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AREN & ÉLISE



Is passionate love reserved exclusively for the young? Can a mature woman in the
second act of her life not only shed old skins, but can she utterly transform
like a caterpillar into a butterfly? Is intimacy a spiritual journey? This is a
modern retelling of the biblical story of Abraham and Sarah.

read more



HARDCOVER
$21.99


PAPERBACK
$13.99


KINDLE
$3.99


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


ETTENIG SAYAM

Ettenig Sayam is a second generation Haitian. Her parents came to the United
States during the early days of the Civil Rights movement. Ettenig grew up in
New Jersey where she attended Catholic schools and later attended Drew
University, a Methodist College. She studied French and eventually did a year
study in Tours, France and later two years in Paris to pursue a Master’s Degree
in French as well as teach.

Ettenig is married with two children and a dog. She lives in Massachusetts where
she worked many years in the financial services industry as a compliance
professional. She practiced law and did pro bono work. She now divides her time
between learning chocolate making and bee keeping and taking on occasional legal
assignments.


ABOUT THE BOOK


AREN & ÉLISE

Is passionate love reserved exclusively for the young? Can a mature woman in the
second act of her life not only shed old skins, but can she utterly transform
like a caterpillar into a butterfly? Is intimacy a spiritual journey? This is a
modern retelling of the biblical story of Abraham and Sarah.

Aren Karajian is a widowed sixty-two year old solar technology engineer,
originally from Armenia. Élise Douchet is a fifty year old French teacher at a
Boston prep school. She grew up in Montreal, Canada but is originally from
French Saint Martin and Haiti. Élise comes to terms with turning 50 by going on
a hiking retreat in Vermont. She falls during a morning hike. Aren quickly
discovers that the grey-haired woman he rescues is really quite striking and
exotic. He is smitten. A dogged pursuit ensues. A sultry romance flourishes. A
miracle happens.

Can a miracle upend your life and shatter your relationship? In the Boston
Marathon you must go through Heartbreak Hill to finish the race. So it is for
Aren and Élise.

buy now



EXCERPT: 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



When Élise announced she was going on a hiking spa vacation, Antonio was
shocked. The spa part made sense. If she had said she was going to New York or
Paris or even Brazil or somewhere in the Caribbean for a beauty spa vacation, he
would have understood perfectly. But trudging through mud and rocks with a bunch
of strangers seemed like an odd choice for Élise. The most athletic thing she
did was ride her bicycle to the park. She didn’t wear the whole biker’s outfit.
She wore her normal clothes.

“Querida, you know I don’t understand this hiking thing. But if this is what you
need to accept turning fifty, then I support you. You’re young. I know you don’t
think so, but you are. I’m almost seventy. I know it’s different for women, but
I promise you there is still so much of life ahead of you.”

Conversation between Antonio and Élise before she goes on her hiking trip


EXCERPT: 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I thought about our time together. I thought about my initial schematics of
trying to figure out what kind of person she was. The way she called me out over
her friend Antonio suggested she was fiercely protective of people she cared
about. She was someone who was polite, but direct, and didn’t like to waste her
time. Somehow even though I put my foot in it, she didn’t just get up and leave,
well—not immediately.

We spent a little over an hour together. I annoyed her. I pissed her off, but
she still remained engaged. Élise liked me. But she was being malin not mechant.
It was my move.

Come on big guy, take your best shot. You have nothing to lose. It’s now or
never.

“Élise, I like you. I really like you. You’re cute as hell. You’re smart and
you’re funny. Is there something about me that displeases you? I mean besides my
opinionated self.” “Ha!” she said.
“Well? Are you going to turn me down because of my age, my race, my ethnic
background, my professed sexual orientation, my socio-economic status, or my
profession? Or am I too metrosexual or insufficiently metrosexual? By the way,
my hair is real. I’m not wearing a hairpiece. And my teeth are mine—I paid a lot
for them. Oh, and I guess I’ll fess up to a knee and hip replacement. But that
was only because of a nasty ski accident I had a few years ago.”

She gasped. “Bon Dieu!” She fluttered her eyelashes. I waited for her answer.

Aren & Élise at the conclusion of their first date at the Dobra Tea Room in
Vermont


EXCERPT: 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





When Élise walked into the tea room at a quarter past three, she had a moment of
panic. She scanned the room quickly and didn’t see Aren amidst the chatting
customers engaged in their respective private conversations. Everyone was
dressed casually in jeans and shorts. Some people were even wearing flip-flops.

I’m so stupid. Where did I think I was? England? Invited to tea with the queen
or something?




She didn’t need to consult her watch. When she slammed the doors of the taxi,
she already knew she was fifteen minutes late. Maybe he didn’t come after all.
What am I doing here?

When Aren caught sight of Élise, he stood up immediately and strode toward her
to pre-empt any fleeting thought she might have about running away. He kissed
her on both cheeks, bises à la française. Élise felt a firm hand at her elbow
and then the most butter-smooth cheek caressed hers. She took a good look at
Aren and marveled that this was the same man who hiked along with her earlier.

“Élise, I’m glad you came,” Aren said.

“Hi,” she said in a soft voice that was slightly breathless. She found it hard
to move. Her feet felt like they were glued to the floor.

“You look wonderful, Élise. Come, I already have a table for us out back on the
terrace,” Aren said.

He placed his hand on the small of her back ever so lightly. Her back was rigid
with tension.




PODCAST LIVE ON YOUTUBE | AREN & ÉLISE




BOOK TRAILER




AUTHOR INTERVIEW





NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW MAGAZINE


AUTHOR ETTENIG SAYAM'S BOOK, AREN AND ÉLISE, GOT FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES
BOOK REVIEW PAPER MAGAZINE ON THEIR JANUARY 19, 2023 ISSUE




BOOKLIFE MAGAZINE


AUTHOR ETTENIG SAYAM'S BOOK, AREN AND ÉLISE, GOT FEATURED IN THE BOOKLIFE
MAGAZINE ON THEIR NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ISSUE




CONTACT US

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