My Big Fat Southern Gay Wedding (A Southern Thing book #3) | Audio Review, Interview & Giveaway {AOTM TTC}

~ July 2015 | Author of The Month ~ 

Sara York | 'A Southern Thing' series

{featuring Jason Frazier, narrator for the series}

This month I'm doing the AOTM feature a little different, I'm featuring the Author of the series as well as the narrator. Each week I will share my review for another book in the series with you, along with both an Author and Narrator Interview Q&A. Sara York and Jason Frazier were kind enough to answer a series of questions for me, so each week I will post several questions with their answers. You'll have to check back each week to see the next series of questions and answers as well as the new review for that week. 

There is also a great giveaway from the Author this month including a Signed paperback copy of Pray the Gay Away, book 1 in the series. And for audible fans, I'm giving away an audible copy of book 1 as well. So sit back and enjoy week 1 of July's AOTM, Sara York and her 'A Southern Thing' series! 

My Big Fat Southern Gay Wedding

Book 3 of A Southern Thing

When he was a kid, Jack Miller thought life would be a certain way, then he figured out he liked boys and not girls, changing the course of his future. Jack has spent the last few years learning that life doesn't always give you what you expect, in both good and bad ways. 

Andrew's gone missing and Jack's parents have split. He's made it through high school, but the future is nothing without Andrew. To be complete, Jack knows he needs to find Andrew and bring him home. But Andrew has disappeared. 

Lost doesn't even begin to describe how Andrew Collins feels. Homeless and destitute, he's ready to end it all. Thinking that Jack is dead, Andrew returns to Sweet to end his life on Jack's grave. Instead, he finds lies were told that drove him to a path of destruction. 

After not seeing each other for almost a year, Jack and Andrew come together, but their problems don't end there. They must work hard to make it to their big fat Southern gay wedding or risk losing it all. 

Buy links: Amazon | Audible

Andrew is finally out from under his abusive parent’s control, but his life is in a tail spin. You see, Andrew has not only hit rock bottom, he believes his soul died along with Jack, so he returns to Sweet one last time to say goodbye to his love. I swear, angels were rejoicing when these two were reunited but time apart and life’s hard knocks have left lasting marks on both young men, both body and soul.

Andrew is honest with Jack about where he has been and what he has done. And while Jack understands the limited choices Andrew had, there is still a sting when he thinks about his beloved being with anyone other than him. Jealously leads to discourse and trust issues and Jack often misunderstands a situation as the two of them try to navigate the mine field they now call life. It’s a long, hard road to recovery and happiness, but by god they both know they deserve and very much want their happy ever after.

It was hard for me to listen to the pain in Andrew’s voice when he was away from Jack. But you could also hear the understanding, pride and love under the pain. Andrew understood that Jack had to go to college and unfortunately it caused them to live apart for a while, but I love how York explained all those thoughts and internal conversations Andrew had with himself while they were apart. It really showed how he was growing as a person, determined to make lemonade out of the lemons life had dealt them. Then you add in Frazier’s narration and it was the perfect blend of thought and sound, really bringing the characters to life.

Jack though, he did the most growing up in this installment. He’s now in college, has the love of his life back, his hateful father is out of the picture and yet, he’s still suffering. His thoughts betray his heart a lot while he struggles to come to terms with everything that has happened to him and Andrew. Again, York not only shown the growth with her words, but she wrote it in such a way that it was completely different than following Andrew on his journey. Jack and Andrew are obviously soul-mates; they literally went to hell and back to be together. But they stand on their own as individuals as well.

I had one teensy issue with this installment of the series, Jack’s father, Nathanial. He does this complete 180, like stopping on a dime and reversing course in the blink of an eye. No, sorry, I do not buy it. That man is evil incarnate and makes my skin crawl. Kudos to Frazier for having the ability to capture so much vitriol and disdain with just a tone of voice for this character, and perhaps that is why I absolutely loath the man. I did, however, love the scene where Andrew has to face his parents and does it standing tall and proud with Jack by his side.

A Southern Thing is one of the most emotionally wrought series I’ve read. But for all the darkness in these stories, there is light, there is hope and most important, there is love. I encourage everyone to give this series a chance; I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. York’s writing is intense and emotional while bringing this story and these characters to life. And Frazier only amplifies the intensity and emotion by giving them a voice.

I highly recommend this series, it is a must read but it also must be read in order. 

I do hope you will all come back next week when I review the audio version of Billy, the fourth book in A Southern Thing series. I will also have the last round of Q&A with Author Sara York, as well as a new round of Q&A with the narrator for Billy, Sean Crisden. Seriously, who hasn't been in love with this kid since the first book in the series when he so famously said the words, "I don't think God made me right." oh, my heart shattered. So stop back by next week for what is bound to be an emotional review of that story. 

Writing is Sara York's life. The stories fight to get out, often leaving her working on four or five books at once. She can't help but write. Along with her writing addiction she has a coffee addiction. Some nights, the only reason she stops writing and goes to sleep is for the fresh brewed coffee in the morning. Sara enjoys writing twisted tales of passion, anger, and love with a good healthy dose of lust thrown in for fun.

Author links: website | facebook | twitter 

This weeks Q&A with Author Sara York...

