Coffee Sip & Book Break: Please Understand by Fai Marie Dawson (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

Please Understand by Fai Marie Dawson
Release Date: July 30, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: MLR Press
Cover Artist: Melody Pond

Buy the book: MLR Books | Amazon

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.

Talk to us about your characters in this book. What makes them unique?

Fox is a bookstore owner in an eclectic part of Seattle. He is a frustrating character however, because although he appears to be self-assured, he struggles to place durable boundaries with his mother.

Gloria is Fox’s mother, and she will do anything to maintain top billing in his life. Lie? Cheat? Manipulate? You bet!

Audrey is beautiful, and Fox is attracted to her immediately. Their relationship blossoms until she has to return to Montana to care for her elderly parents.

Tommie, Audrey’s twin brother appears on the scene and creates havoc in Fox’s orderly life. Damaged in many ways, Tommie struggles to heal the parts that are broken.

Mrs. Jones, the fairy godmother of the story, aims to protect them all. Can she save herself?
The element that keeps these characters unique is that each has a weakness they struggle to conceal. That conflict intensifies throughout the story.

• What was one of the most surprising things you learned in getting your book from start to publish?

I had never worked with a professional editor before, and discovered it was a very positive experience! The staff at MLR is great to work with. They provided excellent feedback and suggestions, patiently led me through the complicated process and treated me respectfully.

• Have you ever gone to a convention? If so, how was it? If not, do you think it’s something you’d like to do in the future?

Yes, I’ve attended a few conventions, and really enjoyed it. The classes they offered were incredibly valuable and the experience opens up opportunities of networking. Some of them offer pitching sessions with agents and publishers. That is how I met and got my contract with MLR. I love to talk about my characters, so the sessions were fun. And yes, I have plans to attend another in September.

• Would you like to be a full-time writer?

Yes! Although I am not currently working outside the home, I have until now considered myself a part-time writer. With two projects in hand this fall, I plan on adjusting my writing time to six hours a day, and I’m looking forward to it.

• Design the ultimate pizza.

The perfect pizza! I start with a crust made from sourdough. On that, I place a generous layer of homemade sauce: tomatoes, sautéed garlic and onions, basil and oregano cooked down until smooth and thick. I cover that with layers of pepperoni, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced onions, shredded mozzarella, green peppers, olives and mushroom slices. Cover that with shredded Parmesan cheese. Bake. When done, I add slices of cold tomatoes on top. Yum!

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?

Pages or Words: 239 pages/82,000 words

Categories: Bisexual, Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance, *Trans

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.

About The Author

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:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fai.dawson
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/faimariedawson?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Faidrah
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/faimarie/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/faidrah/

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: TBD, must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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Tour Dates & Stops:
31-Aug MM Good Book Reviews
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14-Sep Prism Book Alliance

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16-Sep BFD Book Blog, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy

17-Sep Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My:

18-Sep My Fiction Nook

21-Sep Kimi-Chan, Happily Ever Chapter

22-Sep Bayou Book Junkie