One of the world's best-selling writers, Mary Higgins Clark, died on Friday at 92. Albin Michel's boss Francis Esménard, his French publisher, looks back on his incredible journey.
What is your first memory of Mary Higgins Clark?
FRANCIS ESMÉNARD. At the end of the 1970s, I received his first novel "La nuit du Renard". I remember reading it in English and not letting go. When I closed it, I knew I had a nugget in my hands. I was not mistaken, the success was immediate and I created for her the collection “Spécial suspense”. For over 40 years, she has remained loyal to Albin Michel!
Was France an important country for her?
People may not know it, but she became the "queen of suspense" in France before becoming one in the United States. They even took up our slogan. France was the biggest trigger and I believe that even today, if we compare in number of inhabitants, France remains number 1 in terms of sales. She had a special relationship with our country, she came regularly. There is a real love story between France and Mary Higgins Clark.
How do you explain this exceptional career?
Of course, there is his incredible talent, this mastery of suspense, but that's not all. Mary Higgins Clark was close to people and knew how to deal with matters that affect them. His mark was very psychological and feminine novels. Novels where women, and also children, have very important roles. When it started, the detective novels were less violent, less bloody. She was also inspired a lot by the news. She liked to give her books popular American songs and we tried to find the equivalent in French like "Un jour tu verras".
How was she ?
Delicious. She adored people. We took her around France several times and she was always delighted because it was very important for her to meet her readers. Even if she didn't speak a word of French, people were always happy to see her. She was so smiling, she was adored. She knew how to stay very simple despite the success. I remember once when we rented her a white limousine, she was very excited to be treated like a star! Have you ever seen him get angry?
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I can't even imagine Mary Higgins Clark getting angry!
