A Deep Dark Secret (14 page)

While
A Deep Dark Secret
is a fictional story, childhood sexual abuse is a very serious problem in this country and one we all need to pay a lot more attention to. The statistics are devastating, and just to give you at least somewhat of an idea of how alarming these numbers are, I have listed a few of them below.

• 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before age 18
  
• 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before age 18
  
• More than 20 percent of children are sexually abused before the age of 8
  
• Only 10 percent are abused by strangers (meaning the other 90 percent are abused by a close family member right in their own home or by some other family member or person they know and trust)
  
• Most perpetrators don’t molest only one child if they are not reported and stopped
  
• 30 percent of victims never disclose the experience to
  anyone
  
• An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today
  

It is true that I do not know firsthand what it is like to experience the exact same situations that Jillian Maxwell experienced, but sadly, I do know what it is like to have an adult touch me inappropriately when I was a child. I also know what it feels like to go years without telling another living soul, so my greatest hope is that this novella will enhance public awareness and that it will encourage all victims, both surviving and current, to finally get the help they need—it is my hope that every person reading this will become much more conscious of what might be happening to children in his or her own household, church, school, and neighborhood.

If you suspect any child is being sexually abused or you would like help in dealing with what may have happened to you during your own childhood, please call 1–866-FOR-LIGHT.

T
O
G
OD FOR ALL THE COUNTLESS BLESSINGS YOU HAVE GIVEN
my family and me and for your unwavering guidance.

To my heart and joy—my husband, Will. I love you so very much, and thank you for everything.

Much love to my wonderful brothers, Willie Jr. and Michael Stapleton, and the rest of my loving family members (I always end up leaving out someone, so I won’t list every name, but if you share the same bloodline as I do or the same bloodline as Will does, then you are the family members I’m talking about!); my first cousin, Patricia Haley, who I grew up side by side with the same as if we were sisters; the women who are more like sisters than friends: Kelli Bullard, Lori Thurman, Janell Green, and Victoria Christopher Murray; and my writer friends: E. Lynn Harris, Trisha R. Thomas, Eric Jerome Dickey, Mary B. Morrison, Eric Pete, Cheryl Robinson, Lolita Files, and ReShonda Tate Billing
sley.

To my amazing assistant, Connie Dettman; my incredible agent, Elaine Koster; my new editor, Carrie Feron, for such great advice on this novella; my very supportive publisher, William Morrow/Avon; every bookseller and retailer that sells my books; and all the people in radio, TV, and print who publicize my work to the masses. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me for so many years now.

Then, last but certainly not least, to my very caring and very loyal readers—thank you for all the love and support you always give and know that I love each of you from the very bottom of my soul.

Much love and God bless you always,
Kimberla Lawson Roby