If you haven't seen the movie Spotlight yet, run don't walk to the nearest movie house showing it--while they still are. It's about real journalists doing the real work of uncovering institutional sexual abuse within the Catholic church. And the stories of real survivors who got together and came forward in the early days when [...]
It's the first of the year, and in California a slew of new laws are going into effect. In the past, survivors only had until they turned 28 to press charges for sexual abuse offenses in their childhood. Today the statute of limitations was raised to the victim's age 40. It's a change in the [...]
There's been a lot of news coverage, especially from Britain, of arrests made in connection with international sale of images of child sexual abuse. The good news is that a lot of pedophiles--many in positions of trust and of power over children--are being busted. The sad news is that the 600 recent arrests are just [...]
This brilliant patch of volunteer flowers grows beside my neighbor's driveway. His wife, Joy, grew and canned fruits and vegetables and shared them with all of us who live nearby. About four years ago, she died unexpectedly. Her husband dug the vegetable garden under. And since then, each spring and summer, these volunteer flowers come, [...]
Just for fun and just because I can and just to say thank you to all of you who use this book with teen and adult survivors of abuse...just because I'm putting the book on sale for 30% off for the month of May. So check out the sales page. Be sure to use the [...]
The first on-line coverage of this new edition of Strong at The Heart just went live. It's at The Pirate Tree, a blog about social justice and children's books. Strong is for YA and up, so it fits! They gave me a good amount of space for an interview, too, and I'm glad. It gave [...]
It was a fabulous party. So many people came, friends, strangers and readers of the book. What a great send off!The Northcoast Rape Crisis Team was there (we put this on as a benefit for them). They use Strong at the Heart for crisis worker trainings and to give to clients.One young crisis worker talked [...]
Tomorrow is the official launch of the new, updated, paperback edition of Strong at the Heart. The party will be at one of my favorite places--the bookstore four blocks from my house. If you are local, do come! Northtown Books, 957 H Street, Arcata, CA. The party starts at 7 pm. This morning I was [...]
In the past month I've experience three powerful moments of healing in my own community. "Flash mob, on the Plaza," a friend told me on Valentine's day. "What time?" "2:14." So I ran over to have a look. There must have been upwards to a hundred young teen girls gathered on the Plaza in the [...]
When child sexual abuse cases hit the press it can have a big effect on me as a survivor. How great is it that the United Nations has come out in defense of children, scolding the Vatican for hiding and shuffling around abusive priests. But then there is the Woody Allen vs. Dylan Farrow business. [...]
