chapter: shock factor

I recently left my position to pursue a writing career. A writing career that includes a book, a new business and whatever new partnerships come about. As my friends and social network come into contact with me, the typical first question is “so, what’s your book about?” I truly need to get better at answering this question. It’s always tricky given the environment (i.e. when little ears are around). My typical response is, ‘well, it’s a non-fiction book about some trauma that my son went through last summer’. This is normally followed by a response like “oh.”

If kids aren’t around and I feel comfortable talking, I sometimes get bolder with my response, “well, it’s a little heavy…[long pause]...I believe that my son was sexually abused...and I’m writing about it.” The normal response is first [silence], followed by an “oh... I’m sorry.”

I’ve realized that I need to work on this response. I shouldn’t have to preface it with “it’s heavy” or take the deep breath that I do or gather myself from tearing up. This is the real life that I live every single day. I should just be able to speak to it without thinking twice and without my armpits sweating.

My response should be:

I’m writing a non-fiction book about my son. I believe that he was sexually abused last summer. I’m writing the story about how we get to the truth, because right now we have no proof. My goal is to put a woman behind bars to prevent her from hurting more children. I am writing this book to be my son’s advocate. As a child, I was sexually violated by an older boy at my babysitter’s house. I never told a single soul (most children don’t). I lived a very complicated and troubled childhood. Because of my trauma, I’m able sense things and pick up on cues that most people may brush off. I’m writing this book because I was a child that was alone and suffering. My son will not be this child. I will be the person that I wished I had when I was young.

This is what my book is about.

#micdrop