Can Fiction Capture Pattaya’s Bar Scene Honestly?

[owenjones]

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.

[Mike_Hunt]

It's an interesting story to be told. 

[Prubangboy]

Very hard for a man to write a woman character
 

Definitely do a little research of people who have done this successfully 

 

The same story rules of conflict, interruption, resolution they can’t just be about her suffering in the bar business

[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.

[baansgr]

I was thinking about penning a book but worried about defamation. Will spill the dirt and unbelievable on literally hundreds of Thais/foreigners and all their dirty corrupt dealings spanning back over 20 years...would it be interesting? Would any publisher be interested and how do I stand with defamation

[save the frogs]

19 hours ago, baansgr said:

Would any publisher be interested and how do I stand with defamation

 

You plan to publish people's names connected to corrupt activities?

You may need to worry about your kneecaps.

 

[Homburg]

13 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

You plan to publish people's names connected to corrupt activities?

You may need to worry about your kneecaps.

 

 

Dead people have no need to worry.

[kingstonkid]

On 5/10/2025 at 11:09 PM, owenjones said:

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.

I would take a trip to Pattaya or Bangkok and talk to the girls.  Many are willing to talk about what they are doing and why as long as you are buying drinks lol.  

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

On 5/10/2025 at 11:09 PM, owenjones said:

And are there other authors who've written authentically about life here?

many - and maybe the best was the first - written in the 1950s I think - A Lady of Bangkok - I think that was the title about a Brit who comes here for work and gets ruined by a Bangkok Bar girl - His name was Reginald and she called him 'Wretch' [Reg] 

 

23 hours ago, baansgr said:

Would any publisher be interested and how do I stand with defamation

self publishing is probably the only way - - unless you are a known and published writer - no defamation if you change names and some of the details so the character is not recognizable. 

[Thingamabob]

Been attempted before, several times. Almost impossible to convey the atmosphere and complexities of an involvement in Thailand's nightlife in a book. Movies do rather better.

[Snackbar]

Honesty & Pattaya ain’t no fiction 

[JBChiangRai]

On 5/11/2025 at 5:51 PM, Prubangboy said:

Very hard for a man to write a woman character
 

 

Easy, to quote Jack Nicholson ““I think of a man and I take away reason and accountability”

[Hummin]

On 5/10/2025 at 11:09 PM, owenjones said:

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.

I saw the movie with an german hopelessly in love with Lek? 

 

Should be out there somewhere, for the time being I thought it made an impact

[Hummin]

3 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

I would take a trip to Pattaya or Bangkok and talk to the girls.  Many are willing to talk about what they are doing and why as long as you are buying drinks lol.  

 

 

I lived in the same condo complex with all kinds of service workers, and in the time where everyone gathered at 1. Fllor at the internet cafe, I got to know many of them, especially since I wrote many of their emails to their clients, boy friends, fiance, husbands and also gays and ladyboys. 

 

I guess thats why I truly do not like the businesses or their ignorant customers. Not all black and white, but it alot the girls and boys have to go trough, 

[VBF]

There were books called  "Hello My Big, Big, Honey" and "A Killing Smile" both set in Bangkok which I read in the eighties.

Similar ideas, so basing a new book in Pattaya would be a variation on a theme so to speak.

 

Maybe @owenjones would like to read these for additional inspiration?

But, whatever you do, do not name names - there will likely be both legal and physical repercussions if you do!

[Andycoops]

Fiction is just that, fiction same as the AI crap.

You can't beat real life, get out there and experience it for yourself...

[khunPer]

On 5/10/2025 at 6:09 PM, owenjones said:

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.

Fiction might reach more readers than facts.

 

It's most likely helpful to tell these stories, either as fiction or facts. In my view helpful to understand about the ladies in the nightlife, and what they expect. Ans also to understand what you might expect from a relationship with a lady you meet in the nightlife, or who had a past in it.

 

Some of the books I know about are first of all the often referred to "Private Dancer" by Stephen Leather. It got the cover note: "Should be compulsory reading for all first-timers to Thailand". The way the book is written, gives both an exciting fictional story and useable facts about the ladies in the "trade".

A fact based book is "My Name Lon, You Like Me?", a true story by Derek Sharron about a young Isaan girl that came to work in both Bangkok and Pattaya.

There are several books you might like to check out, like "Last Exit Pattaya" by Saifon Somdaeng, "a 33 year old bargirl from her eearly childhood to her 'Last Exit Pattaya'". "Lady of Isan" and "Lady of Pattaya" are two book by Michael Schemmann. And "Miss Bangkok" by Bua Boonmee with Nicola Pierce.

I've heard many true stories from Isaan ladies – and also ladies from other parts of Thailand – one thingthat is common of them all is the kind of "lottery ticket" they "buy" in search for a better life, mainly with a foreign boyfriend or husband. Both through working directly in the nightlife to meet the "Knight on the White Horse", or indirectly by just having some normal work in a tourist area – where the knights assembles – in hope of making one of them interested in a nice lady, not originatiing from the bar-life. The details are different, but the goal seems to be the same: A provider and happy life. Some succed and become happy; some are even extremely lucky; some fails and return to their village; some get stuck to the barlife and or nightlife and cannot escape; and some got a life they didn't expect or whished, even ending up living unhappy if a foreign country.

[Photoguy21]

On 5/10/2025 at 11:09 PM, owenjones said:

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.

Probably not as fiction by definition is a story that is somewhat made up.

[BusyB]

Martin Amis would've had a field day portraying the characters in the Pattaya bar scene - foreign and indigenous.

[mran66]

On 5/15/2025 at 11:59 AM, Snackbar said:

Honesty & Pattaya ain’t no fiction 

 

Honesty anywhere in Thailand is largely fiction! 

[khunPer]

22 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

Probably not as fiction by definition is a story that is somewhat made up.

Many books are "based on a true story", but not told as facts, as fiction makes the story more exciting. "Eleven Minutes" by Paulo Coelho is an excellent example within the same subject.

[Photoguy21]

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

Many books are "based on a true story", but not told as facts, as fiction makes the story more exciting. "Eleven Minutes" by Paulo Coelho is an excellent example within the same subject.

I agree. Sometimes the straight truth is as boring as it gets. As long as they tell you it is based fact that is fine. Then you understand some parts will be made up to make the book a good read.