In SHOULDER, artist and writer Moya Hession-Aiken recalls her years of early family security, youthful doubts, self-discovery and acclaim, and luminous love. This vibrant memoir ranges from the tough knocks of her Irish heritage to the glamorous glow of New York City.

Born in Ireland and raised in England, Hession-Aiken’s early memories center on the security she felt with her parents, Me-Mum and Me-Dad. This is in spite of the neighborhood they inhabited, which was slowly sinking into an urban slum, and the fact that they were scorned as devout Catholics in a mostly Protestant atmosphere. A young Hession-Aiken found friends there but was often tormented by aggressive, hateful classmates. Early on she struggled in school, declaring herself to be the class dunce --- until her creative capabilities were revealed, bringing a rise in status. By the time she was a teen, she sensed her destiny and was able to attend Manchester Polytechnic, where she excelled in the realm of textile design.

"A noted designer, Hession-Aiken shows off her skills as an author and a memoirist. She is able to put us squarely in the picture with simmering plot threads and often hilarious conversation and observation."

Always adventurous and prepared to take on new challenges, in the 1980s Hession-Aiken crossed the Atlantic, found sufficient shelter in Manhattan, and began to learn the American ways. Working as a waitress, not only did she have to figure out how to pronounce a wide range of menu items, she also had to know what foods they referred to --- which was all foreign to her Irish vocabulary. Her escapades before and after work, recounted here in bold language and present tense, were building her as a dynamic, feisty, fun-seeking female.

Hession-Aiken eventually gained a position in the garment industry as a textile designer, a work world filled with surprises, such as once losing a job simply because the industry guarded against possible design theft through routine dismissals. She diligently worked her way up in the profession to what would become award-winning artistry, gradually becoming accustomed to and immersed in American culture, and occasionally free to fly back home to visit Me-Mum and Me-Dad. Then, through work connections, she met Bill. After their first full evening together, she promised herself that she would marry him.

A noted designer, Hession-Aiken shows off her skills as an author and a memoirist. She is able to put us squarely in the picture with simmering plot threads and often hilarious conversation and observation. Readers sense that the “shoulder” of her title could be one with which to shove oneself forward as she did, one that bears burdens of which she had many, or one to cry on since a thread of tragedy runs through her narrative.

The depictions of Hession-Aiken’s wild and wonderful life in two countries, the family bonds that remained tight despite her many moves, her career triumphs in the face of multiple setbacks, and her pursuit of her one and only life partner will inspire readers and have them hoping for more words from this gifted writer.