Authors Interviewing Characters: Angela Terry

Authors Interviewing Characters: Angela Terry in Conversation with Jasmine “Jae” Phillips of The Palace at Dusk

Harvard-educated corporate attorney Jasmine “Jae” Phillips promised herself that she wouldn’t date anyone at the office. She’s too focused on the job, and her meh dating history can be summed up with a shrug. Then came Brad Summers. 

When Jae’s colleague Brad enters her office—boyish and handsome with his tousled hair and sparkling green-gold eyes—and asks if she’d like to grab a drink, she’s flattered. Their conversation makes her feel alive, fascinating, and fun, and the lonely Jae can’t help but bask in Brad’s attention. Soon Jae is breaking her never-date-at-the-office rule. And when she later discovers that Brad has a wife and child, she finds herself breaking a much more serious rule.

After Jae spends years in love with a man who isn’t hers and jeopardizes her career in the process, a series of unexpected developments shake her awake and force her to confront the cost—and the future—of their affair. She needs to make a choice, but love stories are rarely black and white, and the right path isn’t so clear. With her head and her heart pulling her in opposite directions, Jae must somehow chart a course between them in order to find her happily ever after.

Angela Terry Interviews Jae Phillips

I walk into Peet’s Coffee on Market Street and notice Jasmine. She is petite with dark hair and eyes, almost black. She is sitting by the window, and I can see her steeping a tea bag and she has a book with her on the table. As I get closer, I notice the book is in French and I’m impressed. But the only story I’m interested in discussing today is Jasmine’s. 

Me: Hi, Jasmine. Thank you for meeting me.

Jasmine: Hi, Angela. It’s a pleasure to meet you. And please call me Jae.

Me: Sure. So, Jae? That’s an unusual nickname.

Jasmine “Jae” smiles.

Jae: My sister used to call me that when she was first learning to talk, and the nickname stuck. Also my father’s first name starts with a “J”, and so it makes me feel closer to him.

Me: That’s nice. Is your father a lawyer too?

Jae: He was and so is my stepfather. They were best friends…

When she trails off, I realize my chitchat might already be turning too personal, and so I get to the reason I’m here.

Me: I’m sure you already know the big question I’m about to ask, and it’s what all the readers of your story will ask. Why did you have an affair?

She visibly bristles.

Jae: Well, it wasn’t something I planned. I would’ve preferred not to be in love with a married man.

She pauses and takes a deep breath. 

Jae: Brad and I knew each other from before, when we were law students and summer associates at our law firm. When he first asked me out, I declined because I had a boyfriend. And so instead of dating we became really good friends for that summer. Then the following year when we became associates, Brad kept his distance. That is, until one Friday night he came into my office and invited me out for a drink, as a colleague, not a date.

Me: I see. When you had drinks that night, did you know he was married? 

Jae: No. He never told anyone at work he was married.

Me: Didn’t you find that strange?

Jae: It was strange. Until I learned why. But that’s his story to tell, and not mine.

Me: Okay. But once you learned he was married, why didn’t you stay away?

Jae: I did. Or I tried my best to, and so did he. But, you know, proximity is hard. And at the end of the day, we can’t always choose who we fall in love with. 

Me: But seven years? I mean, c’mon. You know they never leave their wives.

Jae: It’s complicated. And I know if I say, ‘but we’re different,’ you’ll judge me. Because, trust me, I judged myself too. 

She pauses and takes a sip of her tea. I stay quiet, knowing she’s not finished. 

Jae: The thing is, I didn’t want to get married or start a family, and so I didn’t see the point in pressuring him. At that time, I just wanted to be a successful attorney. I work a lot, and I enjoy my work. And I did try to date, to forget Brad, but I didn’t meet anyone else who I felt the same type of connection with. 

Me: But, again, seven years? 

Jae: I’m not making excuses for my behavior; I’m just telling you what the circumstances were that let it go on for so long. And it wasn’t like I didn’t try to break it off. I did. But I loved him, and not all love stories are black and white, you know.

She gives me a look, and I can tell she is done with explaining herself.

Me: Got it. So you moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles. How do you like it?

Jae: I love it here and don’t see myself moving again anytime soon. San Francisco is more compact than LA, but also more peaceful. I love how the city shines white in certain light and has a dreamy quality. And I actually enjoy the fog. It’s great reading weather. 

Me: What’s your favorite place in the city? 

Jae: The Palace of Fine Arts. It was built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and is the only structure that survives from it. The building is meant to look like Roman ruins, and it’s beautiful down there by the water. And, if you visit it, try to arrive during dusk. Dusk here is magical.

Me: Thank for your time today, Jae. And I’ll make sure to check that place out.

Buy The Palace at Dusk here

Angela Terry is the award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of Charming Falls Apart and The Trials of Adeline Turner. She is an attorney who formerly practiced intellectual property law at large firms in Chicago and San Francisco. She is a Chicago Marathon legacy finisher and races to raise money for PAWS Chicago. She resides in San Francisco with her husband and two cats.

 

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Interviews, On Writing