It was brought to my attention that I should write a book about what happened to Pamela and I. What the hell would that achieve? Don't you think maybe that someone has already put down in writing a situation similar to ours? I couldn't take it knowing someone out there in the world was laughing at us. :( I don't know why the suggestion has me so upset.

Sokie,

I have read your story from start to finish. I have cried, I have felt heartache, I have felt anger, I have cheered for you but I have never laughed.

You were standing beside me when I went to court and read my victim impact statement when originally I had planned to submit it and not even read it. My voice was strong because I thought of what you had gone through, the courage and bravery you have shown in your journey and the wonderful human being that you are.

I think that you have had a HUGE impact on this fourm whether you realize it or not. I know that writing for me is a release of things that I have held onto. No one says you have to publish it (although I think that even if you helped ONE person it would be worth it) but maybe it would be a release for you too.

My Darling, I think it would be an amazing, wrenching, inspirational venture BUT there's no reason on earth you should expose yourself like that unless and until you feel right about it. You do what feels safe and right for you and let no one press you about it.
If this book ever does get written, I want the first 5 copies- signed

Everything was deleted on this thread and im not sure if you read my post. I encourage you to write about it. That is exactly what i did and it was worth the pain of reliving it all.
U would be amazed at the number of women that are looking for answer but not asking out loud. Yes it will open the wounds that im sure are still not yet healed but it is a helping tool for someone else. Publish america will publish it if they like it for free, and they pay you. but dont look to make millions. LOL, you get 8.25 % of every book sold....

:shrug: Or I could just tell people about PTO and have them read the first 25 pages of my introduction thread......:(

well, i have to tell you i just sat here and read all -what was it? -27 pages of your first thread! it sure held my interest,(and i have a splitting headache,but could not stop reading!) and i was thinking it is something every high school girl should read, every domestic violence victim should read,and your words are so well written, your thoughts so honest,and brings to light so many things that people who have never experienced your situation would maybe now begin to understand. it gives hope,it shows courage,and it makes me wish i knew you personally.
i write alot,and it is my therapy.
i can not believe ANYONE would laugh at it.
i know if you did it,it could very well become a best seller....and not for entertainment value but for so many other good things. Profits could help you in your endeavors,or they could be used for domestic violence victims.
But,as said,you have to be comfortable with it....maybe in time you will. if not, know that you have touched many many people here.

and oh yeah....just dont sell it to Dr. Phil.....i dont like him either.

Great idea Sokie!

sokie, Honey you are a jewel. I no you have helped a lot of young Ladys here and other places, for writing down your experince, it should be read by all domestic Violent shelters and part of education in middle school for young girls. God Bless you

Fictionalize it. Take the experience, make it someone else's (a character you give a different name and a different look), and kill two birds with one stone. Get it out there at the same time you disengage your life and your name from the episode...until which time you feel ready to divulge that the character's story was loosely based on your own experience.

All books do not have to be memoirs. I have a girlfriend who did write her story as a memoir and she said it was cleansing...but the story still would have been amazing and shocking if she'd made it a fictional piece. A compelling story is a compelling story...whether or not the author has lived that life or merely created a character who has.

Me, personally, I write fiction. I find there's just enough creative license in writing fiction that you can put anything out there and as long as you don't have to "own the issue"...it's easier to put out there. In my first book, I covered domestic violence. I've never gone through it, but have a friend who did. Some of her experience is my character's experience. In the 3rd book of the same series, I'm going to talk about my experience of having the man I love behind bars for a trumped up charge and her choosing to wait for him. I've changed a lot of things about the characters, but still, the story gets out there.

I haven't read your introduction thread, yet, but I will say that I don't have to in order to say that there is no story that's not worth telling. Humans are not individual enough to have not shared in some life experiences. I've had people read about a situation I've covered in one of my novels and they'll be like, "Oh, my God...I feel like that was me and my story." You won't know how many lives you'll touch and how many women will get the strength to press on (or men who may change their evil ways) after reading about someone else who's been where she is.

Think of it this way...there is no shortage of "Be a New You" books out there, but people keep being invited to Oprah day in and day out to talk about their version of the same old thing. Even if it's been written about before, that doesn't mean that what you have to say about the same subject won't be even more impactful than what someone else said in their book.

I encourage you, if you have a gift to be able to write, you should use it...and share it with the world. No one will laugh...I can promise you that. People who pick up your book will have chosen to read on the topic...therefore, they will either need to read it for themselves or for a loved one who is going through the same thing.