Aventures de Gilles GEFFRAY

« THE SUNBIRD’S SECRET » 1987-2016 – The dream come true.

 

I do not remember exactly what I did this very day, when this idea was born. What I recall, is that it happened the year I broke off with my girlfriend – 5 years of common life – first big love – trapped inside my mind. At that time I wanted to die, or to leave, that depended on the moment. Finally, I chose the second option – but to do so I needed a story to tell, because if I intended to go to the other end of the world, I needed a very good reason! 

Consequently, during these days the story of the first “Solar Plane” was born. We were in 1987, the winter was close, and it was the time to escape, run away from my terrible loneliness, and plunge myself into my writing, between the four walls of this cold maid's room, the 18th district of Paris, France…

 

“Sunbird”! The title emerged rather fast, the idea of the solar plane also, but why did I place this story in 1936? It’s a mystery or maybe not! I knew who I was going to address it to.

 

The preparation for the long journey began!

 

Three weeks in the course of which I looked for sets, characters, events for my crazy historical story. Three weeks in the public library of Beaubourg in the center of Paris, three weeks and lots of pages documented on countries crossed by my two young heroes: Paul (21) and Teddy (20).

Weeks, months for the writing of the Titanic scenario of the end of the 80s! And, obviously, some references to Steven Spielberg and Georges Lucas.

This world tour began with a huge pain – it was written thanks to my infinite passion for the movie world.

But unfortunately, at this time the BABY was not ready to take off yet…

 

A few years later, (1996/1998) my scenario was transformed into a novel: “The Sunbird’s Secret”. Three new exciting years and 650 pages for a first novel, the passion was always there... the Top Ten French Publishing Houses didn’t.

 

Last year, the “Sunbird” went out again from a dusty drawer, undoubtedly awakened by this marvel of technology: “The Solar Impulse” which flies as a free bird all over the world – then two dreams fused, two hopes for the future, two brothers arisen from the sun, and which have an undeniable common point: the quest for recognition!