A Tale of Two Countries

Born and educated in France and a long- time U.S. citizen, Pierre Delerive cherishes both nationalities. His Parisian friends call him “L’Américain” whilst in New York he is normally referred to as a Frenchman. In reality he is truly at home in both countries and regards himself as bi-culturally rich.

This is not the only duality in Pierre’s life: after a career as a marketing executive in France, Germany, Belgium, England and finally the U.S. he one day made the decision to forgo the rewards of business and commence a second life as a novelist and screenwriter. Writing had been his passion since childhood and it simply couldn’t be suppressed any longer. He regards his observations of that unique American spirit of “can do/go for it” as a final inspiration in taking such a life-altering decision.

 

As a writer, Pierre discovered that he could draw from his two cultures. While his approach to the characters in his novels is French in its search for layers of personality, foibles and inner conflicts, he draws from American literature, movies and quite simply life to create exciting stories.

This approach proved highly practical when Pierre adapted his novel Simple Soldat for the screen (The movie, which he also directed, was re-titled Le Fusil de Bois) Novels allow deeper explorations of the characters and their motivations, while movies, usually more action-driven, are often defined by more one-dimensional characters while demanding a more disciplined structure. Writing the same story as a novel and as a screenplay creates the opportunity to improve both, he found.

Pierre’s career took an unexpected turn when theater producer Robin Lane read the English translation of his novel Te souviens-tu de moi? now Do you remember me? and urged him to write its stage adaptation, a first for him. This venture led to a public reading at the National Arts Club and, later, to Pierre’s admission into the Playwrights and Directors Unit of the iconic Actors Studio.

Pierre often dreams of living in the country where he could indulge his love of nature, dogs and horses and let Miles Davis play without worrying about the neighbors, but his anchor is firmly in Manhattan, the most stimulating city in the world and the place where, one lucky day, some years ago, he met his wife. He was chatting, glass in hand, in the garden of the James Beard club, when a woman’s voice behind him enquired: “Do I hear a French accent?” Turning around he met Toni, a lovely and talented painter (tonisart.com) and was instantly smitten. Together they share a loft in TriBeCa.

Pierre is an avid world traveler, but doesn’t forget his roots. When he takes his annual trip to Reunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean where his children and their families live, he always stops in France on the way back and spends time with old friends in Paris, Brittany or Provence. After a few days of reunions, laughter, good food, great wines and visits to the old haunts however, he is always happy to return home to Toni and his other true passion: writing.

To learn more about Pierre watch his TV interview.