New York, NY – Donald McLean was twelve years old when his older sister’s favorite teacher Charlie Schoeler asked if he wanted to go to the beach. Within a month Mr. Schoeler began molesting him; it was an act that would be repeated many times in the next three and a half years.
Unraveling Charlie (CreateSpace) by Donald McLean is the powerful story of the damage a pedophile inflicts upon his victim and the struggle required to overcome that abuse. While the book originated as a way to help Donald heal by writing down his thoughts, feelings and emotions, it ended up being a remarkably moving account of the day-to-day trauma a victim suffers as they try to find a way back to some kind of normalcy. Unique in this genre because while most are full of anger or need for revenge, this book is filled with infinite understanding, insight and even humor; more a true coming of age tale that has allowed the abused to see the abuser through clear and sympathetic eyes. A compelling story that is sure to help anyone recovering from childhood sexual abuse, find hope for better tomorrows.
Unraveling Charlie is a well-written story of child abuse, survival, acceptance and understanding of his abuser’s mental illness, by a victim of a pedophile. McLean not only grew up strong and (astoundingly) normal, but he maintained a curiosity about his molester that enabled him not just to see him as the sick and destructive person he was, but to appreciate the disease that lay behind the horror; even to establish an adult relationship with Charlie, who had become by then the drunken, disturbed, powerless figure who had always lain behind the artificial mask of power.
McLean describes the initial years when he was subject to Charlie’s whims, through the time when the teen-aged boy began to grasp the insidiousness of what was happening. That understanding was what allowed him to escape; to become a well adjusted, full-grown man, one who has been happily married for 25 years.
While the effects of the years between twelve and fifteen had a great impact on Don’s life, it took him until his mid-20s before he started putting his life back together. He had been a drug dealer and had difficulty maintaining any kind of relationship, even becoming estranged from his large and close family for some time. Children who endure the kind of sickness that Charlie Schoeler forced on this young man are often warped for all time. But this is what makes Donald McLean and his life so exceptional; he was able to break from Charlie and assert a level of power and independence, and go on to lead an extremely satisfying life.
McLean is the co-founder of Ági Brooks, the Soho boutique started by his wife. His longtime interest in karate – he is a 4th degree black belt – has led to a separate career teaching at the Matsumoto Dojo in New York City. He and his wife Ági live in New York City but have a country house in Pennsylvania, their escape for inspiration; she paints and he writes. One of five children, Don is most appreciative of his wonderful parents, whose unfailing intelligence and love allowed him to survive molestation with rare normalcy. For more information on Don McLean or his riveting book, please visit: www.unravelingcharlie.com .
Unraveling Charlie by Donald McLean CreateSpace Publishing ISBN-10: 1483972860 ISBN-13: 978-1483972862
Atlanta, GA – It has been 26 weeks since 26 innocent people died in the mass shooting in Newtown, CT, and the effects of this devastating trauma will be felt for many years by this community. Unfortunately there are few, if any, healing books available for middle school-aged children who have experienced some form of trauma. In My Corner On the Moon: A Story for Kids Who Experienced Trauma by Rachel Rashkin-Shoot, goes a long way to filling this void. Here is an excerpt from the foreword written by Daniel Mattila, M.Div., LCSW: “…I write this foreword from the town where I have lived for 15 years – Newtown, Connecticut. My community is dealing with trauma and grief from the shooting that happened only months ago. This book is timely and will be useful for many parents, teachers, mental health professionals, and religious leaders.”
There are millions of children in this country that experience some form of trauma each year. Trauma is defined as any credible threat to someone’s sense of survival. It can be as varied as living through a tragic accident, to the loss of a parent or loved one, witnessing domestic violence, or becoming a victim of physical or sexual abuse – with consequences that can be catastrophic. These types of chronic trauma can significantly disrupt a child’s developing sense of self and impact virtually all areas of their functioning – with the result that many of these children continue to struggle well into adulthood.
Even when children are not directly affected they can experience secondary traumatization through natural disasters, school-related violence, or a host of other events. As a resident of Israel, the author has witnessed first-hand the devastating effects trauma has on children who must deal with the threat of terrorist attempts on a regular basis.
In My Corner On the Moon (PDAN Press) is a therapeutic book, gauged to fit the reading skills of 5th – 8th grade children, that can be used in a session with a therapist, or as a book read with a parent, friend, caretaker, or even alone.
Narrated by 12-year-old Abigail, the book is written in a straightforward but gentle style and has a strong psycho-educational component. The idea is to normalize the response that many children have to overwhelming events in their lives. Through Abigail’s story, trauma is put into simple terms that kids can understand and it’s done without delving into details of her own or any specific trauma, but focusing instead on responses to trauma and the healing process that follows. Interactive questions at the end of each page encourage discussion among children and the trusted adults in their lives.
