Author Description

"How To Ruin a Pearl", is a suspense thriller that takes place primarily on the east coast of the United States. The novel starts out in the summer of 1989. The main character, Jackqueline Bloodworth, an accomplished young woman of age thirty, who is about to be married has her world turned upside-down by tragedy that strikes her. The trauma brings up old stories from her family's history, which then sets the stage for what she is about to encounter that changes her world. "How To Ruin a Pearl" addresses sexual assault and domestic violence on a variety of levels. The novel addresses the emotional aspects of such crimes, the investigative process by the authorities involved. As well it addresses the psychological effects that such a violent crime has, not only on the victim, yet as well of loved ones. It also addresses the sociology of how many people may act, especially other women, who show disgust and indifference aimed at the victim, who was once their friend. The ripple effect on medical staff, especially during a combing process of the victim. The novel demonstrates how investigations like these may be handled. As the story progresses, it addresses ways the victim, Jackqueline (Jackie), works on salvaging whatever she has left. She slowly realizes , her world has been gutted. Her use of humor to survive, and also learning how to empower herself by maintaining the very outlet she was doing when the incident occurs. As Jackie ignores the naysayers, maintaining normalcy at work and adding self-defense and karate to her new life. Majority of the Novel surrounds the time-frame of the years 1989-1990, yet also addresses years as far back as 1666 in her family. As Jackie recons with her past, and with her family's past history of the violence of domestic abuse aimed at women and children, she discovers these abuses told to her and some seen to be true. This takes place after her maternal grandmother, Martha-Anna has passed away which occurs seven weeks before the sex