Fleur-Darc

Now available ! 

(Click this link for e-formats, including Kindle, on Smashwords. Click picture for paperback.)

(Click here for a sneak peak at “Fleur-Darc”)

Fleur-Darc is a site dedicated to the promotion of my new book of the same name and to the development of my next round of creative expressions. Besides links for my book and my author’s web page, this blog will highlight a new genre of poems, prose, and essays. I will continue to publish works on my original blog, “St. Joan and St. Thérèse” as appropriate but will likely open up new creative horizons here.

Fleur-Darc, the book, is a compilation of my first five books written under the pen name “S.T. Martin.” It is the first publication to carry my real name Walter Adams. In Fleur-Darc, you have in one volume how a new vision for life radically altered my being and how that vision burst into bloom. For those seeking just a few bite size pieces, the separate books may still be purchased through my author’s web page or the blog, “St. Joan and St. Thérèse.”

The following is the description for Fleur-Darc. Thank you for your interest!

“Fleur-Darc.” The name came to me very quickly one morning. Of course, this term made much sense given my affection for St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, for St. Joan of Arc, and for the ancient Kingdom of France. In French, Thérèse’s metaphorical, self-applied nickname of “Flower” is “Fleur.” Joan’s commonly known name of d’Arc was known in some older dialects as simply Darc. Yes, “Fleur-Darc” would do nicely.

As a symbol, however, “Fleur-Darc” took much longer to develop. In fact it took three and a half years to grow from the seed that must first die to the blossoming, fruitful tree of life promised by Our Lord Jesus Christ. It began, in fact, as I sat in prayer before His real and substantial presence in the Eucharist. Only six months earlier, I had renewed my consecration to Jesus through Mary using the method of St. Louis de Montfort. As I contemplated about Our Lady and my consecration before Our Lord, I felt her gently encouraging me to begin writing.

“If you have something you feel you need to say, you should probably think about saying it.” These were the words I felt in my heart as I imagined Our Lady walking beside me in a peaceful meadow. I thought for a few minutes about all that had happened throughout my life from early success, to conversion, to spectacular failure, to near death, then to resurrection and new life, and I responded to her in my own mental words, “Yes, I believe I do have something I would like to say now.” Three and a half years later, “Fleur-Darc” represents “what it is that I had liked to say.”

After I began writing in the Fall of 2008, it did not take long to understand that Our Lady’s humble and grace filled inspiration was less about me telling others my story and much more about the Holy Spirit acting through Mary’s Immaculate Heart to teach me who it is that I really am. Mary’s words were the inspiration to begin a pedagogical exercise with God. Through the process of writing after Eucharistic adoration in the spirit of True Devotion to Mary, the Holy Spirit opened up for me a stunning picture of the Kingdom I was “to first seek.” Even more beautifully, Our Lady revealed to me the answer to my prayer. I was to be brought to her Immaculate Heart by the dynamic duo of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Joan of Arc. What was even more revealing was that the secondary co-patronesses of France had been guiding me all along. Now, that was interesting.

Join me in “Fleur-Darc” if you would like to hear how this all came about.

May Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through the loving prayers of His most worthy Mother Mary and those of Sts Joan and Thérèse, bless you and keep you always!

Walter Adams