All Inclusive
by Farzana Doctor
GENRE: Literary Fiction,
LGBT, magical realism, multicultural
A story about
an all-inclusive resort, the ghost of an unknown father, and the tragedies we
can’t forget.
What’s it like when
everyone’s dream vacation is your job? Ameera works at a Mexican all-inclusive
resort, where every day is paradise — if “paradise” means endless paperwork,
quotas to meet, and entitled tourists. But it’s not all bad: Ameera’s pastime
of choice is the swingers scene, and the resort is the perfect place to hook up
with like-minded couples without all the hassle of having to see them again.
Despite Ameera’s best
efforts to keep her sideline a secret, someone is spreading scandalous rumours
about her around the resort, and her job might be at stake. Meanwhile, she’s
being plagued by her other secret, the big unknown of her existence: the
identity of her father and why he disappeared. Unbeknownst to Ameera, her
father, Azeez, is looking for her, and they both must come to terms with the
reason why he abandoned her.
A moving new work from
award-winning author Farzana Doctor, All Inclusive blurs the lines between the
real world and paradise, and life and death, and reminds us that love is
neither easily lost nor found.
March
27, 2015, Huatulco, Mexico
A
DC8 droned above.
“Here
they come,” I announced. Friday was our departure-arrival day. One sunburned
and
grouchy
group left for their northern homes, and another cohort, ecstatic and pale,
touched down and took their place.
Roberto
grabbed a plastic file-box and gestured for me to sit beside him. I lowered
myself
onto
the makeshift seat and wiped away a slick of perspiration from the creases
behind my
knees.
“Ameera,
you hear about that tour rep getting fired over at Waves?” Roberto stroked his
thin
moustache.
“Nancy?
Yeah, I’m still in shock.” I hadn’t known her well, but I’d gone clubbing with
her
and
the other tour reps from our sister resorts a few times. She’d seemed all right
to me.
The
airplane circled closer, and, in unison, we clapped our hands over our ears and
tilted
our
chins to the sky. After it had rolled across the tarmac and quieted its
engines, we resumed our gossip.
“What
I don’t get is why someone in their late twenties would want to have sex with a
fifteen-year-old.” Roberto shook his head, as though trying to dislodge the
idea.
“But
didn’t the kid lie about his age? He told her he was eighteen, right?” While
I’d never
in
a million years sleep with a teenager, I could imagine how booze and loneliness
could have
led
Nancy to her mistake.
What would you have done differently if you were the main character of your book?
When it comes to work, I’m a much more cautious person that my protagonist, Ameera. She takes some chances when she decides to have sex with her tour company’s clients. But this part of what makes interesting characters—questionable decisions and messy mistakes!
Why did you become a writer?
I don’t think (like many writers) that I ever “decided” to become a writer. I have always written. It feels like an essential part of me, and when I don’t do it, I feel like something is “missing”. It’s a career that has many frustrations (low pay, for one) but it offers me much joy and the ability to explore and write the world around me.
What kinds of books do you like to read in your spare time?
I mostly read literary fiction, but from time to time I also read poetry, YA, and magical realism. I like novels that teach me about experiences I haven’t had myself. I think books have a potential to expand our empathy.
As a reader and writer I think it is important to get to know your fans and make a connection with them as an author who takes the extra step to hear what their fans think and want in their continued writing is continued success and key to selling more books .Do you agree with that?
I love connecting with readers and hearing what they think. I Skype into book clubs and reply to every e-mail. I listen to feedback, and often will tweak future writing based on it. I do think that it can help sell more books, because readers don’t just develop relationships with books, but with authors.
Do you cry when writing sad scenes?
Yes, I have. I often feel very deeply for my characters.
If you were able to dine and have a one on one with your favorite writer/author who would it be?
I’d love to have dinner with Zadie Smith. Her first novel, White Teeth is still one of my favourite books. Would you ask her for me?
Do just re-read your favorite books?
No, because there are just too many good books waiting on my bedside table, my coffee table, my kitchen table…
When it comes to work, I’m a much more cautious person that my protagonist, Ameera. She takes some chances when she decides to have sex with her tour company’s clients. But this part of what makes interesting characters—questionable decisions and messy mistakes!
Why did you become a writer?
I don’t think (like many writers) that I ever “decided” to become a writer. I have always written. It feels like an essential part of me, and when I don’t do it, I feel like something is “missing”. It’s a career that has many frustrations (low pay, for one) but it offers me much joy and the ability to explore and write the world around me.
What kinds of books do you like to read in your spare time?
I mostly read literary fiction, but from time to time I also read poetry, YA, and magical realism. I like novels that teach me about experiences I haven’t had myself. I think books have a potential to expand our empathy.
As a reader and writer I think it is important to get to know your fans and make a connection with them as an author who takes the extra step to hear what their fans think and want in their continued writing is continued success and key to selling more books .Do you agree with that?
I love connecting with readers and hearing what they think. I Skype into book clubs and reply to every e-mail. I listen to feedback, and often will tweak future writing based on it. I do think that it can help sell more books, because readers don’t just develop relationships with books, but with authors.
Do you cry when writing sad scenes?
Yes, I have. I often feel very deeply for my characters.
If you were able to dine and have a one on one with your favorite writer/author who would it be?
I’d love to have dinner with Zadie Smith. Her first novel, White Teeth is still one of my favourite books. Would you ask her for me?
Do just re-read your favorite books?
No, because there are just too many good books waiting on my bedside table, my coffee table, my kitchen table…
Farzana
Doctor is the author of three novels: Stealing Nasreen, Six Metres of Pavement
(which was a 2012 Lambda Literary Award and the 2017 One Book One Brampton
winner) and the recently released All Inclusive which was a Kobo and National
Post Best Book of the Year. Farzana was named one of CBC Books’ “Ten Canadian
Women Writers You Need to Read Now”. She is also a Registered Social Worker
with a part-time psychotherapy practice. She curates the Brockton Writers
Series.
Website: www.farzanadoctor.com
Twitter: @farzanadoctor
Instagram: @farzanadoctor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farzanadoctor
Buy links:
Indie bookstore: http://www.charisbooksandmore.com/book/9781459731813
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqTStZedIao
Book club guide: https://www.dundurn.com/sites/default/files/supplementary/AllInclusive-BookClubResource.pdf
Farzana Doctor
will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner
and a print copy of the book to 10 randomly drawn winners (US Only) via
rafflecopter during the tour.
5 comments:
Thank you for hosting
Thanks for hosting! I'll check in later to answer any questions your readers might have.
Happy Monday, great post! Thanks for sharing :)
What is your favorite book of all time. Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
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