Now I Speak: From Stalked to Standing Up

by Anna Nasset

On November 4th, 2011, in Port Townsend, Washington, Anna Nasset was creating a window display after hours at the art gallery she proudly called her own. When a man appeared before her with a painting under his arm, Anna experienced the briefest moment of hesitation before opening her door-and her world-to a man who would stop at nothing in his attempts to tear her life apart from that moment forward. That is, until Anna decided to stand up and fight back. Now a fierce public advocate for creating awareness around the crime of stalking that controlled her every move for the better part of a decade, Anna shares her experience as a survivor of stalking in a ruthless fight for justice in Now I Speak . Told through a series of flashbacks, first-person narration, and evidence from the landmark case that saw her stalker receive one of the longest sentences for the crime in U.S. history, Now I Speak delves even deeper into Anna's personal past to uncover a history of abuse and vulnerability, each experience adding fuel to the fire of Anna's determination. Anna's debut memoir provides a clear call to It's time to stand up to stalking.

328 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

Anna Nasset, a victim/survivor of stalking for the last decade, has firsthand experience with how to identify and respond to stalking, which has led her to become an international speaker on the subject. She has trained thousands of professionals, students, and military members on the importance of recognizing stalking, getting help, and advocating for oneself and others. Anna is one of very few people who can speak openly about her experience after the man who stalked her received the maximum sentence for aggravated felony stalking-ten years in prison-in 2019. This is one of the longest known sentences for this crime in U.S. history. As an activist and the owner of Stand Up Resources, Anna works with law enforcement, victim service agencies, universities, and other organizations to be part of the solution. As an authority on stalking, sexual assault, suicide prevention, and navigating the criminal justice system, she works to educate people on victim-centered and trauma-informed practices. Anna is the recipient of the 2023 Vermont NCVRW Survivor Empowerment Award for embodying the theme "Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change." In addition, she is a board member with End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) and the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce. She also hosts a podcast, The Mend (sponsored by the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services), which focuses on topics and services to support crime victims. She resides in the Green Mountains of Vermont with her three-legged chihuahua, Dolly Parton.

Reviews

[Lauren Kaskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really powerful debut from this author, Anna takes the reader through her harrowing experience of being stalked by a complete stranger -- from their meeting, to his eventual jail sentence. This book is a game changer when it comes to helping the public understand stalking and the deep, profound effects it can have on victims. By weaving her life experiences, as well as statistics about stalking, throughout the book, Nasset pulls her experience into a wider context to bring new understanding to these types of crimes and the level of danger that comes with them. In a world where people treat stalking as a joke, the reality check of this book brings clarity to the true weight of the term.

It took me a while to get through this book. It is extremely engaging, but hard to read and think about. I had to step away a few times but was always pulled back to it when the time was right.

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I Speak takes us beyond the traditional platitudes of a memoir, beyond the tragic and inspiring resilience of a survivor's story. Nasset artfully and authentically weaves us through her experience of a man stalking her for years, a crime most readers think they know, but will only discover in these pages. She works tirelessly to advocate for herself through a criminal justice system not set up to listen to survivors of stalking. With heartbreaking honesty and humility, Nasset takes her past traumas and newfound skills in improving the criminal justice system and presents us with a unique and breathtaking account of finding her voice and power to improve the lives of others. Anna Nasset is a survivor. A boss. A hero. And is a force in a pair of white sunglasses.

[Anna Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her unforgettable, insightful memoir, Now I Speak: From Stalked to Standing Up, Anna Nasset describes her agonizing ordeal with a stalker. Nasset describes her life as an art gallery owner relentlessly stalked at work, then in all aspects of her life. We watch her move from threatened victim to persistent challenger of the criminal justice system, to powerful advocate for those who have experienced similar terrors. This is a deeply compelling story of incredible courage, determination, and persistence—an important and powerful read. Highly recommend.

[Aimi Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look into the terrifying and heartbreaking reality of being a victim of stalking. Nasset’s vulnerability shines as she shares the trinkets of her life story that so many women experience and further as we see how those messages play out as she navigates the ongoing terror of her stalker. The most amazing part though is reading what she does with her fear and the courage she finds to advocate for herself and ultimately, countless others. Great read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes such courage to explore in print a terrifying decade long experience and intermingle recollections of past trauma. While Anna's journey is at times hard to read about, I loved her vulnerability and her fight to protect herself and others. It's also incredibly important to bring needed attention to stalking crimes and its impact. I loved how Anna talked about those who supported her through this and to encourage victims to seek help.

[Taylor Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an INCREDIBLE book. The horrific nature of what happened to Anna is so beautifully told, she is a wonderful writer. I’d love to listen to her narrate this on audible as I think it would add even more to her story.