Rock and Roll Saved My Soul

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. this equates to more than 10 million women and men per year. Domestic violence isn’t just about being physically abused. It’s also about the emotional and psychological side, too. Come on a journey with others who have experienced domestic violence and are willing to share their stories, to show everyone else out there that they have a chance. Fighting Chance is a book of stories and poetry for those who have dealt with domestic violence and are sharing how they stood up to it and have moved on with their life. It wasn’t easy for most of us. And some of us still may struggle with it, but we want to reach out to others who may be going through something similar and let them know you don’t have to put up with it. Find your voice and fight back. Amazon Goodreads

It’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Don’t stay silent. It’s time to speak up all month long. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which first began in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Day of Unity to connect battered women’s advocates across the country. Domestic violence affects millions, both women and men, of every race, religion, culture and status. It’s not just punches and black eyes -- it’s yelling, humiliation, stalking, manipulation, coercion, threats and isolation. It’s stealing a paycheck, keeping tabs online, non-stop texting, constant use the silent treatment, or calling someone stupid so often they believe it. Since the Violence Against Women Act passed in 1994, we’ve come a long way. This landmark legislation, led by then Senator Joe Biden, combined new provisions that hold offenders accountable and provide programs and services for victims. Between 1993 and 2010, the overall rate of domestic v...

Life in a small town is always the same. Everyone knows everyone else's business. This is the world that Ivy Martin grew up in. Her life was far from perfect. Bullied mercilessly in high school. All she wanted was to leave the town and all the cruel kids behind and start a new life. But when she goes to the annual graduation party things take a turn for the worse. One of her only male friends, Landon takes advantage of her, leaving her feeling dirty and used. College wasn't any different. The kids are just as cruel. Then she meets a man and hopes that her luck had finally changed, but Daven isn't who Ivy thought he was. And before she knows what is happening she's trapped in an abusive relationship with almost no way to escape. Isolated from her friends and family, she has nowhere to turn. This is one woman's story of the devastating heart break that domestic abuse can bring. Heather Kirchhoff 5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read I got to...

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. this equates to more than 10 million women and men per year. Domestic violence isn’t just about being physically abused. It’s also about the emotional and psychological side, too. Come on a journey with others who have experienced domestic violence and are willing to share their stories, to show everyone else out there that they have a chance. Fighting Chance is a book of stories and poetry for those who have dealt with domestic violence and are sharing how they stood up to it and have moved on with their life. It wasn’t easy for most of us. And some of us still may struggle with it, but we want to reach out to others who may be going through something similar and let them know you don’t have to put up with it. Find your voice and fight back. Amazon Goodreads

The me too. movement has built a community of survivors from all walks of life. By bringing vital conversations about sexual violence into the mainstream, we're helping to de-stigmatize survivors by highlighting the breadth and impact sexual violence has on thousands of women, and we’re helping those who need it to find entry points to healing. Ultimately, with survivors at the forefront of this movement, we're aiding the fight to end sexual violence. We want to uplift radical community healing as a social justice issue and are committed to disrupting all systems that allow sexual violence to flourish. Fighting Chance Volume Two will focus not only on domestic abuse, but also any kind of sexual violence, including rape, sexual harassment, etc. for both women and men. Share your story, let the healing begin, and stop allowing behavior such as these to flourish.  Submissions are due August 31, 2018 Send them to: rockandrollsavedmysoul2014@gmail.com with ...

Karma  by Anonymous  I watched my mom be abused for many years—seventeen to be exact, so you would think I could spot the signs ten miles away, but I was wrong. I met him April 15 th , 2007. It was like those story book moments where you’re with a friend but connect with someone on such a higher level. We talked for hours, had a couple drinks, and I forced myself to go home. All I could think about was him. His eyes. His smile. And oh, the way his lips tasted when he kissed me good night. Three minutes is all it took—three minutes to steal my heart and three minutes to begin the worst nine years of my life. The abuse started June 21st, 2007. He called me a dumbass because he wanted to be single for his 21st birthday. Now mind you I had moved me and my son who was just over the age of one into his tiny apartment because he wanted me around all the time (that’s the first sign, control). Fast forward a year. I stopped contact with him for about eight months. I...

