My Memoir

As a child, I would often look out the third floor window of my bedroom at the world outside, wishing for a different world inside. After years of trying to forget my past, I thought I had dealt with my past once and for all.

Then the clergy sexual abuse crisis in my beloved Catholic Church hit the newsstands. I was devastated by the memories and buried emotions bubbling up to the surface. And there was that question that I heard asked over and over - “why didn’t the victims tell someone?”

Feeling driven to help other survivors, I decided to share my story. So I set out to teach the world about the long term effects of child sexual abuse. What I found along the way was healing and hope.

And the discovery that, while I have not always known God, God has always known me. And has been with me through it all.

There are four sections to the book:
1. Telling My Story - telling the story of my childhood and the sexual abuse
2. The Crisis - I write about the clergy sexual abuse crisis and the effect it had on me as an incest survivor and a Catholic.
3. More Than Surviving - I write about the signs of healing in my life
4. Work in Progress - about my struggles and triumphs as I continue on the healing journey with God

Who should read this inspirational book?
1. Survivors of child sexual abuse
2. Families and friends of survivors
3. Counselors
4. And all who have carried heavy crosses and have asked that question: Where was God?

“To get out of this darkness Colleen shows that one must find hope in the light of Jesus and his teachings.” - Samuel Pizzi, Ph.D., M.A. (from the Foreword)

The Third Floor Window is not only an inspiring memoir of my healing journey. It is a story of God and hope and the discovery that we do not suffer alone.

“ … it is a great book. It certainly makes two clear and convincing points that most people are not aware of: the inability to report the problem for a long time and the pervasive damage the abuse does." – Rev. Thomas Pohto, OSA

"The Third Floor Window is a memoir by a courageous and sensitive survivor of incest. Her story is about one of a fragile nature who grows through her relationship with God and finds healing by walking a spiritual path, never doubting that she was not alone. Memories of her own trauma, set off by the sexual scandals of the Catholic Church, force her to face what happened and work through both the reality and the forgiveness she needed to reach out with, not just to her father but her mother. Beautifully written and heartfelt, this story, replete with wisdom and insights, will help others who need to find the courage to heal." - Marjorie McKinnon, Founder of the Lamplighters

Where can you buy my book?

Booklocker.com

barnesandnoble.com

Amazon.com

Also available on Nookbook and Kindle!

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