From New Jersey to Pennsylvania

I am writing from my hotel room in Hershey Pennsylvania. I left for New Jersey Wednesday where I spoke Thursday at a state child abuse conference. I left Thursday night and drove by rental car 2 hours to Hershey, Pennsylvania. I arrived at my hotel room a little after 10:00pm but that was my own doing. I stopped and visited someone along the way. The forensic interview (Cathy) that worked at the Children’s Advocacy Center I attended as a kid who didn’t do my interview but ran the girls group I was in who I talk about in my books moved to Pennsylvania 6 years ago. The last time I saw her was 7 years ago. She just happened to live along my drive to Hershey outside of Philly. So I made a stop for a few hours at her place Thursday evening.

I spoke yesterday in Hershey during the day from 12:45-2pm and then again last night to an even larger audience. I met a 9th grader who broke her silence a year ago. Her story touched me and I told her she will be able to relate a lot to my first book. I also spoke with her mother who I am glad supported her daughter when she came forward about her step-dad. Another woman that wasn’t there to attend the conference but worked at the lodge approached me at the end of the night when most everyone had left around 10:30 and came up and gave me a hug and said, “I have heard you twice today and I just want to say thank you so much for what you are doing. You have a lot of courage and give me courage because I am a survivor.” That is why I continue to do what I do. Putting a face and voice on a silent epidemic that most won’t talk about.

New Jersey

Visiting Cathy in Pennsylvania

Made it to Hershey

Hershey, Pennsylvania

I could not go to Chocolate Capital of America without stopping in Chocolate World even though I hate chocolate. In between speeches in Hershey I spent a few hours shopping and while I may not like chocolate I have family members that love it. So of course I am bringing them home chocolate. It was actually a really cool place. So many children there on school field trips in the chocolate factory making their own chocolate.

I now have a rental car to return and two flights to catch to get me back to Chicago tonight. Back on the road next week to New Hampshire and Texas.

From New Jersey to Pennsylvania

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