Scribbling Down a Poem to Express her Feelings Ultimately Leads Jacki Rodikis to the Publishing of "Because You're a Woman", an Autobiography That Takes the Reader on an Emotional Journey Through Jacki's Traumatic Childhood to her Ultimate Triumph and Freedom From the Devastating Affects of Abuse

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, England, March 8, 2010 - In January 1995 Jacki Rodikis was taken into a clinic and finally began
to get the help she needed for problems she thought could be suppressed, that
only she could know about and that, unaddressed, might eventually go away. It
was in this clinic she was encouraged to write poetry to express the emotions
and feelings she was experiencing. These poems have become the building
blocks of her recovery and she has used them in Because You're A Woman to
brilliantly encapsulate her moods, her thoughts and desires and to present
the reader with an inspiring account of how, with sheer determination, you
can gain back control of your life.

'My initial poem was encouraged as a way of letting out all the built-up
angst, hurt and pain I was feeling,' says Jacki, 'and over time I have added
others to my collection. I suppose you might say it's been a cathartic
experience'. She goes on to explain though that the time is now right to
combine her poetry with the story of her life in a bid to help others rather
than just helping herself: 'I'm in a good place in my life now. I have three
wonderful children and four grandchildren. Through counselling, life
adventures and a search for faith, I now feel fully armed and able to be
strong and tell my story. I believe that the bad things that have happened to
me can be changed into a powerful force for good and help other women who
have had similar experiences.'

Because You're A Woman chronicles the torment of a little girl who is
made to believe that in order to be loved she has to submit to anything that
is asked. Her father tells her that what they share is something special. His
control over her life, through sexual abuse, bullying and belittling comments
leaves her with deeply embedded feelings of guilt and shame. The book deals
with the effects of this abuse on her relationships as she matures - with the
men in her life, her family and friends - and on her personality. It also
highlights how the birth of her daughter was the catalyst that propelled her
into a series of different therapies and healing paths and we get to know the
people who support her on her journey. We watch as Jacki finally breaks free
of the burden of guilt she's been holding for so long and develops into the
confident woman she is today.

Through the combination of engaging prose and compelling poetry, Because
You're A Woman achieves what Jacki set out to do - it leaves the reader
feeling more determined to face life full on, to address whatever her
problems may be and to actually LIVE! It truly is a beautifully written,
inspiring story which you really won't want to put down.

Because You're A Woman is published by Austin & Macauley in paperback
(rrp. GBP9.99) and is available from the publishers, Waterstones, WHSmith and
Amazon.

About the author: Born in Gillingham, Kent, Jacki Rodikis was educated at
Chatham Grammar School for Girls. She trained as a computer programmer, and
then developed a successful business. She is passionate about raising public
awareness of the long term effects of childhood sexual abuse and has recently
established 'Women for Change', a charity to help women survivors. She has
three children and four grandchildren and now lives in South Warwickshire.

For further press information, images or to arrange an interview with the author, please contact Nicky Wootton at NZ Marketing and PR, E: nicky at nzmarketingandpr.com, T: +44(0)7956-054-999