“Coach who?”
» There are several among the organizers of the Melun Book and Old Paper Fair who do not know Joël Bouraïma, known as Coach Joe, sports teacher in the television show Star Academy, filmed for TF 1 in Dammarie-les-Lys.
And yet, he is among the invited authors of this 25th edition scheduled for this weekend, at L'Escale à Melun.
“We chose sport and the Olympic Games as the theme this year because Melun hosts the Hong Kong fencing team.
The idea is to bring in a sports author.
Our partner, Quentin Valverde, will receive Joël Bouraïma at the Fnac stand!
», rejoices Gilles Dion, the president of the association of Friends of Books and Old Papers of Melun, who himself admits not knowing him.
It does not follow the daily Star Ac, watched by 1.7 million viewers on average, according to Endemol France.
And Coach Joe is back for the second season!
“Attract young people”
Gillles Dion thus hopes to “diversify” his audience, “attract younger people”.
According to him, in 2023, this Melun event had attracted around 1,500 people in two days.
There were more than 2000 before the Covid pandemic.
“Followers have left or changed their habits, hence the idea of renewing the public.
In Melun, there is material because there are still three bookstores - Fnac, l'Escalier and Bulle de jeux - in addition to Carpe Librum whose creator, Dominique Enon, specialized in old and art books, will be here ".
The Melun Book and Old Paper Fair hopes to stem declining attendance.
DR
Coach Joe's autobiography ("Always give everything", from Talent éditions) is a success story, the story of a young man from Yvelines who dreamed of being a sports teacher and became a coach to celebrities like Omar Sy, Kanye West or Kim Kardashian in the United States.
“I had succeeded in being a sports teacher, but it quickly became a disillusionment.
I didn't necessarily find students happy to do it for two hours.
So I reoriented myself towards coaching for motivated people!
»And it’s a success.
“When people found out about my journey as a little guy from the suburbs who coaches personalities in Los Angeles, I received a lot of messages via social networks.
Hence this book to share my experience, motivate and boost as many young people as possible!
I wrote it in a very simple way, a bit like a conversation…”
Present on Saturday morning in Melun, he could also return to l'Escale on Sunday, "depending on how the signings go on Saturday morning".
His first dedication in a Salon
“It’s a book that pleases.
A positive reading, a source of inspiration, enthuses Quentin Valverde, the director of Fnac in Melun, partner of the Melun book fair since 2023. Someone who has given himself the means to get where he is.
It's an autobiography that makes you want to surpass yourself!
»
The editor of Coach Joe confirms: “Since the release of the book, Joël has taken the time to speak to everyone, in social centers, in middle schools, in high schools, as an example, to tell young people to believe in themselves and change. way if they don't like theirs, etc. This is his first dedication in a Book Fair.
Coach Joe also signs his books to young people in schools.
LP/Sophie Bordier
This weekend in Melun, the visitor will also find at the show forty booksellers (old and modern books, posters, comics, old papers, etc.), a dozen authors including the poets Romain Boulmé and Maxime, Emily B, Colette Llech , Souhila, Fabien Morin, Laurence Tournay (thrillers), Michel Saintillan (cartoonist), Christophe Carmona (author and illustrator), etc.
But also calligraphy, origami, coloring and games workshops with the Détours restaurant team.
Not forgetting an exhibition on the Olympic Games and models of illuminated cathedrals.
Students from Jacques-Amyot college will come and present their bookmark project for which they were rewarded.
Book and old paper fair, at l'Escale, avenue de la 7e DB in Melun, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
FREE ENTRANCE.