Sue Julsen's Blog, page 21

FROM THE HEART

From The Heart is a book of fifteen poems, exposing feelings never shared before. It also includes stories behind what inspired each poem in this book to be written.

If you’ve read Bitter Memories: A Memoir of Heartache & Survival and the other two books in this series, then you already know my story, and you’ll recognize several poems from that time in my life.

If you haven't read my other books yet, to learn the full story, you’ll just have to read the bitter memories trilogy.

For so many years my life was a living hell on earth, but here's one of the poems in FROM THE HEART written after I'd gone on a three-day retreat. This was when my life began to improve, but I still had a long way to go before I found true peace. Enjoy!

THE BRIDGE TO LIFE

I knew one day I would find a place
A place where all fears would fade away.
I spent my entire life trying to hide
Trying clever ways, I thought, to conceal
Afraid to let anyone see the real me.

I knew one day I would find a place
A place to build a bridge to You.
I was looking for a road or a path
A narrow road to love, to strength
A path to understanding.
I knew one day I would find a place
A place of sparkling waters.
There’s been so much missing in my life
I want to let love enter in
I no longer want to go it alone.

Did I let it just happen?
Or, did someone bring me here?
This place of peace and contentment
The place to build a bridge to You.
Never to go alone again, or, in fear.

I have found the place I looked for
The place to let my feelings free.
A place to let God enter in
With His love, His strength
His understanding.

* * *

I hope you'll get a copy of FROM THE HEART and take a short walk back in time with me. Or, get the audio version; sit back, relax, and listen as Beth MacEwan narrates.

I personally was totally blown away when I first heard Beth bringing life to my simple words, speaking with all the passion I felt during the writing.
The audiobook is truly awesome!

http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

EXCERPTS FROM THE BITTER MEMOIRES TRILOGY

Excerpt from Bitter Memories: A Memoir of Heartache & Survival: I stayed in my room until I had to go to the bathroom. When I couldn't hold it any longer, I cracked open my door just enough to squeeze through, then slithered along the wall, trying to stay in the shadows. I made it halfway down the hall, unnoticed, when I felt a tug on my hair and I was slammed into the wall...

Excerpt from the second book, Trophy Murders: "Sarah, please don't get mad at me, but sometimes you talk and act like a different person. You say the f-word a lot, and you get a weird look on your face when you talk about men. Even your voice changes. It sounds harsh and raspy, and so cold...

Excerpt from the last in the trilogy, Cutter's Revenge: "I never approved of Daddy's way of life, but what could I do? I was just a little kid! Those years I lived with him on the run, it took everything I had just to survive the hunger...the abuse. If any hate should be slung, I should be the one slinging for the way Daddy treated me all those years..."

http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

BITTER MEMOIRES, THE TRILOGY

BITTER MEMORIES: A Memoir of Heartache & Survival tells the story of events that changed my life forever. This is a story of extreme child abuse, but also about the will to survive.

My story exposes a life on the run after being kidnapped by my father——a life of hunger, fear and abuse. When the FBI finds me and I return home with my mother, I think my life is going to improve...but does it?

NOTE: Strong language and heartbreaking content in Bitter Memories is not suitable for children.

TROPHY MURDERS is the creative non-fiction/crime fiction sequel, and is an action-packed story about a sadistic gang of killers, and the life of the cop (my uncle/adoptive father) who tries to bring justice and solace back to his little town while struggling to keep his own family secrets hidden.

CUTTER'S REVENGE, although mostly fiction, completes the trilogy with another ruthless serial killer stalking our small town. But this time years of secrets and lies are finally revealed ... and an ending to die for...

While BITTER MEMORIES is the actual true story of my life, TROPHY MURDERS and CUTTER'S REVENGE have a little bit of everything a reader will want: action, suspense, drama, a love story or two, and so much more; both mixed with truth, making this a trilogy you will not want to miss.

After reading Bitter Memories you'll know truth from the fiction included in the sequels of this series.

Please visit my website for more about these books, my new poetry book (also in audio), as well as what will be coming out soon. Links to amazon are available on the site for your convenience.

http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

TROPHY MURDERS, THE SEQUEL

TROPHY MURDERS is the creative non-fiction sequel to Bitter Memories, and is an action-packed crime story about a sadistic gang of killers, and the life of the cop (my uncle/adoptive father) who tries to bring justice and solace back to his little town while struggling to keep his own family secrets hidden.

TROPHY MURDERS has a little bit of everything a reader will want: action, suspense, drama, a love story, and more.

