When I was 9 years old I wrote my first poem about my mother, the same night after her funeral. I continued to write until my aunt found a manuscript I'd been working on for over two years. Without reading it, she called it garbage, a waste of time and paper, then forced me to watch as she tore it up and threw it in the trash.

I was so devastated I gave up writing until after I'd left home at age 18.

For many years I struggled constantly to tackle my childhood demons. I wrote my first full-length non-fiction book, Bitter Memories A Memoir of Heartache & Survival, about my memories after the kidnapping.

With a total of eight books now written, and working on more, today I live to write and I write to live. Never again will I allow anyone to prevent my desire of doing what's in my blood — I will continue to write from the heart.

Here is a comment from one of my readers, another survivor of abuse: "The shame and guilt is such a burden not only for the child but the adult that child becomes. It is proliferated by so many people who are ignorant to child abuse. It not only destroys the child but it destroys the family. It works for generations to become as a parasite. Your books are bringing this to the fore front. Sometimes just knowing you are not alone and someone else out there knows how you feel every day of your life, is enough to help you move forward. This is what you have done. The steps you took are so big that only those who have suffered abuse can understand the courage and inner strength it took you to face those inner demons and to face ignorance of people who criticize things you have said. The world is your stage, Sue, and we are all applauding you. You have helped more people than you will ever know."

If you've suffered physical, emotional or mental abuse, rape and/or sexual molestation in silence, or if you know someone who has been abused, my Bitter Memories series is for you. This is a story other survivors will relate to. The dialogue is honest and intense as it shows the endless horrific events inflicted on me, an innocent child.

Bitter Memories, a true story about overcoming severe childhood abuse and my fight to survive, will take you on a roller coaster ride you will not soon forget as you take this insightful journey into my childhood of tragedy and sorrow around every corner.

To learn more about me and my books please visit my website.

http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen