Sylvain Reynard, THANK YOU so much for taking the time out to answer your fans questions.
YOU ASKED.....SR ANSWERED!! ENJOY!
SR....
Also, curious about your use of the word Beshert.... With Yiddish roots... Over
the term soulmate.... I whole-heartedly believe in this ... Found the choice of
a word with Jewish/Yiddish origin and interesting choice....
Jen
@zenjenbee
Mrsjbee@aol.com
I first heard the word “Beshert” many years
ago and was quite taken by the concept. It carries with it the idea of soulmate
and destiny, and deep, enduring love. I thought it would describe the
relationship between the Professor and Julia better than “Soulmate.”
SR...
One more question.... The professor clearly is into Kama sutra... What other
novels would he recommend in this genre?
Jen
@zenjenbee
Mrsjbee@aol.com
There was a deleted scene in “Gabriel’s
Rapture” in which the Professor discussed the book “Kosher Sex” with Julia. The
Professor emphasized the rabbinical teaching that the orgasm is the right of
the wife. Julia agreed. I’ll speak with
the Professor about sharing the scene …
Professor....if
you could change only one mistake you made with Julia what would it be and why
I would never
have left her alone in the apple orchard. That is one of the biggest regrets of
my life.
Julia,
if you could go back and change anything would you or would you keep it the way
it was?
I wish Gabriel
hadn’t left me – ever. I wish I’d made sure he knew my name...
Gabriel,
what would you have done if Julia did not take you back after you returned to
her?
I probably would
have drunk myself into an early grave.
Professor.
What and when was you first attraction to Dante's Beatrice
When
I was a freshmen in college, I enrolled in a western literature course where we
read Dante. I was captivated by his
descriptions of her.
My
question is for professor Gabriel Emerson(Sylvain Reynard)Professor I am a
little upset that you left Julia in "Gabriel's Rapture" with nothing
bur cryptic clues as to your plan-why could you not contact one of your family
member to talk to Julia after her final meeting with the dean-you hurt her very
much and you made me cry.
Please
don’t cry. (Hands you a handkerchief, while looking stricken)
Julianne,
A stress mechanism when did your straighten of your silverware start. As a
child or a nervous young adult?
Cordially
yours Karen_E
(Julianne
appears puzzled) I don’t straighten
silverware …
@
SR - Are/Were you a Dante specialist?
I
prefer to think of myself as a specialist in Scotch …
My
question is for SR. Could you explain further the reasoning behind Gabriel's
vasectomy? Was it punishment for Paulina losing her ability to have children as
well?
Gabriel
explains to Julia that he made the decision on the heels of Paulina’s loss. His
self-loathing was such that he didn’t think he was entitled to reproduce, so
yes, I think he was punishing himself.
Mr.
Reynard,
Here's
the scenario. Gabriel is shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue. He eyes a pair of
vintage leather wing-tip oxfords. It just so happens that they are the last
pair in the store and he is going out on a date with Julia that evening. He
knows he'd look ravishing in them. Amazingly, a young man by the name of
Christian Grey also sees the shoes which happen to be the same size Gabriel
needs. He wants them because he's Christian Grey.
A
random teenager starts chanting, "Fight, fight, fight..."
How
does this end?
(Parenthetically,
you should know who I'm rooting for.)
I’ve
had discussions with EL James about this. I’ve always insisted that despite Mr.
Grey’s intimidating personality, Professor Emerson went several rounds with a
few Southies in Boston and would trounce him soundly. And then the Professor would really go to
work on him … ;)
Professor
Emerson, what is your proudest academic accomplishment to date? Do you have
more than one example to share?
I’m
proud of finishing my dissertation at Harvard and successfully defending it.
Without Beatrice’s intervention, I would be dead.
Julianne,
you've struggled with your self-esteem for a very long time. Do you feel as if
you have finally reached a place in your life where you are content with
yourself?
(smiling)
I don’t think anyone is content with herself or himself. Perhaps we aren’t
meant to be content with ourselves. Perhaps we’re supposed to strive each day
to be better, kinder, and more generous.
I
actually have two questions for Professor Emerson..
