CHANSON DE L’ANGE by Paisley Swan Stewart is an epic retelling of the classic novel, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, by Gaston Leroux. Inspired by the legend of The Opera Ghost in all its incarnations, the author weaves her own captivating tale of mystery, high romance, and madness while remaining faithful to traditional story elements. CHANSON DE L’ANGE creates bookends to the compelling tale of The Opera Ghost through an imaginative account of Christine Daae's childhood companionship with The Angel of Music; while the final gripping chapters unveil her years beyond the opera house.
The novel is now in the final editing process, on route to publication in early 2010. Please visit this site often for news about Paisley's writing progress; future publication and sale of the book.
Introduction:
Chanson de l’Ange begins as 10 year old prodigy, Christine Daae, attends her father's burial on a bleak winter afternoon. Under the care of her guardian, Madame Louise Giry, the orphan finds a new home at the Paris Opera House. Christine is enrolled in the Opera's conservatory, where she encounters a bohemian world of eccentric performers and a life dedicated to the performing arts. Through the Opera's gloomy corridors and backstage dramas, the young girl struggles to recover from her father's death.
As winter snows melt and seasons change, Christine hears the haunting music of a violin near her father’s grave. Convinced that her father has returned from the dead...the child opens her heart to the unseen musician. This dark visitation ushers in both dreams and nightmares, as the musician slowly and methodically makes himself known. Chanson de l’Ange spans a 50 year journey; fraught with joys and sorrows, obsession... music...and madness.
This young woman will ultimately discover that not all angels have wings, and not all devils are what they seem.
By Swansong
Published: March 4, 2010
Updated: March 4, 2010 PrintEmail
Hello, everyone. I'm feeling a bit pensive today, so I thought I would just sort of ramble without any Chanson de l’Ange theme or subject matter to highlight. Usually my blogs in some way relate to the Phantom of the Opera or to my book, but today I have other things on my heart, and I hope you don't mind if I share.
Last weekend, my mom had a very small stroke. She is 81 years old, and this is the 2nd stroke she's had in a year. The doctors tell us that she will continue to have more of these as time goes on. They also say that these small strokes are a precursor to a large one. My husband and I went to see her the day after the stroke, and although there was no real change in her physical appearance, there were definitely subtle changes in her behavior. She seems more fragile and emotional, and although she's still doing well enough to live on her own in her own home, I could see a definite downturn. I think the stroke scared her...I know it scared me.
My mom is a talented quilter who has made some gorgeous wall hangings over the years. A few Christmases ago, she made me a beautiful Christmas wall hanging in the colors of my living room. At this very moment, the wall hanging still decorates my entry, because I have nothing else to hang there until the fall. Last year for my birthday she made a gorgeous fall themed hanging, and a few weeks ago, I mentioned in passing that I would love to have a Spring/Summer hanging to place there after the Winter months.
During our visit to mom's house last week, I was verbally admiring a particular piece of printed fabric laid out on her sewing table, and with a big smile she informed me that she had chosen that fabric for my new wall hanging, which she said would be her next project. It was a bittersweet moment, because I couldn't help wondering if she would ever be well enough to finish it. I thought it an irony of life that just as my mom was to begin work on a Spring/Summer wall hanging for me...the frost of her own Winter is beginning to take hold.
I suppose when you hit middle age as I have, you begin to contemplate where life might take you in your senior years. Fortunately, my mom owns her home outright, and she does have the financial stability to sustain herself, regardless of what may come next. That is relief to my siblings and I, because we know that mom will be well taken care of. Her wish is to remain her home, and we will do all we can to see that wish honored.
Watching my mom age over the years, I am confronted with my own mortality. At 54 years old, I am still anticipating many wonderful years of life ahead, but I can’t help wondering how it will be for me in the Winter of my life. When I was 30, I never thought as far ahead as 40. Even 40 seemed a long way from 50...but now in my 50’s, the 60’s 70’s and 80’s seem all too close.
