Local story of surviving child sexual abuse

Local resident Colleen Spiro has published

Spiro

her first book, "The Third Floor Window, A True Story of Secrets, Survival, and Hope" with Booklocker.com, a print-on-demand publishing house.

"The Third Floor Window" is the story of Spiro's journey of healing from child sexual abuse. As a child, she would often look out the third-floor window of her bedroom at the world outside, wishing for a different world inside. After years of trying to forget, Spiro thought she had dealt with her past once and for all. Then the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church hit the newsstands. She was devastated by the memories and buried emotions bubbling up to the surface. And there was that question that she heard asked over and over — "Why didn't the victims tell someone?"

Feeling driven to help other survivors, Spiro decided to share her own story. She set out to teach the world about the longterm effects of child sexual abuse. What she found along the way was healing, hope and the discovery that, while she has not always known God, God has always known her. And has been with her through it all.

"The Third Floor Window, A True Story of Secrets, Survival, and Hope" is not only a memoir. It is a story of God and hope and the discovery that we do not suffer alone. Spiro is a certified spiritual director, a Benedictine Oblate and is employed as a parish secretary. She leads retreats and has written several articles that have been published in Christian magazines. For a sample of her work, visit her blog at www.ColleenSpiro. com.

"The Third Floor Window" is available at www.Booklocker.com, www. Amazon.com and www.Barnesand Noble.com.