Surviving Madmen: One Woman’s Encounters With A Governor, Two Congressmen, and A Spouse

by Jerri Lynn Sparks

"Jerri [Sparks] is a magnificent advocate for those caught in these [abusive] relationships and offers tools and organizations for those that know it's time to get out." – I Heart Reading One woman’s true story of surviving madmen at work and at home. On July 4th and 5th, 2012, Jerri Lynn Sparks was nearly killed by her Ivy League-educated husband in a vicious assault. Instead of retreating in fear, she fought back and is now fighting to change the system that contributed to her attack by becoming a volunteer firefighter, political advocate and educational speaker.

151 pages, Paperback

Published December 27, 2018

About the author

Jerri Lynn Sparks is a writer and a daughter of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She received her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA out west and then returned east to raise her children in the suburbs near farms and lakes. She served as a Congressional Press Secretary before returning to her educational roots in research in the clinical trials industry but she never lost her love for writing. From persuasive writing in the local newspaper to the halls of Congress, Jerri continued to write while raising her children as a single mom and has now published her first book of poetry and her first memoir. In her free time she loves to bake, sing and go bird watching and she often takes her kids on road trips. She makes her home in Western New York with her nearly grown children and a cat named Midnight who thinks he's a dog.

Reviews

[Kevin Laley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m generally not a “reader,” but this book hooked me from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down! I live in the same small town where this happened to the author, so it literally hit close to home. It’s a fast read and important for everyone to read because you never know what may be happening in your own backyard. As a male in his mid-thirties, I also appreciated how the author didn’t take a “men are bad” stance that sometimes permeates stories like these, and instead continually reminded readers that anyone — male or female — can be a survivor of domestic violence.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that should be read by all victims of domestic violence as well as by those who know them, suspect they know them, or want to help them. You should read it especially if you've ever asked, "Why didn't they just leave?" Jerri Lynn Sparks has written a gripping account of the gradual, then sudden, deterioration of her professional, highly educated husband's mental health and drug abuse and how it affected her and their four children over a period of many years--and how she almost didn't escape from his increasing violence in time. She also divulges how a series of ego-driven politicians she worked for ended up losing office because they couldn't control their impulses with women and, in the process, left their large staffs unexpectedly out of work with their careers in shambles just from association.

Ms. Sparks' courage and strength (both literally and figuratively, since few working mothers would have been able to fight back hard enough to escape the final attack alive) are inspiring. But her strength is all part of the huge determination this woman had to take care of her family no matter what the odds were against her. She learned many important lessons along the way that she shares in her book, and she continues today to help and inspire other victims of domestic violence.

[Fredo Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This lady is a perpetual victim & takes zero responsibility for her bad decisions. She chose her husband, chose to have 4 kids in quick succession & chose to ignore all the signs. She is very intelligent AND educated & went into this eyes wide open. I'm sure his rich family helped her overlook all the "warning signs." She is constantly craving & seeking attention under the guise of "helping others." She not only joined the volunteer fire department, but alerted the media that she had done so. How is this self-serving book helping anyone? She needs therapy because obviously she didn't get the attention she thought she deserved as a child.

[Georgina Hynd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Downloaded free copy from Black Rose Writing. Needs some serious editing. Structure is all over the place. That being said, read it in one sitting. Glad the author is sharing her experiences and encouraging survivors of domestic violence to break free.

[Jerri Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my true story of survival. I wrote it in the hopes that it would save others from having to experience what my children and I endured. We're happy now.

[Gail McLaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Just WOW! Your story moved me to tears. I'm so sorry you and your kids had to go through the nightmare. Stay strong!