MS forced me to change direction from writing to deadlines as a journalist, to creating new worlds of the imagination, albeit with a few bodies. Inspiring to see others rising to accept the rebuilding challenge. Overcoming MS in their unique way.
Author Archives: Roland Clarke
Armand Sabatier ~ Sidekick or Assassin?
English: Rancocas ( Helis Stock ) Farm is an American thoroughbred horse racing stud farm and racing stable located on Monmouth Road (County Road 537) in Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, Jobstown, New Jersey. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
As the winter snows threaten, I need to draw my interviews at Du Noroît Stud to a close. Arranging the final interviews has been a challenge – as head groom, Odette Fedon has a schedule that seems like 24/7, while I was beginning to feel that Armand Sabatier was as evasive as a wolf. Is that why he’s called Loup, French for wolf? However, he has finally agreed to talk on the understanding that he has the right to remain silent. (Although there are ways to unravel the mystery, here.)
Bonjour Armand. Many thanks for agreeing to talk about yourself. First, what was your life like growing up in France?
My childhood will always be a precious memory, even if life was hard for mes parents with four children. Our farm in the Cevennes provided more than enough to feed us well: l’agneau – the lamb, vegetables, and les châtaignes – chestnuts that my mother even used for bread. The region is beautiful, especially in the autumn with the trees. But it’s all no more. Just memories.
What went wrong? Did your parents lose the farm?
Non, but to see us educated they had to take other work and rent out the farm, as it wouldn’t sell. Now they live in Montpelier, je pense. My older brother, Laurent lives there but the rest of us… moved away.
L’Aigoual, near Cabrillac – Le lac du Salagou
This is all before ‘Spiral of Hooves’ begins? What made you leave?
Back in my teens I dreamt of helping the environment by finding safer ways of doing things in the Cevennes. I managed to get a degree in Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolution at the University of Montpelier, but then I… changed… careers.
A change of direction? In what way? Positive one, I hope.
Merde, je souffre. It hurts to remember. Just know that I failed badly, and betrayed the trust of my closest friends. The price was too high. Even now the guilt is too much… but I had to run. I still pay for mon erreur.
You came here to escape? Or to build a new future?
Especially in the Fall, this area reminds me of the home I abandoned. And my past is… buried. Gilles has given me a chance of… something better. Here my degree was a means to move on.
Is that why your new friends see you as a bookworm?
You misunderstand. The books and my qualifications are the future. Here I can forget… and move on.
But Roman Boissard believes that “the scruffy academic is a born criminal” because of your evasive manner. He wants your “contract terminated”. Yet, the others trust you. Are you concerned?
Non, Gilles always supports his friends. As he says, we are a team and when we move to his stud in England, we will be out of Roman’s way. Life will be better.
Fenburgh Stud, the one he found with Odette Fedon? So she’ll go as well and I can interview her there. Perhaps she won’t be so busy.
Exactement, she works too hard… as does Lina. I worry about them, but there is little I can do.
But you gave Lina a dog for protection. And although she sees Gilles as the hero, she sees you ‘Loup’ as his sidekick. By the way, why the nickname?
[Armand closes his eyes] Was it because I was stealthy? Perhaps. I forget. It’s just a name, but I like the idea of being a sidekick, un assistant. Peut-être, like Gilles’s Watson, as at university where I tried to help. Or maybe I’ll be like Sam in your favourite book. Although at what cost? Does somebody have to die again? Is this a murder mystery? I suspect that I will find out, too late as usual.
What sort of danger do you fear? Are you suggesting that you might be the one committing the crime? Or perhaps you’re a victim? Apologies if that is dragging up the past you want to forget.
[Armand shakes, then breathes slowly.] Too late, it already haunts me. I have learnt to count death as an unwelcome but ever present companion. The dead lurk in the shadows… as if I’m to blame for them all. Yet death can confront us at the end of a gun, crossing the street or riding a horse.
