Argyle Empire's Interview with SR –January 2014

Welcome Everyone! We are happy to present this interview with SR as The Gabriel Trilogy ends and The Florentine Series begins. The interview questions were submitted by moderators of Argyle Empire and the SRFans Twitter accounts from around the world. We forwarded the questions to SR, who graciously responded.

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Argyle Empire: Has the Dante Society of America or any other academic institution approached you or commented on the content of the lectures given in the Gabriel Series? If so, what did they think of them?

SR: Hello Argyle Empire. I want to thank each of you for your continued support. It’s much appreciated.


No, I haven’t heard from the Dante Society. But I think the local government of Florence is happy with the increased travel because of my books.


Argyle Empire: If Julia could tell your readers anything once they've finished all the books, what would she say?

SR: I think she would say that her journey began with compassion and care. She had compassion on Gabriel the first time she met him, and then later, she chose to forgive him when she could have written him off or held a grudge. I think her life is a testament to what can happen when you forgive others.


Argyle Empire: Was there anything you had to leave out – a scene or character musings – in the Gabriel series that would’ve been fun to write, but just wouldn’t fit?

SR: I enjoy writing Katherine Picton. Anything involving her would have been great. But I also enjoy writing Gabriel when he’s fighting with someone. I think an extended exchange between he and Pacciani at a Dante conference would have been most entertaining.


Argyle Empire: You've created a strong character in Gabriel. He's a hard act to follow up (even though he'll be guesting in The Raven). Do you have concerns that subsequent main male characters may not have the same “wow” factor?

SR: I’m hopeful that if current and new readers give “The Raven” a chance, they’ll like the characters. Certainly, The Prince of Florence has much to recommend him …


Argyle Empire: Prior to the release of Gabriel’s Redemption, it was noted by some that Julia never seems to drive herself anywhere. We know Paul brought this very thing up to Julia in the third book and that they discussed the matter, but we’re curious if this was a character trait deliberately chosen for Julia (and, if so, why)? Or is it that it just never really worked out for Julia to drive herself anywhere?

SR: Julia’s poverty was such that she couldn’t afford a car. She lived without one in Selinsgrove and Philadelphia. And in downtown Toronto she didn’t need one as she could walk to the university. The first time we see her having a car of her own is in “Gabriel’s Redemption,” and she explains what happened next …


Argyle Empire: Would there be a spin-off/novella/special outtake for the other characters such as Rachel, in the future?

SR: A lot of readers have been asking about this, which both surprised and pleased me. I like Rachel and Aaron and would be interested in exploring their story. I’m glad that readers would like to see more of them.


Argyle Empire: We know that the Gabriel Series literary centerpiece was Dante's work. What can you tell us about The Raven? Are you building it around a different masterpiece?

SR: There are a couple of sources in the background for “The Raven,” including the work of Edgar Allan Poe and Shakespeare’s “Othello.” Botticelli’s “Primavera” will also play an important role.

Argyle Empire: Why did you pick "Raven" for the title of your next novel?

SR: I’m afraid I can’t answer that at the moment, but the title has more than one meaning, which will become clear later.


Argyle Empire: What made you tap into the paranormal world?

SR: The Gabriel Series Trilogy pursues themes of forgiveness, hope, and redemption. In “The Raven,” the primary themes are justice and mercy. Of course, like all my writing, hope and redemption will also be present, but I wanted to pursue darker themes and it was necessary to do that in an underworld.


Argyle Empire: Your novels so far, (as well as The Raven) have a great deal of action occurring in Florence. Do you have any other locations in mind for future novels?

SR: France and Spain come readily to mind. I’ve always been fond of Paris and Barcelona.


Argyle Empire: When you start writing a book, do you already know how the story ends?

SR: Yes. I think this is essential – you need to have a goal in mind.


Argyle Empire: Your novels have large doses of sensuality and eroticism, but also a strong moral and religious component. Have you been criticized for using both aspects?

SR: Yes. I’m chuckling as I write this because writers receive criticism for a whole host of things, some of which is completely unrelated to writing. 

If there were a line in the sand I would draw, it would be this one. Our culture wants to chop human beings up into two parts – body and soul - and treat those parts as if they have nothing to do with one another. Consequently, people want eroticism without spirituality or spiritually without eroticism.

I reject these alternatives in favour of a holistic view of a human being, such that body and soul are integrated and inseparable. So sexuality and spiritually go together in my writing because I think they go together in human beings. The sacrament of marriage is one example of this. The transcendent ecstasy of an orgasm is another.

I’ve written about this here: http://www.sylvainreynard.com/2011/08/dante-sex-and-god.html


And here: http://www.sylvainreynard.com/2011/06/literature-book-of-common-prayer.html

I should mention that if you listen to the music of Mumford and Sons, you’ll encounter songs that embrace both eroticism and spirituality. Certainly, if you read the novels of Graham Greene he includes both. And Dante’s love of Beatrice is inextricably linked to his love of God. Recall that she’s the one who worries about the state of his soul when he approaches middle age, and she begs Virgil to guide Dante through Hell.

So in summary, this is what I write and I’m not likely to change.

Mumford & Sons - Below My Feet




Argyle Empire: Do the literary and art references incorporated fit in after you imagine the scene/dialogue or do you write a scene or dialogue to talk about them?

SR: Both, but it depends on the scene. Sometimes a scene lends itself to an artistic reference from the outside and on other occasions, the reference comes to me after the first draft.


Argyle Empire: What subject would you *not* choose to write about for a novel?

SR: Actuarial science and taxation are subjects I’d avoid.


Argyle Empire: As music is an integral element of the Gabriel novels, we’re wondering whether you're a musician yourself? If so, which instruments do you play?

SR: I’ve been known to play an instrument on occasion, but I’d rather not toot my own horn.


Argyle Empire: If you could entertain one author that has influenced you or your writing for dinner, and pick his/her brain - who would that be, and why?

SR: Dante and Virgil would be excellent dining companions, but no dinner would be complete without Beatrice.

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All our thanks to Sylvain Reynard for agreeing to the interview and, as always, for giving such thoughtful responses. Thanks also to the other moderators who submitted questions. We hope you enjoyed it!

