No Longer That Girl: Retracing the Scars of the Past and Present - Paperback

by Stephanie L. Maley (Author)

For fans of No Matter Our Wreckage, this memoir explores the emotional impact of sexual abuse and how this debut author not only faces it but recovers from the trauma.

Stephanie Maley's life is beautiful. She has her husband of thirty years and two sons--all healthy and making their way in the world. Other than the unwelcome memories of the past that flash in her mind like blinding television ads, things couldn't get much better. But when COVID-19 comes to the United States in 2020, Stephanie is seized by a deep panic, certain that she is going to die.

Suddenly, her newfound fear of death triggers memories of the past she's fought so long to repress: she was molested at a young age, groomed by two different men, and still feels the void left by her birth father and stepfather's absence. In the face of a chaotic world wrought with both physical and mental illness, Stephanie must embark on a journey of healing.

With the help of her therapist, her husband, and the solace she finds in writing, Stephanie discovers that she doesn't have to be defined by the pain and abuse she's suffered. No Longer That Girl is a touching memoir about a woman who bravely faces health issues, betrayal, and abandonment--and proves that no matter the obstacle, we too can overcome our trials and become more resilient souls.

Author Biography

Stephanie L. Maley, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, dreamed of writing a book since she was a young woman. Thirty years later, that dream found its way to a reality. Before becoming an author, Stephanie worked as a pediatric nurse after getting her BSN, home-educated her two sons, and became a professional photographer after obtaining an associate's degree in photography at forty-eight years old (www.lov2shoot.com). She and her husband, Mike, live in their dream home on Lake Hartwell in Northeast, Georgia, where you can find Steph swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and driving her boat.