Love Me Madly is a memoir about a horrifying series of events that happened in my life and the consequences of those events. The reason I wrote it is to share what I learned about love and how it must come from within. If anyone who reads my book is motivated to leave a violent relationship, seeks help and discovers some inspiration to find love inside, I will feel like I accomplished something meaningful.

But I want to do more. To that end, as many of you already know, I am partnering with Safe Alliance to help those traumatized by rape, teen pregnancy and domestic violence. I am sharing a portion of the proceeds of my book launch event sales on August 27 with that organization. In addition, all of the proceeds from the Panthers’ drinkware raffle I am sponsoring will go to Safe Alliance. I hope you will all participate. Finally, I am asking each attendee to bring an item either on Safe Alliance’s Trauma Resource Center Needs List or its Domestic Violence Shelter Needs list. I will be collecting those donations and delivering them to Safe Alliance after the event.

Here are a few examples of high needs items right now: New pajamas, sweat pants and T-shirts in women’s sizes S, M, L and XL; new undergarments; travel-size toiletries (not from hotels); gift cards from Wal-Mart or Target; food-- including cereal, soup, canned tuna/chicken, granola bars, applesauce cups; new bath towels and twin size sheets; dish detergent, cleaning supplies; trash bags; spiral bound notebooks and umbrellas.

To see the full lists, visit www.SafeAlliance.org.

Thank you so much for your support in advance and I look forward to seeing you at the launch Thursday, August 27 at Mugs Coffee at 5126 Park Road from 7-9 pm.

Resa