Local author Bea B. Todd will visit Chesterfield County Public Library this Saturday, March 10, at 2 p.m. to promote her book, “Appalachian Child: The Chronicles of an Abused Child and Her Journey to Survival.” The book will be available at Chesterfield Drug Store, Burry Book Store in Hartsville, and the library.
In her book, Bea also grows up dirt poor among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in central West Virginia. There’s lots of work to do, and amenities such as indoor plumbing and central heating are nonexistent.
While others in Nicholas County had it tough, few had to suffer the type of abuse she did at home. Bea’s father runs his household like a dictator, and he’s never hesitant to abuse his daughter whenever she does anything not to his liking. Bea gets slapped, kicked, and beaten even at 5 years old.
While Bea’s spirit sometimes wavers as a result of being unable to please her father, her story is ultimately one of survival. By never giving up and trusting in God, she overcomes years of abuse, proving that fate and faith can lead to dreams that victims of abuse often think are unattainable.
“Become immersed in a story that defines the true meaning of determination as Bea recounts a journey that will inspire anyone who has ever suffered or felt like giving up in ‘Appalachian Child,’” encourages the publisher.
Bea shares her way of surviving the child abuse she endured and believes that anyone can make the decision not to be like the person that abused them. She knows from first-hand experience that you can pull yourself out of it and not let it influence your life in a negative way.
Bea B. Todd now lives in Shallotte, N.C., with Joe, her husband of 39 years. Bea is retired from federal service and is devoting her time to get her message of encouragement to those in need of hope.