Rachel Rashkin-Shoot was educated in the U.S. and earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral training in Chicago and New Orleans. Prior to her latest book, she has published two self-help books for children and teens, with a related article in the award-winning Chicago Parent magazine. Rachel currently lives in Israel with her husband and children, and maintains a private practice in Jerusalem.
The publisher, Personality Disorders Awareness Network (PDAN), is an organization dedicated to increasing public awareness about the impact of personality disorders on families, preparing families to be watchful for signs of trauma, and parent their children differently to prevent development of such disorders.
Greenwich, CT – At least once in your life, haven’t you desperately wanted to throw out all the rules, charge full steam ahead, and just get something done? Decisive action is a prominent characteristic of Jordan Sandor in Targets of Revenge (Gallery Books). A gripping follow-up to Jeffrey S. Stephens’ Targets of Opportunity, it chronicles a vengeful Jordan Sandor dangerously close to the edge as he tracks a cold-blooded homicidal mastermind.
Adina, a sociopath, has cut a bloody swath through the pages of these novels, indiscriminately slaughtering innocents, including Sandor’s close friend. Determined to catch him, Sandor turns a deaf ear to bureaucratic nit-picking; this is no time to play nice.
Journeying into the heart of the Venezuelan jungle, armed with little more than a combat knife and an automatic weapon, Sandor infiltrates Adina’s camp, where he discovers the latest murderous plan being hatched by the ruthless terrorist.
Sandor fights to prevent this disaster, chasing clues to far-flung countries, but his unorthodox methods land him on Interpol’s list of international fugitives. Meanwhile, someone Sandor trusts could very well be feeding the agent dangerous lies as he struggles to stay on Adina’s trail. Even after being taken captive, Sandor refuses to surrender. Learning of a catastrophic assault planned for New York City, he has no choice but to risk his life to protect his country’s safety and freedom.
From beginning to end, Targets of Revenge races from one heart-stopping moment to the next, in the style of New York Times bestselling authors Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. Adrenaline-pumping action can become addictive, and Targets of Revenge makes it so. Please watch the exciting trailer at: youtu.be/w6N7qwTJ_xE .
Jeffrey S. Stephens is the author of the popular Jordan Sandor thrillers, Targets of Deception and Targets of Opportunity. A native New Yorker who began his career as a novelist while working in private practice as a lawyer, he lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, with his wife, Nancy. They have two sons.
Coralville, IA – Cited this morning on the NBC website (http://nbcnews.to/11FDNVe), as the result of a new study in the Journal Pediatrics linking peer abuse with abuse among siblings in the home, is sibling abuse victim, Nancy Kilgore – author of the book, Girl in the Water: A True Story of Sibling Abuse (HCI Books — $14.95). In this jaw-dropping memoir, she chronicles one girl’s triumph over extreme bullying and torture at the hands of her sister, shining a courageous light on the hidden epidemic of sibling abuse.
When Nancy Kilgore was nine years old, her eleven-year-old sister Sherry led her into the scorching midday sun, tied her to a chair, and taped her eyelids to her eyebrows with electrical tape, leaving Nancy helpless for hours to stare into a blinding blue sky. For years, Sherry physically tortured her younger sister and threatened to kill her if the cruelty was revealed. Each time Nancy walked into her own bedroom she would have to repeat self-deprecating passwords: “I am ugly and stupid.” “I am ugly, stupid, and no one loves me.” “Please may I come in?”
Girl in the Water details the most shuttering examples of sibling abuse, the untold secret in millions of homes. Each year, 19 million children are abused by their siblings and well over 80 million adults have suffered this type of abuse. With vivid imagery and heartbreaking accounts, Kilgore leads readers on a journey into the prison she was born into, where she is confronted with her childhood dreams, family bonds, coming of age in the shadow of terror and the complex after-effects of bullying and sibling abuse that followed her into adulthood. Struggling to piece together her haunted past before it consumed her, Kilgore shares her inspiring metamorphosis and victorious battle from a fragile, shattered survivor to that of an eventual speaker and activist. Girl in the Water is the story of one woman, with a phoenix-like power, who came up against all odds and won. Her story will resonate with millions of adult sibling-abuse survivors who have never felt free to tell their stories . . . until now.
With a resources section and informational strategies for parents and adult survivors, Girl In The Water is a healing tool for laypeople and professionals.
Girl In The Water: A True Story of Sibling Abuse HCI Books $14.95 ASIN: B00C0W1BF4
Boulder, CO – It would have been so easy for Alison Sawyer Current to visit the house she owns with her husband in Isla Mujares, Mexico, and not get involved – but that was never an option. From her very first visit to the island, she was shocked by the number of dogs that were abused, left to starve, die of disease, or be instantly eliminated by the local government when they did their periodic roundup of any animal found in the street. When Alison discovered there is no local help for animals in Mexico she knew she must do something. That was in 1999; today, Alison and her trusty volunteers have rescued, nursed back to health, and found loving homes for 5,372 dogs!