~Cranberry, Mango, Iris and Coco
Argyle Empire

SR like's Christopher Walken's Cow Bell, so how about his Poe? ;-)

Edgar Allan Poe: The Raven (Narrated by Christopher Walken)



Link to The Florentine Series by Sylvain Reynard Pinterest Board

Link to Songs in or inspired by The Florentine Series by Sylvain Reynard Youtube Playlist

UPDATE:
Translations of Interview:

Spanish: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3mzNHOgsLgAbkx5cmdBbDhCLWs/edit

Romanian: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ic1KkKU__9SHZcR-8sw7YfGEKKllKuqiawG3LTMsfLo/edit?usp=sharing

German/Deutch: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hr5YqdElWr0Qu1jFt_ZY3-fIFloyEld8f-t0sRNsXaw/edit?usp=sharing

Portuguese Brazil: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yxJrD9Oev0Ak0fUFBmGWP1btcBu92jDlxSjhZfVAFho/edit

Italian:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/173V5js5djoGFQHjUA1zDseQoT5dfx7sBvXE74cZGpKc/edit?usp=sharing

Russian: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aefOnJzEPtl3B3bkvMUsK6VhqSqD5_QCbTVQrfY-3bs/edit?usp=sharing

French: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PcGGGj1ufQspoKIk0l0DrnDvrcXtrukr-xNz-eBJXfk/edit?usp=sharing

Charity Tuesday: TACA (Talk About Curing Autism) Fundraiser Opens

Hello Everyone,

Recently, we were approached by Efrat about the possibility of promoting a fundraiser she is hosting to benefit TACA. You may remember her emotional post from earlier in the summer when Argyle Empire highlighted Autism Speaks and you can read her experience with TACA below. 

Efrat recently won a set of signed copies of Gabriel's Inferno and Gabriel's Rapture. She wants to pay her win forward by raising money for one of her favorite charitable organizations and allowing someone else the opportunity to own an autographed set of SR's books. In addition, Efrat will match the highest bidding amount, so your actual donation automatically will be doubled.

Argyle Empire and Bookish Temptations are happy to help promote this wonderful event and are happy to announce that between September 10 and 15, there will be an online auction held to benefit TACA. Not only will you have the chance to support a wonderful cause, you will have the chance to win a signed set of books!

• If you are interested in making a bid, you can fill out the online auction form here. 
• The minimum bid is $40.00 (U.S.)
• Highest bid will be matched, so your gift will automatically be doubled.

Please take a few moments to help spread the word about this wonderful cause and participate if you can.

Take Care and Thank You,

Jenn

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TACA (Talk About Curing Autism)

Mission Statement: Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating, empowering and supporting families affected by autism. For families who have just received the autism diagnosis, TACA aims to speed up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments. TACA helps to strengthen the autism community by connecting families and the professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help improve the quality of life for people with autism.

Website:http://www.tacanow.org/

Twitter: @TACAfoundation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkaboutcuringautism

It all begins with a stick. A stick that shows a ‘plus’ sign, or two lines, or whatever image the manufacturer deemed worthy to indicate a happy event.

It’s that glorious moment when a parent begins to imagine the perfect future of an expectant child. How the child will begin to crawl, walk and talk and the exactly right milestones, how they will grow up being liked and having many friends, how they will excel at school and be accepted into a prestigious college, how they will marry and have children of their own… Each parent has their own dreams, but common throughout is the quest for happiness for their children. It’s a quest for their child to have an easy life, with as little difficulty possible.

But for some parents, that dream begins to crumble somewhere along the way. It might be when they realize their precious child, their own creation, is not responding to his or her name, or not making eye contact. It could be when other children begin talking but their child does not. It might be when their child spends their time alone, reading books, or playing with trucks, while other children play tag. And even scarier, when their child spends a majority of the time looking at spinning objects, covering their ears at what seems to be normal-pitched sounds or throw temper tantrums at random places and times.

These people are parents to a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex neurological disorder that is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulty in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. It affects 1:88 children, and some say that statistic is even higher. Sadly, this number just keeps growing.

The diagnosis of a child with Autism is devastating to a parent. Not only because it shatters their dream of their child’s easy and happy life, but also because it seemingly destroys any fragments of hope for the child’s future.

My son was diagnosed 2 years ago, just before he was 3 years old. It was a devastating and an emotional shock. At that time, we had no idea whether our perfect little angel would even be able to lead a healthy and productive life, as his developmental delay was just too big and his behaviors were irregular. In addition, we didn’t know what do with it – how to treat it or how to speed recovery up. There was an overwhelming sea of information that required extra mental strength to even delve into.

Luckily for us, there was TACA.

‘Talk About Curing Autism’ (TACA) is an organization that is dedicated to educating, empowering and supporting families affected by Autism. For families who have just received the autism diagnosis, TACA aims to speed up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments. TACA helps to strengthen the autism community by connecting families and the professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help improve the quality of life for people with autism.

For my family, TACA has been a savior. Through their various seminars, online articles and general ongoing support, we were able to find a path to recovery, and most importantly – hope. Hope that one day, our son will lead a productive and independent life.

Their support throughout our journey was, and still is, priceless. Be it through their personal mentoring program, online parent support or various hosted events.

In addition, the friends I’ve made through TACA are mine forever, and have been a rock during tough times as well as happy ones, as I am for them. These are friendships that will always last, as this destiny and path we’ve taken binds us all.

I still keep in touch with TACA, and use their vast sources of information to keep up-to-date with the newest advancements in technology. In fact, I think they will always be a part of my family, and my son.

Please, help me support this wonderful charity, that helps so many nationwide, and will continue to help many others in the future!

~ Efrat

Sin and The Serpent: Paradise Lost and The Garden of Eden

Hello Everyone,

We are pleased to share another special guest post with you today.

Terry, whom you probably know as @Terry the Nurse on Twitter, is indeed a nurse, though she also has a degree in History and a graduate degree in Human Communication.

Previously, Terry shared her thoughts on Abelard and Heloise and their place in the story of Gabriel and Julia, as well as her thoughts on Madame Butterfly and her cameo in Gabriel's Inferno. The response to her pieces was enthusiastic and we're thrilled she is able to share more of her insights on the series.

Enjoy and Take Care,
Jenn

Sin and The Serpent: Paradise Lost and The Garden of Eden

As most of you know now, SR symbolically uses the theme of The Garden of Eden as the backdrop to his passion- filled story of The Professor and Julia. After reading Chapter One of Gabriel’s Redemption, several of my friends and SR’s readers asked me about the connection to Milton’s Paradise Lost. In this post I would like to discuss some of the symbolism and the connection to Inferno, Rapture, (and what we know of Redemption) to The Garden of Eden and Milton’s epic poem.   Several comments following the posting of the first chapter of Redemption on SR’s website reflected some concern about the mention of Paradise Lost in relation to what happens to Gabriel and Julia in the third book. In reality, however, Milton’s theme of the Serpent, Adam and Eve, and the expulsion from Paradise has been running through the books since the Professor said, “Miss Mitchell!!” Right from the onset, the Garden of Eden has metaphorically trickled through the text.

While the Garden of Eden plays prominently in the Judeo-Christian tradition, it’s worth a quick mention of the main characters and what they symbolize.

