Book Jacket

 

rank 5457
word count 15061
date submitted 30.12.2011
date updated 15.01.2012
genres: Non-fiction
classification: universal
incomplete

Untouchable Flame

Kemisha L. Swan

Untouchable Flame was written to touch the lives of women from the age of eighteen to forty-five

 

An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year and nearly 84,000 child abuse and neglect cases were reported in the United States in 2005. Nationwide, more than 460,000 children have been part of the foster care system. I had experienced all of the above before the age of twenty-three. Untouchable Flame, a hundred and eighty page memoir, is an inspiring, true-life journey. It tells the story of a young girl born on the West Side of Chicago, who was often left by her parents, along with her siblings, in a dark, cold, rat-infested basement without food and proper clothing for weeks at a time, waiting for their mother to return from her drug induced gambits to care for them. Terrified by the nightly visits from her uncle and aunt, who began molesting her at the age of seven, this young girl was forced to turn to the only person she could trust: her poor, disabled grandmother, who despite her lack of education and advantages, taught the children in her care how to pray and believe in God.

 
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Brian G Chambers wrote 115 days ago

Dear Kemisha
sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. Your story really touched my heart, as I was abused by an elder, when I was a small boy. He ended up in jail for six-months, I have had to endure the memory for a life-time. Even though he is dead now, I can never forget the horrors that he put me through. Like you it was my grand-mother who helped me to put my faith in God. God has helped me throughout my life since, and I'm sure that He is doing the same for you, in that he has given us both the tallent to write: albeit different kinds of stories. I admire your courage to expose your life-story for others to read. I doubt if I'll ever write about my abuse, as I have never spoken about it to my children. I wish I could back your book, but my shelf is full just now. Instead I will put it on my WL and give you high stars. Hopefully I will be able to come back and back it in the future.
All my love. God bless.
Brian.
ps remember you are not alone in this world if you have God on your side. x

D. S. Hale wrote 120 days ago

This is a critique for the christian forum

You hooked me from the first paragraph. I read thru until chapter 3, then it was too much information for me. Not sure you need the details....a person's imagination can sure conjure up some terrible things. Your writing is clear and concise. One question: what happened in the cab? And two, why did her mom suddenly drag her downstairs and spank her? You may want to explain why these two things happened. Did the mother suddenly decide she didn't believe her daughter, and if so, what made her change her mind?

I like this! Good luck with it on Authonomy!

Sincerely,
D. S. Hale
Jessup and the Teleporter

Monica Pride wrote 121 days ago

Wonderful pitch!! But then again, true stories don't need much pitching!

It grabbed my heart immediately. This is going on my watch list!

God bless you and yours,
Monica Pride
Words God Gave Me

"Stolen Childhood" wrote 125 days ago

Dear Kemish
I have only had time today to read 4 chapters of your book. First of all my heart went out to you from the first paragraph i read! And i was thinking what a very good memory you also have. Things that happens to us when we are small, for some its stuck in the mind for others they forget! I believe with all of my heart that the Lord has helped you remember all this for a purpose. The stink the devil has put on you will be fertilizer for thousands of people. I love the way you tell your story. I am not a good writer, i have just written my story myself, and i don’t write well (im Norwegian) but the way you use dialog in your story is brilliant. I could never manage to do that. You defiantly have a writer’s talent. I do hope and pray you will get published, because your book is so well written. The only ting i could comment on that could improve is perhaps letting the reader know more of the timings in your story. Like you said when you where 7 about the sexual abuse that was taken please. But your story is very compelling and it makes the reader want to read and know more! May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and the destiny He has for your life be fulfilled. May the suffering you have been through become a sweet aroma for others to receive healing.
Bless you in abundance
Laila Bevan

Lcamp wrote 132 days ago

Dear Kemisha - I read all ten chapters. Your life story touched my heart to see how God brought you out of all that turmoil. I have no doubt it was the prayers of your Grandma that moved the hand of God in your life. I had a simular back ground. I came from neglectful parents and ended up in a group home. From there I was raised in a foster home until I married and had a family of my own. That foster home saved my life. My foster parents, like your parents, took me in as one of thier own. They are, to this day, still my parents and grandparents to my children, and I am now a grandma! My new parents were Christians and I found Jesus in my life because of them. I lived a totally different life raising my children than I was raised. The cycle was stopped in my generation because of living in a home that taught me how to have faith in Christ. Most of all having those who believed in me, as your book beautifully reveals about your life.
I have a true story about my family titled "The Chair" . It's about an encounter my grandson had with heaven. I would love for you to read it and hear your comments.
Stay Blessed,
Lynn

