I AM

"I Am" is an autobiographical collection of poetry shared to encourage and highlight the emotional healing of openly speaking up about painful experiences such as sexual abuse, physical abuse and the loss of loved ones. Showing other victims, they are not alone. Their dignity and freedom are theirs to take back through speaking up. Each poem is partnered with narratives used to describe in detail, the sometimes unpalatable but heartfelt journey leading to Amanda's innate un-awakened faith and belief in God to defeat the hardships of her experiences.

"I AM" is an Author-biographical Poetry collection partnered with explicit narratives, demonstrating insurmountable spiritual courage, bearing emotional and sometimes unpalatable but heartfelt experiences of child molestation and sexual abuse. Written to unveil the hidden signs and pain through the eyes of the victim. The Author hopes to encourage and guide parents or caretakers in taking the initiative to build a wall needed to protect against child molestation and sexual abuse. "I AM" also highlights the emotional healing of openly speaking up about painful experiences. Bringing light to the commonality in everyone who has been violated, facing fear, pain and loss. This heartfelt journey lead to Amanda's innate, un-awakened faith and belief in God to defeat the hardships of her experiences, bringing her to a place of mental stability and self-appreciation. Making it known to other victims, they are not alone and their dignity and freedom are theirs to take back through speaking up.

Amanda de Geneste-Archer, a sexual abuse survivor, born in Trinidad & Tobago and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She is a graduate of New York City College of Technology, and Rockland County Police Academy. Served twenty-two years in the Kings County District Attorney's Office. For over seven of those twenty-two years she was the lead Investigator for Crimes Against Children which includes investigations on Sex Crimes. In the year 2012 she retired as Supervising Detective Investigator of Training. Now widowed with adult children, she has since co-founded and serves as President of Sonny Archer Law Enforcement Foundation, Inc. Amanda began her poetic writing journey when she was sixteen. Not realizing at the time, it was a form of therapy through her journey of pain, which stemmed from her history of sexual abuse. Her poetry documents experiences starting from her first memory of sexual abuse that lead to her misguided interpretation of love and healing; The loss of loved ones and her spiritual comeback to regaining what she feels is rightfully due to us all, "The Freedom and safety to exist as I Am".