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The Obstacle
by Lionel Boucher
270 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #05-2286; ISBN 1-4120-7391-x; US$21.76, C$21.76, EUR14.86, £11.23
He turned their dream into a nightmare.
About the Book
When Frank Dawson and Christine Barkley are reunited after fifteen years of separation, their love for each other remains alive. But something happens just two months before the wedding.
After Frank is injured in an accident and hospitalized for a month, Christine accidentally meets Gino Altoro, a rich Italian restaurant owner who also happens to be a ruthless mob boss. Gino falls in love with her, which results in a string of bad consequences. There are family problems, love and commitment, the difference in their status, and The Obstacle.
Reviews
"It's the writer's first attempt at a novel, and it's an excellent
effort…a masterpiece."
-The Reading & Criticism Service
"Certainly…an interesting story."
-French's Literary Agency
"At first thought, I saw it as a dangerous tool in the hands of
today's rebellious youth, then also, so realistic to our own experiences
as adults, the book has the ability to grab your attention
from start to end. It reflects ironically the author as a seasoned
writer, which for me shows the potential and skill in this young
writer to come forward with a bestseller."
-Christian Martin, Member of the Executive Council
About the Author
"If I am right, as I suspect, and English is not your first language, then I think you have managed quite a feat in writing a book at this length in another tongue."- John French Literary Agency, London.
Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in 1975, Lionel Boucher attended school at Bertram Senior Secondary. Due to a serious deficiency of health, he left school during midterm exams in grade ten. Determined to get educated, however, he pursued his secondary education by enrolling at Intec Correspondence College, where he matriculated. He then studied hotel management whilst working in the industry as a waiter.
He tried in vain to establish himself as a singer, actor, and model,but reluctantly gave up his dream to become a singer after a nose and throat operation that badly affected his voice. Still not willing to give up, he next tried acting and joined the Sanderson Drama School in1997. Since that time, he has performed in several plays, including the prestigious Grahamstown National Arts Festival, where he made his first television appearance. But just as his acting career was beginning to flourish, problems intervened once more, as the school closed down due to unforeseen circumstances. Lionel then tried his hand at modelling and joined a modelling school named: Mod-Scene in 2002. Although he gained a lot of experience in the industry and once had the opportunity to meet fashion guru Giano Franco (the man who discovered Charlize Theron) at a fashion show, he did not receive the break he wanted.
His passion for writing started after he watched the blockbuster film: Titanic. "After seeing Titanic I was so fascinated by how the film portrays true love that I had to write a romance novel. I wanted to give it a shot. And I did," he says.
Initially, he wrote a screenplay and send it to Dreamworks in Los Angeles. But because of company-imposed submission policies, they declined to read his screenplay. But he had a story that needed to be told. So he decided to write a novel.
He knew that the new direction he wanted to take would be a huge challenge since English is his second tongue. The story he intended to write would be in English. "It was a rough road of doubts and insecurities, full of hard work and perseverance," he says.
Many times, due to a lack of resources, he felt like giving up, but he always got the strength to carry on by visualizing the new life he had marked for himself, the satisfaction of knowing that, despite of all the misfortunes in his life, he would reach his dream. When he's not writing, Lionel enjoys exercising, acting, and writing songs. He's currently writing his second novel
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