Trauma Can Kiss My Ass: A poetic memoir

By Jane Manning

Follow along, as Jane Manning takes us through life with a narcissistic domestic partner, hitting rock bottom financially, living in desperate fear for safety, and the quiet triumphs that come from overcoming all odds. With lots and lots and lots of therapy.

Trauma Can Kiss My Ass: A poetic memoir tak

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dust & Stone Publishing
• Release date: May 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798989575626

Jane Manning

Jane Manning has illustrated dozens of children's books, several of which she also wrote. She lives in Deep River, Connecticut.

Book preview

Trauma Can Kiss My Ass: A poetic memoir

Author: Jane Manning

Published by Dust & Stone Publishing, Florida, USA

www.dustandstonemedia.com

Contact publisher for bulk orders and permission requests.

Copyright © 2024 Jane Manning

Cover design inspired by original tattoo artwork by Jenna Boyter

Ink & Barley: St. Augustine, Florida, USA

Cover design by Leesa Ellis of 3 ferns > www.3ferns.com

Interior book design and formatting by Leesa Ellis of 3 ferns > www.3ferns.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Printed in the USA.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024902207

ISBN (Hardcover): 979-8-9895756-0-2

ISBN (Paperback): 979-8-9895756-1-9

ISBN (eBook): 979-8-9895756-2-6

Contents

FIRST THINGS FIRST

What’s Your Greatest Fear?

Medusa

The OG Stalker

Seasons of Pain

The Black Sheep is labeled the most difficult person in the family…

THE OLD MAN

LIFE SUCKS

The Worst Part of Covid

Pandemic Funding

1 Year of Hell

New Patient Intake Form

Flat-Tire Camping

A Cold December Night

WAY BACK WHEN

Bullied or Bully

Love Letters

First Date

I’m Sorry

Mentors

Positive Affirmations

LESSONS AROUND THE SUN

One Starry Night

Welcome to Moldova

Wisdom from The Elders

My Heart on a Map

My Dad Said I Love You

Going Home

Travel Checklist

THE CAGED ANIMAL

The First Red Flags

Cheers to an Uncomfortable Night

The Last Work Trip

Venmo Fight

Passing Responsibility

Carpet Burn

My Hand

Fear of Escaping

Car Bomb

Harassing Calls

FINDING FORTY

Creating A New Life

Cicadas

Murphy

Faces In The Crowd

Medical Struggles

Vigilante Justice

Security Cameras

A Pink Velvet Dress

Framily

Brain Soup

Buried Alive

Foreshadowing

The Ring

RESOURCES AT THE READY

Cognitive Distortions

People Pleasers Beware

Setting and Keeping Boundaries

Examples of Boundary Setting

If you, or someone you know, needs help

About The Author

Contact Jane

FIRST THINGS FIRST

The pages that follow are the contents of my life

My heart, my tears, fears, and joys

This book has been a passion project

Labor of love

Years in the making

A dream come true.

Before you begin,

A few things you should know…

Everything you read is true

From my perspective

As I remember it, felt it, smelled it

Some pages and chapters will be difficult to read.

This book discusses topics of poverty, abuse, and death.

It also talks of redemption, hope, and the fight for a life worth living!

Now, my name.

Is it a pseudonym? Yes.

Is it for protection, privacy, and security? Absolutely.

Is that a challenge to find out my identity? No.

You’ll learn so many reasons why in the coming chapters.

However, more than hiding in fear behind a pseudonym,

For me, Jane is a stage name with fierce meaning.

The way Beyoncé once spoke of Sasha Fierce.

How Farrokh Bulsara wowed crowds as Freddie Mercury.

The way RuPaul has allowed generations to find their path in drag.

Discovering thousands of new and beautiful Queens who feared presenting their alter ego.

For me, Jane Manning is an identity of freedom.

—Walking away from a life as a prisoner of abuse.

—Removing myself from the generational expectations of an aspirational Southern lifestyle.

—Allowing myself to sink fully, authentically into the person I want to be.

What’s Your Greatest Fear?