Marcel Pagnol (1895-1974) was a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I assure you that Armand Sabatier will be remembered, even if death comes back. Sorry, but it is an essential part of you. However, I will change the subject and ask who is your favourite author?
Merçi, and I will accept my fate, even if I have to reluctantly use force again. As for the author, my apologies it’s not Tolkien. It has to be someone French – you know French authors have won more Literature Nobel Prizes than those of any other nation. It’s tempting to quote one of those, but instead I will choose Marcel Pagnol. He wasn’t just a writer, but excelled in almost every genre – memoir, novel, play and film. Peut-être, you know him from ‘L’Eau des Collines’, the series based on his 1952 film ‘Manon des Sources’, which was remade by Claude Berri in 1986. Je suis désolé, I am sorry I’m getting all academic.
Except that is how everyone sees you. Don’t apologise. Just tell me, what are your three most prized possessions?
A photo of Cabrillac, where I grew up – customs wouldn’t allow me to bring a dried leaf into Canada. And I have two pieces of jewellery to remind me… [Armand lowers his head, tears forming in his eyes].
My apologies for dragging the past up, again. Merçi Armand, this has been a fascinating and insightful interview.
Non, merçi pour tout, it is not good to hide my guilt, especially when death still stalks me. Better to face what I will become. Maybe England will be an opportunity to absolve myself of my failure.
Cover credit: Danielle Sands
‘Spiral of Hooves’ is a murder mystery set against the competitive horse world. For further information click here.
Other interviews:
Carly Tanner ~ Leading Lady & Athlete
Gilles Boissard – heroic playboy?
Lina Jardero ~ Scientist & Adviser?
Major Roman Boissard ~ Entrepreneur or Thorn?
Forthcoming interviews:
Odette Fedon, Head groom at Du Noroît Stud
Peter Tanner, Architect & Trainer (England)
blood in the snow (Photo credit: Anosmia)
The Witching Hour Approaches
“Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world.”
Well it’s not quite midnight and I’m being all deceptive quoting Shakespeare on Halloween. The truth is that in just under an hour NaNoWriMo starts, at least for us in England. Those ahead of us will have started, in theory.
I even have a novel planned for this year’s November challenge, although I wish that I had spent more time on all the characters. At least ‘Tortuous Terrain‘ is a sequel to ‘Spiral of Hooves‘, my first soon-to-be-published novel, so some of the characters are familiar. So the chapter-by-chapter guide might see me to 50k by the end of the month.
In 2011 and 2012 I managed to write the magic 50,000 words – ‘The Last Leaf’ and ‘Wyrm Blood’ – and both are in the editing queue. Only problem this time is that we are going away for a few days around Thanksgiving, and my daily word count is well below 2,000 at the moment.
Well I’m up for the challenge, even if the rest of the household are no doubt dreading my mood swings. Maybe I should have trained a cat to write for me, instead of sleeping on the keyboard-job.
But it will be worth it, Well, I will try to convince everyone, especially myself.
And the clock is ticking. Now what were those opening lines? Must check Facebook one more time though…
Related articles
- NaNoWriMo (deannawa.wordpress.com)
- NaNoWriMo is Almost Here! (messagesfrommylife.wordpress.com)
- NaNoWriMo 2013 (juliexplores.wordpress.com)
Major Roman Boissard ~ Entrepreneur or Thorn?
English: Flag of Canadian Army (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’ve been apprehensive about interviewing Roman Boissard about his role in ‘Spiral of Hooves’ ever since he objected to my interview with Du Noroît Stud’s nutritionist, Lina Jardero. However, it is important to establish whether he is the interfering nuisance that his son, Gilles makes out, or whether the family equestrian business is his creation and dependent on him.
Monsieur Roman Boissard, many thanks for making time to see me…
Major Boissard to you. And you are late. Your appointment was last week, Clarke. I presume that you were never in the army otherwise you would show more respect. Army discipline would sort out your sloppy ideas.
Of course, Major. Can I ask what you did in the Canadian Army?
