“A moving story of love and loss by a gifted writer.”
-Kirkus Reviews
Moya Aiken is fearless, sometimes falling, sometimes flying, never giving up. This is what makes her book such a good read. -Brian K
Shoulder is a beautifully written memoir filled with personal stories that will make you laugh and cry. Each anecdote is as engaging and captivating as the last.
Moya is a master storyteller. At the end of her book I wanted to read more. -Bill C., Marketing Executive
Shoulder is pure magic! This book is a charmer. As I was reading it, I felt as though Moya was actually sitting next to me, telling her story in her lovely, lilting accented voice. -Kristi K
What a read— and what a journey! Full of hardship, love and laugh out loud moments. Touching and inspirational. Loved it!!!
-Doug P. Local Banking Executive
I devoured every word of Shoulder, Moya Aiken’s one-of-a-kind life story. Her remarkable journey from a tough council estate in the north of England to New York is as funny as it is heartbreaking—and all told in a voice that’s so fresh, so real, so immediate it feels like you’re just sitting over a cup of tea with your dearest, wisest friend as she tells all.
-Andrew C., Senior Vice President, Creative Director
Loved this memoir - at once heartwarming, funny and heartbreaking. A wonderful account of belief in oneself, determination and a commitment to go after the dream despite challenging circumstances. Moya is a gifted storyteller! -Joan P., Hospitality Executive
Shoulder, an unrestrained and engaging memoir by Moya Hession-Aiken is a triumph. By page 10, I knew I was in for an all-nighter. “He’s not much more than 7, but he likes a good smoke.”
-Kim D., M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
About the Book
Growing up a headstrong Irish Catholic girl in a notoriously tough housing estate in Northern England, Moya has just one goal—to live a rich, creative life in America.
Shoulder tells the story of the riotous and hilarious path from her boisterous but warm family back home to her education in London and her escape to New York in the 1980s where she nds everything she’s looking for—exciting jobs in the fashion industry and later at MTV—but where she also meets the man of her dreams, only to lose him to cancer following the birth of their son.
Told in a voice that is equal parts Alan Bennett and Frank McCourt, this is a story about the thrillof taking chances and the unbearable pain of loss, as well as a profound meditation on what it takes to survive and what it means to care for others.
Moya Hession-Aiken studied art at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester University) and the Central School of Art and Design (now Central St. Martins), graduating with a rst class honors degree in textile design before moving to New York to work in the garment industry. However, before too long she was working for MTV earning an Emmy Award for her work as a paintbox artist. At MTV she met her future husband, producer Bill Aiken. They had a son, Liam, in 1990, a few years before Bill’s tragic death. She lives in Connecticut and pursues her work as a fine artist, exhibiting frequently.
