Building a New Life — William David

How many times have you been so fed up with your own life that you wanted to go to a new place and start a new life from scratch? Forty-eight year-old Michael Belanger moves to Sarasota, Florida, hoping to make friends and start a new life. His first friend is Henri Ruisseaux, an older hairdresser, who asks him to volunteer to help at a charity fundraiser. Only after Michael agrees does he learn that he volunteered to be in a lip-syncing drag ensemble. He reluctantly goes through with it, including getting a full body waxing, only to find that in the audience is Jeffrey Nichols, one of his former students - now in college - who has a crush on him. Henri also introduces Michael to Jennifer Hamilton, a second grade teacher, who quickly becomes his fag hag, and Fabulous Phyllis, a wealthy old lady who seeks out young gay guys to give them the acceptance that she cannot give her own son who committed suicide years earlier. Skinny-dipping, a drag show, friendship, Key West, parties, love, and a nude beach all play prominent roles in this character-driven story.