A Time Before Me
by Michael Holloway Perronne
A Time Before Me
Michael Holloway Perronne
iUniverse
Billed as “a new gay novel about coming out – Southern style,” Michael Holloway Perronne’s debut work, A Time Before Me, is just that, an interesting tale of a young man, Mason, coming to terms with his sexuality. As if this weren’t difficult enough, Mason also must deal with life in small-town Mississippi; a crush on his best friend, Billy, and decisions about his future. Thank goodness for his Aunt Savannah.
Savannah, his mother’s sister, owns and operates a drag theatre in New Orleans. Against his mother’s best judgment, Mason spends the summer after high school graduation with his aunt. It is during this time that Mason come to discover who he really is. With the help of his aunt and a sassy drag queen (you mean there’s another kind?) named Miss Althea, Mason learns that the only way to get anywhere is to roll life’s die and take a chance.
Perhaps what I liked most about this book was the element of reality it has. It’s not your typical coming-out story in that the protagonist doesn’t discover he’s gay and then get the boy of this dreams. That’s just too unrealistic because life is usually much harder and unlucky, than that.
A Time Before Me deals with the issues of crushes, new love, small-town life versus big city, gay friends, gay bars, drag queens and exploration, emotionally, sexually and physically.
The primary lesson Perronne hopes his readers get from his book is one of taking chances in life.
“The novel doesn’t wrap everything up with a nice little bow tied around it,” Perronne said, “which is how life is more often than not. The important thing is that Mason realizes the risks in life he needs to start taking to find true happiness. I also always felt that the voice of Southern gay people – and, yes, there are lots of us – was one not often heard.”
This 180-page soft cover is a definite must-read for anyone who remembers what it was like coming out or for those who might be contemplating coming out.
(as published in Family & Friends Magazine, May 2005)
Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga
by Michael H. Perronne
Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga
Michael H. Perronne
Chances Press
From the palm tree-lined Sunset Boulevard to the sprawling Hollywood Hills mansions to the trendy Rodeo Drive boutiques comes a tale as can only be told by an ex-Tinseltown insider, Michael Holloway Perronne.
Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga is the story of five people, Hollywood “It” girl Carrington, closeted gay actor Derek, handsome producer Jake, ex-hooker turned businesswoman Loreen and ex-power agent
Bert.
As you read through the 272 pages you’ll find yourself trying to guess who the real people are the characters are patterned after, even though a note at the front of the books claims it’s a work of fiction.
(as published in Family & Friends Magazine, November 2005)