Abused Immigrant Child Becomes Successful Entrepreneur and Performer

PRLog (Press Release) - May 21, 2009 - Not abusive parents, her immigrant status, culture, an abusive husband, or self-doubt could stop Nadia Sahari from fulfilling her dreams, as told in her new memoir “Breakaway: How I Survived Abuse” (ISBN 9780982041307, Pink Butterfly Press, 2009).

“Breakaway: How I Survived Abuse” is Nadia Sahari’s remarkable true story of obstacles she overcame to become a success. Nadia was born in Lebanon to Arab Shia Muslim parents. She immigrated with her parents to the United States at age two and grew up in the Detroit area. Besides being sexually abused at age five by her grandfather, she was repeatedly beaten by her father as a means to keep her from assimilating into the American culture. Her father feared if she associated with Americans she would lose her virginity; she was more valuable as a virgin so she could marry an Arab.

Nadia refused to conform to her parents’ rigid standards. At the age of seventeen, she was date raped and forced into an illegal abortion that nearly took her life. Desperate, she married a man who told her he loved her so much he would kill himself if he could not be with her. Without money, security, or a job, Nadia thought marriage would be her safety net. Little did she know she was going from Hell into Hades. Her husband repeatedly abused her. When she wouldn’t give him money to buy alcohol, he tossed out her children’s food and said, "If I can't have my beer, they can't eat." Refusing to see her children mistreated, Nadia threw him out.

Throughout the years of abuse, Nadia held onto her dreams. Since age ten, she had wanted to be an actress. She credits that dream with her survival because it allowed her to escape reality. After twenty years of abuse, she found the strength to make that dream her reality. To support her children, she became a creative businesswoman. Soon she was attending acting school and had become a headliner belly dancer. She even appeared as a guest panelist on the Oprah Show. Today she is focusing on studying film so she can create documentaries. She is a member of Screen Actors Guild and has two movies coming out this year.

“Breakaway: How I Survived Abuse” is the inspirational story of how one woman overcame her fear and low self-esteem to provide for her family and fulfill her dreams. Nadia Sahari’s memoir provides hope to anyone suffering from abuse. Nadia recently stated, “I am still learning to fly away from my abuse; now that I have learned to fly I don't look behind me, I only look forward. Remember, it's easy to step on a worm, but hard to catch a butterfly.” “Breakaway” is a perfect example of how anyone can overcome hardship and soar to new heights.

About the Author

Nadia Sahari was born in Beirut, Lebanon to Arab parents who were Shia Muslims. She came to America at the age of two. Nadia Sahari has performed as a headliner belly dancer and choreographer. She was a featured guest on various television shows in Detroit, Michigan. In her late twenties, she attended the Las Vegas School of Acting. She became an entrepreneur and creative businesswoman to support her family. Nadia now resides in Austin, Texas where she is enrolled in acting and filmmaking classes. She plans to film documentaries and short films in the future. She has served as a guest panelist on the Oprah Show and will be appearing in two movies this year. She is an advocate for women, children and animal rights. "Breakaway: How I Survived Abuse" is her newly published memoir.

“Breakaway: How I Survived Abuse” (ISBN 9780982041307, Pink Butterfly Press, 2009) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit www.nadiasahari.com. Publicity contact: www.ReaderViews.com. Review copies available upon request.

# # #

Reader Views provides book reviews, author publicity, press releases, book videos, and more...the one-stop center for readers of books, authors and publishers.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/10241143/1