Of course, we all know that Adam is the first man created by God, and Eve was created from his rib to be his partner. Eden is also referred to as Paradise, and the Selinsgrove orchard, where so many key scenes take place in Inferno and Rapture as well as the only place Gabriel feels true comfort, is a metaphor for the Edenic Paradise. The nakedness of both Adam and Eve are representative of innocence which ends once both have eaten the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Life. It is perhaps the only place Gabriel feels true innocence – remember that it is the only time Gabriel feels no need for seduction when he first takes Julia there.

The Serpent is emblematic of seduction and sin and appears frequently in both books.  Indeed, Gabriel has tattooed the serpent (or dragon) on his chest – a reminder of his self-perception as one who is corrupting and sinful. We know that Gabriel, especially in Inferno, perceives himself as a “magnet for sin,” unable to overcome the seductive qualities of meaningless and empty sensuality. It is interesting to me that the serpent is subtly mentioned in one of our favorite love scenes in Inferno – the office kiss after the seminar fiasco. If you catch the Edenic references scattered throughout, you know that there will be trouble in Paradise, because SR is hinting at it even as the relationship begins. Consider this very revealing line:

“She was silent as she felt the energy between them shift, like a serpent circling back on itself, swallowing itself whole, anger and passion feeding off of one another. (Inferno, p.236.)

The mention of the serpent, so evil, so seductive, in the midst of the intense romantic connection that we all impatiently waited for is a hint that things just may not be what they seem.  In fact, Gabriel refers to himself as a “fallen angel” – a term which many believe represents the serpent before he became jealous of God’s relationship to Adam and Eve.

The Tree of Life (sometimes called The Tree of Knowledge in the Judaic tradition) is frequently thought to be an apple tree. In fact, apples themselves are also considered symbolic of knowledge, and this reference is frequently used by SR throughout the books.  I propose that the apple references are an accentuation of both Gabriel’s and Julia’s growing and developing self-knowledge as they progress through their turbulent interpersonal relationship.  Earlier in the story, when Gabriel is battling his inner demons, the apple can be understood to be one of two things – either sin (as Gabriel himself refers to it when he proposes to Julia) or as a hint of the coming redemption brought by Gabriel’s increasing faith and  an accepting knowledge of himself, his mistakes,  and his flaws. In the Christian interpretation, many perceive The Tree of Life as symbolic of Jesus and the eventuality of the redemption He brings. With Gabriel’s growing spirituality, I suggest that the silver apple charm that he gives to Julia signifies their mutual connection to the orchard and all it represents to them both, his love for Julia, and his respect for Julia’s intellectual ability (at least as far as Chapter 2!) Even his gift to her – a homemade pie – is an apple pie.

In the epic poem Paradise Lost, Milton focuses on Adam and Eve’s disobedience and fall from grace. With multiple references to archangels, including Raphael, Michael, and of course Gabriel, the story is far more involved and complicated than what we read in Genesis. Written in the 17^th century, it is not necessarily an easy read in its original form.  But the themes are timeless, as are the themes in Inferno and Rapture (and undoubtedly in Redemption). Choice vs. change, forgiveness vs. revenge, mercy, facing the consequences of our actions, and intimidation as a form of persuasion are all revealed in the poem as well as our own lives. A recurring theme is also Eve’s “status” – is she less than Adam or somehow secondary? Subordinate since she was created after Adam? Should this be taken figuratively or literally? Is she weak, or is she merely human? Are women the first “sinners?”

Perhaps more relevant to the love story between Julia and Gabriel is the long-held concept of the Tree of Knowledge bearing forbidden fruit. Is there anything more magnetic, more appealing, or more erotic than forbidden love, desiring the one person you can’t have? (Personally, I don’t think so, and obviously Gabriel would agree.)  Therefore, while we know that the Garden of Eden is the primal backdrop to our favorite story of forbidden love, I would suggest that the concept I would emphasize while reading is what can happen (and does) when our hearts take over our brains, when we know we are breaking the rules and do it anyway, and realizing, sometimes too late, that the consequences were far more than we bargained for. Good and evil live side by side. Now that Adam and Eve have eaten from the Tree, the free will God has given us is where the choices lie.  That is the essential message of Paradise Lost.

I would again thank you for reading and commenting on my musings about the hidden gems regarding the art, literature, and Scripture that SR uses to intensify the story throughout the Gabriel series. Perhaps you have formulated a different interpretation, and if so, that is great! Please share them. And, as always, I want to thank SR for allowing me to interpret his lovely writing. I hope I do you justice, kind sir. 

~~Terry~~

Another Forbidden Love: Abelard and Heloise and the Parallels to Gabriel’s Inferno and Rapture Part 2

Hello Everyone,

We are pleased to share another special guest post with you today.

Terry, whom you probably know as @Terry the Nurse on Twitter, is indeed a nurse, though she also has a degree in History and a graduate degree in Human Communication.

Last week, Terry shared her thoughts on Abelard and Heloise and their place in the story of Gabriel and Julia.  The response to her piece was enthusiastic and we're thrilled she is able to share more of her thoughts about the subject.

Enjoy and Take Care,
Jenn

Another Forbidden Love: Abelard and Heloise and the Parallels to Gabriel’s Inferno and Rapture

Part 2

In the study of historical literature, the letters of Heloise and Abelard are considered emotional and tragic epistolary exchanges between two doomed lovers who are forced to live chastely and apart for the majority of their lives, even after marrying and having a child together.  In my previous post, I provided some of the historical background. In this post, I will describe what I view as the parallels between SR’s characters in Inferno, Rapture (and, now Redemption), and my two favorite medieval lovers, as well as discuss the letters  for which they are so famous; the final letter of which is partially quoted in Rapture.

As we know, in several scenes of both books, Gabriel alludes that he already sees himself as Abelard, references that make Julia want to grind her teeth since they both construe Abelard’s actions differently.  Their different interpretations can be partially explained by the letters being originally written in Latin and having undergone numerous translations.  And, in contemplating meaning or significance, we interpret language from our inner selves, from our own experiences, and from our own perspectives. To me, it’s natural that Gabriel would be sympathetic to Abelard, and that Julia would be more appreciative of Heloise’s feelings of frustration and anger.

You may be surprised to discover that there are only eight published letters, lengthy as they may be. The exchange of letters began after both had been living in cloister for some time, and only occurred because Letter I (from Abelard to his friend Philintus) made its way to Heloise. These are not letters that are regularly exchanged – years passed between each letter.  They are not merely snapshots in time, but a true description of two unhappy people forced apart by circumstance. As readers, we can feel and sense their confusion, their sorrow, their irritation, their passion.

Heloise never wanted to be in the convent, nor was she “called” in any way. She remained there because she had no choice. Her love for Abelard remained passionate and undying:

“Yes, it was your command only, and not a false piety brings no peace or sincere vocation, which sent me into these cloisters; I sought to give you ease and not to sanctify myself. How unhappy am I! I tear myself from all that pleases me; I bury myself alive…” (Heloise, Letter IV.)

