Behind the Scenes of the Historical Fiction Novel The Heretic
The Sacred South of France
My grandmother is a world-traveling poet and mystic. When she invited me to join her on a wild adventure through the South of France following in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene, I leapt at the chance. For years, Gammie had been researching the recovery of the feminine voice in Christianity, and she discovered a legend claiming Mary Magdalene landed on the shores of Provence after the death of Christ.
We set off across the landscape on the trail of mystery, following rumor and story. We visited the windswept shores of Ste. Maries-de-la-Mer, where Mary was said to have landed in a boat with no oars and no sails. We climbed to the ancient grotto of Ste. Baume, where la Madeleine was said to have been daily visited by angels. Over the ancient stones and through the windswept valleys of the sacred South of France, Godde The Mother whispered to us, urging us ever deeper into the Mystery.
The Treasure of Rennes-le-Château
Our adventures brought us to the fabled hilltop hamlet of Rennes-le-Château, buried deep in the countryside of the Languedoc of Southwest France. There, I met Sir Henry Lincoln, who had discovered an ancient secret hidden in code. He charged me with telling the world the Truth about what he had found.
A Hilltop Hamlet in France
A tiny town, high on a hill in the Languedoc of Southwest France was once home to an eccentric priest and still guards a world of secrecy. From coded parchments to hidden symbols, the Mystery of Rennes-le-Château and the so-called "treasure" associated with it has inspired generations of spiritual seekers and treasure hunters.
A Mysterious Old Man
Templar Knight, "Sir" Henry Lincoln spent half a lifetime researching and writing about the Mystery of Rennes-le-Château. When codes in the church led him to discover an ancient secret hidden through time, he did his best to tell the world what he had found. Yet it wasn't enough... at 83 years old, he was searching for someone to carry on the work.
A Writer in Search of a Story
I practiced writing for years, preparing myself for the day I would find a story that needed to be told. I was leading tours in the South of France, working as a barista, and writing in every spare moment, when the story of a lifetime dropped into my lap. A mysterious old man asked me to tell the world about an ancient secret he had found hidden in code.
His white shock of hair danced in the wind above earthen eyes that shone somber and dark. He took a quiet step toward me, standing so close I could smell the smoke on his breath. I wanted to pull away, but his gaze held me immobile. Everything hushed as the words fell between us.
“Il faut que tu reviennes,” the old knight whispered. “J’ai besoin de toi.”
...His words rang through my consciousness with finality.
You must come back. I need you.
Excerpt from
The Heretic
BASED ON A TRUE STORY...
This was how Sir Henry Lincoln asked me to help him share the real-life ancient secret he found hidden in code at Rennes-le-Château.
The Adventure into Mystery
Sir Henry Lincoln immediately immersed me in the history and lore of the region, but he was secretive about his findings, cryptic and quiet. I could tell he wanted me to unravel the Mystery myself... to discover it the way he had, one clue at a time. He took me to little known places in the landscape, never saying where we were going or why. When I asked questions, he merely smiled with a glimmer in his eye, sometimes repeating my question back to me.
Some days I felt as if I would never understand the game he was playing... never uncover whatever strange secrets he was hinting toward. Yet little by little, the pieces of the puzzle began to come together. I began to See the way each place, each clue, each code fitted into place. I began to understand with a knowing beyond words the Truth of Sir Henry's discovery.
Sir Henry Lincoln charged me with telling the world the real story of what he found... the Wisdom of our ancestors.
Writing a Historical Fiction Epic
Intensive Research, Personal Experience, and Transformational Storytelling Come Together
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Historical Research
It felt important not only to portray the known facts of history, but to help the reader experience a vivid sense of the lives and times of my historical characters. Immersing myself in the Occitan culture and ancient stories of the Languedoc allowed me a glimpse into what the world might have been like beyond the basic facts and recorded dates.
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Secret Codes
I love the way potent information throughout history has often been concealed through codes, symbols, and ciphers. It allows those who have eyes to See to understand, while the uninitiated are left in the dark. In The Heretic, I wanted to honor this ancient tradition by incorporating secret messages that rely on a variety of different decoding techniques.
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Visionary Storytelling
I can't imagine another genre that could transmit the energies and magic of this Mystery and make ancient Wisdom accessible for a modern audience. As a Visionary Fiction epic, The Heretic creates a unique and powerful storytelling experience where readers are invited to embark on their own journey of discovery, transformation, and Initiation.
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Divine Mystery
I have a unique ability to stay grounded in the midst of Mystery. People often love the feeling of hidden treasure and buried secrets, but in seeking answers, it's easy to fool ourselves into believing we've found the truth. I've discovered that when that feeling of Mystery is in the air, there's something bigger at play than just historical secrets. Creating access to that greater Divine Mystery is the real magic.
Bringing The Heretic to Life
The Kickstarter Campaign
Together we raised almost $40k to bring The Heretic to life!
A Special Thank You To All My Kickstarter Backers
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