Write 2 Empower

Nurturing Paws.

2011-08-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

My stories, A Gentle Healer and Remembering Sasha, are published in the newly released book - Nurturing Paws. It's an anthology of inspiring stories and poems that show the healing power of animals. A portion of all book sales will go to charities promoting physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

Other contributors include three time Senior Poet Laureate Elaine Morgan, New York Post and Huffington Post columnist Tina Traster, several Chicken Soup for the Soul® contributors and dozens of award-winning writers.

Interview with Breath Again Magazine

2011-07-21T16:06:00.001-07:00

Listen to internet radio with breatheagainmagazine on Blog Talk Radio

Written2Empower

2010-10-16T03:43:00.001-07:00

I wrote this book to show that nothing is impossible to overcome; absolutely nothing. No matter how dark it seems.....how impossible it appears.....freedom and peace are possible.

Interview With Mary Moss

2010-09-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

Why did you decide to write this book?

When I started writing in April 2008 my intention was not to write a book but to get the images of what happened out of my head. The more I wrote the more it dawned on me how far down God had gone to pull me out of a very dark place. I realized I had never told anyone what He had done or what had happened. On the advice of a friend, I started blogging and was shocked to read the encouragment and support from other bloggers. Around the same time, I connected with the rapist's son who told me even more horrific things that had taken place. One of the victims killed himself. I began to have the desire to tell the truth of what had taken place to give hope to others. Three months into writing, I met a writer who read some of what I had written and she told me I needed to tell my story. Although I continued to struggle with shame around disclosing, I started to construct what I wrote into a book format. There was a part of me that knew God wanted me to tell.

What is the significance of the book title?

My whole life had been based on deception; lies that were ingrained into me since I was a child. I believed everything I had been told: I was worthless, had no right to exist and what happened was because something was wrong with me. Faith in those lies almost killed me. It led me from one dark encounter into another. Even when God dramatically touched me, it took a long time for me to let go of the decpetion and accept the'truth.'

Tell us about your book.
The book is written in creative non-ficiton so that it flows more like a novel than a documentary. However, it is a true story. It's divided into two parts; the first telling the story of growing up in a Jewish religious home, being physically and emotionally abused by both my parents, and turning to a serious drug addiction, eating disorder and self harm at a very young age....in an effort to escape. The addictions pulled me further down. Living on the streets was dangerous and then a friend brought me to meet a man she believed could helpme. He turned out to be a cult leader. He held me in his house for six months and raped me before I finally managed to get free. The turning point was a dramatic encounter with God, although I continued to struggle with the addictions.

The second part details the process of healing and recovery from shame and addictions. As a Christian and someone who had experienced many miracles, I still could not get free....not until I dealt with the root causes. Through a relationship with a Christian counsellor, I started dealing with the eating disorder, self-injury, anger, shame, fear and forgiveness .

At the back of the book I list nationwide resources so the reader can access their own help.

What did you learn while writing this book?
I learned God can be trusted to bring about complete healing and recovery and it was the power of His gentleness that ultimately freed me and continues to free me. I was reminded to never judge anyone because no one really knows what has gone on in someone’s life to make them as they are.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

Through my website at www.gentlerecovery.webs.com and my email blueheron12345@yahoo.ca or even my blog www.cultofdeception.blogspot.com

Reader Comments....

2010-08-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

Lisa: I got your book yesterday afternoon...I read late into the night and this afternoon....yours is such a beautifully written book, one that resonates with me on so many levels. I loved the descriptions, felt like I was right beside you, experiencing every situation with you. At times it was hard to breathe. Other times, I was moved to tears. Many times I was frightened for your safety, touched by your endless bravery. And then I was inspired.....

I found the detail of the coaching advice affirming the very processes I am currently working on in order to change my own negative belief systems. I don't believe in co-incidence, your book came to me as a message of hope.

Janet: Wow. What an awesome book! I read it in two days. I"m not a reader so for me to read it that fast it has to be good. I was reading at work on nights and I had to get up and go to another room at one point, tears were falling down my face...your book has helped me to open up and gave me so much hope! It has made a difference in my outlook on my situation.

Stan: I have to rank In The Eye of Deception as one of the most riveting books I have ever read. And the fact that it is a true story...makes it even more riveting and intense. There were several times where I continued reading past my allotted reading time because I was so caught up in the story, so concerned about what was happening, that I couldn’t put the book down! If ever there were a must read, it is In The Eye of Deception, a truly phenomenal book by a truly phenomenal person and writer.