But Abelard’s responses seem to vacillate with push/pull messages which serve to anger Heloise – and, like Julia, she is nobody’s fool. In Letter III, he declares his passion for her:

My love burns fiercer amidst the happy indifference of those who surround me, and my heart is alike pierced with your sorrows and my own. Oh, what a loss have I sustained when I consider your constancy! What pleasures have I missed enjoying…

But later says to her:

If since our conversion from the world to God I have not yet written you any word of comfort or advice, it must not be attributed to indifference on my part but to your own good sense... I did not think you would need these things..."

Heloise, in anger, writes:

"But tell me whence proceeds your neglect of me since my being professed? You know nothing moved me to it but your disgrace, nor did I give my consent, but yours. Let me hear what is the occasion of your coldness, or give me leave to tell you now my opinion. Was it not the sole thought of pleasure which engaged you to me? And has not my tenderness, by leaving you nothing to wish for, extinguished your desires? Wretched Heloise! You could please when you wished to avoid it." (Letter II)

As you can see in these brief snippets, even though the letters were exchanged 800 years ago, their emotions and reactions are as fresh and contemporary as if they were written a decade ago. They are full of angst, devotion, anger, frustration, passion, and faith. You can read six of the letters in their entirety here. It is really the best way to appreciate the relationship and all that happened in it.

After all I’ve told you about Heloise and Abelard, I hope that you can now appreciate that there are some stunning similarities between these two couples; specifically between Abelard and Gabriel, but also between Julia and Heloise. Is it possible that SR wanted us to appreciate the parallels between the two brilliant but thwarted intellectuals to better understand Gabriel’s deep emotional conflicts? (Speaking for myself, I think that he did.)

 Both are academicians; one who lived in the Middle Ages, and one who is a specialist in Dante, considered one of the greatest poets of the Middle Ages. With both men, the medieval period is prominent. And what was the name of the book Gabriel hid his message to Julia??
“Marriage in the Middle Ages: Love, Sex and the Sacred.”

 Both lost a child; one through miscarriage, and the other by adoption, disgrace, and escape to religious life.

 Both are unable to impregnate a woman after their lovers’ conceived the first and only time; one through castration, and the other through vasectomy.

 Both find a sense of peace in religion; Gabriel by his extended visit with the Franciscans in Assisi, and Abelard who became an abbot at the Saint Gildas de Rhuys monastery. Neither remained there permanently.

 Both return to teaching after a period of religious influences, and neither returns to their university of origin.

 For both Gabriel and Abelard, they find their “bashert” in their most gifted student, and in both cases, there is a considerable age difference.

 Both (for a time) question their relationship with God due to shame and self-loathing.  Abelard writes that he is aware that, according to the Old Testament (or Hebrew Bible), “eunuchs” (as castrated men were called) were not permitted in the Temple, which scripturally suggests how eunuchs were shunned.  Gabriel says, “I’m closer to a devil than an angel, and I’m beyond redemption because I’ve done unforgivable things.”

 Both are in love with one woman while another professes her love for him. We already know the story of Paulina and Gabriel.  A maid named Agaton in Fulbert’s household was in love with Abelard while he was in a sexual relationship with Heloise.  She told him:

“I am in love with you, Abelard; I know you adore Heloise, and I do not blame you, I desire only to enjoy the second place in your affections. I have a tender heart as well as my mistress; you may without difficulty make returns to my passion. Do not perplex yourself with scruples; a prudent man should love several at the same time, then if one should fail he is not left unprovided “(Letter 1, Abelard to Philintus)

And like Paulina, Agaton’s response to unrequited love was ruthless and vengeful (read the first letter to find out what she did.)

 Both are charismatic and irresistible to women, and display narcissistic behavior in their relationships with them. It’s fair to say that both are self-absorbed, unfamiliar with sexual rejection, and pretentious control freaks. Abelard’s need for control is evident in the Letters and his distasteful habit of frequently lecturing Heloise; Gabriel’s in his inability to allow Julia to make her own decisions. (Is it possible we will see more of this behavior in Gabriel’s Redemption??)

There are similarities between Julia and Heloise as well:

 Both live with a single male family member who dislikes their choices; Julia lives with her father who dislikes Gabriel, Heloise with her uncle who (eventually) detests Abelard.

 Both fall deeply, passionately, and irrevocably in love with their professors; both are well aware that a relationship would be considered forbidden.  Both witness their lovers’ professional humiliation following a scandal directly due to the relationship, and both are forced into circumstances that cause them pain, separation, and heartache.

 Both feel abandoned, and both feel that Abelard and Gabriel’s positions as Professor were more important than they were --in both cases, they were wrong. Heloise paid a much higher price than Julia, however. Abelard eventually returned to teaching and became a hero of The Enlightenment, whereas Heloise remained in the convent for the rest of her life.

 Both are constantly worried and insecure about how attractive their lovers’ are to other women.

o Julia to Gabriel: “I have to share you with your past – with Paulina, with Professor Singer, with Jamie Roberts – with countless other women I’m probably going to pass on the street in Toronto.”

o Heloise to Abelard: “When you appeared in public, who — I ask — did not hurry to catch a glimpse of you, or crane her neck and strain her eyes to follow your departure? Every wife, every young girl desired you in absence and was on fire in your presence; queens and great ladies envied me my joys and my bed.”

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Since first reading Gabriel’s Inferno upon its release in 2011, I have suggested to other readers and friends  that to fully appreciate the incredible beauty and complexity of SR’s writing, it’s worth it to become familiar with the hidden nuances and multi-layered references buried like gems throughout the books.  The literary, operatic, and artistic references are not only essential to the lovely story, but also provide an opportunity for us to learn more about the humanities -- which enrich our own lives in so many ways.   I hope these two posts have served that purpose for you in relation to Heloise and Abelard, and that you will want to read more about them.

If I have stimulated further interest, there are many academic resources on the Internet that you can refer to (NOT Wiki! :) ) Here are several:

To see Fordham University go here

To see Stanford University go here  here

Article: “Society as Portrayed by The Letters of Abelard and Heloise” go here 

To read Abelard’s “Confessions” from Fordham, go here

To read a great article in the NY Times Book Review about what might be newly found letters:  read Love Hurts

Another Forbidden Love: Abelard and Heloise - Guest Post by Terry

Hello Everyone,

We are pleased to share a special guest post with you today.

Terry, whom you probably know as @Terry the Nurse on Twitter, is indeed a nurse, though she also has a degree in History and a graduate degree in Human Communication.

You may have read her Charity Tuesday spotlight on Covenant House, and we were thrilled when she offered to submit another blog post for the Empire.

She's a big fan of SR's writing, and in today's post, she shares her thoughts on comparing Gabriel and Julia with Abelard and Heloise.

