CARIBOU, Maine — Cheryl Williams, author of the book “Stolen Innocence; Let the Healing Begin”, will be speaking at the Caribou Public Library on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2016 from noon to 2 p.m. about childhood sexual assault.
According to Williams, the book is about the healing journey of her inner child and was written with the intention of helping others as well as herself.
“I was just a baby when I was first assaulted by my paternal grandfather, and it didn’t stop until I learned to protect myself from him,” said Williams. “I didn’t work on healing my inner child until I was 43, when I was forced to face the demons that had tortured me from infancy. All the anguish, hurt and torment from the last four decades came boiling to the surface, and erupted with such a force that I was no longer able to hide my pain.”
Williams’ intention is to inspire hope in those who have suffered similar trauma in their lives, and to show them that it is possible to live a “happy and fulfilling life with strong support from professionals, friends, and family.”
The North Amity woman hopes that her work will help change the stigma associated with childhood sexual abuse, and give people the courage to speak up about abuse, as it is a difficult subject to talk about and “needs to be taken more seriously by the community and judicial system.”
By speaking and doing book signings throughout the state of Maine, Williams hopes to raise awareness to as many people as possible, and to let them know that “it isn’t their fault or shame to bear.”
