Tuesday 5 February 2013

Sighs Too Deep For Words Blog Tour: Character Interview with Lester Briggs

Hello Therians!!

Welcome to my second stop on the William Sibley's Sighs Too Deep For Words Blog Tour hosted by JKS Communications.







SYNOPSIS



SIGHS TOO DEEP FOR WORDS is the story of a man in prison who falls in love, through lengthy correspondence, with a woman he’s never met. Getting out, he goes to find her and discovers that the love letters he’s received were written not by a woman but by a closeted gay man — a small town minister. Not only did the minister deceive the prisoner, but he sent a photograph of his sister (who lives with him) as a picture representing himself. And not only is the sister unaware of the ruse, but she herself happens to be a lesbian. The ex-prisoner has fallen in love physically with a woman who doesn’t know he exists, and mentally with a man he doesn’t know how to love. Set in the scenic Texas Gulf Coast fishing village of Rockport, SIGHS TOO DEEP FOR WORDS is a darkly humorous and contemplative examination of the parameters of love, sex, sexuality and cultural perspective.


For More Information, Please Visit WilliamJackSibley.com



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Today I have the..errr...pleasure of having the somewhat intimidating, but warm-hearted, Lester Briggs join me.

Hello, Lester.


1.      Tell us a bit more about yourself. 
I'm that quiet guy that sat behind you all through grade school, staring at the back of your neck and wishing you'd just turn around and say "hi."  But I was too shy and you were too popular and we were both too self-involved.  You sure were pretty though!
Errr...um...thanks.(I think!)


2.      How did it feel stepping back into the world outside of Diboll prison?

Scary, strange and liberating (in an intimidating sort of way.)


3.     You had one goal in mind, and that was to find, Laurel. Were you that sure of your relationship, that you believed walking into her life was the right thing to do?

Oh yes.  All I'd ever concentrated on in prison was my love for Laurel Jeanette.  That and Little Ray, of course.

Hmmm, how romantic.


4.      Rockport certainly has its fair share of quirky characters. When you first arrived, it seemed like you couldn't escape the whole 'released convict' vibe, how did that make you feel? 

I figured it was everyone else's problem. Not mine.  I mean, you can't fix people preconceptions, right?  All you can be is you.

          
5.      When you met Melanie and Daniel for the first time, were there no alarm bells going off in your head? They both seemed a little of their rockers.

Hey, you're forgetting I'd just come from 4 years in prison.  The whole world's a little crazy!
Haha! Okay, gotta give you that one, but I would have run a mile if they ever offered me a ride.

 
6.      The people of Rockport were all very welcoming and trusting, for the most part, and I'm sure it's safe to say they've become your family. Did you ever expect something like that to happen to you?

Not really. But like my granddad used to say, "Give people half a chance and they'll either break your heart or fill it with love."  Seems like all any of us can do is take that chance.

 
7.      How did it really feel when you learned of Philip's betrayal?

Like I'd fallen off the roof, got the wind knocked outta me and couldn't even remember my name. It's a horrible, sick feeling being betrayed in that way. Mutual disgust really, at yourself and at the perpetrator.  Go ask Manti Te'o that question!!'
*Tentatively reaches over to pat Lester's hand, but quickly thinks better of it* I can relate to that.
 
 
8.      You were still infatuated with Luz, depsite the truth, why is that?

I'd fallen in love with a picture - to my eyes a beautiful, deeply caring and thoughtful woman.  When I got to know her it became a different picture.  More "real" perhaps - but the newer version just as intriguing.

 
9.      Do you think that all the craziness surrounding your relationships with different people in Rockport helped you to realize your true sexuality, and your true love?  
What it helped me to understand is that I was running away and toward something that I couldn't (or wouldn't) fully comprehend.  For some of us it's a process. A long, difficult process.  Sometimes we get there, sometimes we don't and sometimes we actually arrive and then refuse to even disembark.  Every life is unique.  To judge, condemn or grow impatient with someone else's journey is entirely futile.  
Bravo, I couldn't have said it better.


 
10.    If you had to do it all again, would you change anything? 

Start wearing that hat Mr. Otis gave me a lot sooner!


A huge thank you for giving me a chance to get to know you better! You are truly insightful and I have grown to admire you in so many ways. Your story is inspirational.

I wish you everything of the best.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 

William Jack Sibley's first novel ANY KIND OF LUCK (www.anykindofluck.weebly.com) was published by Kensington in 2001. It was nominated for a Lambda award (Best Romance), The Texas Institute of Letters "Funniest Book of the Year" John Bloom Award and the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year. His play MORTALLY FINE was produced Off-Broadway and numerous of his screenplays have been optioned by such directors and actors as John Schlesinger, Arthur Hiller and Diane Ladd. His writing has appeared in the UTNE READER, HALLMARK MAGAZINE, BRILLIANT MAGAZINE, THE SAN ANTONIO CURRENT, THE ORLANDO WEEKLY, THE DALLAS TIMES HERALD, HERITAGE MAGAZINE, TEXAS CO-OP MAGAZINE, THE DEAD MULE ("A Journal of Southern Literature"), FLYING COLORS, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES MAGAZINE and THE NEW YORK NATIVE. In addition to screenwriting, playwrighting and journalism Sibley is a fifth generation Texan who oversees his family's ranching operations in South Texas.




HAPPY READING!!

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