I was probably 10 years old

With my family on vacation

Headed to Disney World

As we drove south

The air filled with smoke

Warning signs dotted the interstate

—WILDFIRE AHEAD

Traffic slowed to a crawl

We could see flames in the distance

Fire crews by the masses

Helicopters circled overhead

We inched along

Ash falling like rain

The daylight overpowered

A flash. Pop.

Fire raging along the shoulder

Suddenly a fireball

Falls from the sky

Just across my parents’ car

It erupts

In the median

I watched over the back seat

Cars slam on brakes

First responders

Dart across the traffic

Their containment line broken

My family just escaped

Others now encircled

We kept racing south

At a snail’s pace

Safety unknown

Stopping impossible

Every breath a struggle

My baby brain terrified

Incapable of understanding the real danger.

Medusa

Once considered the most beautiful

A woman, a goddess

Medusa was raped, killed, beheaded

Tragedy and disgrace

Cast away by her family

Like the jealousy of catty mean girls

They wanted attention for themselves

Not understanding the pain and torture

Any publicity is good publicity

As they believed this myth

The curse was applied

Turning Medusa into a monster

Her skin changed colors

Hair made of snakes

Turning everything to stone

A painful life of abuse

Changed Medusa forever

After my escape and relocation

My continual life in hiding

My inability to shake the constant fear

The dread that I might be found and punished

Or worse, killed

Now more than ever, I understand her

I understand Medusa’s plight

The betrayal, the pain, the anger

She’s no longer a mythical creature

She’s a deep-rooted spirit

Encouraging me through healing

Through the process

The triggering.

The OG Stalker

You are the OG

The Original Gaslighter

My first stalker

We met in high school

You were the first

That first

It was exhilarating

And terrifying

The most shame I’ve ever felt

It happened on a Sunday

After church

We went to your mom’s for lunch

We snuck away

We were making out

I had on a skirt

Your hands slid up my legs

You laid on top of me

I was still fully clothed

My

Reviews for Trauma Can Kiss My Ass

[pratik jha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

? Trauma can kiss my ass: a poetic memoir

AUTHOR - Jane Manning
PUBLISHER- ‎Dust & Stone Publishing
PUBLISHED ON - April 19, 2024
RATING-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ABOUT AUTHOR - Jane Manning is a bipolar domestic violence survivor who resides by the beach, enjoys world travel, dreams ambitiously, loves all things cuddly, and has a fondness for office supplies.

BOOK DESCRIPTION- "Trauma Can Kiss My Ass: A Poetic Memoir" poignantly chronicles the author's journey through domestic violence, suicidal ideation, and self-harm, inviting readers on an emotional and introspective voyage.

BOOK REVIEW -

"Trauma Can Kiss My Ass: A Poetic Memoir" by Jane Manning is a courageous exploration of overcoming adversity through resilience and self-discovery. Manning fearlessly recounts her journey through abusive relationships, financial turmoil, and the pervasive fear that overshadowed her life. Her narrative delves deeply into themes of domestic violence, mental health struggles, and the transformative power of therapy in navigating towards healing.

This memoir transcends conventional storytelling by blending poetry and prose to vividly illustrate Manning's emotional odyssey. Through a collection of short stories, journal entries, and heartfelt letters addressed to her younger self, Manning offers an unfiltered and intimate portrayal of her struggles. Her poetic expressions skillfully convey the depths of despair, while also celebrating moments of inner strength and eventual triumph over adversity.

"Trauma Can Kiss My Ass" serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Manning's memoir is both a source of inspiration and a beacon of hope for readers facing their own challenges. It underscores the transformative journey of healing and self-discovery, reminding us that even amidst the darkest of times, there is light and the possibility of renewal.

Ultimately, "Trauma Can Kiss My Ass" is a poignant narrative that resonates with authenticity and courage. Jane Manning's memoir is a compelling read that not only confronts the realities of trauma but also celebrates the resilience and perseverance that can lead to personal growth and healing.

Kudos to author for such amazing masterpiece ?