Today, I listened on the phone as mom told me in tears, that she couldn’t get anyone from The Geek Squad to come and set up her remote so that she can watch movies on the television in her bedroom. She had apparently been on the phone several times with this organization, trying to explain why she was so desperate to have the problem addressed, but so far, no one has showed up at her home to fix things, and my mom is feeling dismissed and ignored. Unfortunately, programming a remote is not something just anyone can do, or believe me, I would have my son over there right now helping her out.
As I sit here writing this blog, I feel a deep sadness because my mom’s Winter season is coming to an end. It may be years from now that she will close her eyes on this life, or it may be a few short weeks... but it is coming. How does one prepare for the passing of a parent? How does one prepare to have your heart broken in a million pieces?
I am praying for strength.
I leave you with this beautiful song by Andrew Lloyd Webber, written for his new Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies.
mommaduck - March 4, 2010 Dearest Swannie--I definitely feel your concern and pain. At nearly 66, I often find myself concerned by every little pain, thinking "is this 'it' or the beginning of my very downward spiral. Losing a parent is difficult at any age and for me, now it is siblings and friends. I just tell myself that this is all apart of living and I am just so thankful for the life, love and people who have been in my life. Please be comforted by your Faith, and know you have many friends who share and care.
Sorry, your account does not have access to post comments.
Love Never Dies
By Swansong
Published: February 24, 2010
Updated: February 24, 2010 PrintEmail
(If you are planning to see Love Never Dies and do not want to know spoilers, please read no further)
Hello to all my readers and fans of Phantom of the Opera in all its variations. I have posted the new video of Ramin Karimloo singing Till I Hear You Sing, the Phantom's aria in Love Never Dies, ALW's sequel to POTO, which is currently in previews at the Adelphi theater in London. Like many of you I have been very curious about this show ever since it was revealed that the source material for LND was taken from the atrocious Phantom fiction, The Phantom of Manhattan.
Sadly, the early reviews from those who have attended the preview performances for LND range from scathing to simply shocked at how bad the show is. The most disturbing aspect of the show seems to be that the storyline is inherently weak, with characters who barely resemble their incarnations from the original production. Apparently Raoul has been given no redeeming qualities, while Meg Giry becomes a force of negativity in the shaky storyline. The sets and special effects, and Andrew's uneven score are not going over well with many who expected much more from the great Andrew Lloyd Webber, who has given us some true theatrical gems in years past. As I suspected, it appears that LND is not even close to living up to the original Phantom of the Opera stage production.
As a writer who has been working on my own POTO sequel of sorts, I find this to be a very sad state of affairs. As most of you know, POTO is a story very dear to me, and I am truly disappointed that its sequel, composed by the Andrew Lloyd Webber, seems to be a disaster. Many show attendees are convinced that if the show does not undergo extensive revisions before heading for Broadway, it will never make it "across the pond."
When I first began writing my book, Chanson de l'Ange, I knew that I MUST remain true the original characters and their motivations. I was interested in developing their stories beyond either the pages of Leroux's novel or any stage/film version, but I was always concerned that the essence of these characters not undergo such an overhaul as to be unrecognizable to my readers.
Now nearing the completion of The Bleeding Rose, Book One of Chanson, I truly hope that when you read where I have taken these characters, you will not only be satisfied that I have retained their essential natures, but that you will be taken deeper and wider into a story beloved by so many.
Originally, I had hoped that Book One would be released on the market sometime in early March, but unfortunately, yet another family crisis has delayed my ability to meet those goals. It is now looking like the earliest Chanson will be made available for purchase is closer to the Summer months, but I won't speculate on a specific date. I am disappointed with the delays, but sometimes in our lives, troubles just seem to come out of nowhere to bite us in the butt!
Despite these setbacks, we are persevering and have been working very hard on the edits and revisions so that Chanson de l'Ange will be an enaging and emotionally satisfying read, with as few errors as possible. Thank you for hanging in there with us!
gemini21 - February 24, 2010 I'm sorry about your problems but I hope things are better now or they'll be better very soon
About the new musical I'm very disappointed, I wanted to like it but the plot is awful and the characters are ruined.