First,
I should tell you that I liken the version of you that wears glasses to Clark
Kent - hidden, masked, passions suppressed and compartmentalized. The question
is, do you actually require a prescription or do you just want to reserve the
emotional, provocative, sensitive version of yourself for Julianne? And, if
you'll indulge me, Professor Emerson, my second question is, would you consider
tutoring me once a week to teach me Dante?
I
require glasses for reading or when my eyes are tired. I think I ruined my eyesight in graduate
school, as many students do.
I’m
afraid all my private tutoring sessions are promised to one very special
student …
Professor,
what is your ultimate sexual fantasy? ;)
I’ve
already lived it. ;)
Professor
Emerson,
Dante
was bound by the traditions of courtly love in regards to Beatrice, even referring
to her as 'la gloriosa donna della mia mente.' How do you think your
perception/opinion/study of Dante will change given the knowledge you now have
of your own Beatrice?
~Vicki
G
I
have a hell of a lot more respect for his restraint now than I ever did before.
The man must have had the self-control of a god.
Gabriel-
How do you deal with knowing that there are thousands of women around the world
who think you're the hottest thing ever?
And...can
you please be nice to your neighbor...we think pretty highly of him.
Hugs,
Tamie
Wait
a minute, you know my neighbor?
This
question is for Julianne.
If
things had not come together for you and Gabriel would you have eventually
given Paul a chance? If not why?
I
don’t think so. I would have spent the
rest of my life knowing that my heart belonged to someone else and that would
have been a cruel way to treat a friend.
Paul,
Seriously?
Why the Rabbit for Julia? Unless it has anything to do Monty Python it just
isn't cool. Oh, and you never had an inkling about Julia and Professor Emerson?
One would think with your deep feeling for her you could have seen sooner just
who Owen was.
Sara
Sara,
what can I say? Love is blind. She told
me she had a boyfriend from her hometown, I believed her. I didn’t realize she
had a background with Emerson. He was an ass to her. Who would have believed
that he knew her?! If you’d seen Julia
when she first got to Toronto, you’d know that Rabbit was a kind way of
describing her. She had these big eyes and she was nervous. I just wanted to
put my arms around her and protect her. Call me crazy.
SR-Whatever
happened to Christa? She whored herself and just wondered if she ever got what
she deserved? Was she spitting mad that Gabriel & Julianne got married?
Ohhh that would be so awesome to hear her reaction! LOL! Ok I have a mean
streak when it comes to Christa and her cruelty.
When
the curtain closes on Christa, she’s happy at having engineered the demise of
Gabriel and Julia’s relationship and Gabriel’s leave of absence from the
University. Then she gets on her broomstick and flies to Columbia …
This
question is for SR --
I
actually have two questions.
1.
Would you consider writing a third book? I feel like I need a little more
closure, how the married life was once they went back to Boston and what
happened to Paul & Christa. And of course if Gabriel & Julianne ended
up having kids or adopting.
2.
Would you consider making this book into a movie?
Thank
you,
Andrenella
Hello
Andrenella. Yes and Yes. J
Professor
Emerson what would have you done if Julia had taken things with Paul further
than just kissing? She didn't believe you were coming back so do you think that
you and Julia could have gotten over that?
Lariza:)!
Next
question …
Professor
Emerson,
What
was written in the note that you sent to Julia's apartment!? She ripped it up
and I've been wondering what you could have said that you didn't mind her not
reading it at that time!
(SR
is answering this question) This discussion was a deleted scene from “Rapture.”
I don’t know if I’ll post it online or, if I decide to do a third book, it
might be revealed there. So at the moment, I can’t say …
For
Professor Emerson-
If
you weren't a professor and Dante specialist, what career path do you think you
would have chosen. I ask this because I can't picture you doing anything
else.
THANKS!
There
was a time when I thought I might like to be a writer. Or a lawyer.
Professor
Emerson: When did you become interested in Dante and what was your master's
dissertation about if I may ask? Also the Great Pestilence comes to Europe
about 27 years after Dante's death, what do you think would have been Dante's
reaction to it? Do you think the 9 circles of hell would have been different
based on the plague or do you think Dante would have perhaps thought he himself
and all of humanity were in one of the circles?
My dissertation was on a comparison between “La Vita Nuova” and “The
Divine Comedy.” That’s a good point
about the Plague. You can see how the Plague influenced the writing of
Boccaccio, for example. But I would be merely speculation to say what effect it
would have had on Dante. I’d like to think he would have finished “The Divine
Comedy” regardless.
