Fizz in the Fire: A Memoir

Fizz in the Fire is a coming-of age memoir. With humor and emotional depth, this book takes the reader on the roller-coaster ride of Diane Fortier's childhood, teen, and young adult years, as she tries to make sense of her nutty, dysfunctional family and carve out a place for herself in the world. Raised by her mother - a pill popping, alcoholic beauty; and her step-father - a cruel, debonair, alcoholic - Diane's only ally is her flamboyant, cross-dressing brother, Jimmy. At age 14, Diane is sent to lock-up at the Convent of the Good Shepherd where she finds a community of similar girls from dysfunctional families, and, under the vigilant eyes of the nuns, comes out as gay.