Ask the Author: Céline La Frenière
Answered Questions (9)
Céline La Frenière
Amazon will be having a Free Kindle Promotion of Glaston Town starting Thursday, February 11 for a period of 5 days. For more info, please go to:
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Céline La Frenière
I am writing another novel. This time, the action takes place in Québec in the late nineteen sixties, a time of upheaval and unrest. Opportunities are scarce for bright young French Québécois like Isabelle Flaubert and her boyfriend Pierre. Disaffected youths are rebelling at the imperialistic attitude with which the English run their country. A terrorist campaign led by the Front of Liberation of Quebec is in full swing, and the separatist group is quickly gaining momentum in the Province.
There is still enough material to write a sequel to Glaston Town. But it will have to wait.
There is still enough material to write a sequel to Glaston Town. But it will have to wait.
Céline La Frenière
Get away from the noise of everyday life and find peace and quiet.
Céline La Frenière
I can only tell you how I started to write. When leaving my native Quebec at the age of 16 to settle in British Columbia, I wrote extensively to my friends back home. Letters are, in my view, the best way to learn the principle of structuring a good drama. They should have a beginning, a middle and an end. The first paragraph should concentrate on the recipient (e.g.: How are they? What made you think of reaching out to them? Etc.) The second and following paragraphs deal with the purpose of your letter. And the last paragraph returns to the recipient and indicates how they fit within the purpose of your letter. Writing letters-to-the editor in your local newspaper is another useful way to brush up on your communication skill. If editors don’t publish your letters, keep on writing until they do.
In the film industry, writing a two-page synopsis of a proposed script
Is helpful to find out whether a story works dramatically. Once that is done, move on to a 10-15-page treatment, fleshing out the characters (with some dialogue) and story. Then, and only then, are you ready to write a full-length screenplay. Remember that one page of screenplay equals approximately one minute of filming, so make each line count. It should advance your character(s) or story or both.
Writing a novel is different, inasmuch as you are allowed more freedom to describe your characters and settings, although good dramatic structure works pretty much on the same principle.
In Glaston Town, for example, the first Part “The Solitary Kingfisher” deals with the relationship between the residents of this rough neighbourhood, and how they band together to overcome their fear of reprisal from criminals to clean up their streets and save their park. The Second Part “The Rebels” picks up from the first part. It develops relationships established earlier on in the story. Trouble is stirred up among the residents of this close-knit community, and this leads to a brutal murder. The third part “Unfinished Business” gets to the bottom of whodunit and resolves the relationships between the characters.
I hope this is helpful.
In the film industry, writing a two-page synopsis of a proposed script
Is helpful to find out whether a story works dramatically. Once that is done, move on to a 10-15-page treatment, fleshing out the characters (with some dialogue) and story. Then, and only then, are you ready to write a full-length screenplay. Remember that one page of screenplay equals approximately one minute of filming, so make each line count. It should advance your character(s) or story or both.
Writing a novel is different, inasmuch as you are allowed more freedom to describe your characters and settings, although good dramatic structure works pretty much on the same principle.
In Glaston Town, for example, the first Part “The Solitary Kingfisher” deals with the relationship between the residents of this rough neighbourhood, and how they band together to overcome their fear of reprisal from criminals to clean up their streets and save their park. The Second Part “The Rebels” picks up from the first part. It develops relationships established earlier on in the story. Trouble is stirred up among the residents of this close-knit community, and this leads to a brutal murder. The third part “Unfinished Business” gets to the bottom of whodunit and resolves the relationships between the characters.
I hope this is helpful.
Céline La Frenière
Glaston Town is a story I have more or less lived through. From the time I grew up in Montreal, and lived and worked in Vancouver, Los Angeles and London, I always preferred deprived, colourful neighbourhoods over wealthier environments. It is their close-knit communities that attracted me to them. Besides, there’s something real about people who struggle to make ends meet or live on the margin.
