By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
You cannot recapture your childhood. It happens once. For Cheryl Williams of Amity, those early-day recollections in small-town America are raw. She masked her feelings and now they are being unveiled in her book to be published called “Stolen Innocence: Let My Healing Begin.”
“It is the journey of the healing of my inner child from sexual assault,” said Williams.
The book has been Williams’ avenue to release demons that had her captured within her own mind, body and spirit.
“The book describes the process, more than just one piece, of different aspects that came together that I was not even aware of that contributed to my healing,” she said.
Cheryl Williams
“We are excited to be working with Cheryl over the coming year on this project,” said Sharon Rose Bradley-Munn, publisher of Finally Free Promotions. ”It is highly-sensitized writings, and it will be our endeavor to leave them in their purest authentic form with only slight alterations or edits for grammar or clarity. As the publisher of this book, I will be excited to go through the process with Cheryl, until she has her final product.”
The published book’s expected launch date is Spring 2015.
Admitting abuse can be difficult to the victim.
“I used to be ashamed and it was something I really didn’t want anyone to know about me,” Williams said. “But, I suffered in silence for so long.”
Williams, who will be married for 34 years, has struggled against the memories her entire adult life.
“Everything started to become an issue when my daughter was 2,” said Williams. “I started having nightmares and flashbacks.”
When she told her husband, Williams found unconditional love and support.
“Even though I still struggle,” she said. “He knows just what to do.”
As hard as Williams tried to bury those thoughts, they reared their ugly head.
“It started surfacing again for me,” she said. “It got too much for me to handle in 2005.”
That’s when Williams sought counseling.
“I am working through therapy,” she said. “I am realizing there are a lot of other people like me. Right now, I am in a very good place. It has taken me a lot of years to get here.”
Williams was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety.
As Williams worked through her diagnosis and healing process, she never intended to publish a book. She used her writing as a channel of emotional release. Williams’ uncle and therapist suggested she pen the book.
“I started writing poems as a way to get it all out,” she explained. “I am hoping to help others and make parents aware too, you have to do something about abuse because it has a lasting effect. My main goal is to reach out to others and let them feel like they can talk about this and there is nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Stolen Innocence: Let My Healing Begin,” is not only Williams’ story, but it is a self-help tool, as the manuscript traces her steps from being fractured through the entire healing process.
“I just wanted to put it all out there,” she said. “It was not my fault. It was something I had no control over.”
Though she didn’t have the verbal skill to communicate what was happening, as Williams’ points to her head, she said, “It is still in here.”
With such a narrative, family relationships have been strained, but Williams is passionate about her drive to end sexual abuse.
“For a long time, I had so much anger,” she said. “It still does make me angry. But, I am open about it and I don’t feel guilty anymore.
“I just want to share my story, help others and create more awareness to the problem,” Williams added.
The book is being published by Sharon Rose Bradley-Munn of Finally Free Promotions in St. John, N.B. It will be available as an e-book and also hardcopies will be available to purchase online.
With April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Williams’ book may be hitting the shelves at a very crucial time.
“I’ve been involved with Sexual Assault Awareness Month for a few years now,” she said. “I did a speech in 2010. I am excited my book is at the publishers and it is going to happen. I wrote the truth. My story. It is what happened to me. It is horrible. It changes who you are. But, I have gotten to a point that yes, it changed me. I am different. But, it does not define me.”