Short excerpt: Reaching for the door knob, he remembered he needed his key to get in. "No one locked their doors until these damn hoodlums arrived! Now everyone feels the need to lock everything. No one feels safe in their own homes, and everyone's scared to walk down the streets — day or night!"

Available in paperback and e-book.

http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

Excerpt from my memoir, Bitter Memories

Excerpt from Bitter Memories: A Memoir of Heartache & Survival --

"My name is Sarah, a little girl kidnapped by her father, trying to survive in a world of abuse, hunger, neglect, and terror.
This is a gripping, unforgettable, emotional journey.
This was my life..."

You can also go to amazon.com and read the first 3 chapters, and part of the forth for free.

Website: http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

Bitter Memories Review......

The Bitterest Taste in Your Mouth, November 20, 2012
By Amelia - This review is from: BITTER MEMORIES: A Memoir of Heartache & Survival (Kindle Edition)

If anyone ever had any doubt about the possible ugliness in the world, they need only read "Bitter Memories" to look into the cruelty that is capable of beating in the hearts of people.

There is no rise and fall of bad events for Sarah's life. Nothing gets better; the little girl's life merely continues to spiral with a hurricane of grief, abuse, and a loveless life. On a journey with her abusive Daddy, who she can't help but love and trust, Sarah is constantly meeting new friends and relatives of her father who only add to her misery. Starvation, beatings, molestation - it seems nearly everyone Sarah meets wants to abuse her somehow.

With no one to turn to, what else is a little girl to do but make up her own heroes in her head? Readers may interpret the people Sarah sees as imaginary friends, multiple personalities, or guardian angels. Either way, the only escape afforded to the little girl are friends that no one else can see. In times when she can't take anymore, her other personalities take to take, acting as a shield for Sarah. What may seem as a side-effect of Sarah's torment may actually be what saves the pure girl.

Though there is no upside to the story of an abused child, reading a book like this will at least motivate more people to become more aware of child abuse. It is nearly impossible to ignore that inner mama bear, or papa bear, that roars against injustice for helpless children.

http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

Amazon Removed Reviews...

I've lost a bunch of reviews on Amazon, all written by people who bought signed copies of my books from me instead of buying from Amazon.

I salvaged some before all got deleted, and these are now on my website.

For the ones who wrote a review and it has been removed, if you'd like to write another one, send it to me via Facebook or by email, I will gladly add it to my website.

If I can help it, Amazon is not going to stop me from posting what my readers share after reading my books!

email: suejulsen.books@yahoo.com

Website to see the reviews, and all my books:
http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

If you'd like to sign the petition to try and stop Amazon from removing honest reviews, follow this link:
http://www.change.org/petitions/amazo...

Thank you to everyone who signs, and you can also share this link with your friends.

JOIN ME WITH DANE LADWIG

I hope you can join me with Dane Ladwig on his radio show, and feel free to invite your friends to listen in.
It's going to be a great show!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

2:00pm in CST
12:00 noon PST

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/welcome-...


Join Author Sue Julsen as she shares her plight of confronting her past and the horrors of kidnapping at the hands of a friend. How did Sue Julsen turn her turmoil into a tool to help people who have had the same or similar tragedies? She wrote about her experiences in her novels. Join us Wednesday at 2:00 PM CST at View From My Loft for this exclusive glimpse into every parent, child and persons most feared nightmare.

Visit my website to learn more about my books that we'll be talking about.

http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

FROM THE HEART AVAILABLE IN AUDIO

My newest book, From The Heart: A Collection of Poems and Stories, is available in Kindle and also as an audiobook.

The narrator is Beth MacEwan, and she did an awesome job of bringing life to this very special book that exposes feelings never shared before now.


Follow the link below to listen to a sample of From The Heart:

http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=det_twe...

Visit my website to see all of my books and to find out what's coming out soon:
http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

NOT TOO HAPPY TODAY....

I have every reason to be happy, and in all areas except for one thing, I'm very happy.

There's a site making me unhappy.

My books are now on Kindle and I can't add my new book, or add the Kindle editions of the other books, because this site that claims to help authors, does not "allow" the number amazon assigns to Kindle books!

What's up with this? Why do they have to restrict what can be added to their site all because of a number? It's still a book...and a good book, too!

I have this blog, that I'm trying to be better at writing in, and I have four books that may or may not ever be found by my friends here on that site.

And, that, my friends, makes me unhappy!

Signing off for today to get back to writing more on my next book.

However.....

For anyone who wants to keep up with my books, I do have a website for you to visit. There's also a facebook LIKE button on it!

Just head over to:

http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen

and check it out!