A Little Break and a Flashback
This summer of 2024 has been quite an amazing adventure! And now, I feel like taking a moment to reflect and thank everyone who has been part of it.
I’ve received such wonderful feedback about this novel, and it means a lot to me.
I took some time to look back at the origins of this novel. The first person I want to thank is Marcel Dupuis. He was the one who contacted me a few years ago to invite me to the ceremony at the Merville Battery. It was during that ceremony that I decided to write about Clara. And, of course, above all, there is Suzanne, my grandmother, Clara’s daughter-in-law. I always say she’s the woman of my life, and it’s true. Although she’s no longer with us today, she still “carries” me in a way.
Two other women have been part of this adventure: Mathilde Palfroy, my editor at La Rémanence, who published A Light in the Night, and Nathalie Jaussaud-Obitz, my editor at In Octavo, who is publishing The Harmonica, the Trombone, and the Umbrella. They trusted me, and I’m happy to share all of this with them.
And then, there’s everything that has happened since. Your warm feedback. Everything falling into place: the show The Normans Are Amazing (thank you, Jason Grönert), which allowed me to present my novel and pay tribute to Clara, and the book fairs that have invited me. And then there’s the Manoir d’Apreval and the inauguration of the remembrance bench. Thank you to Agathe Letellier and Estelle Chevallier for this wonderful idea, for their warm welcome, and for creating the A Light in the Night calvados bottle (what pride! and what a treat!). Go ahead, have a seat on the bench, and enjoy a glass of cider, apple juice, or calvados.
It was on this day that I had the pleasure of meeting Marcel Dupuis and Neil Barber again. Neil is a British historian. He has interviewed veterans and studied the actions of the 6th Airborne Division in Normandy for nearly 30 years. During this time, he wrote two reference books, worked as a consultant on TV films and documentaries, and as a proofreader for other authors writing about the division. He is a member of the 9th Parachute Battalion Reunion Club committee and a former member of the Anglo-French committee of the Merville Battery Museum. And it was on this day that I felt the desire to translate my novel, so Neil could read it. That day, he gave me a pin from the 9th Battalion, or rather, he gave us one, because on that day, of course, Mélina was with me. What an emotional moment, receiving that “decoration.” It was, indeed, for having assisted the paratroopers of the 9th Battalion.
If I was able to send him an English version of my novel, it’s thanks to two people. My publisher, who gave me the rights for an English version, and Martin Long’s availability, a Franco-British author also published by In Octavo. He kindly agreed to proofread and correct my translation. I’ve reviewed two of his books: La mémoire de l’oubli and La voleuse des marais. Don’t hesitate to check out my reviews on this site, and even better, discover his works.
Thank you, Neil, for your availability, your kindness, and your thoughtful feedback. Thank you for the preface you’ve agreed to offer me. I hope one day I’ll be able to sign On a Glenn Miller Tune alongside you, across the Channel.
And since I’m talking about prefaces, thank you, Serge (Dutfoy), for your French preface and your drawing, which will remain in the English version.
Today, I’ve submitted the manuscript to a few publishing houses in London. We’ll see how it goes. Whatever happens, if (and it’s quite likely) I don’t find a publisher (though having Neil’s preface is better than a literary agent!), I will turn to self-publishing.
In the meantime, I’m getting ready to publish another work. Of Ink and Stone will be available soon. And a new adventure begins at La Rémanence. But that’s another story.
