“When I was 11 years old, I was very unhappy. I felt bored. I thought of myself as an ordinary boy. I loved to picture myself as a superhero, a knight. I was convinced that I was born to do amazing things. To save the world. But I didn’t know how. I felt stuck, I couldn’t find my place in this world.
 
One day, our French teacher gave us the task to write a story. Something extraordinary happened: my story got the best grade.
That’s when I realized that my superpower is to tell stories.
I decided that I wanted to be a writer. Imagination gave me my place in this world.
 
Growing up, I realized that imagination is not enough: as an adult, you have to change things in your real life.
I learnt that the hard way: when I turned 16, I asked to become emancipated from my parents.
I was suddenly legally responsible for myself. I was alone and in charge of myself. I was an adult. I could not hide in my imagination anymore, from now on I was responsible for everything I did.
 
What saved me from depression is my dream to be a writer. When I became one, I decided to write for the youth, because I want to help teenagers become the adults they can be; I want to help them get through this very harsh stage of life, maybe because I had to grow up very fast myself. “
 
Erik L’Homme, 50, is a French best-selling writer. He published 25 books for young people. His books are translated to 28 languages!
We met him last week at the Beirut Francophone Book Fair.