All I can divulge is that I was posted on covert operations with front-line combat regiments. Essential work that must remain confidential. Move on to the next question, I am a busy man.
Did you establish the family equestrian enterprise, Boissard Équestre with your son?
Tabernac, I formed Boissard Équestre on my own, without any help from my useless playboy son or those who exploit him… most of them foreigners that don’t understand us.
Who are your closest friends?
My business partners, like Patrick Harfang. We play golf together at our country club near Bromont. I trust them more than my son. Patrick is a sharp businessman, who can turn any failing business round and make it far more profitable than it ever was.
So you would consider this Patrick Harfang as like part of “your tribe”?
Of course. I can always trust his advice. It’s sound. The reverse of my wastrel son, Gilles.
What would you have to do to get kicked out of this club?
A ridiculous scenario and one that would be unmotivated.
Before the novel began, what were your hopes for the future? What changed that?
My dream was for Boissard Équestre to produce first-class horses for the Canadian Equestrian Team. But everything that I have tried to achieve has been opposed by my son and his under-qualified team. What use is a University degree when it ignores the scientific advances of prominent businesses? Lina Jardero is a total fraud.
But Gilles has said, “Papa is merely a nuisance”. The implication being that you are at fault?
Calisse, if I wanted I could make his life messy, but there are sensible options, if he would only listen to me. I am a reasonable man.
53/365: Over the hills and far away (Photo credit: Rrrodrigo)
So what do you think is going to happen next? Can you reach an agreement with your son?
If he knows where his real loyalties lie. And those loyalties are not to his so-called friends. Who are they anyway? A salope groom that merely wants his money, a failed scientist that risks the horses with her experiments, and a scruffy academic that is a born criminal.
You are suggesting that Armand Sabatier is dangerous, so you don’t trust him?
He tries to take advantage of us with his pitiful moods. He’s too shifty and evasive, pretending to help everyone. Maybe I should have his contract terminated. I’m not even sure that he’s allowed to work in Canada.
By termination, you don’t mean murder? Your son suggested that you might kill someone, but not Armand, surely?
If I want him off the stud, I have easier ways to remove him. Now, if you want a suspect and if it isn’t my son, then the Frenchman would be ideal. However, I don’t think he has the brains to use anything other than a computer. A born failure, as an academic and probably as a criminal.
What was your most shattering, and most recent encounters with death?
In the military I saw my share of death, and it needs to end there. As I’ve said, I’m a reasonable man for whom killing is only a last resort and in combat. Life is sacred.
I accept that you have been misrepresented by others. In that respect, what’s your greatest talent?
As an entrepreneur, to always find the most cost effective but also most cutting-edge ways forward. That is why I was very keen to proceed with the trials of genetically-modified feed. And despite the critics close to home, the breeding stock look excellent and the financial projection is positive. The business has great prospects. As a family-man, to provide for my family, even Gilles.
Gilles sees himself in the hero role, ignoring the fact that a protagonist can always be female. What about yourself, are you heroic?
I have the military training to be a hero, but I fear that my age might be against me. Writers, like you, want young dynamic heroes and I suspect that means my son. Or are you suggesting that your novel features some trendy heroine protagonist? You can’t mean Jardero or that useless groom Fedon? That would be laughable – it will never sell.
Harrison Ford at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I think I have an age advantage over you, Major Boissard. Even if I lack the military discipline. Are you applying for the protagonist position?
Dare you ask? I have all the qualifications, even if others want to condemn me. If my favourite actor, Harrison Ford can still be the hero then I accept the promotion.
Thank you, Major Boissard for the valuable insight into your true personality. I have other candidates for the position, but I will assess your credentials with due consideration.
As long as you are not seriously considering my son. Tabernac, that would be a major mistake, even if he has his leeches.
Forthcoming interviews:
Odette Fedon, Head groom at Du Noroît Stud
Armand Sabatier, Du Noroît Stud EIA researcher
Other ‘Spiral of Hooves’ interviews:
Carly Tanner ~ Leading Lady & Athlete
Gilles Boissard – heroic playboy?
