Phyllis Hain was born in Alabama, the pretty
blonde daughter of a Marine sent home from
World War II with acute brain trauma. Growing
up poor on the Gulf Coast of Florida, she suffered
abuse from a father who today would be treated for
post-traumatic stress disorder. Pregnant at sixteen,
Phyllis escaped her childhood home, only to marry a
man at whose hands she experienced years of devastating
domestic violence and spousal abuse.
After a tumultuous divorce, Phyllis found herself
rescued by a businessman she believed to be generous
and loving. But the marriage fell apart in a series
of courtroom dramas and front-page headlines as her
husband was charged with, tried for, and convicted of
conspiring to murder his previous wife.
But Phyllis regrouped, putting all her lifetime experiences
to work as a U.S. Navy Sexual Assault Response
Coordinator (SARC)—a Family Advocacy
Educator. During twenty-one years of service, she responded
to hundreds, if not thousands, of victims in
crisis. She taught well over 20,000 students. She helped
educate first responders on how properly to document
incidents and how to provide sensitive, effective
treatment and support to victims of sexual assault. She
studied domestic violence, child abuse, child sexual
abuse, sexual assault, victim intervention, and the correlation
between animal abuse and domestic violence.
She became a national advocate for the abused.
Inspired by interviewing, and responding to, many
courageous victims and survivors of abuse, she decided
to undergo what turned out to be a multi-year ordeal:
writing an autobiography about her own tumultuous
life as the victim of child abuse, child sexual abuse,
sexual assault, and spousal abuse.
Phyllis’s captivating autobiography serves as a superb
guide to dealing with abuse, because readers can
see themselves in her story. The book ends with a professional
analysis by Dr. Bryan Glazier, providing considerable
insights ripe for discussion in support groups
for abuse, spousal or otherwise.
Praised by generals, family advocates, military
service providers, doctors, lawyers, child abuse authorities,
psychologists, and everyday people, this fascinating
journey of an abuse survivor turned national
advocate will give some the strength to heal, and others
the courage to speak up. Diamond in the Dark will not
only steal readers’ hearts, but also leave an indelible,
searing mark on their minds.
blonde daughter of a Marine sent home from
World War II with acute brain trauma. Growing
up poor on the Gulf Coast of Florida, she suffered
abuse from a father who today would be treated for
post-traumatic stress disorder. Pregnant at sixteen,
Phyllis escaped her childhood home, only to marry a
man at whose hands she experienced years of devastating
domestic violence and spousal abuse.
After a tumultuous divorce, Phyllis found herself
rescued by a businessman she believed to be generous
and loving. But the marriage fell apart in a series
of courtroom dramas and front-page headlines as her
husband was charged with, tried for, and convicted of
conspiring to murder his previous wife.
But Phyllis regrouped, putting all her lifetime experiences
to work as a U.S. Navy Sexual Assault Response
Coordinator (SARC)—a Family Advocacy
Educator. During twenty-one years of service, she responded
to hundreds, if not thousands, of victims in
crisis. She taught well over 20,000 students. She helped
educate first responders on how properly to document
incidents and how to provide sensitive, effective
treatment and support to victims of sexual assault. She
studied domestic violence, child abuse, child sexual
abuse, sexual assault, victim intervention, and the correlation
between animal abuse and domestic violence.
She became a national advocate for the abused.
Inspired by interviewing, and responding to, many
courageous victims and survivors of abuse, she decided
to undergo what turned out to be a multi-year ordeal:
writing an autobiography about her own tumultuous
life as the victim of child abuse, child sexual abuse,
sexual assault, and spousal abuse.
Phyllis’s captivating autobiography serves as a superb
guide to dealing with abuse, because readers can
see themselves in her story. The book ends with a professional
analysis by Dr. Bryan Glazier, providing considerable
insights ripe for discussion in support groups
for abuse, spousal or otherwise.
Praised by generals, family advocates, military
service providers, doctors, lawyers, child abuse authorities,
psychologists, and everyday people, this fascinating
journey of an abuse survivor turned national
advocate will give some the strength to heal, and others
the courage to speak up. Diamond in the Dark will not
only steal readers’ hearts, but also leave an indelible,
searing mark on their minds.
