Please join us for a very special event as Samantha Leonard reads and signs Groomed: Shining a Light on the Unheard Narrative of Childhood, Saturday, December 7, at 7 PM.
Did you know that 1 in 10 children in America have experienced some form of sexual abuse? This shocking truth becomes even harder to accept when its coupled with a longer more extensive violation of trust called grooming. Groomed: Shining a Light on the Unheard Narrative of Childhood Sexual Assault tells the tale of one young woman's journey through her experience with abuse and sheds light on a narrative exploiting millions of children every year.Throughout the book, the author invites people to step out of their comfort zones and listen to the all-too-common narrative of childhood sexual assault. It invites people to embrace survivors, believe them and connect with them on their journey to healing while providing tips and research on creating more loving communities.In this book you will find: * A gripping narrative of sexual assault told from a child's perspective on being groomed * The critical stages of the grooming process * Actionable tips and tricks on how to prevent childhood sexual abuse and grooming. Groomed is for survivors looking for a voice, young families seeking advice, and guardians wanting to learn. The book's purpose is to educate and inspire, and change the culture around sexual violence.
Samantha Leonard is an accomplished author, researcher and storyteller who speaks on the topics of protecting communities, empowering survivors and learning to use empathy as a tool to heal. As a survivor of sexual abuse, Samantha is passionate about addressing sexual assault and the power of connecting with survivors and communities. She is especially knowledgeable on the topic of childhood grooming and how charm and compassion are used to hide crimes and shame survivors into silence. Through the power of narrative, her book, Groomed: Shining a Light on the Unheard Narrative of Childhood Sexual Abuse, is a live testimonial to life after abuse and provides hope for those that feel alone.
Ms. Leonard is currently a Master’s of Social Work student, committed to helping survivors find their voice and play a part in changing the culture around sexual violence by educating and inspiring communities. Samantha spent 4 years serving on her college Sexual Offense Support Crisis Hotline listening and validating survivors’ experiences. Her dream is to spend her life connecting with others and to make the world a more loving place through social work writing, speaking and relationships. To connect with Samantha, contact her at samanthaleonard515@gmail.com.
The reading will be at 7 PM, followed by a signing.