Lina Jardero ~ Scientist & Adviser?
Studs o’ Death (Photo credit: Anthony DeLorenzo)
Related articles
- Canada’s first equestrian gold medal (olympic.ca)
IF THIS DOESN’T BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES, YOU’RE MADE OF ROCK
A wonderful video that always move me.
Liebster Award
Surprises are great to receive, well as long as they are special like this one. Recently I received a Liebster Award nomination and I am very grateful to my blogging friend Jennifer Chow. This nomination inspires me to keep this blog going, even though there are days when I am ready to quit. Don’t we all have those down moments?
Although I have seen blogs that have received the Liebster Award, I was not fully aware of what it entailed or how it had come about.
Jennifer’s friend and nominator, Evelyne Holingue says, “Liebster comes from the German verb Lieben, which means to love. Liebster is the superlative form of the adjective lieb, which means kind, likeable, lovely. As a noun liebster also means sweetheart and boyfriend. Ah the complexities of the German language! As I understand it, the Liebster Award is like a little gift from one blogger to another.”
The Basic Rules are:
1. Write a post about the nomination and link back to the nominator’s site.
2. In that post, explain the meaning of the award and answer the questions given to you.
3. Create questions for your nominees.
4. Nominate 5 blogs with fewer than 1000 followers.
5. Contact nominees and let them know that you have nominated them.
6. Post the award button on your blog.
The Questions to me:
Do you remember your first blog post?
It was back in 2011, when I asked “How Green Are The Squirrels?” on the first Blog page started with my wife, The Duskweald. Since then the site has changed and this site, ‘Writing Wings’ has appeared – in May 2012 – and evolved. The squirrels blog was more about our home, lifestyle and dealing with the squirrels who were digging up our tomatoes, than about writing.
Why are you blogging?
Too keep my brain active. On ‘Writing Wings’ I try to focus on blogging about my writing journey, the ups & downs, but also about things that inspire or annoy me. Lately I have been trying to interview some of the characters in my first soon-to-be published novel, “Spiral of Hooves”.
What do you like best and least about blogging?
I enjoy being inspired to write short pieces that are a change from my novel-writing; even the interviews are a break. I can spend a day or two focused on a piece, and then have it published online in a short time. However, I hate feeling the need to write a blog every week or more often. It is worse when there are other things impacting on my life, whether it’s health issues or just other assignments – like the Course Assignment from last week, to design a computer game. But that might make an interesting blog post, sometime soon.
What blogs do you like to follow?
I tend to follow blogs by other writers, whether they are ones by authors giving invaluable advice or by writers setting out on their journey, like me. We are always learning, however much we already know or have had published. I also follow a few sites by avid readers, mainly in the crime and fantasy genres. However, if I find a blogger who writes about inspirational topics then I will follow that site.
Harlech Castle (Photo credit: BrotherMagneto)
What would you like to share with your readers that they might not know about you?
Hard question as ‘Writing Wings’ as a site is riddled with home truths, as well as an About Me that tries to fill some of the gaps. Some of you might be unaware of my link to North America, beyond the fact that part of my education was at a British school north of Montreal. While there, I went on a white water expedition, the first known descent by ‘white-men’ of the Beaver River in the Yukon. By linking to my wife’s Duskweald site, you will know that she is from Idaho, USA, and her family are there and in Utah. Don’t you?
If money, job and family weren’t an issue where would you live and why?
Ever since I gave up my landed-immigrant status in Canada – yes I should have mentioned that one – I’ve had an urge to go back and live there. Visiting Idaho with its mountains, made me want to stay, but with my health that would be a non-starter. Mountains though are not confined to North America. We have them in the British Isles. So having resolved the money issue, retired and received the blessings of the family, we are moving to North Wales next spring. There we will have fresh air, the sea, a castle and Snowdonia. And there are ways for the family that count to visit.
