About My Thinning Years: Starving the Gay Within
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Hazelden (September 9, 2014)
As a child, Jon tried desperately to be his father’s version of the all-American boy, denying his gayness in a futile attempt to earn the love and respect of an abusive man. With this he built a deep, internalized homophobia that made him want to disappear rather than live with the truth about himself. That denial played out in the forms of anorexia, bulimia, and obsessive running, which consumed him as an adolescent and young adult.
It wasn’t until a grueling yet transformative Outward Bound experience that Jon began to face his sexual identity. This exploration continued as he entered college and started the serious work of sorting through years of repressed anger to separate from his father’s control and condemnation.
My Thinning Years is an inspiring story of courage, creativity, and the will to live—and of recreating the definition of family to include friends, relatives, and teachers who support you in realizing your true self.
“Jon Derek Croteau writes with unstinting honesty in his memoir MY THINNING YEARS, and courageously explores the harmful effects of bullies long after they’ve left the scene. But he also reveals the plain fact that the greatest bully we have to win over is often the one within us.”– James Lecesne, Co-Founder of THE TREVOR PROJECT
“The story of all of us as we come to terms with who we are. As I raced through these pages like the runner within them, I was reminded of my own trials… It takes courage to tell your story, to come out, to remove yourself from an abusive relationship. These pages help usher in our more tolerant present and our ever-evolving hearts.”—Award-winning singer/songwriter, Will Dailey
“A fantastic and harrowing story, told deeply and honestly…an emotional read…a generous, hopeful book I dearly hope gets into the hands of the many people who face similar hardships and desperately need to hear Jon Derek Croteau’s story.”—Randy Harrison, actor, Queer As Folk
“You do not need an eating disorder, homosexual tendencies, or a terrible parent to love this book. Croteau’s story is a universal one, and his painful and hard-won transformation will both move and inspire you.”- Eric Poole, author of Where’s My Wand?: One Boy’s Magical Triumph over Alienation and Shag Carpeting.
“My Thinning Years is a powerful story about overcoming adversity. Jon Derek Croteau’s courage, honesty, and unfailing passion are sure to both inspire and keep the pages turning!”- Jenni Schaefer, Co-author of Almost Anorexic, Author of Life Without Ed and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me
“My Thinning Years is an inspiring story of one man’s struggle with anorexia, with sexual identity, and his struggle for selfhood.”—Betsy Lerner, author of Food and Loathing
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble
About Jon Derek Croteau
Jon Derek Croteau, Ed.D., is on a mission to make a difference and help those who are in need, disenfranchised, or impacted by discrimination. A senior partner at a leadership consultancy for higher education and healthcare clients across the globe, he is also deeply involved in several foundations and nonprofits, where he champions for equal rights and effective leadership. The author of three academic books on staff development and leadership as well as numerous articles for journals and periodicals, he is a highly sought-out speaker on the topics of eating disorder recovery, body image, and coming out. Jon legally married his partner, Justin Croteau, in 2007 and currently resides in Vermont.
Jon Derek Croteau’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Monday, September 8th: Jill WIll Run
Tuesday, September 9th: Knowing the Difference
Monday, September 15th: Juggling Life
Wednesday, September 17th: Tiffany’s Bookshelf
Monday, September 22nd: Patricia’s Wisdom
Tuesday, September 23rd: Doing Dewey
Wednesday, September 24th: Giraffe Days
Thursday, September 25th: Rhodes Review
Monday, September 29th: SuperKate
Tuesday, September 30th: Books a la Mode – spotlight/giveaway
Wednesday, October 1st: Wordsmithonia
Thursday, October 2nd: Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Monday, October 6th: Suko’s Notebook
Thursday, October 9th: A Dream within a Dream
Saturday, October 11th: Good Girl Gone Redneck
Monday, October 13th: Wildmoo Books