everyday amazing: Haibun: Riverwood

everyday amazing: Haibun: Riverwood

I don't know hw to do thhis, Sorry.

Oops! Sorry

It seems I've dropped the ball here. Apologies to the 658 visitors who weren't properly greeted.  I guess I can't cop out and say I'm a newbie forever, can I.  Oh, I know! I'll play the age card: I'm 80.

https://nanmykel.com/

Visit my other blog, NanMykel.com to see my poetry, secrets, and updates on my books.

FALLOUT: A Survivor Talks to Incest Offenders

FALLOUT: A Survivor Talks to Incest Offenders (And Others)

     Lurking under the covers in perhaps a million American homes are the crimes of unreported incest offenders, for whom treatment is not available. Since professionals must  report suspected sexual abuse of children, the familial perpetrator has no place to turn unless he admits his own transgressions, leading to an incarceration which often destroys himself and his family.

     This one-of-a-kind book, written by a closet survivor who led a prison sex offender treatment program for twelve years, is an attempt to reach the incest offender who may or may not have also victimized outside the family. It was the discovery that incest offenders do not believe they have damaged their victims that finally led Dr. Mykel to share her story.

     She has not been satisfied to simply describe her own journey as a survivor, realizing  the ease with which it could be discounted by offenders. Instead, she draws heavily on the professional literature for clarification and interweaves and contrasts her own experiences with published findings.

     This volume is not a bid for pity or recrimination, but offers a compassionate exploration of a difficult topic for the perpetrator, the family, and other survivors.

      Included are chapters addressed to men who commit incest, to the community who will receive them back if they should go to prison, to other survivors, and to the dynamics of shame. Both the trauma bond and the sexual bond are discussed at length, and the author makes a diligent attempt to determine her mother’s role in the incest. Included are letters from the  father who molested her.

     This 435-page book includes bibliographical references plus pages from her chronological journal, replete with dreams, drawings, readings, reflections and poems. She is an advocate of  journaling for insight and healing, and includes feelings of temporary despair along with humor and the mundane.

      Fallout took ten years to complete, and went through three different drafts. Although a nonfiction book, there was drama behind the scenes as pieces of the puzzle fell into place while the author was reading the literature and continuing to journal. Some of the final draft was re-written, even as it was readied for press. The author has completed the book, at  79.

 

CONTENTS

 

Book Listed on Amazon! I'm an Author!

I guess the title gives it (me)  all away. It's called "FALLOUT: A Survivor Talks to Incest Offenders (and Others), plus her dream diary and drawings." It came to me that the great majority of incest offenders are never reported and therefore don't receive treatment. Since I spent twelve years treating sex offenders, I thought I'd share some of what treatment is all about. That approach, plus using my experience as a survivor to show it does do damage, is what motivated me to spend years writing the book (I'm retired).

NAN'S NEW BOOK DEBUTS ON AMAZON

It's exciting but scary, the posting of my new book on Amazon yesterday. It's scary because I don't know how it will be received, and whether the journal and dream diary in the last part of the book is too personal.  I don't want to gross anybody out.  Title of the 438-page book is FALLOUT: A Survivor Talks to Incest Offenders."  Gulp.

MORE MONOLOGUE

It seems some folks have stopped by but not left even a footprint. I think they were possibly curious about my fuss over the Rebecca Lost fictional inhabitant of my earlier url.  I woke up this morning feeling nervous about my book being available on Amazon next week.  I don't want to face all the verbal responses to it. Instead of sending out postcards announcing it I decided to send an e-mail with a pdf of the book if people want to read it. Maybe I should have had it published posthumously.  ("FALLOUT: A Survivor Talks to Incest Offendders.")