There is a murder in this book. I didn't start out to write a murder mystery. By the time the crime takes place, the readers know the victim and the suspects intimately.
My initial purpose was to write the Solitary Kingfisher as a short novel.
It is the story of an odd boy who is grappling to find his identity in the rough neighbourhood where he lives with his single mother. Once I completed it, however, my characters would not let me go. They wanted to take me on a longer journey. So I kept on writing. The second book, The Rebels forced me to change gear. Whereas the first book saw outsiders as enemies, the Rebels took on a different quality. The enemies were within and leading to a savage murder. The third book, Unfinished Business becomes of whodunit. In the end, all three books were consolidated.
There is a murder in this book. I didn't start out to write a murder mystery. By the time the crime takes place, the readers know the victim and the suspects intimately.
My initial purpose was to write the Solitary Kingfisher as a short novel.
It is the story of an odd boy who is grappling to find his identity in the rough neighbourhood where he lives with his single mother. Once I completed it, however, my characters would not let me go. They wanted to take me on a longer journey. So I kept on writing. The second book, The Rebels forced me to change gear. Whereas the first book saw outsiders as enemies, the Rebels took on a different quality. The enemies were within and leading to a savage murder. The third book, Unfinished Business becomes of whodunit. In the end, all three books were consolidated.
Céline La Frenière
I usually take a break and do a good deed. It could be visiting an elderly person in a Care Home or taking out an unfortunate or recently widowed friend for lunch or simply help a sick neighbour with shopping or some such task. It took me a lifetime to learn that even the simplest soul might have the key to unlocking that writer’s block.
Céline La Frenière
The Glaston Town story is not over yet. Almost immediately after the end of the first novel, the London Riots takes place (in August 2011). Such a dramatic event is a God sent to an author. The characters in Glaston Town are just the sort to join such riots and now having to face the consequences.
Céline La Frenière
Every experience, good or bad, should be treated as a gift. In the fullness of time, one realises that each event in one's life is meant to teach one something. Even a broken heart can be an inspiration. Glaston Town started out as a response to a deeply personal rejection. It didn't destroy me. On the contrary, it gave me an opportunity to channel my energy in a more positive way. I would look forward to being reunited with my characters and their stories. I did create each and every one of them. Soon, however, they took over and led me wherever they wanted. Can a fictitious character have a free will? Apparently, yes.
Céline La Frenière
Glaston Town is a story I have more or less lived through. From the time I grew up in Montreal, and lived and worked in Vancouver, Los Angeles and London, I always preferred deprived, colourful neighbourhoods over wealthier environments. It is their close knit communities that attracted me to them. Besides, there’s something real about people who struggle to make ends meet or live on the margin.
There is a murder in this book. I didn't start out to write a murder mystery. By the time the crime takes place, the readers know the victim and the suspects intimately.
My initial purpose was to write the Solitary Kingfisher as a short novel.
It is the story of an odd boy who is grappling to find his identity in the rough neighbourhood where he lives with his single mother. Once I completed it, however, my characters would not let me go. They wanted to take me on a longer journey. So I kept on writing. The second book, The Rebels forced me to change gear. Whereas the first book saw outsiders as enemies, the Rebels took on a different quality. The enemies were within and leading to a savage murder. The third book, Unfinished Business becomes of whodunit. In the end, all three books were consolidated.
There is a murder in this book. I didn't start out to write a murder mystery. By the time the crime takes place, the readers know the victim and the suspects intimately.
My initial purpose was to write the Solitary Kingfisher as a short novel.
It is the story of an odd boy who is grappling to find his identity in the rough neighbourhood where he lives with his single mother. Once I completed it, however, my characters would not let me go. They wanted to take me on a longer journey. So I kept on writing. The second book, The Rebels forced me to change gear. Whereas the first book saw outsiders as enemies, the Rebels took on a different quality. The enemies were within and leading to a savage murder. The third book, Unfinished Business becomes of whodunit. In the end, all three books were consolidated.
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