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?
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
Publisher: MLR Press
Cover Artist: Melody Pond
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.
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.
Author Interview:
- Tell us about your book.
Please Understand challenges my characters to face many problems that LGBTQ people still deal with on a daily basis. Gender issues, understanding and accepting their own sexuality, coming out, all this while dealing with curiosity, fear and hostility of family and society. Sometimes there is no safe place, even within your own heart. In my story, Fox is a young man who struggles with owning his sexuality. His life is complicated with a nasty divorce and an overpowering mother intent on defining his life. In walks Audrey. Petite, long black hair, beautiful. He thinks he’s in love. Then he meets her twin brother and confusion reigns. But with the help of Mrs. Jones, they reach an HEA ending.
- How difficult was it to get into the main character’s head?
It’s usually easy for me to move in to my characters’ minds and Fox and Tommie were no exception. I felt comfortable there. To get into character, I listen to specific songs, which helps me feel their attitude. Climbing out of their heads when I finish writing for the day can be harder than climbing in. There’s probably a diagnosis for that…
- Is this book a standalone or do you plan on visiting it again?
I wrote Please Understand as a standalone book. While in the editing process, I became curious about Mrs. Jones. What is her background? Does she have a story to tell? She hints at her backstory, and may not leave me alone until I work on her character some more. Perhaps there is something to be done with her?
- Why did you choose to write M/M stories?
I chose to write this as a m/m story because of the questions, emotions and situation it presents. When I came out seventeen years ago, I was thrown into situations I was not prepared for. Today, things are much better, but it’s still a scary place out there. I hope this story can show that. Please understand, love is love.
- Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere. The files in my studio are bulging with story ideas. Some have research pages, some have outlines, some are mere scraps of paper with scribbles, some are photographs. As a writer friend of mine always says, “It’s all research!” Anything that brings emotion is possible ingredients for a story. Any interesting stranger. Houses, events, cars. It’s all research! My cat, however, believes he is my muse. He thinks he is my inspiration. You can see him on Instagram @Faidrah. We will let him believe that. Even now he is watching me…
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/
Tour Dates & Stops:
31-Aug MM Good Book Reviews
1-Sep Inked Rainbow Reads
2-Sep Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My
3-Sep Iyana Jenna
4-Sep Molly Lolly
7-Sep Jessie G. Books
8-Sep Love Bytes
9-Sep Mikky’s World of Books
10-Sep Divine Magazine
11-Sep Nephylim
14-Sep Prism Book Alliance
15-Sep LeAnn’s Book Reviews
16-Sep BFD Book Blog, Two Chicks Obsessed
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
23-Sep Hearts on Fire
24-Sep Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
The book sounds great!
Thanks. I hope you enjoy it. The main characters were eager to get their story on the page!
Thank you for featuring my novel, ‘Please Understand’ on your blog. The experience was delightful and I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to share my work with your readers! –Fai Marie Dawson