With Love,

 

With Connie

 

 

a novel

by

George R Henaut

About the Author

I have always had an abiding interest in language – its power and its beauty. As an educator, I was provided with many opportunities to enhance and share this passion with others. Since 1990 I have written, directed and produced twelve dramas for audiences in Nova Scotia. My plays and short stories have been influenced not only by life on the Atlantic seaboard, but also by my Christian spirituality and appreciation of traditional family values. All of these influences have culminated in my first novel, With Love, With Connie, which also reveals my enduring appreciation of the music of Connie Francis. My greatest desire is to share this romantic, yet turbulent story of Robert and Rachel with others.

 

FAQ

 

Is With Love, With Connie, your first published writing?

It is my first published novel. I have written twelve major dramas that have been staged locally. As a curriculum supervisor, I was editor for numerous educational booklets and I have written editorials for our local newspaper.

 

Is your novel autobiographical?

I think all writing is essentially autobiographical; authors tend to write of what they know and have experienced. Their values and attitudes are shaped by past experiences. With Love, With Connie has numerous biographical references.  Robert, the hero, who was of Belgian descent was raised in a duplex that served as a nursing home. His father and brother were miners. As a teenager he was a member of a Connie Francis Fan Club. He was an English teacher. Robert was a person of faith and a member of the Order of St. Luke healing ministry. He married into a family of English descent, a family of gardeners. That much is reflective of my past.

 

Have you, like Robert Mascaux, the hero of the novel, maintained an interest in Connie Francis?

Yes, I have a vast collection of her music in various languages. I have her biography and belong at present to a Connie Francis Fan Club. I began collecting her music in 1958 and have continued that interest to the present.  In May 2004 I experienced my first live Connie Francis concert; it was the thrill of a lifetime!

 

When did you begin writing fiction?

As a teacher, I felt it was important to be seen as a writer. I often wrote dramatic scenes for student presentations. Later I began writing chancel dramas for church.  

 

What do you think your strengths are as a novelist?

I think I am probably a better playwright than novelist; consequently, I believe I can create effective dialogue. I have a good sense of character and plot. My thesis advisor for my Masters degree, once wrote on one of my submissions; ‘Save the flowers’. Since then, I have always been conscious of the merits in brevity.

 

Which writers do you admire?

I have a great appreciation for John Steinbeck, Charles Dickens, Hugh MacLennan, and Allistair MacLeod. I love the Victorian poets!

 

Do you have an editor?

Yes, my wife, Pauline, serves as my editor. When I was writing the novel, Pauline would read each chapter after I had written the rough draft.  After it was more polished, I would share the various chapters with Edwina King, my mother-in-law and two close friends, Brenda MacLaughlin and Neil Weber.  It was wonderful to have a few individuals with whom one could discuss the plot as it was unfolding. We had a delightful evening when I read the final chapter to everyone! A friend, Frances Campbell, was an invaluable resource as I attempted to clothe the women in the novel, especially for the wedding.

 

Did you have a chapter outline in advance of writing?

No, I had a basic idea of the overall plot but I found that after the first chapter was written, the characters assumed control of the plot. I could never have anticipated the ending of the story. Trevor, the villain, is unlike anyone I know. Throughout the plot, I was eager to have him receive his due reward, but alas that was not quite what happened!

 

How long did it take to write the novel?

It took about three months, but that was followed by a long period of editing. The time spent writing the first draft was bliss! I lived with the characters; they were a part of me and I of them!

 

The novel is published by a Print On Demand publisher. Why did you choose this form of publication?

I am certain most writers realize before they begin writing that the easiest task may well be the writing itself. Finding a receptive publisher is no easy task! I was fully aware of the number of rejections that Gone With The Wind received and the lack of success that John Grisham had in finding a publisher for his first novel. I did send the script to about 30 traditional publishers.  I received six responses that were more than a standard response. One Canadian publisher felt the novel did not have sufficient local colour; one editor enjoyed the novel but was not passionate enough about it to see it published. I was not interested in the Vanity Press, self-publishing! I couldn’t imagine having 1000 or more novels in my basement that I would have to sell.  Print On Demand seemed a great compromise.  I was able to have control over the content, the cover, the basic format.

 

What response has your novel received?

I think most writers simply want to be read and hopefully appreciated. I have had numerous individuals who have responded to the novel in very creative ways.  One reader presented me with a watercolor of the flowers represented by the “Bouquet Sisters” who are featured in the novel.  Two individuals who had read the novel purchased a waffle iron to try out the recipe for Belgian galettes that are featured in the novel.  A long distance phone call from a friend I hadn’t any contact with for years resulted in a discussion of shared memories that the novel evoked. Several former students have contacted me to react to the novel. Friends such as Sharon and Gilles Gauthier have been enthusiastic supporters; it is an interesting experience to share something as intimate as writing with family and friends. It has been fascinating to read some of the reviews posted on Amazon.com!

 

What is your ultimate dream for the novel?

In my wildest dreams, I imagine it on a best selling list and the source of a movie for Hallmark Hall of Fame!

 

The big question? What did Connie Francis think of the novel?

I’m afraid you’ll have to ask her yourself.  She received a copy of the novel in the Fall of 2002 when Michael Wright, a webmaster for a major Connie Francis website, presented her with the novel after a concert in Las Vegas. She autographed two copies of the novel for me following her Toronto concert in 2004.

 

Are you working on a second novel?

Not yet! Since finishing the novel, I have continued writing dramas and a number of short stories.  I would like to have a collection of my short stories published. As always I am involved in scripting dramas for Acts Theatre Society.