Visiting the Ghost of Puppyboy

by Rick McGranahan

Visiting the Ghost of Puppboy is a collection of my journals kept during the years of strutting ego-fabulous-ness on raised platforms high above the sweat soaked dance floor below; my gradual push into the Stripping business with its seed road to drugs and porn; becoming obsessed with an alter-ego stage persona;  and with all of all of that - the endless struggle to find love amongst the DJ Lights and shadow of the disco ball.Gay memoir / 396 pages Multiple 5 star reviews 

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM

396 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Without writing an auto biography here, because seriously that could be another book itself, I'll throw in some facts....

As a kid I was raised on a rural island in the Chesapeake Bay. I was a total geek that loved astronomy and wildlife and creative writing in school. I collected autographed Astronaut pictures from NASA and pasted them on my walls. I was a fan of the BeeGees, Olivia Newton-John and Barry Manilow. I was fascinated with the male body and all the boys in school...I was destined for a colorful future.

My teenage years were spent in Florida on the Gulf Coast. I went from rural cornfields to surfer beach culture overnight. Prince and the Revolution was my idol and it wasn't long before posters of the half naked purple -wonder adorned my walls. In high school I kept myself 'in the closet' and had girlfriends galore while dreaming of boys and Chippendale Dancers. Puberty was evil to the body and mind. Eventually I 'came out' when I was 19 and discovered freedom of my past soul.

My twenties are documented in 'Visiting the Ghost of PuppyBoy'. These are the years that shaped me. They can't be regretted, that's why they are written.

I am now married to my partner Paul who I finally found when I wasn't searching. We live in Washington DC and continue to be haunted by the name PuppyBoy after all these years.

Reviews

[Eden Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm being haunted by the ghost of Puppyboy. For a period of three days I was a part of his life. I danced with him on a raised platform, basking in the spotlight's glow. I cheered on his efforts to find true love, and held him close when what he thought was love poofed like smoke through a closed fist. I screamed, "What the hell do you think you're doing?" when he followed the downward spiral of drugs, alcohol, and meaningless sex. He took me many places, introduced me to countless people, some good, some bad, many unforgettable. I laughed when he laughed, cried when he cried, begged him to lay off the drugs, and prayed that his risky lifestyle wouldn't reap long-term repercussions. I was a mourner when Puppyboy was laid to rest, admiring his determination to stay alive, and I was there when he crashed and burned, Rick rising like a Phoenix from the ashes.

Paul became my hero when he issued that ultimatum that quite possibly saved Rick's life, and I shed many happy tears when love finally came to stay. Thank you, Mr. McGranahan, for inviting me to share your adventure. The deliberate lack of editing made this tale more personal; it's a heartfelt, uncensored letter from a dear friend, not a commercial effort. What struck me most is that the author is unapologetic. Too many memoirs are filled with regrets, but Rick McGranahan understood that this was merely a journey to be taken. It's his story and he's not ashamed of it. There's a lesson there for the rest of us: accept who you are, change what needs changing, but never forget that who you were shaped who you are today.

And the story continues. For as much as I was a part of Puppyboy's life, he's now a part of mine, and I occasionally catch myself seeing the world through his eyes. To have been so young, he imparted valuable wisdom, the greatest of which is that love is out there; it may take awhile to find it, but it's there. Visiting the Ghost of Puppyboy is a raw, uninhibited peek into someone's life, a wild ride well worth taking, and your tour guide is one of the most unforgettable characters you'll ever meet. Some review sites have distinctions above five stars, to indicate that a book is a must read and a keeper. While I don't currently have that, I will say that this is one incredible book, and I am in awe of its power. I give it five stars because that's all that's allowed on this site. It deserves so much more, and I'll be revisiting Puppyboy often in the near future.