owenjones

1. I published the first volume of 'Behind The Smile' in 2012, and have not had a single complaint from either a man or a woman about the portrayal of Lek, the main character. 2. Why would I want to research others? To imitate them? No, thanks. Women are the protagonists in most of my novels. 3. Who said that they should be? They aren't in my books.

I’ve lived in rural Thailand for over 20 years and seen the contrast between village life and places like Pattaya. Over time, I’ve spoken with dozens of women who’ve made the move from Isaan to Pattaya to work in bars. The stories they’ve told me range from heartbreaking to unexpectedly hopeful — but they’re always complex. I recently wrote a novel based on these kinds of experiences. It follows a young Thai woman from the countryside trying to cope with the realities of bar work in the city. I’ve tried to write it without romanticising anything — just a raw but empathetic account of what some women go through. It got me wondering: – Do you think fiction can reflect Pattaya life fairly? – Is it helpful to tell these stories, or does it risk feeding into stereotypes? – And are there other authors who've written authentically about life here? Happy to answer questions about the process or share more if people are interested.