Rise of Merovech: Setting the Scene

In the final days of preparation (aka: stalling) I have decided to go ahead and set the scene a bit for "Rise of Merovech."

The year is 453 AD. Attila the Hun has been expelled from the Western Roman Empire only two years previous, but the great giant still finds itself in a decline. Their wealth is disappearing and they find themselves reaching out to the "barbarian" tribes around them for assistance. The assistance ranges from food to clothing to soldiers for the army.

One tribe, based loosely on the historical Menapii tribe, resides in Blariacum, just north of the river Rhine delta. Their chieftain, Chlodio's son Merovech (pictured below) was instrumental in the defeat of the Huns and is personally acclaimed to have defeated the great Attila himself.  But, although he fights for the emperor, he despises Rome.

Called once again to fight for Rome in their next conflict, Merovech leads his army of men to meet with Council member Cornelius Caecilius in the city of Castel Menaporium.

"Merovech in Gold"  by Gwendolynn Strobel

Structuring the Saga

I suppose one of the best places to start would be explaining a bit of the story. I don't want to give too much away, though, so I will try to keep it simple.

The whole story follows one family from the beginning of their family tree in Late Antiquity to their modern branches in today's society.  "Rise of Merovech" is the first part of the tale, taking place in 453 AD, during the fall of the Western Roman Empire. As the great empire falls, however, Merovech and his descendants give rise to a new dynasty that will rule Gaul for nearly 300 years.

But, the dynasty disappears into the past until the 1540's and the height of the French Renaissance. The family must survive the Protestant Reformation and the French Wars of Religion in "The Merovingian Prince."

And, finally, the story comes full circle in the modern times. I will warn everyone now that this modern story actually takes place in a bit of an alternate reality, where the government of France is more similar to a Renaissance monarchy. Think of the British Royal Family, but they actually still run the government. Anyway! The spirits of the past finally find peace in the modern telling of the tale, "Prince du Sang."

I know this was a super short post, but I am still in the whole setting up process of this blog. Hopefully soon there will be some material from the novels to read. I am currently writing "Rise of Merovech" fairly regularly, so that will most likely be the center of attention for a bit.

Thanks for your time and happy reading!

An Introduction to the "House"

I have written stories all of my life. I think that comes with the territory of growing up in a creative family. But, I have never been able to fully explore this side to my creativity. I have had the opportunity to play a bit with my theater background, but my heart has always been in prose. Now, I am taking a page out of a friend's book and am starting a blog in the hopes of being able to tell the story that has been the major driving force of my creative world for nearly a decade.

When my father passed away in 2009, the internal conflicts I wrestled threatened to consume and destroy me. I would not have survived, being so inexperienced and unprepared for the world, if it had not been for my roommate. If she had not been behind me every step of the way encouraging me to write down this tale, just hoping to keep my mind off of everything that was going on around me, I would never have made it this far. 

Now that she is my wife, the encouragement has only gotten stronger.  Sketches and portraits of characters lay scattered about our apartment and full on painted scenes sit safely in sketchbooks. This story is dedicated to her.

The story began as a conflict between two brothers, torn apart after the death of their father, but has evolved over the years into a tale of intrigue and romance, spanning over 1500 years of French history as we follow these two brothers and their family through the eras. But, the story's center has remained the same: coming to terms with oneself and accepting who you truly were born to be. It has been a very cathartic and therapeutic exercise that has turned into a beloved project that I want to share with anyone who will read it.

With the writing came a great deal of research. For every chapter I write, hours and hours of research went into every detail, from how the people greeted each other, to how the rooms looked during the Dark Ages. I hope to not only post the story but bits of research that pertain to what has either been posted, or what has contributed to the story as a whole. I hope the findings are as interesting to others as they have been to me and I hope the story is just as entertaining, if not more.

Thanks so much for your time and happy reading!