Author’s Story of Personal Abuse Provides Message of Hope

April 6, 2009 - PRLog -- Throughout her childhood, Amanda Richardson experienced sexual abuse from her father. Rather than live in denial, she now comes forward to tell her story, providing inspiration and hope to other abuse victims in her new memoir “Saved from Silence” (ISBN 9780595524440, iUniverse, 2009).

Amanda and her family appeared to be model citizens. Her father was an upstanding community leader who contributed to society and professed religious faith. He also abused his children. Until she was fourteen, Amanda experienced mental, physical, sexual and emotional torture from her father. She also watched him abuse her brother. After years of abuse, Amanda felt like an empty shell of a human being, incapable of a productive future.

Recovery was difficult for Amanda. She longed for validation from her mother, who denied that the abuse ever took place. Whenever Amanda brought up the subject, her mother’s attitude was one of blame and rejection. Amanda also had trust issues with men. When she met her future husband, she had to work through many issues, while he patiently supported her and gave her the space to explore and heal her pain. After years of therapy, prayer, and love and support from others, Amanda broke her silence, confronted her abuser, and became whole.

One in three women and one in five men have experienced some form of abuse. Because of the pain such alarming statistics represent, Richardson has come forward to tell her story. In a recent interview, she explained, “I wanted to be a voice for those survivors who have not yet found theirs. I used to ask myself, ‘Where’s my advocate?’ ‘Who is there to speak for me?’ Now—I can be that person for others…With sixty million survivors in America today, it is important that we talk about what to do and say as well as what not to do and say. “Saved From Silence” serves to do just that.”

“Saved from Silence” is one woman’s courageous and revealing story of abuse and recovery. Readers will come to understand that child abuse can happen to anyone—that a child molester may just as likely be the respectable parent next door as the wayward stranger. In fact, most abuse victims know their abusers well. Amanda Richardson’s story reveals the heart-wrenching truth about abuse. By breaking the silence, her brave memoir will enlighten readers about abuse and provide courage to those who still suffer silently.

About the Author
Born in 1982, author Amanda Richardson still resides in the suburban East Texas town where she was born and raised. She is a wife of five years to her husband, Daniel, and the mother of one child. She currently works as a dental hygienist and dental hygiene educator. She is also a full time student majoring in psychology at Kaplan University. “Saved from Silence” is her memoir about the abuse she endured as a child and how she overcame it.

“Saved from Silence” (ISBN 9780595524440, iUniverse, 2009) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit www.savedfromsilence.com. Publicity contact: www.ReaderViews.com. Review copies available upon request.

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