What about research? Do you do any research for certain books to add an element of accuracy?

I do a lot of research. I’ve taken classes with the police department, the fire department, customs officials, SWAT teams, and medical professionals. I try to keep the story elements based in fact, but I do take liberties at times.

This series in particular, is controversial, dark and emotional. Did you find yourself in any of those places while writing it?

Pray The Gay Away was difficult to write. About ten pages in I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep the story light. I had to go deep and at times it was gut wrenching.

How did the story unfold and did anything from it come from a life experience?

The full series touches so many areas of abuse that I’ve seen happen in families around ours through church or home schooling. It’s sick how many parents justify abuse because a book, or a pastor told them that’s how they were supposed to do it. Growing up, my family was very much anti-gay. It’s sad that so many people have been effected negatively by the anti-gay sentiment. I hope this series show people that there is another way, a different path. That hate and anger aren’t the way to deal with lack of understanding when it comes to gays and gay relationships.

Describe your writing space.

We have a small house so I write wherever I am. Sometimes it’s in bed, like now, or at our kitchen table. I’ve been known to write in the closet a time or two. One day I may have my own space, but until then I’ll keep working wherever I can find a place to sit.

Is it hard for you to stay focused when you are writing? How do you get back in the zone when you fall out?

I use music to focus. I have a playlist of about 140 songs that don’t distract me from my writing. If the song distracts me, it gets the boot. Top song on the playlist, Young Love by Eli Lieb with 414 plays.

Jason Frazier

Voice Actor & Performer 

Follow Jason: website | IMDB | Youtube | Facebook | Audible

Jason Frazier is a Los Angeles-based voice actor and performer 
working in animation, interactive, audiobooks, theater, commercials, 
new media, film and television. SAG-AFTRA / AEA / ASIFA / TV Academy. 

This weeks Q&A with Narrator Jason Frazier...

Describe your audio space.

My home recording studio in Hollywood, CA is something that I had so much fun and joy in planning and creating. I always knew, if I was going to persue this facet of the entertainment industry in earnest, that I would need to have a dedicated recording space at some point — and I’m incredibly grateful every day that I was able to make that happen. When I look around here, I smile. (That should be the goal in ANYONE’S personal creative space!) Anyway, a very clean, modern, sophisticated layout with a fun vibe, and chock full of expensive microphones, computers, playback systems and outboard processing gear, as well as my dedicated, private vocal booth. The entire space is acoustically treated to help ensure a good-sounding room for both recording in and playing back and hearings things as accurately as possible. The color scheme is bright, energetic orange with white, silver and medium grays, and some blacks. There are purple accents here and there to contrast nicely with the orange. I have many things around the studio that inspire me, and that helps to keep my energy level up and be in the right headspace when I’m working. Someone’s creative personal space to awaken their creative spirit, their artistic spirit and motivate them into action more often than not. A enganging, well-planned and thought-out space should be a breeding ground for one’s creativity.

Is it hard for you to stay focused when you are narrating? How do you get back in the zone when you fall out?

For me, it’s not usually too hard to stay focused when I’m narrating, although there are times when I have to jump between books or am doing multiple storylines at once, and I have to be especially mindful of continuity and consistency of tone in those cases. I have key phrases I use for each character that I will often repeat before their dialogue to help me remember their sound, pitch and personality. Having those unique phrases that clearly identify characters really helps you quickly get back into the rhythm of that person if you ever fall out or need to get back on track.

How many books have you narrated?

Jeff Adam’s “Flipping For Him” is just about to come out, so that will make 8 titles that are currently available that I’ve performed. As I mentioned, though, I’m in the thick of recording several other titles that will bring the count to 16 titles available by the end of 2015.

What’s next for Jason Frazier?

In terms of what’s next for me, I really would be grateful for just more of the same. There’s more recording on the horizon, some great conventions and panels I’ll be giving, and beyond that, I’m always auditioning for other voiceover opportunities in animation, film and television through my fantastic agents at VOX. I also consult with new actors on the world of voiceover and provide demo production services at my studio, to help equip voiceover talent with the tools they need to both secure an agent AND start booking work. Beyond that, I try to remember that there needs to be a balance in life and we should all make sure that we never get so caught up in “work” that we forget about the other critical elements of life. Find your fun time apart from work, cultivate and appreciate your relationships with people. Engage in things that actively inspire you. Laugh as much as possible.

How can people contact you or find your works?

People can stay up-to-date on my latest work, or contact me, through my official website www.jasonfraziervo.com, and additionally can subscribe to my YouTube channel where I’m always uploading new content when I can. Authors, publishers, avid readers, listeners or fans of certain work can feel free to contact me anytime with questions or comments :)

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has a ton of music in her playlists for writing, I'm so glad we are friends Sara. We must spend more time together this year at GRL and share our playlists! 

Let's all give Jason Frazier a big round of applause for his participation in this months feature! This is the last round of questions with Jason as he only narrated the original trilogy. I HOPE I can get the narrator for Billy, Sean Crisden, to take over next week when I review Billy so stay tuned. 

Reminder, enter the giveaway, you can earn daily entries by sharing on Twitter every day. Good Luck everyone, see you next week when I review Billy's story.

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