Have you learned more from your successes or failures?
The failures feel more prominent at times so I suppose they are the strongest lessons. But every twist and turn in life is part of the learning, and none are more important. It’s the overall experiences that we gather as our life quest unfolds. A perfect opportunity to point you all to the poem “Ithaca” by C.P. Cavafy. This inspirational article on “Ithaca” also links to Sean Connery reading the poem, with music by Vangelis. Inspiration for a game perhaps, or at least a blog post.
What is your idea of a day lived to its fullest?
An inspirational day spent outdoors with my wife, enjoying the majesty and richness of nature, preferably in the mountains or by a tumbling river. Ending with a fine, light meal watching “Lord of the Rings”. Then getting up next day refreshed and inspired to write thousands of words.
What one key message do you want your readers to take away from your blog?
That it’s never too late to start doing something that you really feel the need to do. In fact, start before it slips away and you regret the lost time.
Do you prefer the book to the movie or the movie to the book?
I tend to prefer the book, but a clever film-maker can capture the essence of a book and give it new life. “Lord of the Rings”, for instance, is my all-time favourite book but Peter Jackson and his team managed to create an image of Middle Earth that resonated with me. However, a film can never have the depth of a book as it is restricted by cinema time. When done well the two media complement each other. Remediation has been happening since the first stories were told, then written down. Words, paintings, tapestries, films and now video games all combine to create a rich milieu.
On to my Questions:
Why did you choose your Blog name?
What are your aims and ambitions in writing a Blog?
Where do you find your inspiration?
What do you like best and least about blogging?
What inspires you to follow another Blog?
What is your favourite book and favourite movie?
Is a book always better than the movie? Can they be compared?
What is your best quality?
Where have you dreamed of living and why?
Are you always learning from life?
What one key message do you want your readers to take away from your blog?
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
My Nominees:
1. Another writer’s journey, one-step ahead of me. Vikki is one of my inspirational Municipal Liasons for NaNoWriMo: http://the-view-outside.com/
2. The author of one of my recent best reads, “Oracle”, J C is the fighter-writer that keeps me plugging on: http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/
3. Elizabeth is a versatile writer tackling non-fiction, short stories and now a novel. Always thoughtful words: http://elizabethducie.blogspot.co.uk/
4. Ailsa is an author, biker, knitter and shaman, which means there is never a dull moment… just plenty of fun: http://ailsaabraham.com/
5. Nicole’s adventures in Science and Science Fiction are informative and entertaining. A prolific reader and knowledgeable about science: http://nicolepoweleit.wordpress.com/
Finally, although Jennifer Chow had told me all she knew about Liebster, I Googled the Award and found this interesting link: http://lorrainemariereguly.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/the-liebster-award-the-official-rules-my-first-blog-award-and-a-few-personal-secrets-revealed/
I haven’t abided totally by these rules – sure some of the nominees have 1,000+ followers – but I feel that variety is meant to be the spice of life. If I have nominated you, then you might want to try your own version of the recipe.
Here then is one version of:
The Official Rules Of The Liebster Award
If you have been nominated for The Liebster Award AND YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, write a blog post about the Liebster award in which you:
1. Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.
2. Display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (Note that the best way to do this is to save the image to your own computer and then upload it to your blog post.)
3. Answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you.
4. Provide 11 random facts about yourself.
5. Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have a less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!)
6. Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer.
7. List these rules in your post. (You can copy and paste them from here.)
Once you have written your post, and published it, you then have to:
8. Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post so that they can learn about it (they might not have ever heard of it!)
The post adds that you can nominate someone who already has been given this award, as long as they have less than 1000 followers/subscribers.
Until next time this is the Silver Scribbler signing off and getting in his wheelchair.
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- What its all about? (emilierappeneau.wordpress.com)
- My favorite fictional heroes and more: Liebster Award (bekindrewrite.com)
- PAR Article: 40,000 students worldwide are studying Lord of the Rings Online and you can too (penny-arcade.com)