Enjoy and Take Care,
Jenn

Another Forbidden Love: Abelard and Heloise and the Parallels to Gabriel’s Inferno and Rapture

If you’ve read Gabriel’s Inferno and Gabriel’s Rapture (is there anyone left who hasn’t?) you already know that the medieval lovers Peter Abelard and Heloise d’Argenteuil are referenced by both Julia (in anger) and Gabriel (in love). In fact, I could argue that the comedy of errors that forces Gabriel and Julia apart, and indeed breaks their hearts --and ours-- can be partly because Julia and Gabriel have very different opinions of these two famous professor-student lovers and whose own fictional experience is not terribly different from this tragic medieval couple.

Who were Abelard and Heloise? Why are they referenced so often in the books? What are the parallels between Gabriel and Julia, and Abelard and Heloise? And what is it about those famous letters to which Gabriel refers?

Let me begin by telling you a little about this illustrative couple and why I think SR makes them relatively prominent in both of the first two books. Likewise, there are countless similarities between Gabriel and Peter Abelard. Indeed so many that I would theorize that much of The Professor is modeled on Peter Abelard. Maybe there’s a deeper reason why Gabriel says to Julia in Rapture “Read my sixth letter. Paragraph 4.” In many ways, Gabriel and Abelard mirror each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Abelard and Heloise are considered the iconic couple of forbidden love. Peter Abelard (1079 – 1142), the better known of the couple, was considered one of the greatest intellects of the 12th century. Brilliant, attractive, and arrogant (especially when writing about himself), he drew thousands to his school in the province of Notre Dame in Paris. (Paris was the intellectual center of Europe in the 12th century.) He could place his roots within the French nobility, but according to some historical sources, Abelard gave up the knighthood that was due him in order to be the philosopher and teacher, a role for which he was much better suited. In addition to his knowledge of Greek and Roman philosophy and logic, he was also a renowned theologian.

While we don’t know exactly what Abelard looks like in terms of physical appearance, we do know that he held himself in high esteem. For example, he says of himself with some hubris:

So distinguished was my name, and I possessed such advantages of youth and comeliness, that no matter what woman I might favour with my love, I dreaded rejection of none. (from Abelard’s Historia Calamitatum [The Story of My Misfortune]) Clearly, he was not suffering from a lack of self-confidence, particularly with women. I know another Professor who could have said the same thing about himself.

Heloise d’Argenteuil (1090 – 1164) was a brilliant young woman of a lower social standing than Abelard and was twenty years younger than him when he became her professor. Very little is known about her family, except that she was in the care of an uncle, Fulbert, who was a Church canon of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Keeping in mind that women of this historical era were not commonly well-educated, Heloise stands out as a learned woman fluent in both literature and ancient languages. In fact, her intellectual acumen is so unusual that by the time she met Abelard she was already known across Europe for her scholarship. Writings about Heloise describe her as beautiful as well as accomplished – for Abelard (and for another professor, it seems) this is a magnetic combination that becomes difficult to resist in a woman.

Fulbert engaged Abelard to further educate Heloise privately, and Abelard went so far as to take residence in Fulbert’s home in order to be closer to her. That’s where the fireworks begin. He promptly falls deeply in love with her, and she with him even in view of a significant age difference. And their love is like fire -- impassioned, fervent, and all-consuming. And…forbidden.

As Abelard describes his passion for Heloise:

Our speech was more of love than of the books which lay open before us; our kisses far outnumbered our reasoned words. Our hands sought less the book than each other's bosoms -- love drew our eyes together far more than the lesson drew them to the pages of our text….. No degree in love's progress was left untried by our passion, and if love itself could imagine any wonder as yet unknown, we discovered it. And our inexperience of such delights made us all the more ardent in our pursuit of them, so that our thirst for one another was still unquenched. [Abelard’s Historia Calamitatum (The Story of My Misfortunes)]

With a passion as evocative as Abelard describes in his confessions, it should be no surprise that their love affair rapidly becomes sexual and Heloise finds herself pregnant. In a devoutly Catholic France, Heloise’s illegitimate pregnancy begins the progression of Abelard’s disgrace and Heloise’s exile following the birth of their son; eventually forcing her to spend the rest of her life in a monastery, isolated from Abelard and her son Astrolabius forever. But it gets much worse for Abelard.

Secretly married following the birth of Astrolabius, the couple left their son with Abelard's sister. When Heloise went to stay with the nuns at Argenteuil at Abelard’s insistence and ostensibly for her protection, her uncle mistakenly believed that Abelard had rejected and abandoned her by forcing her to become a nun. In a planned attack designed by Fulbert, Abelard is beaten and castrated by Fulbert’s minions in what can only be described as an act of ultimate revenge and rage. This is how Abelard describes the attack:

Violently incensed, they laid a plot against me, and one night while I all unsuspecting was asleep in a secret room in my lodgings, they broke in with the help of one of my servants whom they had bribed. There they had vengeance on me with a most cruel and most shameful punishment, such as astounded the whole world; for they cut off those parts of my body with which I had done that which was the cause of their sorrow. [Historia Calamitatum]

Abelard, like Gabriel, is filled with self-loathing and shame, and for very similar reasons. Both feel God has punished them for their “sins” and that redemption is not possible for them. Neither Gabriel nor Abelard can have children again – one by choice and the other by castration.

Abelard writes about his suffering in a parallel to Gabriel when he describes his anguish to Julia:

What path lay open to me thereafter? How could I ever again hold up my head among men, when every finger should be pointed at me in scorn, every tongue speak my blistering shame, and when I should be a monstrous spectacle to all eyes?…First was I punished for my sensuality, and then for my pride. For my sensuality I lost those things whereby I practiced it; for my pride, engendered in me by my knowledge of letters and it is even as the Apostle said: "Knowledge puffeth itself up" (I Cor. viii. 1)

Following the attack and castration, Abelard retreated to a monastery and lived as monk. Heloise, already in the convent and also now forced to live an asexual life, remained there and eventually became a Prioress. Unlike Gabriel (who reunited with Julia following his retreat to Assisi), the lovers were never to see each other again. However, their love for each other never waned, and is fully expressed in their exchange of letters. In my next post, I will further discuss the famous letters and discuss more similarities between the two couples – one fictional, and one authentic.

Julia: “Congratulations, Professor Abelard. No one has ever made me feel as cheap as you did…”

Gabriel: “But Abelard truly cared for Heloise and I care for you. So in that sense, there is a similarity. He also hurt her as I have hurt you. But he was deeply sorry for having injured her…”

(To be continued in Part Two)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations To Our Winners!

Hello Everyone,


Listed below are the winners of our Giveaway.  All winners have already been notified by email. 

Winner of a set of signed UK paperback editions of Gabriel's Inferno and Gabriel's Rapture. Courtesy of Sylvain Reynard:  

Eleanor P.

