Excuse Me, Sir! Memoir of a Butch
As a young child, in many ways, Shaley didn’t stand a chance. Growing up as a closeted lesbian in the 1970’s, in a dysfunctional family with an often mentally unstable mother, the only thing on her mind was survival. Turning to alcohol and drugs at an early age, she thought she’d found the perfect escape from the shame of being gay and her mother’s erratic emotional roller-coaster ride.
Given what’s happening in the current political climate and the barrage of legislation trying to ban LGBTQ+ people, Excuse Me Sir! Memoir of a Butch illustrates first-hand, what happens when people are forced into secrecy, underground or outlawed. What it means to live in a closet of fear and shame from a life imposed on you. It addresses the serious, and often life-threatening consequences of living a shadow life.
Excuse Me, Sir! Memoir of a Butch is a story of the outsider. It’s about what it means to be marginalized, the journey of overcoming and enduring the agony of addiction and how even in our darkest times, we can still find levity, laughter and hope.
Reviews:
Excuse Me, Sir! Memoir of a Butch arrives at the perfect time in our history. The details shared describe experiences many of us can relate to and gain power in feeling seen and thus, understood. Finding strength through struggle isn’t easy and Shaley’s ability to guide us through her experiences with thoughtfulness, transparency, accountability and humor make this not only an enjoyable read, but an important one. While the journey to fully embrace who we are can be arduous, sharing her story will certainly make it easier for others. -Kevin Cook/Poison Waters of Darcelle XV
Shaley Howard excels at telling her own story of being closeted and addicted, offering hard truths along with a healthy dose of humor. She reminds us that even in the grip of life’s toughest moments, we can still laugh, and find it in ourselves to come back to the life we deserve to live. -Whitney Otto, Bestselling author of How to Make an American Quilt