A Refuge Assured
by Jocelyn Green
Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility, and those associated with them, are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia but finds the same dangers lurking in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers threaten the life of a young boy left in her care, who some suspect to be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement, Azilum, offer permanent refuge?
Militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate the land of his hard-won farm near Azilum, but soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young Frenchwoman recently arrived from Paris, they will be drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.
Militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate the land of his hard-won farm near Azilum, but soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young Frenchwoman recently arrived from Paris, they will be drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.
ISBN-13: 978-0764219078
with award-winning author
Jocelyn Green
#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
When I first read a mention somewhere about French Azilum, the refuge built for Marie-Antoinette in the wilderness of Pennsylvania during the French Revolution, I couldn’t tell if it was fact or fiction.
When I first read a mention somewhere about French Azilum, the refuge built for Marie-Antoinette in the wilderness of Pennsylvania during the French Revolution, I couldn’t tell if it was fact or fiction.
| So I immediately turned to Google and verified through several sources that it was real. Though Marie-Antoinette did not escape the guillotine, the refuge was still used by those who longed for their queen and her son, Louis-Charles. Once I started reading about the men and women who found asylum in Azilum, I was hooked. The settlement only lasted about a decade, but its history is fascinating and worth telling through the eyes of my heroine, Vivienne Rivard, a former lacemaker for the French court. |  |
#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
After I researched for a few months, I probably wrote the book in three months, but it was nowhere near a good book at that point. I spent another four months in revisions: deleting scenes, adding chapters, rewriting scenes, developing relationships, etc. Then another few weeks going over it with a fine-tooth comb, striking out or replacing overused words, tightening my sentences, etc.
After I researched for a few months, I probably wrote the book in three months, but it was nowhere near a good book at that point. I spent another four months in revisions: deleting scenes, adding chapters, rewriting scenes, developing relationships, etc. Then another few weeks going over it with a fine-tooth comb, striking out or replacing overused words, tightening my sentences, etc.
#3. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
I love the main characters, Vivienne and Liam, but I also really like the secondary characters, Liam’s sister Tara, especially. She didn’t get a lot of scene-time, but she probably deserves her own book or at least novella at some point.
I love the main characters, Vivienne and Liam, but I also really like the secondary characters, Liam’s sister Tara, especially. She didn’t get a lot of scene-time, but she probably deserves her own book or at least novella at some point.
#4. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
The primary theme is that of finding refuge in the Lord, when no physical place of safety seems to exist.
The primary theme is that of finding refuge in the Lord, when no physical place of safety seems to exist.
 | But a secondary theme popped up through a character I didn’t plan on creating: Armand, the father from whom Vivienne had been estranged her entire life. The two flee France together, and through their relationship, a picture of reconciliation emerged. At one point Armand says to Vivienne, “One is never too old for a father’s love.” None of us are ever too old –or “too far gone”—for our heavenly Father’s love, either. And that is the greatest reconciliation story of all time. If my readers remember that after they finish the book, I will be thrilled. |
#5. What made you choose some of the specific locations in this book?
History chose the locations for me: Paris, Le Havre, Philadelphia, Asylum. It was a joy to represent both urban and rural settings in this novel.
History chose the locations for me: Paris, Le Havre, Philadelphia, Asylum. It was a joy to represent both urban and rural settings in this novel.
#6. How did you name your characters?
I looked up names that were in use in different countries of origin during my timeframe. So Vivienne, it was France, and for Liam, it was Ireland. Liam’s name was easy to choose, but I spent more time finding a heroine’s name that was French and easily readable/pronounceable by English-speaking American readers.
I looked up names that were in use in different countries of origin during my timeframe. So Vivienne, it was France, and for Liam, it was Ireland. Liam’s name was easy to choose, but I spent more time finding a heroine’s name that was French and easily readable/pronounceable by English-speaking American readers.
| #7. What do you do to inspire creativity? I try to refill my creative well on a regular basis. First and foremost, that means reading good books, which is a delightful requirement of an author’s professional development. I also listen to music, watch movies, visit art museums when I can. But when it comes to the daily activity of writing on a deadline, it’s really more about discipline than inspiration. Obviously, I love being inspired. But I don’t get a “pass” when I don’t feel in the mood to write. Some days the words fly out of me, and other days it feels like I have to fight for each paragraph, and I’m still not pleased with what I see on the page. I just have to plow through those days and trust that I’ll figure it out during the editing stage. |  |
- Jocelyn Green -
 Jocelyn Green | Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King; Wedded to War; and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Her books have garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and have been honored with the Christy Award, the gold medal from the Military Writers Society of America, and the Golden Scroll Award from the Advanced Writers & Speakers Association. She graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, Toblerone chocolate bars, the color red, and reading on her patio. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com. |
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