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| MICHAEL HOLLOWAY PERRONNE Novelist |
About Michael...
Michael Holloway Perronne is the author of four novels: "A Time Before Me",
"Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga", "Falling Into Me", and "Embrace the Rain."
His debut novel, "A Time Before Me" won the Bronze Award, Foreword
Magazine's 2006 Book of the Year Award in the Gay/Lesbian fiction category.
In addition, Michael just released his first travel guide, "The Quickie Gay
Guide to Cape Town, South Africa."
Michael was born and raised in Mississippi. He received a BA in Film from
the University of Southern Mississippi and a MFA in Drama and
Communications from the University of New Orleans. During college, he also
kept himself busy with local gay activism. He also served a term as Treasurer
for the Mississippi Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
For a few years he worked as a production assistant in television and film, in
both New Orleans and Los Angeles, on such projects as the television series
The Big Easy and the television movies Rag and Bone, Blue Moon, and
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. Following that, he worked as the Conference
Services Coordinator for the National Association of Television Program
Executives. He has also done script reading and analysis for the Los Angeles
Independent Film Festival and the Los Angeles Film Collaborative. A
screenplay he co-wrote with his friend, Gina Bono, Millennium Babes From
Mars, was optioned by an independent film production company.
He currently lives in Mexico City, Mexico. His next project in the works is a
novel set in early 1900s New Orleans/Mississippi and present day Cape Town,
South Africa titled Lost Sons.
Michael Holloway Perronne is the author of four novels: "A Time Before Me",
"Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga", "Falling Into Me", and "Embrace the Rain."
His debut novel, "A Time Before Me" won the Bronze Award, Foreword
Magazine's 2006 Book of the Year Award in the Gay/Lesbian fiction category.
In addition, Michael just released his first travel guide, "The Quickie Gay
Guide to Cape Town, South Africa."
Michael was born and raised in Mississippi. He received a BA in Film from
the University of Southern Mississippi and a MFA in Drama and
Communications from the University of New Orleans. During college, he also
kept himself busy with local gay activism. He also served a term as Treasurer
for the Mississippi Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
For a few years he worked as a production assistant in television and film, in
both New Orleans and Los Angeles, on such projects as the television series
The Big Easy and the television movies Rag and Bone, Blue Moon, and
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. Following that, he worked as the Conference
Services Coordinator for the National Association of Television Program
Executives. He has also done script reading and analysis for the Los Angeles
Independent Film Festival and the Los Angeles Film Collaborative. A
screenplay he co-wrote with his friend, Gina Bono, Millennium Babes From
Mars, was optioned by an independent film production company.
He currently lives in Mexico City, Mexico. His next project in the works is a
novel set in early 1900s New Orleans/Mississippi and present day Cape Town,
South Africa titled Lost Sons.
Email Michael now at:
michael@michaelhperronne.com
michael@michaelhperronne.com
Q & A with Michael...
1) What inspired you to write “A Time Before Me”?
A large percentage of gay literature and films take place in urban areas of the US- such
as, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. I grew up and came out in the South, and
I always felt that the voice of Southern gay people- and yes there are lots of us- was one
not often heard. Coming out in the South, I think, is a very different experience that it is
coming out in the rest of the country- both good and bad. Often when I tell people I
came out at 17 and in the Deep South (Mississippi), they assume it must have been a
horrible experience. I actually experienced the opposite. Sure, there is homophobia
there, but there’s also a large percentage of the population that’s a lot more open
minded than Southerners as a whole are portrayed in the media.
2) What is one lesson you hope readers will learn from both "A Time Before Me" and
Falling Into Me"?
The most important goal I have in my life is to try and lead a life with as little regrets as
possible. Of course, it’s much easier said than done. Throughout the course of the
book, my protagonist, Mason, begins to realize that the only way to get the things in life
you may want the most is to take some real risks. Sure, you might still fail, but isn’t it
better to know that you honestly gave it a shot rather than wonder what if? The novels
don’t wrap up everything up with a nice little bow tied around it- which is how life itself
is more often than not. I believe the important thing is that Mason realizes the risks he
needs to start taking in order to increase his odds of finding true happiness.
3) What projects are you currently working on?
My next novel, "Lost Sons", is set partly in present day Cape Town, South Africa and
early 1900's rural Mississippi. I recently traveled to Cape Town for research for the
book. I feel in love with the city so much that I even ended up writing my first travel
guide, "The Quickie Gay Guide to Cape Town, South Africa." "Lost Sons" will hopefully
be available in mid-2010.
A large percentage of gay literature and films take place in urban areas of the US- such
as, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. I grew up and came out in the South, and
I always felt that the voice of Southern gay people- and yes there are lots of us- was one
not often heard. Coming out in the South, I think, is a very different experience that it is
coming out in the rest of the country- both good and bad. Often when I tell people I
came out at 17 and in the Deep South (Mississippi), they assume it must have been a
horrible experience. I actually experienced the opposite. Sure, there is homophobia
there, but there’s also a large percentage of the population that’s a lot more open
minded than Southerners as a whole are portrayed in the media.
2) What is one lesson you hope readers will learn from both "A Time Before Me" and
Falling Into Me"?
The most important goal I have in my life is to try and lead a life with as little regrets as
possible. Of course, it’s much easier said than done. Throughout the course of the
book, my protagonist, Mason, begins to realize that the only way to get the things in life
you may want the most is to take some real risks. Sure, you might still fail, but isn’t it
better to know that you honestly gave it a shot rather than wonder what if? The novels
don’t wrap up everything up with a nice little bow tied around it- which is how life itself
is more often than not. I believe the important thing is that Mason realizes the risks he
needs to start taking in order to increase his odds of finding true happiness.
3) What projects are you currently working on?
My next novel, "Lost Sons", is set partly in present day Cape Town, South Africa and
early 1900's rural Mississippi. I recently traveled to Cape Town for research for the
book. I feel in love with the city so much that I even ended up writing my first travel
guide, "The Quickie Gay Guide to Cape Town, South Africa." "Lost Sons" will hopefully
be available in mid-2010.
Copyright 2009© Michael Holloway Perronne. All rights reserved. All materials (illustrations, images, text) contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not
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be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Michael Holloway Perronne.