HOLDING MY HAND THROUGH HELL Officially Launching at Heartland Fall Forum

Well known for her hands-on work with victims of violence, and through her previous books, HOLDING MY HAND THROUGH HELL is based on the true story of Susan Murphy Milano’s life, written with the flow of a novel, in a style that will incite heightened awareness about hope, survival, abuse, murder, and the ripple effect of family violence on society.

The official publisher's launch of Holding My Hand Through Hell will be held at the Heartland Fall Forum, a trade show, conference, and celebration of independent bookselling hosted by the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association.

Ice Cube Press' Steve Semken, publisher of Holding My Hand Through Hell, and one of author Susan Murphy Milano's dear friends and fellow author, Jillian Maas Backman, will hold the official launch party on the airwaves, Thursday, October 4,  with a live broadcast on her popular internet radio show, Change Already!  

To listen to the LIVE broadcast CLICK HERE

Due to her battle with cancer, Susan is unable to personally participate in the launch, but is on the sidelines cheering its success thanks to her friends and large fan base.

Holding My Hand Through Hell is much more than a story of survival, the book is a re-enactment of how God reaches through the fire of chaos and brings peace and hope. A woman questioning her faith through a multitude of experiences finds herself continually in the midst of battle, within her own relationships, and through the thousands of high risk intimate partner violence victims whom she rescued and became a thread in the tapestry of her life.

"More than a memoir Holding My Hand Through Hell is like a true crime drama played out through the years of one woman's life."

The premise of Holding My Hand Through Hell is gripping, yet heart wrenching, and readers say they are compelled to follow Murphy Milano through her journey to the end. After years of torment and abuse, her Chicago Police Department father murdered her mother in the family home, and took his own life,  but Murphy-Milano decided not to be another crime victim, but to survive the worst tragedy of her life and make sure it didn't happen to others. Leaving a lucrative career as an investment banker, she spent the next 20 years in the trenches with other victims of abuse, like her mother, enriching the lives of each and every one who enlisted her help.

Often shunned by traditional domestic violence organizations, Susan Murphy-Milano became like a one man band, utilizing unique strategies specific to each individual she helped. Using her connections within courtrooms and the media, she found herself face to face with some of the worst abusers, often questioning whether God would bring her through the next crisis.

Join in the live radio launch party of HOLDING MY HAND THROUGH HELL on Thursday October 4 at noon central time, 1 eastern time with Jillian Maas Backman and Ice Cube Press Publisher, Steve Semken LIVE from Heartland Fall Forum. 

Ice Cube Press, a small publisher who still individually wraps each order, represents the heartland of America and it's authors, striving to bring Midwest living and the experience to the forefront in the digital age.  Ice Cube press is a member in good standing with the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, and also participates in the Great Lakes Bookseller Association Trade Show, combining this year as The Heartland Fall Forum.

Jillian Maas Backman is an award-winning radio personality and author of BEYOND THE PEWS: Breaking with Tradition and Letting Go of Religious Lockdown, a San Francisco Book Festival Award winning book.  Her radio show, Change Already! can be heard weekly on BlogTalk Radio.

Murphy Milano Journal on Hiatus

While working through her current health crisis, Susan Murphy-Milano's Journal is taking a break.

Please follow her current blog, Conquering Cancer, for the latest updates on her battle with cancer. Readers who would like to assist Susan in covering her medical expenses can find ways to help at the blog, as well as alternative ways to contribute.

Susan's newest book, HOLDING MY HAND THROUGH HELL, will be released in October, 2012, and is now available for pre-order through Ice Cube Press and Amazon.


We expect that she will be back to writing when her energy level dictates that she's able.

Crime Wire Live 9:00 PM Eastern: Corruption and Cover-Up in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto Counties

Show Airs: July 10, 2012

You can hear Crime Wire Investigates beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Please visit our Crime Wire Website.

Together we can make a difference.

LISTEN LIVE:http://www.blogtalkradio.com/insidelenz

The State of Florida has yet to re-open the case of Sheena Morris. There is even evidence and information pointing directing at one stone cold target.  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement are afraid to man up and step-in and undo the damage by inexperienced Bradenton Beach investigators because of potential liability.

The family of Sheena Morris has spent thousand's of dollars they do not have for outside experts to come in and assist with the case.  Even after the death certificate has been changed from "suicide" because of the experts to now "undetermined" they are afraid if they rule homicide this will expose the County to a law suit by the family.

