New Brunswick Author Portal

Francine Boudreau  Guignard
Categories: Female AuthorsFrancophone AuthorsPoetsAuthors of Juvenile Fiction;North

photo of author
Source: Author / auteure



Biography

Originally from Petit-Rocher, Francine Boudreau graduated from the École Régionale de Petit-Rocher high school. In 1963, she pursued post-secondary education at St. Thomas University in Fredericton and at the Université de Moncton.



How has New Brunswick influenced your work?

New Brunswick is present throughout this historical novel. I could not describe the journeys of my ancestors without transporting them from Nova Scotia to New Brunswick. The events are historically accurate, aside from a few variations for the sake of romanticism. After 1755, my protagonist, Joseph (son of Michel, son of Michel), the first of the Boudrot lineage to settle in Acadie, arrived first at Camp d’Espérance on the Miramichi River before returning to his family, who had already made it to the banks of the Restigouche River. That is where La Giraudais’ French flotilla was blocked in. The neighbouring province could not be forgotten either. It was further along on the north shore, in Bonaventure, that Joseph would meet the Arseneau family.

What is your favourite New Brunswick book, and why?

I really enjoy biographies, Sylvain Rivière’s L'Acadie dans le cœur and Carolle Arsenault’s realist novel Rentrés du large, which moved me with its authenticity.

What do you consider to be the highlight of your career so far?

In retirement, I spend most of my time proofreading, editing, and translating for other authors whose desire to be published is greater than mine.


Featured Publication

 
De Port-Royal à Petit-Rocher : de la réalité à la fiction
(2020)
Excerpt:

... Ce matin du début de mai, le soleil se lève sur les falaises rougeâtres de Skmaqn (ska-ma-kiné). Quelques îlots de glace flottent encore à la dérive. Une petite embarcation glisse doucement sur l'eau. Philippe et Joseph sortent au petit large pour tenter leur chance avec les bancs de harengs qui viennent déposer leurs raves près des côtes en cette saison.

-Si on en prend assez, on le fera sécher pour faire de la bouette.

-Bonne idée, mon ami. On va mettre nos trappes à l'eau dès que tout danger de glacier qui nous arrivent du nord soit passé.

-Dis-moi Joseph, Marie-Jeanne rougit facilement ces jours-ci.

-Ça doit être le printemps!

-J'lai vu sortir de la grange l'autre jour sans sa capine et les cheveux tout en broussaille.


Find this author in the New Brunswick public libraries catalogue.


Source(s): Author.