If you are in a relationship like the one I’ve described, there are programs that can help. It doesn’t matter what your situation. Your background isn’t an issue, neither is your race or religion. The people who volunteer at hotlines or emergency shelters are only interested in one thing: Your Safety.
Because Love Shouldn’t Hurt.
Please seek help. I’ve included some websites that may answer your questions. They include confidential hotlines to give you someone to talk to. However, if you believe your computer is being monitored, please take precautions and use a library or coffee shop computer. Even empting your history doesn’t completely erase where you’ve been, so be cautious.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline: www.thehotline.org
Love is Respect: National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline: http://www.loveisrespect.org/
Feminist Majority Foundation: http://www.feminist.org/911/crisis.html
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: http://www.nrcdv.org/
Helpguide.Org: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_help_treatment_prevention.htm
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://www.ncadv.org/protectyourself/GettingHelp.php
AVAD: http://avda-tx.org/
If these sites aren’t helpful, run a Google search for organizations in your area.
Protect yourself. You are worth it!
Sources:
The Centers for Disease Control, “NISVS Infographic.” CDC Home. 30 September 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/infographic.html
The Department of Justice, “Bureau of Justice Statistics.” Statistic Brain. 30 September 2014. http://www.statisticbrain.com/domestic-violence-abuse-stats/
This is perhaps the hardest page for me to write. There are so many people to thank, and I know, before I even start typing, I’ll forget someone. So if you are reading this and wondering why I didn’t thank you, please forgive me. It isn’t because I don’t appreciate you or the hard work you put into bringing Unspeakable to life. I absolutely do! It’s because my brain is somewhere between fried and mush.
First, I’d like to thank my family. You are so supportive of my writing. I couldn’t ask for a better group of cheerleaders. From cover critiquing to proofreading, and even doing laundry, you do more to encourage my writing career than anyone else. I want you all to know that I probably don’t tell you enough, but I see what you do, and I appreciate it, even the littlest things, like Mom having a stock of Coke in her apartment for me when I get a migraine. I love you all and I don’t know what I would do without you. Larry, you always put a smile on my face when you come home each night and ask me, “How was work?” That little question shows me how much value you place on my writing. It’s not a hobby, but a career, and that’s how you treat it. It’s in writing, my love, and words are eternal.
To the people at Clean Teen Publishing. Wow! I don’t even know where to start. My eyes fill with tears when I think of you. From the acquisition readers to the editors and everyone in between—you have wicked skills! I couldn’t have dreamed of a better home for Unspeakable. You treated it as if it were your own. You giggled over the silly things and gave me ideas for more. And, Marya, the cover is beautiful. I can’t thank you enough. I’m so proud to be a Clean Teen author. Unspeakable was meant to find a home with you. You’re all rock stars!
To my awesome beta readers: Erin (Albert) Rhew (AKA: The Grammar Nazi), Mary Waibel, and Krista McLaughlin. All excellent writers and I encourage you to check them out. Each lady gave me advice on different areas of the manuscript and, when I pulled it all together, I think it came out a stronger book. Thank you! Your input was just as awesome as your friendship.
And I can’t forget my bestie beta, Meradeth Houston, author of The Sary Society Series, which is ah-ma-zing. Meradeth, you were my beta reader, sounding board, rambling email reader, and everything in between. I can’t thank you enough. I don’t think you realize how big a role you played in getting Unspeakable dusted off and sent to a publisher. Thank you for everything. I can’t think of any other friend that would read a book four or five times for someone, just because she wanted to. You are a friend unlike any other, and I’m so thankful for you. Even if you do, do gross things with people’s DNA. Ick. (Actually, I think it’s pretty cool.)
Book bloggers and reviewers, you all should all have bejeweled tiaras and wear them every day. You are the queens (and kings) of the writing community. Thank you for what you do to help authors spread the word about their books. You are priceless.
This is always the hardest thank you to write. To the readers of Unspeakable, saying thank you just doesn’t feel like enough. There are so many choices for you when you walk the aisles of a bookstore or browse the pages of an online bookstore. I’m very grateful that you decided to spend your time reading my book. I can’t express how honored I am. I hope you enjoyed Unspeakable, and that I’ll see you around the pages of the next love connection I write!
Thank you all from the depths of my heart,
~Michelle
Ask Michelle to skip the serious stuff and tell you about the real her, and this is what she’ll say:
I can’t write without a hoodie. Yeah, I live in Texas. We all have our quirks.
I majored in accounting in college. I was required to declare a major, having no clue what I wanted to do, I picked the first thing listed in the booklet the counselor gave me.
Forget coffee. Hand over the Red Bull and no one gets hurt. Seriously, just set it down and step away. I will morph into a normal human after I guzzle my can of caffeine.
I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows on television.
I paint my nails weird colors just to see my husband roll his eyes and make my nine-year-old twin girls giggle (and also mortify my teenage son).
I’m a hopeful romantic and love swoon-worthy endings that keep the butterflies going for days, but I don’t believe a HEA always ends with the boy getting the girl. Sometimes, a HEA is an ending we don’t see coming, but is still best for the characters in the long run.
I write across genres in the young adult and new adult age groups while eating way too many peanut butter M&Ms (but we’ll keep that second part just between us).
I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, but now live in a suburb of Houston, TX with my very supportive family, two rescued dogs and a rescued cat.
And lastly, I’d love to hear from you. So drop me an email! Let’s chat. You tell me what you like in books, what you’d like to see happen in the writing community, what type of books you’d love to see more of—less of—I want to hear it all. Because the one thing I wish I could put on my list, but I still haven’t figured it out yet, is mind reading. But don’t tell my kids—I still have them fooled.
Find me here:
Website:http://www.Michelle-Pickett.com
Emaiclass="underline" Michelle@Michelle-Pickett.com
Blog:http://www.Michelle-Pickett.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/michellepickettauthor
Twitter:@Michelle_kp
If you enjoyed Unspeakable, we recommend you check out Michelle's new book Milayna, releasing March 17th, 2015. Enjoy a sneak peak here!