I'm delighted to resume the portraits' series with you, the Amalthea family, and to share your stories, which inspire me and give me confidence in the future
Maud is a bundle of energy. Her good humor lights up the boutique every time she passes by. Always a little (much) rushed, she runs between appointments
Ecology and good humor drive her. She uses them in her many personal and professional projects
With Violaine, they created a | online media | to share their advice. Two years ago, Maud also launched into publishing with style, panache, and humor. Today, she releases the second volume of her Hervée series
Below, I invite you to discover my interview with Maud, who tells us Hervée's story, her adventure in publishing, her love of nature, and how she reconciles city life with environmental commitments. Zero guilt, good humor guaranteed
How did you come up with the idea for Hervée? What drove you to this publishing adventure?
I was a little fed up with seeing ecology told only from a guilt-inducing or ultra-technical angle. I wanted a different tone. Something lighter, more embodied, and above all, more human.
I can see that, in my circle, more and more people are becoming impervious to ecological discourse. And I admit that worries me a little :)
So with Hervée, I try to maintain a connection. A possible language with those who are fed up with the injunctions, but who might still be open to a good joke about apple cores
And publishing? It came somewhat by surprise, after a client of my consulting practice decided to terminate their contract with a publishing house
Around me, I saw more and more authors dissatisfied with their relationship with their publishing house. Not because these organizations are incompetent—far from it—but because they are often too large to be able to change a system that, unfortunately, still poorly compensates authors, photographers, illustrators, and more. So, with Ahaha Éditions, I wanted to try something different. A more flexible, fairer model. And above all, to build it with the authors, not for them
What is your connection with Nature?
So... with myself
Because I am nature too
Thanks to Bruno Latour, I understood that there isn't, on one side, humanity, and on the other, nature. We're all caught in the same net, as he so aptly puts it. So yes, I feel fully connected to nature because I'm part of it. Quite simply
How do you reconcile city life and your environmental commitment?
It's a balancing act. But I've stopped seeking perfection
I'm not 100% zero waste, I'm not always consistent, but I'm moving forward. I do what I can, and I try to do it with joy. For me, urban ecology isn't about wallowing in guilt—it's about finding actions that connect us. Hunting for a piece of clothing, cooking leaves, growing herbs on your balcony, chatting with your cheesemaker...
And above all: cultivating desire rather than fear
Why do you stay loyal to Amalthea?
Because I'm completely addicted to | your Plum oil |(first),
because you opened my eyes to | PFAS |,
and because being able to refill your bottles at your place is, for me, the holy grail of commitment
Merci Amalthea
Ahaha Editions website: www.ahahaeditions.com/
Photos by Amalthea (1st one) and by Maud Zilnyk
