While you’re reading this, I’m on a plane on my way to San Francisco for the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention, where I’ll speak for the first time about a project I’ve been quietly developing the last few years — and the reason for all those trips to New York City. It’s a project that many of you have suggested over the years, but one to which I didn’t know if I was capable of doing justice.
On Friday, it will be my honor to announce that I’ll finally and proudly be publishing my memoirs next month. Many of you have urged me to do so, and the book is now complete. I wanted that news to appear here first, so my readers who encouraged me to pursue this project got the news first.
The early reviews for “And Then I Danced” are in and have overwhelmed me.
Here’s a sample:
“[A] swiftly written debut memoir … [Segal] vividly describes his firsthand experience as a teenager inside the Stonewall bar during the historic riots, his participation with the Gay Liberation Front and amusing encounters with Elton John and Patti LaBelle … A jovial yet passionately delivered self-portrait inspiring awareness about LGBT history from one of the movement’s true pioneers.” — Kirkus Book Reviews
“The reader can clearly see how Segal’s fearless determination, cheerful tenacity and refusal to attack his opponents made him a power broker.” — Publishers Weekly
“With great verve and spirit, Segal has rendered a lively and dramatic memoir of the early days of the gay-rights struggle.” — Booklist
“‘And Then I Danced’ is a fascinating page-turner that prompted my tears, laughter, envy and astonishment — but most of all left me feeling very proud of what our community has accomplished and grateful to Mark for sharing his intimate memoir. While there are many who witnessed the extraordinary history of the LGBT community, few played as major a role in creating it as has Mark. It is no exaggeration to say that there is no person alive today who has been a more central participant in as much of the contemporary LGBT-rights struggle than Mark Segal.” — Sean Strub, author of “Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS and Survival”
There are many more you can read all on Amazon.com, where you can also pre-order the book. The book hits bookstores Oct. 6, but Amazon.com orders will ship first.
Be prepared to discover a side of me you didn’t know. My editor was Michael Denneny, who edited “The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk,” and he encouraged me to be myself, which I was.
In many ways, you’ve all been a part of this memoir since your responses to my columns, projects and ideas helped shape it in different directions. Welcome to our book.