Book Won Award

2010-06-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Last week, my book, In the Eye of Deception, won the TWG National Book Award for Life Stories and was given an honorable mention in The Grace Irwin Award, their highest award.

Some reviews:

"Your book came at supper-time last night, and I finished it at midnight. I marvelled at the writing - the English, the choice of words, the flow, the chapter divisions, the sequence arrangement andbthe authority graciously claimed." Reader's Comment

It took only 2 days to read your book. Your writing is phenomenal btw - what an easy to follow read. Images came straight away to me. Reader's Comment

..as I read your book my heart started aching...I wanted to wrap that hurting little girl in my arms and love all the pain away...after a while...my heart began to ache for another reason...old hidden wounds of my own wounded past began to surface and I KNEW that I would have to deal with them...
I had come such a long way (I thought) I had written books about the healing of a soul...but reading throught the section covering the times with your counselor I felt I was there and she was gently leading 'ME' out of a dark hole into the light. I didn't want to see the truth...I wanted to stay in denial that all was well with my world...but I can't...and I won't. Your book will touch many lives my ...I know...it has turned my world upsidedown. Reader's Comment

Empowered After A Childhood of Chaos and Abuse: Part II in a 3 part series.

2010-05-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

Empowered After A Childhood of Chaos and Abuse: Part II in a 3 part series.

The Power of His Gentleness

2010-03-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Every day, in heat, rain or cold, I ran - alone in the woods - in the hills near our home. There I felt the gentle touch of God and heard Him whisper. You're stronger now. It's time to tell the truth of what happened. Tell your story to give hope to others.

How could I never have told anyone what He had done for me? Nothing else had worked. Nothing...except the gentleness of His touch.

The power of His gentleness....In the Eye of Deception: This is my story.

www.gentlerecovery.webs.com

Telling the Truth and Making a Difference

2010-02-04T03:39:00.000-08:00

My book released December 2009 has sold more than 100 copies. Reviews and comments have been powerful for me to read....to know that In the Eye of Deception is touching people, giving hope and helping others find freedom.

Visit www.gentlerecovery.webs.com to read the introduction and and see reviews.

Winner of Book Giveaway

2009-12-18T02:49:00.000-08:00

"We read to know we are not alone." C.S. Lewis

I've been blown away by all the people interested in wanting to win a copy of my book. I wish I could send everyone one. My daughter wrote down the names of everyone who commented on the three blogs and then pulled out the name of the winner.

Jane of the Jungle won the copy. I'll pop it in the mail today. Way to go.

And for anyone is interested in purchasing a copy of the book, I've posted some excerpts of reviews:

1....Her story is compelling simply because she should not be where she is now: she should not be alive, she should not be whole, and she should not be thriving in society. But she is! As I journeyed through her story, I became aware of a burning passion at work. It is a story of the loving Creator wooing a lost soul.

I cried as I read of her traumas. I rejoiced as I read of both the miraculous deliverance and the painstaking recovery. And I will continue to celebrate as society’s lost are found through her words and ministry. Anyone who reads this story will have no doubt that God’s love conquers all and trumps even mankind’s best efforts.

- Donna Dawson, author of The Adam and Eve Project, Redeemed, and the double award winning novel, Vengeance

2.....I began reading her blog and could gather by her postings that she had endured very painful events in her life.I did not understand the full magnitude of the pain and suffering she endured until I read her life story, In The Eye of Deception. In The Eye of Deception is a powerful book about enduring, surviving and overcoming .... It is a powerful story of redemption....a powerful story of how God can turn what is meant to destroy us into something which uplifts us and glorifies HIM. I give In The Eye of Deception 5 out of 5 stars. The book is awesome. The book is fantastic. The book will indeed set you free.
Valerie: http://simply4god.blogspot.com

3. As a Child and Youth Worker, it amazes me that she is still alive after what she lived through. Many youth and adults have far fewer problems yet give up because life seems just too difficult. If anyone had a reason to give up, she did, yet God perserved her life and gave her a desire to bring hope and healing to others. May this book change your life as knowing her has changed mine.

