Pleasure to meet you, and thank you for stopping by!

As a criminal defense attorney, I was a daily advocate, lending my voice to others on arguably the worst days of their lives. And I loved it. I knew the legal rules, I knew how to play the game, sometimes I knew how to win. I thought I was invincible. And then I had the worst day of my life.

During an out-of-state, firm-sponsored CLE, my mentoring attorney raped me. When I reported the attack to my female boss, the name partner, her response was simple: “With [him], it was only a matter of time.” As is all too common for women who are raped by their superior, I was iced out of the firm a few months later.

I tried running away—I changed legal fields, I moved across the state. I dismissed myself as long as I could. And then I developed PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I lost my voice. I lost myself.

But then, I started writing again, trying to make sense of my own assault. And writing has sparked life back into me. I’ve lost a few fingernails, but it’s helped me claw my way back to familiarity and reclaim myself piece by piece.

I never could have imagined the betrayal and horror survivors face without going through it myself. But I hope my book can offer hope to survivors and culture empathy for their loved ones, who, like survivors, might not know what to do.