RUNNING AROUND NAKED

a memoir

Running Around Naked

“Beautifully and compassionately written, with raw honesty and a wicked sense of humor…” – Sylvia Clare, author of No Visible Injuries

When Jelaine’s parents purchased and moved the family into their own nudist camp, life slid off the rails of normalcy. Her childhood became divided between the casual, free-thinking camp and the uptight, judgmental world outside.

As hard as Jelaine worked to keep her two worlds separate, her parents worked equally hard to bring them together, to convert the world to nudism.

When theatrical plays, pageants and a movie production were thrown into the mix, the family secret became impossible to keep.

Join Jelaine for the struggles and capers of growing up naked. There’s no need to peek through the fence. Just throw off your inhibitions and come on in.

A real “coming-of-age” story like no other!

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Jelaine’s family opened the Seminole nudist camp in 1969.

The perfect beach read!

Praise for "Running Around Naked"

Rick Bond

5.0 out of 5 stars

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I loved this book!

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024

This is one of the most interesting and enjoyable books I have read in a long time. My only disappointment came because it ended! A beautiful and honest story of growing up in a unique culture and lifestyle. An insight into the mind of first, a pre-adolescent, then a teenager as she relates to the world around her. I loved the narrative and the story telling. For those unfamiliar with the culture of nudism it is informative and enlightening. But it is more than that. It’s a delightful, insightful, revealing, and on occasion, cautionary growing up tale, about a remarkable and resourceful girl. Jelaine writes in a way that her voice progressively matures from a child into an adult, making the narrative sound so very authentic. You come to cheer for and root for her along her journey and through her struggles, as she paints word pictures of her life experiences in a modest, humorous, almost but not quite self-deprecating style. 100% pleasure to read!

Praise for "Running Around Naked"

Brian

5.0 out of 5 stars

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More Than Meets The Eye

Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2023

Lombardi’s voice is what makes the memoir so successful. She captures the naive musings of a child perfectly. The reader understands things better than she does (i.e. why the two men prefer to share a room despite plenty of space available). Her innocent view of her surroundings makes this a charming read. I hear her speaking directly to me much like Scout Finch or Huck Finn. She connects to the reader in a comforting and casual tone. This voice also evolves as she grows up. She is not “locked into” a style for the whole book. You really do feel like you are talking with a young girl through the years. It is hard to explain. Read it for yourself and see what I mean.

This is a very fun read that occasionally crosses into heavier topics. I found myself laughing on one page and then anxious on the next. I came to know her whole troop well and genuinely cared for their well-being. She made them come alive for me. I will miss them all now that the book is closed and the words fade away. I will miss the narrator most of all. I thoroughly enjoyed being guided through her world. I hope to see more writing come from Lombardi. I do not believe young Jelaine is quite done showing us her world.

Praise for "Running Around Naked"

Elsie

5.0 out of 5 stars

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What an amazing life

Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2023

Sounds amazing, and yet true to life. I was right there with you. You’ve lived the life I would have loved to live. Your writing drew me in right away.

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any questions, comments, or would simply like to get in touch, I would love to hear from you. Your thoughts about my books are always welcome. Feel free to reach out using the form below or through the provided contact information. I appreciate your connection and look forward to hearing from you!

jelainelombardi@gmail.com

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