Mommy Man: How I Went from Mild-Mannered Geek to Gay Superdad

Jerry Mahoney. Taylor (NBN, dist.), $24.95 (290p) ISBN 978-1-58979-922-6

Comedy writer Mahoney, author of the Mommy Man blog, answers the question, “Just how do two gay men become dads?” in this uproarious look at the world of surrogacy. Mahoney’s prologue is written in the form of a letter to his future child explaining that the circumstances of the child’s birth sound like a veritable “adventure story.” He recalls his closeted teen years in the 1980s, when “being a gay teen, like totally sucked, dude.” Later, his coming out proves to be painless, and after a brief period of awkward online dating, he meets his boyfriend Drew, whose conversational skills and generosity help the couple through many difficulties on their path to parenthood. Once they choose surrogacy over adoption, Mahoney enters the period he refers to as “the spermification of my life,” when “suddenly everyone I knew felt comfortable discussing the flagellating residents of my man junk.” Over $100,000 must be collected; Drew’s sister agrees to donate her eggs and the couple finds a terrific surrogate. Months of medical miracles and close calls follow, interspersed with humorous asides about Prop 8 and registering for a baby shower. By the end of this touching book, the proud dads feel that they are the luckiest people alive. Agent: Laurie Abkemeier, DeFiore and Company. (May)