Balandier was born in Suresnes on 11 July 1952 and grew up in Paris, where he based many of his works.[4] He published his first poem in the journal Première Chance at the age of 14.[5] After a turbulent adolescence, he sought to become an educator, teaching at the Fleury-Mérogis Prison. There, he met fellow educator Patrick Chamoiseau, and the pair discovered affinities for writing.[6] He helped set up the first radio station broadcast from a French prison, called Radio D2. The channel quickly became popular, and featured the likes of Trust, Maxime Le Forestier, Georges Moustaki, Guy Hocquenghem, and others.
Balandier wrote his first novel in 1988. He also worked as a videographer for the Ministry of Justice and created approximately 40 audiovisual documents, including Sidamour, a report on the singer Barbara, who discussed a recital of women at the Fresnes Prison and talked about the issue of HIV/AIDS alongside a professor from the Pasteur Institute. In the years following, he devoted himself to writing and leading writing workshops.
Franck Balandier died on 17 December 2020 in Paris at the age of 68.[7]
