Hi Everyone!
I am excited to be here today to bring you a guest post regarding the Top five literary influences from Outreamer author, DN Carter. Welcome!
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Chretien de Troyes:
He was a Court poet living in the 12th
Century. I started reading his works whilst living in Cyprus in 1976. It was
the only book I could find in the library about Arthurian myths. Over the years
I discovered there was actually very little factual information concerning him
other than that he was reputedly born around 1160 and died in 1191. This has
never been confirmed and several authors have claimed he was in fact a made up
character, a medieval pen name even, for Grail romances to be published. What
we know of him comes mainly from writings attributed to him which included five
romance narratives written in rhyming octosyllabic couplets during the final
third of the 12th century. A sixth narrative, Guillaume d'Angleterre, has been attributed to him by some,
although many scholars find this doubtful. At least two surviving lyric songs
are said to have been composed by him and he left several works unfinished,
including the Graal. I loved the rich sense of romance within his writings but
also his works directed me toward the writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth and his
Arthurian material. Chrétien, as a court
poet, that is, a ‘clerc’ attached
to the court of the Count and Countess of Champagne and later, after the death
of Henri le Libéral de Champagne, the court of Philippe d'Alsace, count of Flanders.
I would spend many years researching the Counts of Champagne as a consequence
and who feature within Outremer. But I
was captivated by the connection to ancient stories of Celtic origin, such as ‘Tristan and Iseut’, and his Arthurian
tales and his constant theme between what appears to be, and what actually is, within
his stories. He apparently had a life-long fascination with the complex
relationships formed between a man and woman, both within marriage and out of
it, but mainly between those totally committed in love, which he articulated as
the most authentically human ideal and divine charity. Reading and learning all
about Chretien I guess is what set me on my path to try and understand the
deeper meanings behind what he was trying to convey. If there were hidden
esoteric messages based upon far more ancient stories as some claimed and many
rumours persisted with, then I wanted to know what they were and meant.
Peter Lemesurier:
He is a Cambridge-trained modern linguist and teacher
and professional translator. I first read his book, ‘The Great Pyramid Decoded’
whilst living in Cyprus. Having visited the Great Pyramid, I had a deep sense
that it was not just simply a single tomb for a Pharaoh, so when I saw his book
squeezed between two volumes in the New Age section of the library, I thought
it had been placed there incorrectly. Having a great love of castles, ancient
ruins and tombs, I liked the drawings I saw inside...I was not so keen on all
the mathematics and geometry I saw but decided I would read it, for I felt it
possibly held some truths. And indeed it did as this turned out to be the one
most significant book I have ever read. It covered everything and hinted at so
much more. To my surprise I also discovered that I actually understood it
all...my school friends thinking I had lost the plot when I tried to engage
them in discussions about it. Peter is a
world authority on Nostradamus, which led me to research him also, which in
turn sent me in many directions of research.
Jules Verne
I read his works as part of an English project, and I
assumed at the time he was a modern author. I was surprised to learn he wasn’t
yet wrote about matters years ahead of his time. His science fiction, in most
cases actually became science fact...such as describing submarines and SCUBA
diving equipment. So I researched Jules Verne as a person. From that I learnt
he was actually an avid researcher himself and was aware of many potential new
discoveries coming up and simply wrote them into his stories...so not having
some great insight into the future through clairvoyant or psychic means as I
had assumed...but it meant I did go on to study clairvoyance, spiritualism and
mysticism. But I loved the way he introduced new concepts to the public via an
engaging and enjoyable format within his stories. Knowing this is what gave me
the idea to use Outremer as a means of conveying what would perhaps otherwise
be seen as boring, utter nonsense or simply irrelevant facts into a familiar
format that would get the reader’s attention.
