AustLit

'This is my story. It has the potential to empower and educate readers all over the world. They can see how and why the impact of childhood hurts continue to affect me in so many ways, whilst I lived and am still living a very full and interesting life. Readers can walk in my shoes as we go through the many lows and times of very dark depression, whilst I felt confused about family life, parenting, trust, love, relationships and sexual relationships. My book is also an example of how the effects of war (PTSD) are felt and suffered by our serving service men and women, ex-service personnel, and their families (the flow-on effects). I talk about how I always loved my parents but 'hated' the abuse, and I've always been concerned as to how many children are affected by many types of abuse. How many are out there now, hurting behind closed doors? Too many is the answer. I want my book to bring awareness of how hurt is affecting children's learning and their ability to absorb information, due to the 'shit' that is filling and, in some cases, has already filled their hearts and minds. Then there are the parents of these children who are hurting. I believe that hurt is passed on; it is hurting people hurting people. I say, "Stop hurt NOW!" After the amputation of my right arm and shoulder in 1999, I saw myself as a freak. I hated what I saw in the mirror; and people's stares just confirmed that I was right.... I was a freak. I want to bring awareness of how people's stares do hurt (still)! I tell how I took drastic measures to change all this because I realised that I cannot change others. Out on a Limb is an inspirational story of the challenges I've faced, the way I've given up at times, thinking and planning to end my life but never actually doing it (suicide). I tell how I persisted, how I chose to work through my dark times to finally find this happiness that I feel inside me now.'