New Memoir 'The Thousand-Petaled Lotus' is Released

New York

Growing up in a strict Southern Baptist community can be challenging for some children, especially for those whose sexuality is considered a sin. In "The Thousand-Petaled Lotus: Growing Up Gay in the Southern Baptist Church," Michael Fields takes readers on a journey through his childhood, one filled with religious devotion, sexual awakening, and reconciliation. This powerful and often hilarious memoir recounts Fields' experiences as a homosexual in a devout Southern Baptist family as he tries to understand the meaning of life.

Michael Fields' story begins in Nashville, Tenn.-known as "The Protestant Vatican"-in the late 1950s, where his family was on a strict schedule full of Sunday school, church, and weekday prayer meetings. At the age of four, Fields had his first crush, on a comic book hero called the Martian Manhunter, and even at such a young age, he knew something was different about those feelings. In fear of being denied salvation, he spent his childhood and adolescent years praying for Jesus to cure him of his homosexuality.

In the Hindu tradition, the thousand-petaled lotus is another name for the sahasrara chakra, the uppermost energy center in the body, which blossoms at the moment of enlightenment. "The Thousand-Petaled Lotus" is structured as just that, a lotus of many petals unfolding. Fields' journey to reconcile his faith with his sexuality is a captivating story that blossoms as he reaches enlightenment.

"The Thousand-Petaled Lotus" is a rare story of personal and spiritual discovery, one that contains metaphysical and theological reflections, witty observations, and storytelling full of Southern charm. "The Thousand-Petaled Lotus" is available everywhere books are sold.

About the Author
Michael Fields was born and raised in Nashville, Tenn. He attended Deep Springs College, Columbia University, and Fordham University Graduate School of Social Work. Fields is now a social worker at a major medical center in New York. He lives in Manhattan with his partner, now husband, of 35 years.

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