Secret pages of Mrs. Sylvia

Sylvie Verbaldiová is an inconspicuous, overweight woman approaching forty, an overlooked secretary, mother to two teenage sons, wife of a depressed down-and-out, and a kind neighbour who cares for her quirky, elderly neighbour Mireille every day. One day, Sylvie secretly starts writing a story for her own amusement about an unbridled heroine, a seductress and avenger named Charlotte – the words pour out of her, and she feels a great sense of relief and satisfaction. She becomes completely engrossed in writing, doing it at work, during her lunch break in the car park of a shopping centre, and in the evenings and at night at her unsuspecting neighbour's house.
But one day, someone smashes her car window and steals her computer, along with the story-in-progress about Charlotte. For Sylvie, it's an utter tragedy, until she's contacted by a publisher from Bordeaux who is thrilled with the text she sent him and wants to publish it. Sylvie has no idea how this could have happened, but eventually agrees to the publication. And so begins a completely new chapter in her life. Because when a literary character doesn't just stay on the page but literally gets under the author's skin, anything is possible.
Translated by Hana Davidová.