Julien Blanc-Gras now joins the prestigious tradition of writers in residence at Randell Cottage, where he will reside in Wellington from January to May 2024.

As a writer, traveller, journalist, and father, Julien Blanc-Gras has explored the four corners of the world, drawing inspiration from his journeys for many of his works.

His debut book, Gringoland, was awarded at the First Novel Festival in Chambéry in 2005. Among his other works are Paradise (before Liquidation) and A Bit of a Special Envoy, written during the lockdown to counter the prevailing atmosphere.

He has also contributed extensively to the print media, with publications in renowned outlets such as M le magazine du Monde, L’Obs, Philosophie magazine, Le Temps, Le 1, Long cours, Aller-Retour, GQ, Technikart, and Grazia. He is also a presence on Radio France with the podcast Oli and a travel column on France Inter, as well as on Radio Nova with a literary column.

Following the birth of his son and his account of his experiences during his partner’s pregnancy in In Utero, he was entrusted with a column in Parents magazine. In his novel Like in War, he continues to explore the theme of fatherhood in our modern world.

Julien Blanc-Gras will discover the city of Wellington during his residency at Randell Cottage in the early months of 2024, thereby contributing to the body of work that has been developed since the establishment of this writing residency more than twenty years ago.