Winners of 1 copy (either paperback or ebook) of either Gabriel's Inferno, Gabriel's Rapture or Gabriel's Redemption (release day 12/3/2013). Courtesy of Professor Gabriel O. Emerson Fanpage on Facebook:

Sarah L.

Jenn D.

Margaret H.

Debbie M.

Maria D.

Congratulations to all, and thank you yet again for participating in our fundraiser to aid those affected by the tragic events in Boston and West, Texas.  Our final total raised was $2,685.00!

Take Care,
Jenn, Coco, Elli & Sere

You Did It!

$2,500 raised in 10 days!

We'd like to thank everyone for participating in our fundraiser to aid those affected by last week's tragic events in Boston and West, Texas.  

Although we've reached our goal, we still have 4 days left to go in our campaign so please keep those donations coming in.

If you donate a minimum of $5.00 to either the American Red Cross, your local chapter of the Red Cross or to The One Fund Boston, simply email a copy of your receipt to me at jenn@argyleempire.com.  Then enter the giveaway posted at the top of our homepage.

Whether you've donated, tweeted, posted, reblogged or all of the above, your group efforts have achieved great success. But don't just take my word for it...

This is really great news. Thank you & please pass my thanks to the others, too. What a great milestone, SR

 With Our Gratitude,

Jenn, Elli, Coco & Sere

More Goodies For The Giveaway!

Hello Everyone,

As I type this post on Wednesday evening, I do so with a smile on my face.  Our fundraiser took a significant leap in donations today, and our current total raised to help aid those affected by last week's terrible events in Boston and West,Texas now stands at $2,305.00!

We're a mere $195.00 away from reaching our ultimate goal of $2,500.00.  With 46 donors currently entered in our giveaway, this means the average donation received has been $50.00. The kindness of SR's fans has been appreciated and noticed within our community, and so I'm happy to make another special announcement.

The Professor Gabriel O. Emerson Fanpage on facebook has generously donated five of SR's books so that we can draw for additional winners when we hold our giveaway on May 1st. Those winners will be able to select one of SR's books (either paperback or ebook) and they can choose either Gabriel's Inferno, Gabriel's Rapture or Gabriel's Redemption (which is now available for pre-order).

                                        

Because these books are being donated by our sister site, please be aware they will not be personally signed by SR.

We are so grateful to the Professor Gabriel O. Emerson Fanpage for this spectacular offer! Please be sure to stop by to say hello and thanks!
 
If you donate a minimum of $5.00 to either the American Red Cross, your local chapter of the Red Cross or to The One Fund Boston, simply email a copy of your receipt to me at jenn@argyleempire.com.  Then enter the giveaway posted at the top of our homepage.

In addition to the books mentioned above, SR has graciously agreed to sign UK edition copies of both Gabriel's Inferno and Gabriel's Rapture for one winner.

Our fundraiser will continue through April 30th, no matter when we reach our fundraising goal. If you haven't done so, please consider donating, and if you have please help us continue to keep word of our fundraiser on the radar.

We're crossing our fingers that we can make a celebratory announcement tomorrow.

Until then, take care,
Jenn, Coco, Elli & Sere

A Reader's Journey...

Hello Everyone,

Today we are taking a break from the fundraising campaign in order to share a review of the Gabriel Series by a reader named Margaret. Her piece not only highlights her favorite moments with The Professor, it tells the journey she has experienced as a result of reading the books.  It's an experience we here at Argyle Empire can relate to very well and we want to thank Margaret for sharing it with us and with you.

Enjoy and Take Care,
Jenn

PS In case you haven't heard, our total funds raised at the moment I type this are $2,055! We're only $445 away from reaching our ultimate goal of $2,500 and have several days left to get there. Thanks again so much for your support of our campaign to aid those affected by last week's events in Boston and West, Texas.

My thoughts on Gabriel's Inferno & Gabriel's Rapture

Firstly I haven't included any spoilers for those who've not read Gabriel's Inferno and Gabriel's Rapture. I strongly recommend giving these books a read and I promise you'll hold them close to your heart forever.

Until last summer I was not an avid reader of books, I tended to read now and again but mainly on holiday around the pool. I only read light hearted romance, a genre that would be guaranteed to cheer me up and be an easy read. I was obsessed with television and spent most of my evenings after work and dinner glued to the tv.

In the early long wet summer of 2012 I noticed a new book appear in my local supermarket 'Fifty Shades of Grey' I was put off by its dark cover at first but decided I'd give it a go. I was soon obsessed with Mr Grey and wanted other books to fill the gap. My husband offered me his Kindle as it was cheaper to buy books and let me use his Amazon account. I soon discovered the very established Sylvia Day and devoured her books over my summer holidays.

I began to run out of Sylvia Day books and wanted other books about hot men to read. Amazon had been recommending a book called Gabriel's Inferno to me throughout the summer but I thought it sounded weird, a professor? I imagined a stuffy older man with bad teeth, not my cup of tea. So I ignored the recommendation and as I had to go back to work and move house my reading tapered off as real life took over once more.

In October 2012 I had a small operation and needed to stay off work for a few weeks to recover. By the middle weekend off I was bored, my husband was out of the country and the weather was terrible, cold, blustery and dark by early evening. I thought 'I need a book to read to see me through to Monday'. So I got on to my husbands Amazon account and looked for something to read, Gabriel's Inferno appeared in the recommendations? Mmmmmm should I risk buying it? I did and by end of page one I was hooked 'He was ruggedly handsome, but in that moment bitterly severe', I thought oh a handsome professor, clever and good looking this is going to be good. However, the story didn't quite pan out as I thought, this was not just a sexual romp, a sexfest or a no holds barred sexual affair.

Within pages the angry Professor Emerson who I'd hated minutes before was sobbing in his office and I was desperate to know what turned this severe cold man in to an emotional wreck? And what was Julianne's connection to him? As the story unfolded and long into my night from my lounge to my lonely bed I found I could barely breath at times I was so invested. I neglected my housework and teenage son for most of the weekend and stayed up into the early hours of fri/sat/sun gripped. I didn't even wait until I was half way through Gabriel's Inferno to purchase Gabriel's Rapture.

The fact that the characters didn't immediately have sex actually made the story better, it allowed me to concentrate on their story and not be distracted by yet another sex scene (I mean seriously who has that much sex?) I felt Julianne's heartache when Gabriel couldn't remember her and I felt Gabriel's heartache when he realised he'd been a massive dickhead! But their discovery of each other was not the end it was the beginning of a painful journey for both Gabriel and Julianne. So painful that I sobbed my heart out at 2am, so much so that I couldn't read or breath until I pulled myself together. But my tears were cathartic and healing not wasted, like Gabriel and Julianne I had to ride out the storm to get my reward.