Julianne:
Getting hired in the Humanities is difficult in this day and age, do you happen
to have a back up plan if you can't become a professor? Also besides Dante, do
you have any other Medieval interests (i.e. Chaucer, Gower or perhaps mysticism
and Medieval saints)?
Yes,
that’s true. But if I have the opportunity to do research and to teach (even if
it’s part-time), I will consider myself blessed. My secondary research interest is Florentine
history and the work of Boccaccio.
A
general question for Gabriel, Julia or Paul: Which of the 7 deadly sins do you
associate with and which of the 7 holy virtues would describe you?
(From
the Professor) Pride. And I lack the holy virtues – all of them.
Gabriel,
what is the worst non-subtitled domestically produced romantic comedy that you
have watched?
(scratches
chin) They’re all dreadful. I doubt I could name one. (He pauses) But they make Julianne smile, so
...
My
question is about Christa. Well, sort of. When Christa went to look at the
security tapes and was ignoring the tall blond American woman at the bar, was
that Paulina? Were they working together to bring Gabriel down?
Yes,
that was Paulina sitting next to Christa in the bar. As to the second question,
I need that to remain a mystery …
This
question is for Professor Katherine Picton. I know you're a private person and
don't mix personal with academia matters BUT!
You
had conditionally agreed that you would take Julia Mitchell as her thesis
supervisor pending an interview. It was implied this was done as a favour to
Professor Emerson.
Inquisitive
minds want to know...what was it that Professor Gabriel Emerson did for you to
owe him such a favour??
(This
is from SR) The scene in which Prof.
Picton explains her history with Gabriel to Julia was deleted from “Rapture.”
It’s possible I will post it online for readers, or maybe it will find it’s way
into the third book, if I write it.
Hello,
my question is for SR. ;-)
Just
reaching the chapters where Gabriel has left after the hearing and still
wondering about the "friend" of Julia's lawyer that had had a couple
of sexual encounters with Gabriel. Is it not important to know WHO she is? Will
we know? (Admitting I am on Ch 29 and have not reached the end to know if this
becomes clear)
Thank
You,
Iris~Elli
Hello
Elli. I didn’t think it mattered who the woman was. Soraya reveals her identity
and explains the context of the rendezvous. At that point, the mystery is
revealed. (I didn’t think readers would want the sordid details)
Julia,
does the professor prefer boxer shorts or briefs? What brand does he wear? :)
Where would you like Gabriel to bring you for your next romantic getaway and
why? Thank you.
(Julia
is blushing) Um … neither. And I’ve
always wanted to visit Paris with someone I loved.
Professor
just wondering....
How
did no one realize what Christa was trying to do? Everyone [at least I think
everyone] could tell what she was up to. Maybe not the whole receiving favors
part, but you could tell she wanted to be in his pants from the very first
seminar. Why didn't anyone report her?
Thank
you.
(The
Professor is wearing a Stoic expression)
I never expected her to charge me with harassment. She was an annoyance
that I thought would go away. How many graduate students have the nerve to take
on one of their professor and their academic institution? It’s career suicide.
My
question is for Christa.
Despite
your best efforts, Gabriel & Julia ended up together after all. Has this
inspired you to reevaluate your priorities?
They’re
together? WHAT?!
Professor,
What
was your inspiration for studying Dante?
I
find his words beautiful.
My
question is for the charming, polite and compassionate neighbor of Professor
Emerson.
Many
readers of this story we are attracted by their empathy, and felt curious about
his character. Could you tell us more about you? For example what is your name,
a brief physical description about yourself, what is your usual occupation, if
you have a fluent and good relationship with the teacher and how long you know
him ... Thank you in advance. ANA
I’m a snarky
narrator. That’s about the extent of my talent. ;)
Professor,
What is it
about a fine leather pump you find so arousing?
There’s
something about the shape of a woman’s shoe, like the shape of a woman herself,
that I find endlessly fascinating. They’re both works of art.
Katherine
Picton, what was the nature of your relationship to Professor Emerson that you
owed him a favor. Also, you had to have known that he already put in his
resignation when you made Julia promise to meet the Dante Specialist at Boston
University. What was your ultimate goal in doing this?
