Live Nude Moms! Memoir
Michael Simon
So what do you do when you discover that your recently deceased mother has been involved in a lesbian relationship for 49 years—beginning five years before you were born? When novelist Michael Simon finds himself in that situation, he begins to dig deeply into the memories he’s repressed throughout his childhood. As a gay man himself, how could he possibly have missed the signs? Well, when your childhood is spent in survival mode coping with a sociopathic, narcissistic mother who lies to you about who she is, you begin to lie to yourself and believe hers.
The discovery of Arlene Simon’s hidden life sets him on the trail of his family’s unspoken past—the past that led Michael to stop speaking with his mother shortly after graduating from college (leading to his disinheritance)…the past that led to suicide attempts and a prolonged stay at the psych ward. Arlene’s death and the battle over her lucrative estate expose the story of his parents’ beyond-dysfunctional marriage and bring to light a progression of shocking parental secrets (alcoholism, infidelity, three-ways), as well as Michael’s own secrets (alcoholism, infidelity, three-ways).
A woman from the Joan Crawford school of parenting with a few tips thrown in from Ma Barker, whatever good spirit Arlene had, she saved for her lover, Dee. Whatever money she had (even money labeled “child support”), she spent on herself—lavish dinners in Manhattan, Broadway shows, exotic vacations—while Michael and his siblings suffered back in their Levittown, Long Island tract house. Arlene is truly awful; fascinating, but horrid. And in Live Nude Moms!, Michael Simon brings you into the past, into his life, into his family with wit, grace, and heart. It is raw, authentic, unsentimental and moving.
A book that will appeal to readers of The Liar’s Club and The Glass Castle, Michael Simon’s Live Nude Moms! is poised to join the pantheon of must-read memoirs.
The discovery of Arlene Simon’s hidden life sets him on the trail of his family’s unspoken past—the past that led Michael to stop speaking with his mother shortly after graduating from college (leading to his disinheritance)…the past that led to suicide attempts and a prolonged stay at the psych ward. Arlene’s death and the battle over her lucrative estate expose the story of his parents’ beyond-dysfunctional marriage and bring to light a progression of shocking parental secrets (alcoholism, infidelity, three-ways), as well as Michael’s own secrets (alcoholism, infidelity, three-ways).
A woman from the Joan Crawford school of parenting with a few tips thrown in from Ma Barker, whatever good spirit Arlene had, she saved for her lover, Dee. Whatever money she had (even money labeled “child support”), she spent on herself—lavish dinners in Manhattan, Broadway shows, exotic vacations—while Michael and his siblings suffered back in their Levittown, Long Island tract house. Arlene is truly awful; fascinating, but horrid. And in Live Nude Moms!, Michael Simon brings you into the past, into his life, into his family with wit, grace, and heart. It is raw, authentic, unsentimental and moving.
A book that will appeal to readers of The Liar’s Club and The Glass Castle, Michael Simon’s Live Nude Moms! is poised to join the pantheon of must-read memoirs.
About the Author
Michael Simon is a novelist and private writing coach. Born in Levittown, Long Island, the birthplace of mass-produced housing, he studied at Northwestern University and NYU.
In 2004, Viking published his first novel, Dirty Sally, which introduced the half-Jewish, New York Mafia-born Texas homicide detective Dan Reles. Dirty Sally was lauded by The Chicago Tribune as "A bloody and intriguing delight for noir aficionados." The Seattle Times called it "the finest crime-novel debut since Dennis Lehane's A Drink Before the War in 1994." It was named one of the Top Ten Thrillers and Mysteries of the Year by Amazon.com.
In 2005, the second book in Simon's Texas series, Body Scissors, was published, also to critical acclaim. The Rocky Mountain News called it, "Fast paced and suspenseful from start to finish."
Viking signed on for two more Dan Reles thrillers, Little Faith (2006) and The Last Jew Standing (2007).
To date, Simon's works have appeared in Swedish, French, Italian, Japanese, and on audio tape.
He lives in New York City. Read more at www.michaelsimon.info.
In 2004, Viking published his first novel, Dirty Sally, which introduced the half-Jewish, New York Mafia-born Texas homicide detective Dan Reles. Dirty Sally was lauded by The Chicago Tribune as "A bloody and intriguing delight for noir aficionados." The Seattle Times called it "the finest crime-novel debut since Dennis Lehane's A Drink Before the War in 1994." It was named one of the Top Ten Thrillers and Mysteries of the Year by Amazon.com.
In 2005, the second book in Simon's Texas series, Body Scissors, was published, also to critical acclaim. The Rocky Mountain News called it, "Fast paced and suspenseful from start to finish."
Viking signed on for two more Dan Reles thrillers, Little Faith (2006) and The Last Jew Standing (2007).
To date, Simon's works have appeared in Swedish, French, Italian, Japanese, and on audio tape.
He lives in New York City. Read more at www.michaelsimon.info.