Isla Animals, an organization started by Alison and her husband, Jeff, is dedicated to cutting down the population of unwanted animals in Mexico through spay and neuter, and improving the lives of the animals that already exist until they can get things under control. Some of the dogs dropped off at Isla Animals are in such pathetic shape it’s a miracle they survive. They are given that miracle by Alison and her husband who have used their own resources to provide whatever was needed; surgery, medications, food – and, of course, lots of love.
‘Puppy Camp’ at the Current house was created out of necessity for the many puppies that were born in the streets and abandoned by the owners of the mother. When the numbers of litters grew and homes couldn’t be found for them, the Current house was adapted to accommodate the pups and ‘Puppy Camp’ became a whole new place – one that also included full grown dogs that started showing up at their door in dire need of help. No dog was ever turned away. After fostering up to forty dogs at a time, Alison created the Dog Gone Foundation; an adoption program that works with rescue shelters throughout the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico to place these animals in loving homes.
Alison and her volunteers work diligently with pet rescue groups on the mainland to fund spray and neuter clinics, make visits with a wellness veterinarian, and provide vaccines and flea/tick medications. Alison even goes door-to-door, checking on dogs and handing out food, vitamins and supplies. She cleans and shaves dogs that are horribly dirty and matted in hopes that the owners will be so pleased with how they look they will be encouraged to keep them that way.
Alison ventures into very poor neighborhoods where she gets local children to help her find and care for dogs in need – all part of her efforts to educate the people on controlling and caring for the animal population.
Now a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization, Alison invites everyone to visit her website at www.islaanimals.org and check out each animal’s story, with the before and after pictures, to fully understand the extent of the wonderful work being done here. Isla Animals is always in need of funding and they run strictly on donations – which are tax deductible. Please also follow Alison on her main Facebook page as well as the newest Facebook page called Isla Animals Furever Alumni where people can post their own stories about the dogs they have adopted from her and how they are doing in their forever homes.
Amarillo, TX – The band Mustard has been nominated for the 2014 AIM (Artists in Music) Awards in the rock category, and voting is now open for fans at bit.ly/17xysrm. Bringing energy and passion to the indie music scene, band founder Jack Mustard is optimistic about the success of their album “In the Dark” released in April 2013.
“I wanted to write meaningful alternative rock music with deep roots,” he says. “But there’s diversity between tracks. Some have a powerful heavy overtone, and others are more poetic, even symphonic.” Tracks from the EP are regularly heard on independent radio around the world, such as Audioburger.com, a London station, and Rockunderground.tv, an American station. A second EP titled “In the Light” will be released in August 2013.
Since its inception in 2012, Mustard has generated a global appeal which transcends music genres. “The music speaks for itself,” Mustard continues. “Powerful, earth driven energy that’s provocative in nature. Dynamic riff patterns overlay intense lyrics about life, love, war, power, and death.” Although a new band, the music seems destined to make waves and seat itself in time with great power based rock bands.
Occasionally appearing onstage shirtless and in dreadlocks, Mustard’s live performances quickly have fans up and the energy level high. Compelling and forceful, tracks such as “Dark Lit Bar” and “Heaven and Hell” showcase Mustard’s skill as an artist, bringing deep emotions to light. Acoustic sets have a power and charm all their own; Mustard likes to say that even their love songs pack a punch. Mustard is represented by ReTake Talent Search.com, an innovative company dedicated to helping all artists get the recognition they deserve.
Mustard’s album is widely available online at www.mustardmusic.net via ITunes. At ReverbNation.com, Mustard donates 50% of the proceeds to CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.
Deerfield Beach, FL – As imperfect human beings, we often face ethical and moral challenges as we relate with others on a daily basis, be it with our office mates, our Facebook friends, or our best friend since grade school. In Ethical Wisdom For Friends: How to Navigate Life’s Most Complicated, Curious, and Common Relationship Dilemmas (HCI Books), a riveting and insightful tour of the meaning and purpose of connection, Matousek draws from personal experience, interviews, and letters from readers to provide a reservoir rich in wisdom about friendship, commitment, honesty, greed, jealousy, loyalty, competition, imitation, abandonment, and reconciliation. In twenty-four succinct essays, each followed by thought-provoking questions, he examines a plethora of moral dilemmas.
Backed by scientific evidence, interviews with experts, philosophical teachings, and psychological insight, Ethical Wisdom For Friends is a simple, edifying, and entertaining look at these concepts for everyday seekers who are more interested in hands-on advice than abstract information.
Ethical Wisdom For Friends By Mark Matousek Publisher: HCI Books-June 2013 ISBN: 9780757317279 — $14.95
