BY BILL PHILLIPS
You could call them emissaries for The Emissary.
Actually, they’re more than that. Rene DeFazio and Tamara Veitch wrote the book, The Emissary, which has been optioned for film and television. And they’re coming to Northern FanCon.
“It’s a reincarnation, fantasy, adventure,” said Rene, of The Emissary, the first book in the couple’s The One Great Year Series. “It’s about two soulmates, one has past-life memory, the other one doesn’t. He pursues her through 13,000 years from one incarnation to the next.”
Marcus has past life memory and his soulmate Theron does not, but the two lovers are bound by an eternal and unshakable bond. As a series of catastrophic events nearly destroys their world, the two along with a chosen few become Emissaries destined, over the course of 13,000 years and through many reincarnations, to lead humanity into an era of peace and prosperity as foretold by the Elders of their race. But the forces of evil have taken possession of one man, Helghul, who relentlessly pursues Marcus and Theron through time, determined to destroy them and ruin all hope for salvation.
“They have a job, a purpose in the world, to counterbalance the ages as they decline,” says Tamara. “We based it on the Great Year Cycle.”
When the world collapses from a Golden Age into one of chaos and strife, mankind’s salvation lies in the hands of eternal Emissaries — guardians chosen to protect the secrets of a sacred, ancient civilization and to guide humanity back to enlightenment even as its darkest hour approaches.
The Emissary, Book I in The One Great Year Series, tracks Marcus’s epic adventure across centuries of human civilization to present day, where envoys of darkness gather around them threatening to bury the life-giving secrets of Atitala forever.
“The idea is that this century we just finished is the end of a Dark Age,” says Tamara. “We take characters right out of history.”
The idea for the series has been percolating with the two for 20 years and it has taken 10 years to get the series to where it is now.
“The idea came from Graham Hancock’s book Fingerprints of the Gods (which explores the idea that there were ancient, advanced civilizations on Earth) and I was backpacking around all these ancient monoliths around the world,” says Rene. “I thought why isn’t everyone talking about this and then I thought what happens if you throw a couple of characters in.”
It truly is a team effort for the couple. Rene is the idea generator and does a lot of the research. Tamara is the wordsmith.
“I love writing,” she says. “I pull out the poetry and the prose. Together we do the dialogue.”
Their writing has changed over the years as when they started they were only dating. In 2015 they got married and the dynamic changed. As they are together more, they are constantly talking and thinking about the book.
“I think the dynamic of having the two of us, keeps it going,” says Tamara. “When I lose my momentum a little bit, Rene just naturally picks up the slack. When he loses his momentum, I’ve got a million things to do and then I hand him back information later and he goes over it.”
The second book in the series, The Emerald Tablet, comes out June 4 and the third book, The Ancient Book of Changes, comes out in October, 2020.
The books have been optioned for film and television, so the series could be coming to screen near you. Who knows, it could be the next big binge-worthy show that you can’t miss.
“It has the potential to go long for series,” says Tamara.
“We would love to be the big series that comes out of Canada,” adds Rene.
Attending Northern FanCon is right up their alley and they look forward to be with like-minded people. Tamara is a huge Potter-head and Rene is a huge Star Wars and Lord of the Rings fan.
They will be dressed up as characters from The Emissary while they are at FanCon.
“We really look at this as being with fantasy-lovers and we want to immerse ourselves in that world,” says Rene. “If they find our book great.”
They originally published their book independently, but after selling only 500 copies, the series was optioned for film and television so they have undertaken a more traditional publishing route and are now with Waterside Productions.
In 2012 they received honorable mentions from the New York Book Festival and The London Book Festival. In 2014 they were each awarded an Empowered Writers Award at the World International Peace Festival.
Rene was born and raised in Canada and currently resides in the Vancouver area. Rene is an actor and producer with numerous film and television roles to his credit. A world traveler and lifelong adventurer, Rene has called upon his unusual and exciting experiences in co-creating The One Great Year Series. His tireless research and first-hand knowledge of exotic locations, customs, sights, and scents help to bring this epic story to life.
Tamara is a writer, mural artist, and mother of three. She grew up in Canada and attended Simon Fraser University, studying English, Psychology, History and General Arts. Tamara has had a lifelong interest in spiritual wisdom and has carefully researched ancient teachings from many traditions to ensure historical accuracy throughout The One Great Year Series.
Be sure to stop by and see them during Northern FanCon.