The Lost Seigneur is a sequel to the award-winning Chateau Laux.
It is the story of Jean-Pierre du Laux, a nobleman in southern France, who was wrongly imprisoned during a time of religious intolerance and subsequently endeavors to return to his family. Many years have passed since he saw them, and his long incarceration has broken his health.
Any reunion would clearly have been impossible, without the unlikely help of a youthful companion that he meets along the way.
Writing Interview Questions
Why did you choose to write your book in this era?
I have to think that the era chose me, rather than the other way around. The Protestant diaspora from France occurred in several waves over extended periods of time, with families fleeing to Germany, Switzerland, England, the American colonies, and other places where they sometimes lived for several generations before relocating. This made it difficult to trace the origins of the Laux surname, which I set about doing for a Laux family reunion that celebrated three hundred years in the United States. The paper took a deep look at the name origin and came up with some surprising results. During my research, I also learned about a shocking incident in my first-generation family in America that affected me deeply. This incident became the genesis of my first book, Chateau Laux, and subsequently of its sequel The Lost Seigneur.
Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?
Fortunately for me, the noble origin of the family name meant that narratives already existed in English, French and Latin. I read French, so that was not a problem, and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France helped with the Latin. One of the hardest things to find out was just how divided France was when it came to matters of religion. Most people know about the wars of religion between Catholics and Protestants, and how these wars not only divided the country but, in some cases, split families as well. But I dare say that few people are aware of the religious conflict that divided France well before the wars of religion. This conflict goes all the way back to the twelfth century with such groups as the Cathars, Waldensians and others offering different theological perspectives that challenged the dominant Catholic narrative, and even earlier if you include resistance to clerical abuses in general. The Cathars, in particular, ruffled Vatican feathers with their focus on Mary Magdalene, as opposed to Saint Peter. According to southern French mythology, Mary Magdalene fled to France and lived out her life there, after the death of Christ. I knew that my immigrating ancestors were Calvinists. But I was surprised to discover that the first several generations in this country had female children that they named Maria Magdalena at a time when both Catholics and Protestants considered Magdalene to be a fallen woman. I had to ask myself why a family would name their girls after a fallen woman, no matter how subsequently redeemed she might be. The answer of course is complicated and teases the imagination in interesting ways.
Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?
One of the things not covered in the book is that the du Laux family appears to be related to the same family group as the fictional Sir Lancelot du Lac of Arthurian fame.
If you had to describe your protagonist(s), in three words, what would those three words be and why?
Strong, resilient, compassionate.
What was the most challenging part about writing your book?
One of the most challenging parts about writing The Lost Seigneur was the patience it took to go through several drafts before arriving at the final version. After the publication of Chateau Laux, I was under a lot of pressure to follow with the sequel. The Lost Seigneur, however, would not be rushed.
Was there anything that you edited out of this book that would have drastically affected the story, should it be left in?
While the process of editing and rewriting left many bits and pieces in its wake, I can’t say that any of them would have been crucial enough to alter the story, had they been left in. That said, the question provokes thought regarding one of the thematic elements of The Lost Seigneur, which is the French word hasard, as depicted in the book’s front matter. The relevance of the word, as developed in the book, is that whereas God may offer us opportunities, we need the presence of mind to recognize them and the courage to embrace them. The book might not have suffered without this emphasis, in some people’s minds, but would have been diminished in my own estimation.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a book that would have to be categorized as a contemporary literary fiction with a historical emphasis. It involves the modern-day restoration of the château portrayed in Chateau Laux and The Lost Seigneur, which has fallen into disrepair after years of abandonment.
What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities?
Ability is relative. Just look at the wide range of publications from both mainstream and indie writers, and you will find a full bell curve of writing talent. If you have a story and want to tell it, then do so. Write as many drafts as you have to in order to tell the story the best you can. Then share it with readers and a good editor and listen to their advice. Sometimes bad writing just needs another draft or two to end up being something you will be proud of.
Personal Interview Questions
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I am a long-time tai chi practitioner, which I find very grounding. I also enjoy flyfishing, though time on the water seems increasingly rare these days.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I loved the outdoors and wanted to be anything that involved being out among the trees, water and fresh air.
What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?
Dinner tonight will be chicken and seafood jambalaya. This is my wife’s recipe, but most of the time I cook for her and enjoy any food that gives her pleasure.
What would be a perfect day?
I try not to be goal oriented, though this is difficult, as I am a writer. A perfect day would be out of doors in the heavy flush of spring, taking a walk through the woods, stopping by a shaded brook and meditating at the foot of a maple tree.
What is the best part of your day?
The best part of my day is in the morning, without a doubt.
Either or!
Tea or coffee: Coffee in the morning and tea at any other time
Hot or cold: Hot
Movie or book: Book
Morning person or Night owl: Morning person
City or country: I have lived in both but prefer the country (with apologies to friends who thrive in an urban environment)
Social Media or book: Book
Paperback or ebook: Paperback
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