On Wednesday's on the RRSMS blog we like to feature articles and essays written by special guests. If this is something that you would be interested in, please contact us via our e-mail: rockandrollsavedmysoul2014@gmail.com What are we looking for? Anything relating to any of our published anthologies or current submissions. Those topics include: music (concert experiences, how music has impacted your life, music inspired stories and poetry), random acts of kindness (giving or receiving), domestic abuse, rescue animals, miracles, invisible illnesses, acceptance within the LGBT+ community, bullying. Since this is for the blog, try to keep the essays short. No more than 4k.  If you have any questions, please contact us at the e-mail given above. We can't wait to hear from you!

By S.K. Brandon 

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. this equates to more than 10 million women and men per year. Domestic violence isn’t just about being physically abused. It’s also about the emotional and psychological side, too. Come on a journey with others who have experienced domestic violence and are willing to share their stories, to show everyone else out there that they have a chance. Fighting Chance is a book of stories and poetry for those who have dealt with domestic violence and are sharing how they stood up to it and have moved on with their life. It wasn’t easy for most of us. And some of us still may struggle with it, but we want to reach out to others who may be going through something similar and let them know you don’t have to put up with it. Find your voice and fight back. Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015LDXETE Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26850373-fighting-chan...

Life in a small town is always the same. Everyone knows everyone else's business. This is the world that Ivy Martin grew up in. Her life was far from perfect. Bullied mercilessly in high school. All she wanted was to leave the town and all the cruel kids behind and start a new life. But when she goes to the annual graduation party things take a turn for the worse. One of her only male friends, Landon takes advantage of her, leaving her feeling dirty and used. College wasn't any different. The kids are just as cruel. Then she meets a man and hopes that her luck had finally changed, but Daven isn't who Ivy thought he was. And before she knows what is happening she's trapped in an abusive relationship with almost no way to escape. Isolated from her friends and family, she has nowhere to turn. This is one woman's story of the devastating heart break that domestic abuse can bring. Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015JRFTSQ ...

What if the criminal who tore your life apart showed up on your doorstep? Marsy's Law would strengthen notification of major case developments for victims. Idaho's crime victims deserve a stronger voice. You can help. Add your name here: http://id.marsyslaw.us/

Today I just wanted to take the time to update everyone on the anthologies that are currently accepting submissions!  Please consider submitting something! If you have any questions, please contact us via e-mail or through any of our social media accounts! 

Let's talk about Gaslighting. You may or may not have heard this term before, so let's start by talking about its origins. The term ‘gaslighting’ gets its name from the 1938 play Gaslight. (It also gained a more well known film adaption in 1944). The premise of the play involves a young woman named Bella in 1880 whose husband attempts convince her that she is losing her mind in order to hide his crimes.  So, what exactly is gaslighting?  Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse in which a person manipulates another into thinking that they are losing their mind, or simply manipulating them into believing lies to the point that they question their own thoughts and how they perceive the world around them.   An example of attempted gaslighting in media would be in the Harry Potter series when Dolores Umbridge attempts to convince Harry that Voldemort has not returned, despite Harry knowing that he saw him with his own eyes.  There was also a case in...

By Kate Marie Robbins Note From the Author: This novel is based on a true story—my story. All names and some situations were changed to make the story fiction, protecting myself from those involved.  I will admit that this was one of the hardest books I have ever had to write. It opened up a lot of wounds that I wished could have stayed locked inside, but what happened to me, happens far too often and a lot of times we stand idle, not doing a thing about it. No one should have to live in fear. No one should have to be abused, whether it be mentally, emotionally, or physically. No one should feel that they deserve it because it comes from someone who is supposed to love us—that isn’t love. A lot of times we don’t see the warning signs until it is too late. I consider myself lucky to have regained control of my life. Please keep in mind that while reading this, a lot of the situations did happen to me in some shape or form. I was young and naive and I ...

Breaking Silence  By S.K. Brandon My girlfriend Lesley smiled up at me. “I was wondering when I get to meet your parents,” she said. “Is it your mom and dad? Or?” she asked curiously. I really didn’t like people asking about my family.  “I was raised by two dads,” I informed her, closing my eyes as I tried to not remember my pop. I hadn’t seen him since I was fifteen, now at twenty five, but that didn’t stop the flashbacks. It was like I was right there again. I closed my eyes tightly, hoping I could get some sleep before pop got home from work. He was usually angry, drunk or a mix of the two. I closed my eyes tightly as I heard him coming up the stairs, I was already starting to shake.  “ Please, Jerry, please, leave him alone,” My father started and I knew he was trying to protect me again. My parents mostly fought over me and how pop treated me. I felt the overwhelming urge to protect my da...