Lcamp wrote 132 days ago

Dear Kemisha - I read all ten chapters. Your life story touched my heart to see how God brought you out of all that turmoil. I have no doubt it was the prayers of your Grandma that moved the hand of God in your life. I had a simular back ground. I came from neglectful parents and ended up in a group home. From there I was raised in a foster home until I married and had a family of my own. That foster home saved my life. My foster parents, like your parents, took me in as one of thier own. They are, to this day, still my parents and grandparents to my children, and I am now a grandma! My new parents were Christians and I found Jesus in my life because of them. I lived a totally different life raising my children than I was raised. The cycle was stopped in my generation because of living in a home that taught me how to have faith in Christ. Most of all having those who believed in me, as your book beautifully reveals about your life.
I have a true story about my family titled "The Chair" . It's about an encounter my grandson had with heaven. I would love for you to read it and hear your comments.
Stay Blessed,
Lynn

NMott wrote 135 days ago

Decided to back the book after reading chapter 4. Lovely 'voice'. Hope it does well.

AudreyB wrote 135 days ago

Kemisha, I read all ten chapters, and I want to give this book to my middle-school students right now! I teach in a school that receives Title I funding, and my students are not reading at grade level. I want them to see that it is possible to get good grades after having bad ones for a while, and that it is possible for them to take pride in their work. I am so happy that God brought you to the Taylor family and that you have brought your story to us.

From my alter ego English-teacher persona, The Grammar Hag, a few notes: You often say "my brother and I" when the correct choice would be "me." The way you can tell is to delete the "my brother and" part. Would you use I or me? That's the one to use. The Hag also was confused about what happened on that fateful October day. Have you just not written it yet? We got a wonderful lead-up to the story but then suddenly skipped to the group home.

Great job.

~AudreyB
Forgiveness Fits

Warrick Mayes wrote 144 days ago

Kemisha,

Mimi! I don't know where to begin, only that I have to find a way to shoe-horn this onto my watch-list for future backing. I read the first chapter and was one with the little girl from the off. The chapter flew by. Your writing seems effortless and so natural. You can feel the ethnicity within the narrative that gives this such an edge. I almost immediately lost track of the number of brothers, cousins and the rest, as the one that was important to me was little Mimi.

Is it an american thing to say "use to" instead of "used to"? I've seen this a few times with other authors too.

I did spot one little error that you may want to correct. You have an extra "was" in "Was he was afraid like I was..."

Best regards
Warrick

lizjrnm wrote 145 days ago

OMG Kamisha - I want more - this is so real and well written from the first person narrative - WOW- I am blown away! If this is your own personal story than I applaud you for all that you have accomplished. When I realized this was written in the beginnining from a 4 year old POV I was hooked! Thank goodness for the grandma - and her safe haven of a room although so far her children don't seem to have emulated her traits. I am so wanting to learn that Mimi was reunited with her brother but as non- fiction goes -one can never bet on it. I am backing you and starring this story because I think IMHO - this is a real winner and exactly what the art of writing is all about! Liz
The Cheech Room

Dianna Lanser wrote 145 days ago

Kemisha,

I read all ten chapters of your book, Untouchable Flame. I’m so glad that through all the abuse and poor living conditions, God always seemed to provide. And I’m so glad that God in his goodness took you out of the brokenness and placed you with the Taylor family. I did shed some tears for your brother. Your separation was really difficult to read as I’m sure it was difficult for you to bear at the time.

You are right when you said in the last chapter that you have a gift of writing. I kept thinking as I was reading, how could a little girl who was partially raised by family who were abusive and often under the influence of drugs and alcohol become so articulate. Like everything good in your life, your ability is a gift from God (the Man who lives upstairs)

Your story gave me hope and encouragement that God, indeed, hears our cries and turns our sadness into joy. Highly starred!

Dianna Lanser
Nothing But The Blood

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