Swansong - February 24, 2010 You know, it IS possible to retell the POTO story, or to present an alternate reality type plot without stripping the original characters of their core personalities/motivations. IMO, there is simply no excuse for the plot Andrew and his collaborators have come up with. If they had to do a sequel, which in the beginning, I WAS in favor of...then ... See Morethey should have worked their asses off to write a decent and engaging script.
And what really tics me off is that ALW has this huge platform. Even if the show is inferior, it WILL have an audience. He has the power and the money to put it forward, where other artists, writers and composers who create beautiful works will NEVER get that kind of exposure.
I am realistic enough to know that I will be lucky if my POTO based novel sells 250 copies. I am not saying that my take on the story is the best out there, but it just feels like such a waste, when with all his resources, ALW couldn't create something truly wonderful.
mommaduck - March 4, 2010 i will have to hear the music and see the show before I will pass judgement altogether, but I do agree that I am
disappointed in the plot choice--or rather the way he changed original chaaracters. I just figure it is his "fan fiction" so be it! I really do wish him success, and I WANT to love the show.
gemini21 - March 4, 2010 After only a week I have to correct my last statement :P, I'm not still happy with the plot (but I'm beginning to accept it as one of the many continuations of Poto, I have read so many different fanfictions during the pasts years). But now I really love the score, I think it's wonderful and I love the lyrics of nearly every song. Ramin is a terrific Phantom, I saw him in London two years ago in Poto and I appreciated him, but I think that here his voice has reached perfection! I'm listening to the cd for hours every day and I would really like to have the possibility of going to London and see the show for myself!
felliniquilter - March 4, 2010 Swannie
I think this year has been a handful for many of us. I lost my cousin to cancer, my uncle had heart failure and nearly died, and a week later, my grandfather died. These were people who just by their mere being in the world made me happy.
So I understand your concerns about your mom's condition--one thing I can perhaps suggest--about the programming of a remote: try Best Buy's Geek Squad. They did that for my mom in OK when she was stuck.
I wish I could say we are all going to be great soon, but the truth is as a friend of mine battling cancer told me "really bad things do happen in our lives."
As I watched my cousin dealing with his own pending death, I decided he did very well. He made sure he was with the people who he loved; he did the things he could and when he could not longer do them, he let go of them and focused on those he could.
And he held his freinds close and laughed and shared.
That's all I know we can do. Speak our love with our smiles and laughter. As we age, we come to see how precious are the friends and family we have been so terribly lucky to have known.
Swansong - March 4, 2010 Thanks for you kind comments, felliniquilter. Words from wisdom and experience are what I need at a time like this. I would like to say that I have also fallen in love with most of the music from LND, but that hasn't changed the fact that the source material thety took the story from, is really flawed.
Swansong - March 4, 2010 I don't hope the show fails. I really want it succeed, but I hope that they will listen to the fans in regards to some of the plot elements and rework a better story. Andrew's music deserves a fabulous story.
Sorry, your account does not have access to post comments.
Guest on BlogTalkRadio
By Swansong
Published: January 24, 2010
Updated: January 24, 2010 PrintEmail
I'm happy to announce that on Jan 30, (next Saturday) at 5:00pm Pacific Time, I will be the special guest on BlogTalkRadio's All Thing Phantom of the Opera program. I hope you will all tune in to hear me discuss the publication of my book as well as answering the interviewer's questions about my personal interest in the Phantom story. I hope to give my insights into why this story has become so important in my life. This program has attracted some very interesting personalities, authors and artists related to Phantom of the Opera. For example, last week the special guests were the actors who play the leads, (Christine and the Phantom) in the current production of the Las Vegas Phantom. Please visit the All Things Phantom website more more show info: AllThingsPhantom
Note: you do not have to register on the site to listen!
Dearest Swannie--I definitely feel your concern and pain. At nearly 66, I often find myself concerned by every little pain, thinking "is this 'it' or the beginning of my very downward spiral. Losing a parent is difficult at any age and for me, now it is siblings and friends. I just tell myself that this is all apart of living and I am just so thankful for the life, love and people who have been in my life. Please be comforted by your Faith, and know you have many friends who share and care.