We can all relate to the themes of this book, regret, we've all been stuck in a 'Lobby'. We've all felt guilt, fear, heartbreak, loss and a need to be forgiven. I think that's why this book affected me so deeply and moved me to sobbing tears. But it also reinforced the goodness of life, love, giving, patience, acceptance, 'sticky little leaves' and redemption. No one is perfect, we all make mistakes but if we can learn form those mistakes we can move on and live a better life. That's what these books mean to me, that's what Sylvain Reynard means to me.

As a result of reading these books I tweeted Sylvain to let him know how his books had affected me and kept me awake! To my surprise he responded and so I began to follow him and the Gabriel's Inferno fan accounts on twitter. Within a short time I'd made connections with women across the globe who loved Sylvain's books as much as I did. Six months down the line and I've made some fantastic friends on twitter, ladies who share my thoughts on life, love and of course book boyfriends! I still tweet with SR as do so many of you lovely ladies and he is always gracious with his time and tries to reply to our many tweets. SR also tweets the shit out of charities which I love! We all need to be more charitable and giving and his daily reminder of that has made me think more about others and less about myself.

So thank you E L James for leading me to Sylvain Reynard and thank you SR for writing these books but also thank you for introducing me to the world of twitter and for the many new friends I have made along the way. Please keep writing and don't get so famous that you can no longer tweet with us. Big love, hugs and kisses to one of my favourite authors SR mwah mwah mwah xxx

Mags

A Glimpse of Heroes by Kat Bastion

 

Hello Everyone,

 

Today we'd like to share a post written by our friend, Kat Bastion.  This piece was originally posted over the weekend on Kat's blog, Talk To The Shoe .  Kat has been a strong supporter of our fundraising campaign to aid those affected by the tragedies in Boston and West, Texas, and we were so moved by this post we just had to share it here.

 

As I type this note, we have raised $1,810.00 toward our goal of $2,500.00.  There is still one week left to go in our fundraiser/giveaway and so we appreciate everyone's continued support via donations and mentions.

 

We're so close to breaking the $2,000.00 mark and would love to be able to say that we crossed that all-important line by this time tomorrow.

 

Until then, take care,

Jenn, Sere, Elli & Coco

 

 



 

In a week of events that rocked our lives and caused great suffering, heroes emerged to help those in need during the tragedies of the Boston Marathon 2013 and the Texas plant explosion.

My continued thoughts, prayers, and support go out to everyone affected and all the heroes who helped the victims…and risked and gave their lives.

I have a story I’d like to share for the first time. Also, I’m providing information again for you to help in the fundraiser for the American Red Cross and The One Fund Boston. Please help in any way you can.

A Glimpse of Heroes in Action

One fateful night many years ago, I caught a glimpse of heroes in action that had such an enormous impact on me; I still remember every vivid detail.

I’d signed up to go on a police ride-along.

Of course, I’d chosen a night shift, as I wanted to see the brave officers chase down a suspect and handcuff him. Or at least…be in a speeding car with sirens blaring and lights twirling as we neared one hundred miles an hour to catch the bad guy.

I was given a basic safety rundown by my assigned officer and made to understand my role during the course of my ride-along. I was strictly an observer. Should anything bad go down, especially bullets flying, I was to follow the officer’s instruction without hesitation, remain in the safety of the police car if possible, and stay out of their way.

The first hour went by. Not even one single call came out over the radio. My images of excitement drifted to officers congregating at the corner doughnut shop, and I began to empathize with them. My hope, you see, wasn’t for criminal acts to happen during my ride-along…only that the crimes statistically being committed as we drove around in the midnight hour would be noticed, and we would be the ones to apprehend them.

Then it happened. An event beyond any of my imaginings for that night unfolded and my life was forever impacted. Many lives were forever impacted, far greater than mine, that night.
A fire had broken out in a multi-building apartment complex. When we arrived on the scene, a raging fire had engulfed an upper corner of a thirty-unit two-story building. Adjoining units had black smoke pouring out of every vent and opening. The police officers were the first to arrive on the scene.

My assigned officer pointed out various places I could stay safe amid the mayhem, but allowed me to wander freely, as he ran off with two other officers.

An observer. It’s what I was, and it was surreal watching each participant execute their roles as if born to them.

So many things happened simultaneously, I stood there for a while in shock as I witnessed the events unfold.

The three officers systematically raced from unit to unit, both upstairs and down. They pounded on doors and escorted residents to safety as they cleared the building. Within minutes, several laddered fire trucks arrived, the sounds of their sirens blaring into the night.

The sound of a fire destroying a building is unlike any other as it roars, things inside creaking and moaning, snapping and exploding. The smell is noxious and choking and fills your nostrils no matter how far away you stand. The heat is overwhelming and you find yourself backing up to a tolerable and survivable distance. Glowing cinders fly up in the direction of the wind…or sometimes where ever they’re shot to…and soot rains down from the sky.

Although I’m sure everyone in the surrounding buildings watched the rising orange flames and felt the intense heat as the fire devoured everything it touched, I didn’t notice them. I noticed the ones who’d lost their homes.

I remember one college-aged man who stood there staring in shock. I walked up next to him, and he glanced at me with a forlorn look on his face.

“I lost everything,” he said.

“Did you have renter’s insurance?” I asked, hoping to help, if only to talk to him.

“No,” he replied. “It wouldn’t have done any good anyway. I lost thousands of dollars in photography equipment, but ten times that value was in the photos I’d taken over many years.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

Condolences for his loss were all I could give, but I gave them anyway. It didn’t matter that I’d been relegated to an observer in the situation; my heart went out to that man.

Our attention diverted to a firefighter who burst out from a doorway. Thick black smoke poured out, as if chasing after him. He stumbled forward in the heavy tan protective gear they wore and pulled the helmet off his head, tossing it onto the grass. His captain, dressed in a navy t-shirt and cargo pants, jogged over as his firefighter double over, bracing his hands on his knees, sweat pouring from his face while he sucked in the cool night air. The captain pointed at another firefighter, and the man put on his helmet and ran into the same opening, taking the place of the one who’d tagged himself out of the ring.

A paramedic ran over with his kit seconds later, but the firefighter waved him off, shaking his head. I stood another thirty feet beyond them and felt the heat from my distance. I could only imagine what that firefighter was going through, overcome by the heat of being inside that building.

My officer waved an arm at me, approaching. I followed him behind the building, walking with a respectful wide berth around the smoking side of the building as he explained they’d been making sure the scene was secure and intended to remain there unless called away.

The parking lot behind the building had changed. A couple dozen families stood back there, clinging to each other. All of them looked lost. Many were crying, including grown men. My heart lurched for them.

One little girl’s cries rose above the roar of the fire.

From the driveway side of the parking lot, a lone woman walked up to the group. The woman was a volunteer from the American Red Cross.

