Down on the South Beach Drag: A Novel

(Paperback)

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A poignant and irreverent coming-of-age tale of a queer young aspiring photographer in the 70s torn between her love for her conservative family and her desire to be true to herself, perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six.

Its 1972, and eighteen-year-old tomboy Maeve OConnor must win a photography contest to escape her suffocating, conservative family and attend her dream school in Manhattan. But where will she find arresting subjects Why, a washed up old seaside resort called Asbury Park, New Jerseya place where sideshow entertainers, strippers, carnies, artists, and alternative lifestyles coexist on the boardwalk in plain sight.

To her great surprise, Maeve manages to talk her parents into letting her go for the summer. Immediately upon reaching Asbury Park, she meets and falls in love Georgie, a young man with superstar talent, held back by the fact that he is androgynous. She befriends other undiscovered artists as well, including a man who breaks through with a hit album. But what price will she pay for embracing the bohemian lifestyle where she feels she belongs

Reviews

"The Shore Sound is rising,innocence is falling as heroes easy to like and villains easier to hate fuel a steamingand unforgettablesummer of initiation. This is coming of age like it once was and always should be!"James M. Tabor, winner of the O. Henry Award for short fiction and author of Blind Descent

"This engaging story is full of quirky characters, unpredictable twists, a beautiful love story, and even an appearance by Bruce Springsteen. Mehuron's novel shines as it showcases the wonders of living outside-the-box. A joy to read!"Jacqueline Friedland, USA Today best-selling author ofHe Gets That From Me

"I loved this coming-of-age story and its brazen heroine!Down on the South Beach Dragwill transport you to a time and place when societal norms were a barrier for the wild hearts and talents of blossoming artists and free spirits. Thank heavens not everyone stayed behind those barriers!This unique novel is filled with lovable, wild, and unique characters and a storyline that willmake you stand up and cheer.Kris Radish author ofThe Year of Necessary Lies.

"Mehuron's Down on the South Beach Drag is a captivating journey of self-discovery set against the vibrant backdrop of 1970s Asbury Park. With a unforgettable kaleidoscope of characters and a story that tugs at your heart, this is a must-read for anyone whos ever dared to really chase their dreams."Marley Gibson, Radiate and the Ghost Hunter series

Author Bio

Mary Kathleen Mehuron lives in a ski town in Vermont, where friends call her Kathy and she and her husband raised three sons. She has an almost weekly column in her local newspaper, The Valley Reporter, and is the author of three other novels: Fading Past, The Opposite of Never, and, most recently, The Belonger, which is set on Grand Turk Island and Providenciales. Mary Kathleen was born in Chicago and raised in New Jersey. She takes extended time to write on Grand Turk Island, Vermonts Northeast Kingdom, and Savannahbut for the last forty years she has called Waitsfield, Vermont, her home.