New York, NY, A powerful new literary memoir titled Oh Wait; That Was NEVER Me! (The Bully Affect and its Effects) by G.E.B.S. GEBShelton offers a poignant, intimate journey through the long-lasting emotional terrain shaped by childhood bullying. Set against the cultural and social backdrops of midwestern America, this genre-defying work draws from a lifetime of memories, some vivid, some uncertain, to unpack trauma, resilience, and self-reflection.
Structured through a mosaic of themed chapters, the book chronicles the author’s life from a precocious child in Illinois to a reflective adult working in oncology and advanced nursing practice. With unflinching honesty and creative prose, GEBShelton invites readers to witness the inner evolution of a person shaped, yet not defined, by the stigma and silence surrounding childhood bullying.
A Literary Examination of Memory, Pain, and Identity
Rather than a linear autobiography, the memoir reads as a contemplative map of recollections, triggers, and lived realities, blending psychological inquiry with lyrical storytelling. The work explores the nuances of memory and personal truth, questioning how stories are remembered, distorted, or reshaped by time and retelling.
Across more than 30 chapters and bonus essays, the author reflects on formative moments: from living above a dry cleaner and discovering a love for cars, to being labeled a “pansy” in grade school and navigating life as a sensitive, observant outsider. The narrative wrestles with themes of masculinity, artistic expression, familial tension, and the unspoken weight of ridicule.
A Voice for the Bullied, And the Bullies
The book’s dedication, to the bullied, to those considering becoming bullies, and even to non-human creatures like a rooster subjected to pecking order injustice, immediately sets the tone for a work that seeks not revenge, but understanding.
By recounting lived experiences without the shield of anonymity, GEBShelton challenges the reader to consider the origins of cruelty and the quiet devastation of being ‘othered.’ The memoir doesn’t just highlight the scars of bullying; it offers a lens into how such wounds are internalized, buried, and eventually confronted.
A Visual and Sensory Archive
From the lyrical chapter “Life’s Theme Songs” to vivid anecdotes about spiders, prom nights, old Edsels, and dinner table power dynamics, the narrative is rich with texture and visual resonance. The accompanying cover art, a watercolor piece titled “In My Corner” by the author, and photography by Dorothy Shi, further solidify the memoir’s deeply personal and artistic core.
Get To Know The Author
G.E.B.S. GEBShelton is an Adult Health Nurse Practitioner and Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist with decades of healthcare experience in major medical centers across the United States. Originally from Illinois and now based in New York City, the author brings both clinical insight and poetic introspection to this work, drawing from years of observing human vulnerability from multiple vantage points.
Oh Wait; That Was NEVER Me! joins a limited list of prior works by the author, including The Hand-written Book and Platyfloridanthes Mei, known for their handcrafted artistry and rare production.
Where To Find The Book?
Oh Wait; That Was NEVER Me! is now available in both print and digital formats. Ideal for book clubs, educators, therapists, and memoir enthusiasts seeking a raw and emotionally complex read, the book also includes a dedicated section of discussion questions to encourage meaningful reflection.
https://www.amazon.com/Oh-Wait-That-Was-NEVER/dp/B0F9H753G8
https://www.amazon.com/Platyoceandanthes-amabilisum-Streams-Consciousness-Being/dp/1665750863
For Media Inquiries, Review Copies, or Author Interviews connect https://thegebshelton.com/
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