Author Joyce Reed is a woman who learned early on the meaning of survival. From the ages of 8 to 23 years old, the Chicago-native’s life spiraled out of control as sexual assault and family tragedy left her fighting to survive. As a young woman who birthed her first child at 14 years old, Joyce Reed was met with constant ridicule. Luckily, through faith, her life began to see brighter days. After compiling contents from her personal journal, Joyce Reed wrote a book titled “Hurt Used to Live Here”. It was re-released in January 2015. The inspirational book takes readers through the early years of Joyce Reed and her life challenges. STACKS Magazine got an opportunity to talk to Joyce to find out more about the book and what readers should learn from it. What happened in your childhood? I was left alone at 8 years old. I was a mother at 14. A single mom with two boys by the age of 19. I was homeless. I’m a survivor now, not a victim. I been through, like I say all the time, I’ve been through hell and back three times. Anything that you can think of, I endured. So, basically, the book is raw. It tells everything that I’ve been through. Anybody, men or women, can relate to my story. What made you wake up one day and decide to write a book? I actually didn’t wake up one day. I took everything from my journals and notebooks that I’ve been writing since I was 10 years old. I put them together because back then I was ashamed and embarrassed. I’ve been called everything under the sun. So, I got tired of people judging me for who they thought I was and what people perceived me as. But, I had to do things to survive. I was tired of being judged. From the pain that I carried, you’ll finally understand never judge a book by its cover. First, open it and read it. What can readers learn from your book? I teach them how to have a voice. To actually share their stories and tell someone. To not go silent. Love doesn’t hurt. Love isn’t pain. You have to tell someone. I teach them, not only, everyone has a struggle. Everyone has a past. Everyone has a story. But, not everyone has the courage to speak out about it. Looking at me, you wouldn’t know what I’ve been through. You wouldn’t know that I’ve been raped 6 times. You wouldn’t know that I lost my entire family within 7 months, in one year. You wouldn’t know that I had to do any and everything to survive. Just by looking at me and me being the voice for others, hopefully it will give someone the courage to speak out about their story. Even if it’s one thing I been through and we can relate. And also have faith and believe in God. That’s my large chapter in the book. Is to believe that HE will never leave you or forsake you. I’m going to be honest. I knew that there was a higher power, but I didn’t think HE would allow this to happen to me. They say don’t question God. But, I questioned him over and over again. Because from 8 to 23, and doing this by yourself, I had no one. There are people out here that has no one. Right now, someone is being raped, molested, fondled, beaten as we speak. If I can get my story out there, I can save one, two, hundred, thousands, millions of people who are out there going through the same thing that I went through. What do you want young girls to know? I would like them to know that they are not alone. That if they can’t talk to anyone. If they don’t have a family member or anyone that they can trust, there are hotlines out here. There are organizations that will help you with your name being anonymous. There’s a lot of things out here. Around the time when I was little, they didn’t have hotlines. They didn’t people I could just go and talk to and feel comfortable with. There’s things out here that’s free. If you can do that, you need to. Joyce Reed’s next book will be released sometime in 2016. The book will be titled “Speechless No More.” The book will contain letters from people who want to share their story of survival. Reed believes that writing is great therapy. She, herself, used writing as a way of healing. In addition to being an author, Joyce Reed is also creator of Ironic Nails, a line of nail polishes that come in over 250 colors. To learn more about Joyce Reed or to purchase her book, visit www.iamurvoice.com or follow her on social media @iamurvoice !
