By: Karen Solt
ISBN: 978-1647426729
She Writes Press, 2024
Karen Solt, an eighteen-year-old nonconformist with an alcohol problem, is working at a gas station when a slick Navy recruiter railroads her into enlisting in the military. Before she knows it, she is on a ship in the Deep South, struggling to navigate not only a world much different from her small Northern Arizona hometown but also her new discovery: she’s gay.
Figuring out her sexuality clarifies many things, but also creates a daunting new set of problems, for Karen. It’s 1984: being gay in the Navy is considered a crime, and gay Sailors are regularly hunted by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service. Discovery means being kicked out, and by this point she is committed to the uniform (and to remaining with her first girlfriend, who is also enlisted). So she learns to hide her secret and find a way to serve—and even thrive professionally—without getting caught. But concealing her truth ultimately leads to devastating consequences.
A story of desire, addiction, the damage of secrets, the power of community, and the soul-crushing cost of turning people into “others,” Hiding for My Life is a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit—and a poignant call for each of us to come out from hiding and live our truth.
About the Author
Karen Solt is a retired U.S. Navy senior chief petty officer who served as a gay sailor from 1984 to 2006, prior to and during Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. After hiding her sexuality from the world for most of her life, Karen considers herself a “Combat Hideologist,” and believes the way back to personal and global peace and freedom is for every human to come out from hiding and commit to living the truth of who they are. She holds a master’s degree in psychology (counseling), is an emotional health coach, and loves to help others discover and heal their own hiding places. Karen currently resides in her small hometown in Northern Arizona, where she and her new young dog, Kai, chase squirrels, drink lattes, and watch over her feisty mother.
To learn more about Karen Solt and her work, please see hideology.com