Debbie Thorkildsen: CYW

Book Give Away

2009-12-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

I've posted the information on my other blog www.cultofdeception.blogspot.com about the book and book give away information. Please go there to add your name. Everyone who has left a comment here will also be added. thanks.

Book Now Available

2009-12-04T13:37:00.000-08:00

My book is now available. I have set up a website @ www.gentlerecovery.webs.com for anyone interested in purchasing the book.

I never meant this to turn into a book. I never wanted anyone to know the horrible things that happened. I started writing to get the images out of my head and as I did, some people came alongside me, encouraging me to tell my story.

It's my prayer that whoever reads In the Eye of Deception, will find hope and freedom for whatever situation they are in.

Healing and recovery is a process, a long process. There were times I dared Him to kill me. Instead, He waited until I was ready. I am so grateful He let me live. Now I owe Him. I need to tell, to tell what only He was able to do in my life.

Like a Dream

2009-10-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

I never told anyone. I kept it all inside. I started to wonder if it was some crazy dream or if it even happened at all. I thought maybe I made it up? Other times I thought - it wasn't that bad - it was no big deal. But last year people I hadn't seen started surfacing - family, friends - people who knew....

You're a miracle they said. How did you survive?

Survive? Miracle? What did they mean? They started to tell me stories of their memories of how bad things were, how thin I had become, how out of control......My older sister who I hadn't seen for a long time returned from living overseas. She needed to talk. She forced me to listen....forced me to remember.

The memories hit. They hit hard. I wrote to get the images out of my head.

I couldn't eat or sleep. I wanted to get in my car, close my eyes and drive. It felt like it was happening all over again - the beatings, the confinement, the rape - throwing up day after day after day even if I had tasted even a small bite of something - shoving needles in my arm - three and four times a day - ripping my arms with jagged rocks to feel something because I felt nothing. I was numb inside.

Why now God? Why are you letting me go through this now? I didn't want to remember and yet in remembering it dawned on me - finally - just how far down God had reached to free me.

Everyday in the heat, rain and cold - I ran - alone in the woods - in the hills near our home. There I felt the gentle touch of God - And I heard His whisper - You're stronger now. It's time to tell the truth of what happened. Tell your story to give someone hope -

How could I have never told anyone what He did. Nothing worked. Nothing could break the chains that kept me in living on the edge. Nothing except the gentleness of His touch.

The power of His gentleness.......

This November, I will publish my story In the Eye of Deception. A True Story.

In the Eye of Deception -

2009-09-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

The book In the Eye of Deception is done. It's now being edited and hopefully will be published early October.

I promised God I would tell anyone He wants how awful things had gotten. How far down He had reached to pull me out. I had never told anyone. Now, I'm stronger. It's time to tell.

"In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
Who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He lies in wait, watching in secret for his victims.
He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
He lies in wait to capture the helpless and drags them off in his net.
His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. Ps 10:2:9,10 NIV

The Small Voice Inside

2009-01-09T15:43:00.000-08:00

I have discovered how important it is to be still and listen to that quiet voice inside us. That voice will never steer us wrong. The outside of a person or group can have all the appearance of being good, or right but it can be so wrong.

Many deceptive people have learned to talk the right things. Think of Jim Jones the cult leader who led so many to die by their own hand. When he started out, he spoke of doing God's work, embracing all people regardless of color...... And yet, he had no idea what truth was. He built an empire to himself, participated in horrible acts of abuse of some of his followers, especially children and became nothing more then a mad man leading people who hungered for truth.

Telling the Truth

2008-12-22T02:46:00.000-08:00

No one's denial of the truth can ever invalidate it. I never told what happened. Today I will tell. I'm stronger. I need to tell.

I owe it to God - to God who freed me when nothing else could.

I am finding the courage to tell. Even today some people deny the holocust ever took place - But it did.

I am finding the courage to tell what happened despite those who were involved, who watched and knew or who may have taken part in the harm that occured and who refuse to admit it - in order to protect themselves.

The worse thing a human being can do is watch someone inflict injury and harm on another and turn away and do nothing.

I will live my life as an advocate for those victims who cannot speak up for themselves.

Book: coming soon

2008-12-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

"Woe to those who call evil good evil and evil good,
Who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight." Isaiah 5:20,21

This true account of childhood abuse, confinement and rape offers hope for those fighting similiar battles and provides some tools and resources to overcome drug addiction, eating disorders and self-injury.