Lifting Off

by McLeod, Karen

• ISBN13: 9781739193072
• ISBN10: 1739193075
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2025-02-11
• Publisher: Victory Books

Summary

Brimming with vertiginous loops and extreme globe-trotting, This is the account of Karen’ s experience flying as cabin crew for British Airways over a 12-year period, and the profound impact that experience had on her life. Told with the wit and verve that characterised her debut. Lifting Off is about seeking identity in a heterosexual world, whilst dealing with the fall-out from fractured family relationships. When a colleague suggests to Karen that she should hide her sexuality to make others feel comfortable, she has no idea what the personal cost will be. Having come out as a lesbian she goes back in. Whilst gay male cabin crew are accepted, gay women are forced to hide their true selves. Against a backdrop of exotic locations, hotel bars and nightclubs, Karen slowly unravels as the inability to truly be herself begins to impact on her spirit. In essence it’ s the story of how Karen came into land. How she learned to look after herself and discovered her true strength. Ultimately, it is about love and creativity: unconventional love for her gay best friend, the rarity and transformative release through lesbian love, and the freeing impact of her dad’ s death.

Author Biography

Karen McLeod is a writer, performance artist and creative writing teacher. She is writer in residence at Bookseller Crow on the Hill. She is also a visiting lecturer in creative writing at UCAS. She performs comedy as Barbara Brownskirt, a Judi Dench mega-fan and poet-in-residence at the 197 bus stop on the Croydon Road in south-east London. More information on her website