Overview

""...a story of survival, hope, and reconciliation...""-Kirkus Reviews ""This true story reads like a compelling novel."" -Denise Rehrig, former co-executive producer ""A truly powerful story of survival."" -Billy Hopkins, casting director Diane's life story reads like fiction, but it's all very real. Through a series of compelling conversations, she shares intimate memories filled with hardship and resilience. In 1969, she is forced to leave her childhood home in an English village to move to a tenement in the South Bronx. This major culture shock is then compounded by years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse by her parents. Diane gets pregnant at fourteen and starts living on the streets. Along the way, she encounters a series of ""angels"" who help her survive. Despite a series of abusive romantic relationships as an adult, Diane manages to create a new life for herself and her eight children. Diane finds some happiness when the father of her first child kicks his longtime heroin addiction. After ten years together, he dies. Diane discovers a new sense of spiritual faith when her mother suddenly reappears in her life. Despite the years of childhood abuse, Diane eventually forgives her mother and welcomes her into her home. As they make a new life together, Diane's story becomes one of grace and mercy. Throughout her life, Diane offers an interesting perspective on race relations. She is white but lives almost entirely in an African-American culture.

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Reviews

""A sobering, powerful memoir of overcoming devastating childhood trauma. 'Diane' paints a disturbing story of abuse and neglect, but it's fundamentally a story of survival, hope, and reconciliation. . . . The book's writing style turns Diane's conversational interviews into a well-edited story of a powerful personal journey. This book is also a model of how to be true to oral history source material while crafting a readable story that shapes disjointed memories into a tight narrative."" -Kirkus Reviews ""This true story reads like a compelling novel. In sharing the details of her life, Diane gives an inspiring master class on survival, heartbreak, and forgiveness. Her resilience and determination throughout unimaginable circumstances carries through every page, leaving the reader astounded by her strength and unwavering sense of self."" -Denise Rehrig, former co-executive producer of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and former senior broadcast producer of Good Morning America ""Compelling. Inspirational. A truly powerful story of survival. I couldn't put it down once I started reading."" -Billy Hopkins, casting director of Sex in the City, The Butler, Precious, Fatal Attraction ""Diane: True Survivor speaks to the testament of the human spirit in overcoming adversity, abuse, and more. Yet, it doesn't stop there. It also highlights the importance of finding forgiveness in your heart and allowing one's inner grace to shine brightly."" -Stephen Panus, author of Walk On

Author Information

Ward V.B. Lassoe is a psychotherapist in private practice in Charleston, South Carolina. His previous careers include TV reporter, college professor, and digital media executive. He received a BA from Hamilton College, an MS from Columbia University, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and an MA from Webster University. He has traveled to more than 100 countries (including North Korea) and visited all seven continents.

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