What is the story and genre your book fits into?


I think my book fits into several genres: True Crime- as my abuser tried to murder me and was never charged. Definitely Horror: several Steven King plots come to mind when I think of my abuser and his role as my tormentor.


It


is a Self Help book too as I wrote of my exit strategy and the tips I learned to stay alive. I’m hopeful that it would help others to escape an abusive relationship.


I believe strongly


that Domestic Violence is a serious Women’s Issue, and this genre fits my book too.


The


overwhelming statistics for women suffering in violent relationships’ are grim and need addressing.


My abuser’s plan was to hurt me every way he could, find the opportunity, and bury me alive. He shared his plans for this “perfect crime” with other “boys in blue” during the 4th of July festivities.- And, he almost succeeded.


For my cover art, I chose the open mine shaft, tainted in blue. Blue- representing the “boys in blue club”, his passive partners in crime. The ladder- actually wasn’t added into the photo- until I knew I was going to live.


I was a writer before Armageddon- or B.A. I


was also an illustrator- creating several trademarks for businesses, and had a comic strip in a national magazine. Writing “The Blue Abyss”, this- was different. I fiercely decided I was not going to go down quietly.


I took very good notations


in my journal- of what was happening to me- and buried my journal in the woods when I walked with my dog.


to escape- and, to help at least one OIDV victim- get away alive.


I had been determined If he succeeded in


killing me- the whereabouts of my journal was in the hands of one friend- who was to turn it over to the media, and the FBI.


I feel very passionately about the public needing to understand what high profile victims endure to stay alive. Understanding domestic violence and it’s devastation, means something will be done to change how the victims are simply statistics, that the blame doesn’t rest on the shoulders of the abused, and the punishment (if any) does not fit the crime.


Did you employ and editor for the story line, proofreading or editing? Are you self-published or traditional/ Why did you choose to publish this way?


Because of my personal safety, and acute poverty (I was homeless, and left everything- friends, family, home, finances; it’s the easiest way for predators to find us again)


I


could not hire an editor, proofreader or publisher. Because of the subject matter- I could not find an agent that would take on the topic of law enforcement domestic violence and corruption. My case worker at the second shelter I was moved to proofread it for me.


I self-published- because I had not been


successful in changing my identity, and couldn’t trust anyone with personal identification for disclosure.


I used Create Space and amazon.com to publish my story.


Do you have any hints or tips that you have found in marketing?


I still struggle with marketing, due to my invisibility. My only tool is the people who access my Facebook site- who forward or share my story through social media. Domestic Violence.Org has listed my book on their recommended reading page, and The Trauma Resource Institute has done so as well.


I wish I had help in marketing.


What was your most amazing moment in writing your book?


I know my most amazing and defining moment in writing my book.


PHF Magazine July 2017


through FB by a parent of a young woman who had been severely abused by an LE


I was contacted 5


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