This is happens to be an election year both State's Attorney's and Manatee Sheriff races.  The community has the opportunity to vote out corruption and the "good old boy" network.  If Sheriff Brad Steube is re-elected the community can expect more of politics as usual and excessive waste of government spending and tax payers dollars..  If Ed Brodsky is elected as the new State's Attorney the citizens are merely passing the corruption baton from his predecessor on to him.

Sheena Morris and other unsolved homicides will receive justice if Peter Lombardo [Website http://peterlombardoforstateattorney.com/] whom is running for office as State's Attorney and Bill Waldron [Website http://waldron4sheriff.com/] are elected to properly service the people.  We have invited both men to the Crime Wire Show for the hour along with Kelly Osborne, mother of Sheena Morris.

Celebrate Independence! Apple Store Unveils the iEAA (Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit) App for Victims of Violence

Long awaited new Apple App, the iEAA (Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit) is making its debut in the Apple Store on the Fourth of July.  Created by Susan Murphy-Milano, the EAA was developed into the Apple App format by

Wetstone Technologies and Chief Scientist, Chet Hosmer. 

Myrtle Beach, SC………How fitting that on a day of independence and freedom, a victim’s independence from abuse and danger is now available.  The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit is a revolutionary new tool described and detailed in the book, Time’s Up: A Guide on How to Safely Leave an Abusive and Stalking Relationship by Susan Murphy-Milano.  Since the release of the book on April 12, 2010, thousands have become aware of a new standard of safety which goes well beyond current planning measures for abuse victims. Used by hundreds of advocates and victims, they are the living testament to the success of the EAA.

The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (E.A.A.) combines video taping of the victims actual words attesting to the abuse coupled with creative witnessed and notarized legal documents that successfully satisfy legal hurdles often faced in these intimate partner violence and stalking cases. A unique packaging of testimony + documentation + perpetrator historical profiling + pre-collected evidence delivered to established safe and legal persons = a delicate issue brilliantly wrapped up for successful prosecution.

Now, with the Apple App available, victims can do almost everything, including recording their video testimony on their iPhone, iPad or iPod. The Apple App makes it easier, safer and effective to create the documents needed for their specific, individualized safety plan. The easy to use instructions included within the Apple App walk the victim through each step, encouraging them all the way and letting them know their information has been created properly.

An all-inclusive website for information about the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit can be found at DocumentTheAbuse.Com which also includes a Lethal Relationship Checklist so abuse victims, as well as law enforcement, first responders, court personnel and attorneys, can recognize often hidden dangers, understand the risk factors, and learn what to do with the information. Taking this assessment to the next level with the EAA is proven to prevent the ultimate abuse, homicide.

After working over 20 years in the field of violence and homicide prevention, Susan Murphy-Milano is realizing a dream. Unable to save her own mother in 1989, she has devoted her life and career to making sure the world is a safer place for abuse victims, often using non-conventional methods to keep them alive. The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit is one such method, born out of the Stacy Peterson case.

Murphy-Milano says, “Had either Kathleen Savio or Stacy Peterson prepared an EAA, there would be no question of a prompt arrest. It also gives law enforcement and investigators information about the alleged perpetrator allowing the victim to speak from the grave on her own behalf, should that be necessary. Think of the millions saved in taxpayer dollars!”

This is the first phase of the iEAA App.  Murphy-Milano, Hosmer and Wetstone are working on an advanced version to be released by Apple later in the year, and are also working on a version for Android products for  maximum reach in the marketplace as well as being available to as many victims, advocates and first responders as possible.

For further information:  SusanMurphy-Milano.Com        DocumentTheAbuse.Com      WetstoneTechnologies.Com

March for Justice in Tampa Florida for Sheena Morris on Sunday July 29, 2012

If you have been following this blog, you're familiar with the case of Sheena Morris, age 22 murdered in a hotel in Anna Maria Island, FL on January 1, 2009.

The intial death certificate stated cause of death as "suicide."  The lack of experience by the responding "detective's" at the crime scene make  the character created on the Andy Griffith show- Barney Fife look like a genius.

