All Inclusive
by Farzana Doctor
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GENRE: Literary Fiction, LGBT, magical realism, multicultural
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BLURB:
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.
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.
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Excerpt Two:
Azeez
June 21, 1985, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
I’d been watching her for a full ten minutes. She sat at the table next to mine, reading a textbook
entitled Understanding World Religions. It was the first day of summer and my second last in
Canada.
She absent-mindedly played with her long auburn hair, her fingers moving like a magician’s, conjuring it into a single braid. She didn’t tie off the end, and her hair eventually resisted the arrangement and pulled itself free. I nibbled my honey cruller, and waited for her to notice me. For another ten minutes, I scripted my words. I was a chatty fellow back then, but it took immense bravery to speak to a woman I didn’t know. I chided myself: what did it matter if I sounded like a fool?
“That looks like interesting reading.”
She glanced up, and her cheeks blushed crimson. I loved when white girls did that. It just
isn’t the same with brown girls; their pigment allows them to mute their embarrassment. The girl
smiled and nodded and returned to her textbook, her lavender highlighter squeaking across the
page. But I could tell she was no longer concentrating on the material.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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.
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
Interview with Farzana Doctor
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reins of the story?
I often feel that my characters talk with me, and sometimes they do surprising things. However, I’ve never felt like they “hijack”. Rather, they offer good ideas. I do try to have a firm hold of the story’s arc before I begin writing, so that I can guide my writing.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
How about I share what an early reader said:
By turns funny, moving, thoughtful, and erotic, All Inclusive is a powerful meditation on life, love, and loss. Farzana Doctor spins a passionate, page-turning tale about the sometimes invisible ties that bind. This is brilliant storytelling.
Terry Fallis, author of The Best Laid Plans
Did you hear that? BRILLIANT STORYTELLING! ☺
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I have half of a novel sitting on my hard drive. It was an experiment that just didn’t seem to go anywhere. One day I’ll pull it out and see if there are chunks worth salvaging.
Oh! I’ve just finished writing my 4th novel, Unfamiliar Skin. I hope it will be on shelves by 2019.
Pen or type writer or computer?
My first draft begins with pen and paper, first thing in the morning, in bed, with a cup of coffee. Once I’ve written a notebook full of scenes, I transfer them to the computer for revision. I find that my mind seems to flow faster with pen and paper.
Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
A huge thanks to all of you who have read this interview! If you enjoyed it, please forward it to a friend or share on social media. Word of mouth really helps writers.
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION :
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.
Follow the tour here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2017/09/vbt-all-inclusive-by-farzana-doctor.html
Banned from Heaven. Escaped from Hell. They are UnHallowed.
I wrote my first novel about a reporter and a hockey player after the U.S. hockey team won gold in the 1980 Olympics. I love writing flawed characters who reflect the emotional baggage we all carry. I write complicated stories for complicated people. Paranormal romances and fantasy novels are my favorite genre. I’ll read anything about fairies, demons, or angels, but I also enjoy Stephen King and Preston and Childs.