(Prof.
Picton peers over the rims of her spectacles) I keep my personal life private.
But I can say that I owed him a debt, which, I believe, I have adequately
discharged. To your second question, well, I should think the answer is
obvious. If those two young people couldn’t get themselves together, then I was
going to do it for them.
Dear
Professor Emerson,
Now
that I have finished ravishing (ahem...I mean reading) your 2 delicious books,
what would you suggest I read next? Since you have completely spoiled me with
your sensuous demeanor, I'm not sure I will be able to find another suitable
book that will do me justice! HELP!
(SR
is answering this question) If you go to my Goodreads page, you’ll see that I
have several books listed and that I’ve reviewed a number of them. http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4765186?shelf=read “A Severe Mercy,” “Grave Refrain,” and
“Throwaway” would be a few of my recommendations.
For
the bashful next-door neighbor:
Julia
and I would both like to know about the dubious origin of the Superman pajama
bottoms.
I
think we can sympathize with the plight of those who receive Christmas gifts
from well-meaning, albeit clueless relatives.
Do
you prefer Blonds are Brunettes?
(This
is from SR) I prefer those who are kind.
Character is what is important.
SR:
I suppose this question is for Grace or any of the Clark's: On that night Julia
was suppose to come to dinner and didn't because of the problem Gabriel created
did any of you think of Julia? I know Rachel and Aaron were at the house when
she came over, but during that night when maybe Richard came home with Scott,
did they not see Julia's bike? If so did anyone think of where she may have
been? Was there a slight suspicion that maybe it was her Gabriel was talking
about?
(SR
will answer) Julia was in and out of the
house a lot when she was a high school student. I don’t think anyone would have
thought much about seeing her bike there, since she and Rachel left things at
one another’s houses. The situation was so tense and everyone was so upset
about Gabriel’s interaction with his mother and brother, the Clarks weren’t in
the best position to make inferences or solve mysteries. And they thought
Gabriel was impaired (which he was) and thus, hallucinating.
One
for Grace: How do you feel about Julia and Gabriel together as a couple? We
don't get to meet you although you play a role in the background of the story
I'm just curious what your thoughts were of Gabriel and Julia together.
Every
mother wants her child to be happy and in my case, I also wanted my children to
become good people. Julia and Gabriel
had a lot to overcome in their lives, but I’m proud of the changes they’ve made
and the persons they have become.
SR-what
was the most difficult experience to write re Gabriel in GI and GR? Thanks for
a wonderful story hope we get a third!
Anything
having to do with Gabriel’s past was difficult to write.
For
the Snarky Narrator: Do you think you get enough recognition and attention
considering how crucial you are in both GI and GR?
*blows
thankful kisses and waves*
Snarkiness
is a peculiar compunction of some narrators. (But it should not be disdained
without trying it)
What
was written in the note that Julia tore up outside of her apartment? Julia
tried to find it but it was all gone. What did you say to her?
I
said a little about this in one of the answers above, but the information was
revealed in a deleted scene that I may post online.
I don't have
a question for one of the characters, however I do have a few questions I'd
like to ask SR~
Your identity is such a mystery! Will you ever decide to go
public? Your name, your age, your looks, your voice....who is the writer behind
these beautifully written love stories? All things I yearn to know yet, I admit
the mystery is part of the intrigue! Maybe you would consider a contest with
your Graduate Seminar Students....the winner gets to meet you!
Looking forward to a reply!
(blushing)
You are very kind with your compliments. Thank you. For me, writing is a hobby and although it’s
enjoyable, I like keeping it separate from my private life.
SR, thanks for adding to our enjoyment for Gabriel's Inferno by
answering some of our questions.
1. Gabriel can become very passionate in a museum. Has he
ever had museum sex with anyone other than Julie?
2. Did he ever take any of his one-night-stands home with him or
did he confine his exploits to the washroom at
Lobby and/or other clubs?
3.Is Professor Pain one of the women in Gabriel's erotic black
and white photos which were hung on his
bedroom wall?
Thanks again,
Debbie
Hello,
Debbie. The Professor is a bit cranky about some of your questions, simply
because he’s trying to protect Julianne and not bring up too much from the
past. But I can tell you that Prof. Pain was not in any of the photos. -SR
