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Escape to Freedom: Book One of the "Huguenot Trilogy"

by Kenn Joubert

329 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #05-2075; ISBN 1-4120-7180-1; US$26.09, C$30.00, EUR20.34, £13.48

Escape to Freedom will take the reader directly into the trauma and danger faced by the "Huguenots" of 1600s France. It was a choice of escape or suffer forever!

About the Book

It is 1687 and the "Sun King" of France has grown frustrated by the challenges of the Protestant "heretics" and sends his dragoons into Southern France.

Pierre Jaubert, a shy young farmer, living in the village of La Motte d'Aigues in the sun-kissed hills of Provence, is catapulted Him into the life of an "outlaw" when he impulsively attacks a vicious Dragoon Captain. The officer swears revenge as the festering scar on the cheek fails to heal.

The very last thing Pierre wanted to be - was a hero! He is forced to join a tidal wave of Huguenots trying to escape France. Huguenots caught fleeing are faced with imprisonment or death.

Attend a colourful village wedding of Isabeau Richarde - a woman Pierre has secretly admired - as she marries into the Mallan family.

Follow both Pierre's many disastrous attempts to reach safety - and the parallel escape attempts by Isabeau and her Mallan family.

About the Author

Kenn Joubert was born in South Africa and began his career as a writer with his first short story published (and paid for) at age 16. His early career was as a Banker and he eventually "banked" with three different Banks on three different continents. But, his hobby was writing - working for a while as a "District Correspondent" for the Natal Witness.

Determined to see more of the world before he "settled down", he quit his job and traveled to London to hitch-hike around most of Europe. At 23 he decided to add North America to his list of "spots visited"- with plans to return "home" to Africa in one year.

However, fell in love on the winter prairies of Western Canada with a pony-tailed girl; got married, had a family; and is now a Canadian citizen of over 50 years! Over this period, he has published commercial articles in national media in South Africa and Canada.

However, Canada was kind to Kenn! In 1967 at age 34 - as a "High School Drop-Out" - he returned to upgrade his education at the University of Calgary and obtained a Degree in Education (History). He later returned to Graduate School to complete a Masters in Clinical Psychology. After having now "changed work horses in mid-stream", he worked in a variety of positions as a "Community Psychologist" in Western Canada before settling on Vancouver Island BC. Although retired, he is still registered with the College of Psychologists in Alberta, Canada.

After retiring - on a part-time basis - he has provided "Trauma" support for groups involved in work-site disasters - and spent the rest of his spare time carrying out in-depth historic research and writing fiction.

Kenn has always sought challenges! In the early 1950s, he noticed a national career advertisement and sent his resume in the mail. Several months later, he was thrilled to receive a "letter of acceptance" from the Canadian Space Agency as a "Candidate" for Astronaut! He underwent many physical examinations. He was even asked to - research and review - the various Space experiments planned.

The original selection had over 3,700 applicants. Finally, when the numbers were cut from about 600 to the final 60 candidates, Kenn received his letter of rejection. However, he is still proud of the fact that he "at least applied"!

enn is a long-time member of the BC Federation of Writers in Canada and the SAWC (South African Writers Circle). He has participated in many writing courses and Writer's Conferences. He is a "Life Member" of the Huguenot Society of South Africa as well as a well-recognized Genealogist and historic researcher.

Kenn is living a retired life with his wife, Fern, in a lovely cottage overlooking the Straits of Georgia south of Nanaimo BC on the inner coast of Vancouver Island in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Canada. In front of his home in a fir-tree is a huge nest for a pair of Bald Eagles. Their annual antics are followed each of the last 20 with great interest.

Excerpts