodje kroket, breaded stew croquettes. Like a mouthful of béchamel in a soft roll. Delicious with a nice cold beer! And I love drops, little black ammonium chloride sweets that taste like a tyre soaked in seawater.
How she writes
The author — All right… I don’t think you’ll like what comes next, because after that I had the idea of analysing my sketches from a psychological and Ayurvedic point of view!
The Viking — Blimey, here we go, you’ve lost me! I don’t understand a thing any more! What’s the connection?
The author — That’s normal, nobody does that! But it helped me get that I had to set my limits straight away.
The Viking — And it took you a month to work that out? You only had to ask me! I’d have told you straight away. We tore each other apart enough over it.
The author — Oh yes, that’s true… but it doesn’t have the same effect when I’m not the one who discovers it!
The Viking — Well, that’s something! Better late than never!
The author — But when I’d finished, it was really soporific!
The Viking — Oh yes, no wonder! You could turn gold into lead with your legendary business sense. I can tell we’re going to be here all day… you don’t mind if I get myself a beer?
The author — No, go ahead, what was I saying? Oh yes! It was so repetitive!
The Viking — You’re making progress! Now you can bore yourself legless!
The author — Anyway, what seemed like a brilliant idea at the start felt deadly by the end.
The Viking — Reminds me of our story. You’re stuck in a loop there. If you want to be your only reader, keep going like that.
The author — And ever since the great reset…
The Viking — Whoa, heavy! That’s it, your last readers have abandoned the burning ship so they don’t get roasted! Out!
The author — … I can’t summarise any more.
The Viking — Ah, well, let me reassure you straight away, it doesn’t show at all! But it’s part of your charm. I know the feeling, I have the same problem when I launch into my monologues. It’s Scorched Lands sickness, it’s not on purpose. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Don’t be such a wuss!
Invent your own glorious name and your funny line for your creator profile and add it to the Directory of the Joyful Imperfect.
Then share your creation in the Gallery of Imperfect Gems.