Faggot

THE BOOK: Faggot: An Appalachian Tale.

PUBLISHED IN: 2015

THE AUTHOR: Frank E. Billingsley, PhD

THE PUBLISHER: Harvard Square Edition

SUMMARY: A true story of tragedy, despair, and hope for the future after surviving a childhood of bullying. Debut true story on homosexuality, religion, overpopulation, and a boy’s desire to fit into a society that has marked him as an outcast. A teenager tries to make sense of his life. He has turned cold, withdrawn, and depressed. He is different, and everyone knows. He is gay, living in a town that does not understand him. He lives in a family that does not know how to support him. He is abused emotionally, physically, and sexually for years. No one cares. No one helps. Then on one dark rainy night, everything changes. Share in this story that debates religion, overpopulation, the human condition, and lays the case for the greater acceptance of the LGBT community.

THE BACK STORY: Frank was different, and everyone knew that he was different. His fellow students treated him worse than a criminal. He’s been writing his memoir, Faggot, in his mind, for thirty years. Now is the time for him to tell his story. He tells it, not for himself, but perhaps to save the life of a teen who is lost in a society that gangs up on him or her. Looking back on his childhood, he puts the horrors of growing up in his hometown into perspective. Maybe being gay is nature’s response to our overpopulation and pollution problems. There’s hope for the future.

WHY THIS TITLE?: This was my nickname in Middle-School

REVIEW COMMENTS: “The contents of the book are strong and with a positive message. Well written, very inspirational, this book will keep you entertained for hours. I recommend it to the permanent library of all readers who appreciate a novel with a positive message of encouragement for those who feel different from what is consider by common sense to be normal. Is it about time for us to review our prejudices? This book might make you think about that.” (http://booksandmoviesreviews.blogspot.be/2015/06/book-faggot-appalachian-tale-surviving.html)

“Good read and a very true story. I also grew up there and was about 4 years older than Frank. Wish I would of known then maybe we could of been each other’s support. But we survived. God bless you Frank.- Tom Hollinshead.

“An inspirational story. I recommend this book to everyone. The message to persevere and rise above our circumstance is the song this book sings.: — Melissa, on Amazon.

AUTHOR PROFILE: Frank Billingsley, an Ohioan who considers himself a child of the world, spends time between Europe and the United States. Frank holds a Doctorate in Leadership and Administration, a Masters in Management, a Masters in Human Ecology, and a Bachelors in Psychology. He has over 20 years of professional experience in social work, teaching, administration, and as a university professor.

AUTHOR COMMENTS: “This is a book of passion. I want young adults to stop taking their lives and to realize that things can get better.”

SAMPLE CHAPTER: http://harvardsquareeditions.org/portfolio-items/faggot/

WHERE TO BUY IT: Amazon.

PRICE: $22.95.

CONTACT THE AUTHOR: frankb@bu.edu.