Author Name: Fai
Marie Dawson
Book Name: Please
Understand
Release
Date: July 30, 2015
Pages or Words: 239 pages/82,000 words
Categories: Bisexual, Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance, *Trans
Blurb:
To keep his mother off his back, Fox struggles to live life
as a straight man. Following his failed marriage, he thinks he’s found a piece
of heaven when he meets Audrey, a sexy dark-haired beauty. When he’s introduced
to her twin brother, his life turns upside down. Mrs. Jones, a regular shopper
at Fox’s quaint neighborhood bookstore, steps in to referee the fall-out. Can
Fox maintain relationships with both Audrey and her brother? Can a late night
train chase bring Fox closer to the one he loves? How far will Fox’s mother go
to keep her son tight in her clutches?
Excerpt:
It was shortly after lunch on Friday
that Mrs. Jones came in. Although she had shown such tenderness to Audrey, I
was still in fear and awe of this woman. To me she was curt and demanding. I
still dreaded Fridays on account of her. Today she barged through the door:
middle aged, shaped like a tank, with a formidable purse that I suspected she
could brandish as a weapon if she so chose. I shamefully admit that I hid,
shaking, in the back room. I remained hidden behind the door as I watched
through the space under the hinge.
She marched straight over to Tommie,
who was innocently concentrating in his chair, bent over his laptop. He didn’t
stand a chance.
“You, there!”
Tommie looked up and scanned the
shop. Not finding me, he sacrificed himself for the greater cause.
“Yes?”
“Tommie?”
He said something I couldn’t hear
then he looked around the shop again, I supposed in a vain hope that I might
come rescue him. I saw him take a deep breath, preparing himself for the
inevitable. Poor man didn’t have a clue what he was up against. I knew I should
come out of hiding, but so help me, I didn’t have the strength. I had been
dealing with her on my own every Friday for over a year, and my morbid
curiosity wanted to see what she could do to someone else.
“What can I help you with, Ms. ––?
“Mrs. Jones.” She said it decisively
and firmly. No question about it, she was Mrs. Jones. Like no other, she stood
like a rock.
He nodded and snapped his laptop
shut. “What can I help you with, Mrs. Jones?” When he stood, her eyes scanned
down his body like a CT scan, slowly taking in and savoring every inch
carefully.
He carried his laptop and set it on
the shelf under the front counter. Mrs. Jones took in the view from behind, her
head tilted thoughtfully.
I remained silent. This was getting
interesting. I was seeing a side of Mrs. Jones I hadn’t known existed. I was
anxious to see if Tommie could handle her.
“Well,” she said a bit breathlessly.
“Tommie, your jeans are a bit tight.” He turned slowly, but her eyes settled on
his midsection, centering on the zipper of his jeans.
“My eyes are up here, Mrs. Jones.”
“Totally inappropriate!” But her eyes
still wandered appreciatively over Tommie’s landscape.
“Very well, Mrs. Jones,” I saw him
smile pleasantly then ask, “But may I help you find something?”
I didn’t hear what she said, but to
my dismay, he led her to the closet where my adult books were stashed. I almost
came out to prevent the disaster that I anticipated, but instead of
indignation, within moments they returned to the front desk, and I watched as
he rang up her purchases. She had chosen several books.
“I hope you enjoy these, Mrs. Jones.”
“You’ve been most helpful, Tommie,
not like that naughty Fox that you work for.”
She waved goodbye happily and blew
him a kiss as she went out the door, her purchases held tightly to her ample
chest.
“Coward!” I assumed he was talking to
me, although he didn’t look up.
Interview
Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Fai Marie Dawson, author of Please Understand. Hi Fai, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.
1) What is the biggest thing people think they know about your subject/genre that isn’t so?
I get a few condescending smiles when I classify Please Understand as gay romance. They seem to think it will be light and breezy, and over-all easy write. Not so. Parts of it are very painful, as it brings up uncomfortable memories of my own.
2) What are some references you used while writing this book?
I was able to do most of my research for this story on the Internet. Several years ago, I took a college level class on gender that helped with this project. I relied heavily on the maps and information at the Amtrak website, and Google Maps was also valuable during the planning stage of the train chase. The Japanese cuisine was a delicious part of my research. I got my basic ideas from dishes I’d already tried, then added to that on the Internet. Once I had some ideas, I followed through with Seattle restaurants to experiment.
3) Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
My interest in writing originated from my love of reading. When I was twelve, I began reading the classics. The Brontë sisters, Poe, Dickens. Later there was Steinbeck and Hemingway. These authors, though dead, were still able to reach me. Through their words they spoke to my mind, my heart, my soul.
4) What do your plans for future projects include?
As ideas come to me, I make notes and file them away. Twelve of these ideas are detailed enough to begin right away.
• A house that isn’t just bad, it’s insane.
• A man alone in the outback, unable to go home.
• An abusive man who truly gets what he deserves in a most unexpected way.
5) Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I want my readers to know that I respect your part in my story. As you read, you bring half of the story to the table with you. You bring your past and present experiences, your imagination and your insights. All of these make your reading experience within these pages different from anyone elses. Without the reader, there is no book.
Sales Links
Meet
Fai Dawson:
Fai
Dawson lives in a small town thirty miles northeast of Seattle Washington in
the foothills of the Cascade Mountains with her beloved wife, Becky. Together,
they work on restoring their 110-year-old Victorian home. She spends her days
writing, blogging and walking Moxie, their Newfie-Chow through the rainy
streets of town. Pepe, a brave and proud tuxedo cat is her muse, ever mindful
of providing inspiration for her next project. Although she has filled
countless journals in her life, she began writing seriously in 2009 as a way to
deal with anxiety. She is currently working on her next manuscript.
Where to find Fai Dawson:
Congratulations to this new to me author. Much success. The story sounds quite interesting.
ReplyDeletetaina1959 @ yahoo.com
Thank you. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The characters became a very real part of my life as I worked on this project!
ReplyDelete