Other Books by
Michele Weldon

I Closed My Eyes: Revelations of a Battered Woman

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Hazelden (September 1, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 156838341X
ISBN-13: 978-1568383415
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches

From Publishers Weekly
In a memoir that powerfully discredits the stereotype that spousal battering is limited to a particular economic or social class and is drug- or alcohol-related, Weldon, a successful journalist, also belies the notion that someone who has had a happy childhood cannot be brutalized. Weldon's unnamed husband grew up, as did she, in an Irish-Catholic middle-class environment. He became an attractive, charming and well-paid Chicago attorney, a catch who elicited the envy of Weldon's female friends. In part because the marriage looked so good from the outside, and because she loved her husband and did not want to deprive her three sons of their father, Weldon could not accept that he would not stop beating her, despite years of joint counseling and his eloquent apologies. She finally broke her silence nine years into their marriage by screaming aloud one night when her husband attacked her at her in-laws' house. Her account of how she obtained an emergency order of protection, sought therapy for her sons and underwent the expensive and lengthy process of obtaining a divorce conveys how difficult it is for a woman to leave an abusive relationship, even when she has a supportive family and significant economic resources. Unable to truly forgive her ex-husband for his abuse and the legal battles that he subsequently instigated, Weldon has finally forgiven herself for staying in a terrible marriage. This gripping personal story will be helpful to anyone who wishes to understand domestic abuse; Weldon's most important message to battered women is to bring the violence out of the closet. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Writing to Save Your Life:
How to Honor Your Story Through Journaling

Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Hazelden; 1 edition (August 27, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1568387423
ISBN-13: 978-1568387420
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches

Michele Weldon understands the healing power of words. Written words. Words that come from deep within ourselves. Unedited thoughts. Uprooted recollections. Unsettled feelings. She introduces the process of "scribotherapy" as a method of using one's own words to honor life's difficulties and blessings. It is a regimen Weldon expertly practices and shares in this instructive and very entertaining book-offering essays, exercises, and encouragement to awaken the writer in you.

Praise for Writing to Save Your Life:
“In Writing to Save Your Life, Michele Weldon demonstrates how journaling can be used as a path to deeper intimacy with ourselves. Writing helps us to break free from the noisy internal dialog that fills our heads and provides an outlet for our repressed emotions. Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, this book will show you how to express yourself honestly and authentically.”
— Debbie Ford, author of The Dark Side of the Light Chasers

"Writing to Save Your Life is an invitation to tell the truth. Michele Weldon rolls up her sleeves and encourages her readers to open the door, as she has, and discover the healing power of words. Written with candor, practical application and plenty of heart, this is a book for veteran and rookie alike."
— Nancy Cobb, author of In Lieu of Flowers

“Everyone has a strong need to have a place in a narrative. With her quick wit, wonderful anecdotes and great insight, Michele Weldon shows you how to find your place.”
— Fern Schumer Chapman, author of Motherland: A Daughter’s Journey to Reclaim the Past

“To demonstrate how writing saved her own life and how you can save your life by writing about it, Weldon has included many of her own essays. Some are witty, others are raw with heartbreaking emotion-- but all are treasures. Weldon is funny, talented and completely original.”
— Laney Katz Becker, author of Dear Stranger, Dearest Friend