Did she wear a red vest? I don’t recall. All I remember was the teddy bear she held up as she walked. The crying from the toddler stopped instantly, and she walked up to the stuffed animal being offered to her and embraced it. Tears filled my eyes as I watched. (They’re in my eyes again now as I type, a cramp at the base of my throat.)

Every adult standing there slowly gravitated toward the little girl and the woman, drawn to a shining beacon of hope in their disastrous night.

I stayed to the fringes and out of the way, but I heard what that American Red Cross volunteer said to them. She’d arranged for a place to stay for the rest of the night, where they would have somewhere to sleep, something to eat, and fresh clothes to change into; she asked if any needed medications and if any had any special health considerations; and she mentioned that she had resources for them to begin rebuilding their lives one step at a time once they made it through the night.

That American Red Cross worker pulled two dozen families from their shock and devastation and offered to help them in their time of crisis.

While the police secured the scene, and as the firefighters put out the blaze, the American Red Cross led the victims to a place of safety and recovery. All of those heroes worked together in a scene that happens every day and night all across our country and around the world.

I’m forever grateful to have gotten a glimpse of true heroes in action and be able to share the story with you. It’s led to my support of the American Red Cross throughout the years and I hope it inspires you to support them as well. Whether the disaster is natural or man-made the American Red Cross is there to help.

I hope none of us ever suffer a disaster, but should we find ourselves in need, look for that American Red Cross worker. They are there for you.

Support The American Red Cross

There’s a special fundraiser still ongoing through the end of the month to help those impacted by the tragedies of the Boston Marathon 2013 and the Texas plant explosion. I encourage you to participate by donating and entering the contest. I’ve done both, and should I win the giveaway, I intend to give away the rare set of books signed by Sylvain Reynard to a very special person who would be over the moon to receive them and was personally affected by the Boston Marathon tragedy.

Here are ways you can help and information about the fundraiser and giveaway:

1. Please donate to the American Red Cross, who responds to those in need of support when disaster strikes.

2. According to a recent Tweet from the American Red Cross, “To help people most affected by the tragic events in Boston on 4.15.13 visit theonefundboston.org #BostonMarathon”. Click on The One Fund Boston link to donate and learn more.

Also, I’d like to share with you the following message from my friend Jenn at Argyle Empire…

In response to the tragedy in Boston, Argyle Empire is hosting a fundraiser to aid the American Red Cross.

Given that part of the Gabriel series is set in Boston, we felt it was an appropriate thing to do.

If people donate at least $5.00 to the American Red Cross and/or The One Fund Boston and email a copy of their receipt to me at jenn@argyleempire.com, they can enter a giveaway by visiting argyleempire.com. SR has agreed to sign UK edition copies of both Gabriel’s Inferno and Gabriel’s Rapture for the winner.

The fundraiser will run between now and April 30. The winner will be selected on May 1 and notified by May 3.

If you could help us promote this, that would be great. If you would like to donate and enter the giveaway, please feel free to do so. This is really about helping out the charity, after all.

Thank you all for all the donations you’ve made so far. Keep them coming and please spread the word through your social channels. They’ve already raised over $1,500 in five days. Their goal is $2,500 by May 1st. Shall we knock everyone’s socks off and make it a cool $5,000?

It’s by stepping out and embracing others with love that we shine a bright light of hope in our world.

Thank you for being heroes, my friends.

Your humble shoe,
~ Kat

© 2013 by Kat Bastion

Reflections on the Past Week...

 

Hello Everyone,

Over the past five days, Argyle Empire has been hosting a fundraising campaign to aid those affected by the tragic events in both Boston and West, Texas. Within hours of the bombing at the Boston Marathon, Coco, Elli, Sere and I began brainstorming about ways to help. Once we had an idea or two, we decided to see if we could quickly organize our plans into action. What has happened since then has been nothing short of amazing.

SR immediately agreed to offer up signed UK editions of "Gabriel's Inferno" and "Gabriel's Rapture" as an incentive for donors. When asked, many of our online friends stepped up without hesitation to promote our campaign. Some of these friends run blogs and can reach large numbers of people with a post, while some have used their personal social media accounts to support our efforts non-stop for the past five days.  From this side of the screen, I can tell you it was uplifting to watch word of the fundraiser radiate throughout our global online community.

As far as the logistics were concerned, everything had fallen into place effortlessly. All that was left to do was sit back and see if people would be willing to donate funds to support the Red Cross, The One Boston Fund, or any other charity that has dedicated its resources to helping people in the effected areas. If you've ever worked a fundraiser, you know the most nerve-wracking moments are the ones that tick by as you wait for the first donation to arrive. Needless to say, we didn't have to wait long.

Over the first 5 days of our campaign, we have received $1,525.00.  This averages out to $305.00 per day, with an average donation of $38.00.  With 9 days left to go on the calendar, we have set an ultimate goal of $2,500.00 and are 60% of the way to reaching it.

But there is more taking place here beyond the statistics.  Over the course of the week, as I thanked one donor after another, I heard one message over and over again:

"No need to enter me in the contest as much as I would love an opportunity to have a signed book by SR my motivation is different this time."

"I already have the books and enjoy them so much on so many different levels, that I'm really not in need of another copy."

"Of course I'll be donating but would prefer others to win the giveaway."

"Don't enter me in the giveaway. I'd like for someone else to have the opportunity to win them. I'm just happy to help."

 

Responses like this presented us with an interesting situation. We actually found ourselves in a position of motivating donors to enter the giveaway.  Thankfully one donor approached us, asking if it would be all right to pay it forward. She was willing to enter the giveaway as long as she could gift her prize to someone else. Once I began sharing this idea with those who'd turned down the opportunity to win the signed books, giveaway entries begin flowing in.

 

What an incredible group of people you are. Truly.

 

As we approach the halfway point of our fundraising campaign we find ourselves at a critical phase. Recovery efforts are well underway, but the need to assist victims has not yet been fully met. As the emergent nature of both disasters begins to recede, the work these charitable organizations do will carry on. Several families are mourning the loss of a loved one, and many more are praying at the bedsides of injured relatives. Some have lost their homes or their jobs, possibly both. And countless numbers of people who were firsthand witnesses to these horrific events will need time to psychologically process what they have experienced.

 

The four of us at Argyle Empire are highly motivated to meet our goal, but we need your help to get there.  If you haven't donated already, please consider doing so.  If you have donated, please keep reaching out to friends and family to participate.

Donate a minimum of $5.00 to either the American Red Cross, your local chapter of the Red Cross or to The One Fund Boston, and simply email a copy of your receipt to me at jenn@argyleempire.com. Then enter the giveaway posted at the top of our homepage.

Every effort you make is a worthwhile one, and we thank you for proving that goodness surrounds us.

Take Care,
Jenn, Coco, Elli & Sere