Maria Trautman

Maria started her journey as an author when she rediscovered and read, the many diaries she kept as a child and young adult, which had been stored in a corner of a dark closet. In these diaries, she identified many things that others might benefit from hearing. She wrote Dark of the Moon in 2006 but after publishing it, she realized she had not been ready to tell all. She wrote about the mental and physical abuse she endured while living with her mother and that brought on some relief, but her soul was still troubled and the nightmares were still occurring. A few years later, she realized that in order to have some peace, she had to rewrite the book and this time, she would not leave anything out. She was ready to be free and perhaps along the way, she hoped that by sharing her difficult past might help other victims of child sexual abuse. As she began After All..., the pain of her childhood surfaced with such intensity that she felt mentally and physically drained, as if she had fallen into a black hole. Climbing out was a difficult process but the catharsis at the end of the journey made the pain worthwhile. She hopes that others will benefit from learning that even against all odds an individual's spirit can lead them to a better place. Today, Maria has a happy life with love, family and personal contentment. She lives in southern Ontario with her husband Dan and their dog Bailey.