I presented the Sheena Morris case including the original  crime scene photo's at the Indiana Coroner's Annual conference this past weekend.  The response of over 400 deputies and coroner's in attendance, the photo's clearly indicate homcide.  Why hasn't the case been re-opened since the medical examiner changed the death certificate to "undetermined?"

I explained to the audience that the City of Bradenton Beach, Manatee County and State of Floirida are refusing justice because they are afraid of being sued by the family of Sheena Morris because they flucked up the entire investigation.

If you can come out, lend your voice show support or re-post this on your twitter and facebook accounts, it will show a collective force of action in the name of justce4sheena.com .  The family is asking for the case to be re-opened.  Bradenton Beach Police are refusing to do their jobs!

A $10,000 REWARD is being offered to the person providing information that leads to an arrest & conviction for the murder of Sheena Morris on January 1, 2009

Contact Kelly Osborn

813-361-2120

Reward is being provided by the family of Sheena Morris

www.justice4sheena.com

Join Me Sunday at Naperville Christian Church!

Susan Murphy-Milano returns to the church where the revolutionary new tool for victims of abuse, the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA), became a reality. Pastor  Neil Schori of Naperville Christian Church in Naperville, Illinois, invited Murphy-Milano to speak to the congregation, guests and friends, about what an important role the church has played in making a difference in the lives of several abuse victims who have found sound counseling and information from Pastor Schori over the last few years.

Partners in the new site, Document the Abuse.Com, Neil and Susan have worked closely to provide the EAA and information to as many as possible through providing direct and indirect services to victims leaving an abusive relationship. Along with colleagues, Sandra L. Brown, MA and Attorney Holly B. Hughes, the site allows victims, as well as service providers, to learn about the EAA and how it impacts and saves lives. There is certified training available for advocates, service providers, first responders, law enforcement, and prosecutors and attorneys.

Pastor Schori will lead a Q&A with Susan in the morning service covering the highlights of her life's work, and she will return for the evening service to share how everyone can easily become involved in the mission.

Pastor Neil Schori has taken the lead in addressing the issue of family violence within the faith-based community, and as a result, has provided a safe haven within his home church, as well as encourage other pastors and churches to take up the responsibility for those in their own churches.  Both Neil and Susan feel deeply that the faith-based community must take a stronger role in assisting victims within their own affiliations. With budget cuts for social services closing many shelters and service providers, the fellowship of faith must step in and, along with proper training, have the ability to counsel and provide tools for victims.

Take advantage of the opportunity to hear Susan Murphy-Milano and become a part of the solution she and Pastor Neil Schori have to offer!

For information about Naperville Christian Church, worship schedules and other activities available, please refer to the church website, NapervilleChristian.Org.  Pastor Neil Schori's personal blog: NeilSchori.Com

For information about Susan Murphy-Milano:  SusanMurphy-Milano.Com

Susan's Blogs:  MurphyMilanoJournal    ConqueringCancer.Me

Susan's latest book, Holding My Hand Through Hell,  will be available in October, and her previous books, Defending Our Lives, Moving Out, Moving On, and Time's Up are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and local retailers.  Time's Up can be ordered as an Ebook directly from Susan on her website and blog, or as a Kindle version through Amazon.

An American Tragedy: A Serious Diagnosis And No Health Insurance

Susan Murphy-Milano, an author and fellow Forbes contributor, has made it her career to advocate for the rights of women and children. She even lobbied for the passage of 1993′s Illinois Stalking Law. Her quest for justice has been a 20-year pursuit.

Now, she’s in the fight of her life against cancer and faces one of the biggest travesties of all: no health insurance.

Susan’s life took another drastic turn in 1989 when her father, a 30-year veteran and decorated Chicago police detective, murdered her mother, Roberta, with his department-issued service revolver — a .44 magnum — then took his own life. Susan vowed to, for the rest of her life, speak for the victims of domestic violence — what she has termed ”intimate partner violence” – to give them a voice and the tools to survive.

Cathy ScottContributor

Susan, diagnosed in early June with stage IV cancer, isn’t unlike many Americans who find themselves in similar circumstances without adequate medical coverage. Besides being pricey, the variations of coverage often don’t pay the cost of treatment. According to a 2010 survey by the Center for Disease Control, 46 million Americans are without health insurance. One person, by my way of thinking, is too many.

To read the rest of the story on Forbes  click Here

Crime, She Writes

BREAKING DOWN THE HEADLINE