Under The Gown
by Payton Frischhertz
Released: Jun 02, 2024
Genre: Young Adult / New Adult
Why this book and why now?
I actually wrote this book a few years ago, right after I was presented as a debutante in New Orleans, but my decision to self-publish recently is due to wanting to share my story with the world and hoping they enjoy it! I love writing mysteries, so it was a no-brainer to combine my own experience in the bizarre world of debutantes with a fast-paced, glitzy thriller, with a splash of sapphic romance. I wanted to write a character who was proud of her sexuality and wouldn’t let even the most exclusive of groups judge that.
Would you and your main character(s) get along?
Oof, I think we’d disagree on some subjects but I hope we’d be friends! I wrote my main character, Ainsley, with a polar opposite opinion on being a debutante than me. While she’s all bubbly and throwing herself at the parties, I was at home playing video games and begrudgingly trying on dresses for the events I had to go to. She’s a bit more extroverted than me, but we both can ramble all day. The trait I relate most with Ainsley over is her ambition. I could see us working on projects together because we share that similar hyperdrive for productivity.
What TV show would your main character(s) most likely binge watch and why?
Ainsley and her best friend Piper are definitely watching Criminal Minds, and any other true crime show they can get their hands on. These girls play CLUE way too often, try to guess the murderer within the first ten minutes of a show, and are overall mystery fiends. They want to know the why, and they especially want to know the “how do we use this to keep ourselves safe” after the debutante season they underwent!
What’s your main character(s)’s favorite book and why?
Ainsley’s favorite book is whatever autobiography is in her front of her at the moment. She’s always trying to learn more and motivate herself to get a leg up on the competition. Since she loves sports, I’d imagine most of the books on her shelves are from ex-coaches and athletes.
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
Does it have to be just one!? Ainsley would pop out the fancy champagne to try and stay classy, but by the end of the party, everyone would be in that drive-thru daiquiri line New Orleans is famous for.
What song does your character put on to start your book launch party?
Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan because Ainsley is definitely blasting the entire The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess album already, and the world could do with some more gay victory anthems :).
