The Evolving Woman Intimate Confessions of Surviving Mr. Wrong by Catherine Lanigan, Jodee Blanco
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Book Description

Tens of thousands of women from all walks of life stay with partners who make them miserable, destroy their self-esteem, manipulate them emotionally, neglect, or perhaps even beat them. Whether the cruelty they endure is physical or psychological, they allow the object of their affection to extinguish their will to live day after day, until one morning, they wake up shadows of themselves, wondering, "how could this have happened to me?" It's one thing to fall in love with Mr. Wrong, realize you've made a blunder, and move on. It's quite another to find yourself in a relationship that's become a prison from which you can't escape.

The Evolving Woman: Intimate Confessions of Surviving Mr. Wrong is an unprecedented compilation of letters from the front lines of wars fought behind the closed doors and picket fences of the great American dream. Some tell the stories of courageous females who were able to seize back the reins of their lives and emerge from the darkness of a painful, abusive relationship. Others reveal a different reality, of struggles that have yet to be overcome, self-respect that must be rebuilt, and freedom still waiting to be discovered.

Raw in their honesty, each letter is an eye-opening testimonial to the ability of the human spirit to overcome the mistakes of the heart. Many of the women who composed them suffered deeply before summoning the strength to redirect their destinies. Some of the harrowing experiences they describe include:

• Hearing the barrel of my husband's revolver spinning at my temple as he played Russian Roulette with my life...

• Announcing my pregnancy to my husband only to have him kick me and knock out my teeth...

• Watching my boyfriend rob a gas station at gunpoint while I waited in the car, desperately trying to convince myself that this was exciting and romantic...

• Being hunted like an animal by my stalker husband...

Catherine Lanigan and Jodee Blanco are no strangers to the subject of relationship abuse. Throughout the book, they share profoundly personal insights about their own run-ins with Mr. Wrong, offering empowering advice and specific strategies for reclaiming lost dignity. Additionally, they introduce a new term into the lexicon of domestic abuse-Emotional Homelessness. Defined as "feeling as if you're a squatter in your own life, fighting to stake a claim to happiness, always worrying when ill fate will blow through the door," it was a condition that pervaded the letters they received.

A comprehensive catalyst for anyone who wishes to transcend the choke-hold of a selfish, unhealthy love, The Evolving Woman also provides: signs to look for in a battering personality; what a battered woman faces if she leaves; detailed information on why victims stay with abusers; step-by-step guidelines on how to protect yourself from attack; how to utilize the law to help you; a state by state list of domestic violence coalitions with telephone numbers; a list of national crisis hotlines; and the Evolving Woman Bill of Rights.

"This book marks one of those rare events in life when inspiration does not come from you, but through you," state the authors. "The women in this book redefine what it means to be a heroine. We feel blessed that we were able to help give them the voice they so richly deserve."

About the Author

Catherine Lanigan

One of the publishing community's most prolific and eloquent literary voices, Catherine Lanigan is the author of over twenty books, including the wildly popular Romancing the Stone and the Jewel of the Nile, which preceded the blockbuster films of the same names..

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Jodee Blanco

JODEE BLANCO is a respected public relations executive who has spearheaded PR campaigns for numerous books that became New York Times bestsellers. She represents luminaries in the world of publishing and motion pictures, and frequently collaborates with national television shows including Dateline, Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, and Oprah, and publications including The New York Times, People, US, Newsweek, and Time, among others.

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