Journal entries of a victim of sexual assault intertwines with her daughter’s journey of self-discovery to share a candid, inspiring story of survival, hope, faith and unconditional love
When Heidi Ramer’s mother (Karen) died in 2001, she left behind 15 years of journals detailing the repeated sexual trauma she suffered at the hands of a colleague. Heidi is the only person ever to read those journals before now. Though Karen left no instructions for the journals, one entry in 1987 stated that, if she died, she wanted her story to be shared. Heidi knew when she read her mother’s words that it would be her honor to use her voice and Karen’s words to fulfill her dying wish.
Weaving together 15 years of Karen’s journal entries and Heidi’s personal reflections as a secondary survivor, “Her Words, My Voice” (published by LifeRich Publishing) leads readers down the uniquely painful path of sexual abuse and its wider impacts. Emerging from an era when women were groomed to seek praise and approval from men, Karen chronicles her experiences from realization through forgiveness, candidly expressing how the trauma affected her life, health, and peace of mind.
Heidi documents the ways in which her mother’s pain was intrinsically connected to her own and how her mother’s words eventually inspired her to navigate her own brokenness. Their stories are powerfully woven together to reflect the tragic yet beautiful integration of their lives and the transformation of two women, formerly defined by pain, into a compassionate legacy now carried on by a secondary survivor.
“My mother’s life was remarkable, but her pain is not necessarily uncommon. The level of raw detail my mother shares provides the kind of unfiltered insight that I’ve never encountered before; and our two realities have not been made public until now. Most readers will find something to relate to whether as a daughter, sibling, parent, grandparent, survivor, or friend of someone who has experienced trauma,” Heidi says.
When asked what she wants readers to take away from the book, Heidi answers, “I want readers to comprehend the power of telling your story truthfully. We all have a story and sometimes it takes years to understand why ours is important. Equally important are the consequences of not expressing your pain and the physical and emotional toll that can take. I want readers to understand the critical role of friendships and the value of trust when it comes to exposing the ugly parts of ourselves. I hope readers will be able to see vulnerability not as a weakness but as an opportunity for growth and healing.”
For more details about the book, please visit https://www.liferichpublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/845239-her-words-my-voice
“Her Words, My Voice”
By Heidi Ramer
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 298 pages | ISBN 9781489745323
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 298 pages | ISBN 9781489745309
E-Book | 298 pages | ISBN 9781489745316
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author
Heidi Ramer is a secondary survivor, wife, and mother of two beautiful children. After earning a degree in psychology, she has spent the majority of her career working in management. She and her husband own an independent insurance agency where she oversees accounting and HR functions. She loves to cook, read, travel, and photograph the world.
LifeRich Publishing, the strategic publishing partnership of Reader’s Digest and Author Solutions, LLC, was created to provide all writers a platform for sharing their stories, recipes, advice and more. LifeRich authors will benefit from a wealth of editorial design, marketing and education resources, specially created by Reader’s Digest editors for the enrichment of these LifeSmart individuals. Books can be published in print, ebook or audio formats, with additional distribution to up to 25 million Reader’s Digest customers through its online properties. For more information or to publish a book, please visit liferichpublishing.com or call 844-686-9607.
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