Ville Noire 2.0

In 1997, the booklet Villefranche Ville Noire appeared — an initiative by Joël Causse, then owner of La Folle Avoine, the general bookshop in Villefranche. Ten well-known authors of the time were asked to write a murder story set in Villefranche-de-Rouergue. They rose to the task admirably; some of the stories are very special, written from unexpected angles. A true collector’s item.

Attentive readers, however, discovered that a number of authors had never actually been to Villefranche. It can be done differently.

Authors who stay at Villa des Mots will no doubt want to explore Villefranche to clear their heads — and they will discover that the town has far more remarkable places than the arcaded square by the collegiate church. Who knows, they might find inspiration for a short murder story.

You are under no obligation to deliver a story, but if you feel like it, we will publish it here on the site so your work is read. Laurence from Le Moulin des Merveilles, who is also a publisher, and Hanneke will choose — if there are enough contributions — the ten best to bundle into a collection, with stories in the original language and in French.