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Winnisquam echo FACES AND PLACES September 13, 2007 A3
Author moves from memoirs to adventure in fiction
BY MEGHAN SIEGLER
ECHO@SALMONPRESS.COM
Tilton - After publishing two memoirs and a series of poems, local author Douglas Archambault is currently finishing up
the final touches on his new manuscript, a fictitious tale of a boy and a talking grizzly bear.
The new book is a far cry from the heavier memoirs Archambault wrote, the first of which was based on a five -year spiritual
quest he took with his wife Joan. The second stemmed from Archambault’s unexpected illnesses that landed him in the
hospital and prompted a new outlook on life.
Prior to becoming a writer, Archambault worked in security and had been a store detective at Ames and a security officer
at the Steeplegate Mall. Archambault retired at 63 because he had carpel tunnel in both hands.
“I just didn’t want to sit on a bench the rest of my life”, he said. “When I retired, I had all
these used memoirs.”
So Archambault went to work transferring the files he’d tapped out on his typewriter onto a floppy disk, and in doing
so realized he had enough material to write a book. That book became “Two Stepped Out For Him.” The story is taken
from a collection of letters and events from the Archambault’s personal experiences that span several decades, with
an emphasis on the five-year trip that took them from New England to the South and Southwest of the United States.
Living in their mobile home during that journey, his wife said the couple spent their time “learning a lot of different
things that we as Christians had never believed in.”
“It was just a road we had to take,” Archambault said.
‘Two Stepped Out For Him” was published Aug.13 2005 by iUniverse.com. Very shortly thereafter, Archambault
fell ill.
“That’s what changed our focus,” he said. “They [the doctors] found out I had a multitude of [illnesses].”
After being rushed to the emergency room because he’d gone into shock, Archambault was diagnosed with colon cancer
and sleep apnea, which doctors said had been causing him to stop breathing for approximately 13 and a half minutes for every
hour he slept.
He now has to sleep with a humidifier and CPAP to give him more oxygen, but Archambault said “its done wonders for
me.” The cancer is gone as well, but the effect that recovering had on Archambault changed his life.
“During my hospital stay, a poem came to me,” he said.
That poem was “The Hospital Room,” and writing it and other poems during his convalescence led Archambault
to his next publication, “The Darkness Before The Dawn.” The book is his story of how he went from feeling healthy,
with no symptoms, to lying in the hospital with a laundry list of medical issues. It’s a warning to others, he said
and also a tribute to the excellent care he received at both Lakes Region General Hospital and Franklin Hospital.
“I think it’s important for people to realize, hey, you can get ill and not even know it,” he said.
“In My Footsteps: Poems To Inspire” is Part 2 of “The Darkness Before The Dawn” and includes a
couple of poems written by Joan.
“I try to express that we have so many wonderful gifts around us if we only take the time to see.” Archambault
said of his poetry.
Archambault said he uses the pine grove in his backyard as inspiration for his writing and tries to keep it simple.
“I like to use what I call ‘easy words,’” he said.
Part of his reasoning, he said, is that he doesn’t want the reader to have to stop to take out a dictionary, which
would take away from the experience. But Archambault also joked that he has a history of using simple words.
“I think I was the worst speller in the class,” he laughed.
His newest book, The Adventures of Little Buddy and Grizz,” is also simplistic in nature but full of adventure and
humor, Archambault said. It’s geared toward kids but is longer than your average picture book, and it spans 12 years
of a boy’s life. Archambault is currently deciding whether to add illustrations, but the manuscript itself is done.
Archambault said he stepped into the new genre with gusto.
“I love writing anything,” he said. “I never thought I’d be a poet, but geez, the words just come,
and I start writing them down.”
Archambault’s books can be ordered from any major retailer, including Amazon.com, Borders, and Barnes and Noble.
Archambault said he’s hoping to continue improving his computer skills so that he can have a greater Internet presence.
“It’s a learning experience for me, and actually, I’m having the time of my life,” he said. “People
don’t know what they’re capable of doing unless they really try to do it.”
To learn more about Archambault and his work, visit hespartofmylife.com.
The Citizen, Laconia, N.H., Monday, July 10, 2006
Battling cancer with pen and paper
By Kenny Constant
Staft Intern
Just weeks before a cancerous tumor was found in his large intestine, Douglas Archambault was telling his wife he felt
blessed for being 66 years old and not having to take so much as an aspirin.
After being diagnosed at Stage II, other underlying illnesses were discovered, but this didn’t keep Doug from having
a positive outlook. A retired 1960’s Navy veteran and blue collar worker and living in Tilton with his wife of 38 years,
Joan, he didn’t “just want to sit and do nothing,” so he became inspired to write three books, one of poetry.
His first book, “TWO STEPPED OUT FOR HIM,” was published in August 2005, shortly before being diagnosed and
after the Archambault’s lived in Vermont and had traveled throughout the South and Southwest on a “five year quest.”
During this time, they encountered “unexpected surprises, trials and friendships,” that formed a “personal
spiritual call.”
“I was excited to be a new author,” said Doug. He mentioned that some people thought he wouldn’t write
a book, but he did.
The second book, “THE DARKNESS BEFORE THE DAWN” was published this year, and is about his illness that was
diagnosed last fall, and how Doug realizes that he had more than one life-threatening illness. One of his main goals is to
write in such a way that anyone can relate to it, even if they are not ill.
“I wanted to help people,” he said, “Just like a lot of people; I thought this was never going to happen
to me. I have a great sense of humor, and wanted to put it throughout the book.”
According to him, the hospital staff told him he was lucky to be alive due to the number of underlying illnesses he has
acquired, including sleep apnea. He said he was very impressed with the staff and medical treatment at Franklin Regional Hospital,
Lakes Regional Hospital and Lakes Region Urology in Laconia. After the publishing of the second book, the Archambault’s
went around to each hospital to give a copy of the book.
Included in his second book, is another book titled” IN MY FOOTSTEPS/POEMS TO INSPIRE.” Joan writes four poems
in the book from their travels in “TWO STEPPED OUT FOR HIM.”
Doug indicated that a lot of the ideas for his poems came from where he lives, in the pine grove behind their home in Tilton.
He said several times he has spitted deer, bear, fox and birds around the property.
One of Joan’s poems, “Spring is In the Air,” deals with the first book, and won the Editor’s Choice
Award. Joan explained that her husband entered her poem into a contest.
“I love it!” she said about the feeling the award gives her. Her poem will be placed with other poems on a
CD.
“He (Doug) was the one to get me writing poems,” she said.
The Archambault hope to get involved in community events for the books, and Doug said that since he is retired, he could
spend as much time on it as he wants.
“I’d love to become known as a local author,” he said.
The books can be published on demand, but are not stocked normally in bookstores. Both books can be ordered at iUniverse.com
or among 25,000 bookstores, including Amazon, Barns and Noble, Borders, Ingram Book Group and Baker & Taylor. Doug indicated
that if he did become well known, the availability if the books would change.
He believes that he has helped not only himself and other people with illnesses, but also their families and the stress
they live with.
“I enjoy it,” he said of writing, “it keeps me sharp and I love to help people smile.”
Readers can correspond with Doug and his wife by visiting their website at Hespartofmylife.com. Here readers can get updates
on news, read free first chapters, view photos, find contact information and sign a guest book.
Kenny Constant is an intern at the Citizen during the summer. He will be a senior at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine
in the fall.
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