Mayo Angelou:
I read her book ‘I know why the caged bird sings’
whilst I retook my A level English exam. It was the teacher who introduced me
to a whole new way of looking at a person and their writing style. It was like
seeing and understanding the English language with all its depth and multi
levels for the first time. But it was the content and deeply moving words of
Mayo Angelou that impressed me the most. Her writing resonated within me and
moved me. I think this was the first book I had read when it hit home to me the
power of the written word and just how deeply it can impact upon a person. The
old saying of ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt
me’ I began to question after reading Mayo’s work, for bones do heal, but words
can never be taken back once spoken...and they can remain deep within us for a
life time. I think this one book demonstrated to me the power of books... Some
of the best quotes I have ever heard came from her. Two in particular I kept in
mind when I started writing Outremer. “There
is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” How many
writers feel that deeply? And “The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious.
The desire to reach hearts is wise.” I hope my work within the pages of
Outremer does just that...reach hearts.
My Mother.
For as long as I can remember, I have memories of
laying awake in bed late at night hearing my mother typing away on her old
mechanical typewriter. My father was often away with work for weeks, sometimes
months on end and she would fill her evenings writing stories for the local
Herald and various magazines. Always witty and humorous, her writing was always
well received, insightful and at times beautifully perceptive; she could use
one sentence to convey an entire story instantly...a skill I have tried, and
failed, to emulate. Often I would come down in the early hours and find her sat
typing away, a cloud of cigarette smoke hanging heavy like some ghostly blanket
had enveloped the room. But my mother’s advice to me on writing, when I asked
her how I can become a writer was a quote from Einstein; ‘The true sign of
intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.’ She then looked at me directly,
I was thirteen at the time, and she said “You have both...never doubt
that.” Whenever I find myself having
doubts, especially about my writing, I simply remind myself of her words.
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Thanks DN for coming by the blog to share with us.
More about Outreamer here:
Who Controls The Past
Controls The Future
An epic love story
must overcome religious divide and a plot to eradicate two blood lines, as the
Crusades and the search for the ancient mysteries of the Holy Grail gather
momentum.
Raised by his father in
La Rochelle, France, Paul Plantavalu is known for his artistic nature,
inquisitive mind and Christian faith. He also has an unshakable love for his
Muslim childhood friend, Alisha al Komaty. Courageous and outspoken, she
returns Paul’s love. But their path is paved with obstacles; religion, war,
political chaos and a mysterious enemy determined to destroy their family
lines.
Sometime between 1110 AD
and 1120 AD in the aftermath of the first crusade, a small band of nine knights
— the founding knights Templar — recover ancient precious artefacts left by a
former, advanced civilisation, beneath the City of Jerusalem. Ruthlessly
guarded, the secrets revealed by this discovery are highly prized by powerful
and dangerous forces far and wide; the repercussions of their capture are
inextricably linked to Paul and Alisha. As Paul starts to experience dark and
vivid dreams and the fragile balance of peace starts to crumble, it will fall
to an enigmatic man known as Kratos and his female warrior protégée Abi
Shadana, to safeguard Paul and Alisha.
Paul and Alisha’s love
story weaves between the threads of our reality and other realms — from the
Druids to the Sufi mystics, the Magi of the East, the secret political arm of
the Knights Templar and the Isma’ilis, the Assassins. Knights and pilgrims
alike will witness some of the darkest battles ever fought. The discovery of a
unique sword’s lethal power and whispered connections to King Arthur and the
Holy Grail lead Paul and Alisha to question if their lives ever be the same
again.
The first of a four-part
series, Outremer is an historical epic, which
sweeps across England, Scotland and France, to Syria, Jerusalem and Egypt.
Discover the truth — and crack the ancient code — behind the great mysteries of
the High Middle Ages for yourself.
About the author: After strange and vivid
experiences whilst living in Cyprus as a child, author D N Carter has been
fascinated by the history, myths and legends of the Middle Ages and mankind’s
past. As he got older travels to Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Languedoc
region of France and the deserts of Arabia fuelled his enthusiasm. While not
decoding maps and mathematical codes D N Carter enjoys adventure sports from
parachuting to microlight flying. Today he divides his time between East Anglia
in the UK and the south of France with his family.
