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.

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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.

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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

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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

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