From the Ashes

Rape, enslavement, torture, and "grooming"-these are but a few of the things to which Stephanie L. Giaquinto was subjected...in her early childhood. For the first six years of her life, Giaquinto was trained for members of an exclusive local crime ring, where she was to serve, in all senses of the word, as a sex partner and slave to all the men around her. Officially "turned out" at the ripe age of four, Giaquinto decided that she no longer wanted to suffer, and she tried to find power in her predicament, instead of pain. But like so many before and so many to come, she mistook the abuse for love. Luckily, however, she was able to escape this horrific lifestyle, but parts of it inevitably stuck with her, and she was broken inside. She needed love-and she knew only one way to get it. For years after her escape, Giaquinto was addicted to sex, both in thought and action, and she was emotionally dependent, reckless, and tormented. But in 1996, she found another way to feel comfortable and validated in life. She began receiving therapy-good therapy-and she arduously searched within herself to find and reclaim all those pieces of herself that had been broken or lost. From the Ashes is the author's artistic autobiographical account of her journey from sadistic childhood abuse to wholeness, happiness, and self-worth. A collection of poems chronicling her experiences, it carries readers through moments that are harrowing, brutal, and gut-wrenchingly raw, as well as through moments that are hopeful, empowering, and full of love. Anyone who has ever found himself or herself in an abusive situation may relate to the events, experiences, and emotions presented in this completely compelling collection-and it is highly recommended that such sensitive readers take care with this text, as it may trigger intense responses.