Making the Rounds

“Inspiring, heartfelt, and brutally honest at times, this is a book that will give women and those who care about them the strength and motivation to persevere . . .”—Seattle Book Review

What was it like to survive an illegal abortion, come out as a lesbian, and train to become a doctor in the late 1960s and early ’70s—before Roe v. Wade, before Title IX, and in a largely homophobic nation?

In 1960s America, being different wasn’t just difficult—it was dangerous. When teenage Patricia Grayhall realizes she’s a lesbian, she faces an impossible choice: Embrace her authentic self or conform to society’s crushing expectations? Desperate to fit in, she attempts heterosexuality—with devastating consequences.

But acknowledging her truth becomes Patricia’s salvation. Coming out gives her the unexpected courage to shatter another barrier: Defying the male-dominated medical establishment, she pursues her dream of becoming a doctor. At a time when women medical students are rare and barely tolerated in lecture halls and hospital wards, Patricia fights for both her education and her right to exist as herself.

The 1970s bring second-wave feminism and promises of liberation, yet the reality of life as a member of the LGBTQ community remains treacherous. Being openly gay still means risking everything—career, reputation, safety. Even Patricia’s love life proves its own battleground, with each relationship teaching hard lessons about trust and vulnerability in a world that refuses to recognize her relationships as legitimate.

Making the Rounds is a story of one woman’s refusal to disappear, her choice of authenticity over acceptance, and her discovery that the courage to be yourself can not only transform your own life but also pave the way for those who follow.