US price: $15.95
Format: Paperback
Size: 6 x 9
Pages: 276
ISBN: 0-595-21498-3
Publication Date: Jan-2002

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Other Formats: Hard Cover : $25.95 £21.99

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The reader will be drawn irresistibly into the world of the author who presents a catalogue of abuse and cruelty suffered by herself as an innocent child, first at the hands of her alcoholic father, then by nuns, and later by a heartless husband who raped and beat her. This is compulsive reading.

This book about extreme cruelty by a daddy for his children and his loving wife is written simply and from the heart, much of it from the point of view of the little girl Emelia who suffered unimaginable torture at the hands of her abusive, alcoholic father. "I wrote this book simply, like a little girl but with the heart of a woman," the author says. "You will find no words that you can't pronounce or understand. What you will find is the open heart of a little girl, then of the woman she became." The author goes on to give a vivid and heartfelt account of the abuse the same little girl suffered at the hands of nuns, supposedly the agents of God’s love and mercy, behind the closed doors of a convent; thereafter she reveals how she found herself in a life-threatening situation, brought about by her own hand at fifteen, as a result of an unfeeling husband who raped and beat her. The picture she paints is made all the more poignant by the loss of the one true love whose memory will never die, by the loss of a devoted brother who couldn’t stay because God wanted him more, and by the unconditional love of a mother prepared to sacrifice anything for her children. You are so precious

The book shows how the shadow of a father’s cruelty can be cast over the whole life of a child--a child who, in this instance, never failed to turn the other cheek, or return love for cruelty and abuse, who manifested, in the end, the overriding power and strength of Christ who advocated love above all things. The book is a protest against domestic violence and institutionalized cruelty, and will hopefully stand as a beacon and warning against the violations suffered by so many Emelias whose heartfelt cries go unheard behind the closed or locked doors of our apparently respectable western civilization.

I took a long ride today and now I'm sitting on a park bench right on Main Street in Berlin, New Hampshire. There’s grass under my feet and a cool breeze on my face. You’d think that would put a smile on my face, but it doesn't.

The Columbia Hotel once stood in this small grassy spot before it burnt down. It was a tall building with twenty rooms and living quarters where the owner lived. The owner—Gerard Dion—was my dad, a very handsome man of average build, brown hair and blue eyes. There was also a restaurant on the bottom floor that he owned.

I thought that if I sat on the park bench I’d forget all the bad things that took place here. I thought that when I saw the building had really gone—that it no longer stood in its prominent position before me—that all the pain, the bad old memories, would vanish with it.

But instead the pain flooded back. The memories of those days were as strong as ever, as though they happened yesterday.

It scared me! I remembered just a month before how I had heard the same noise and I opened the door. My uncle Archie was standing there holding a pillow against his face. He was bleeding from his nose and mouth and the pillow was red with his blood. I was so scared I couldn't move. I started calling, “Mama, mama!” She came running. Just as she got to the door, my uncle fell. Mama caught him in her arms and he died right there. I was only five and ever since the sound of a knock at the door would bring back the memory, the terrible sight of seeing someone bleed and die right in front of me! Uncle Archie had cancer and he hemorrhaged from the mouth and nose, and the memory was so scary I got so I didn't want to open that door anymore.

I heard some keys jingle and in my mind I could see uncle standing there again, covered with blood! But I steeled myself and opened the door, and there he was! But it wasn’t uncle Archie this time, it was my daddy—tall, handsome, but his blue eyes burned with a fire that took my breath away.

The fire in his eyes flared and he reached out for me. I broke free and ran just as fast as my five-year-old legs would take me. He chased me all around the house. I ran into my room and jumped up on my bed.

But he was right behind me! I looked up at him. All I could see was his fist coming at me.

This was the first time I saw his fist. Normally he used his army belt. He would hit me so hard he would leave welts all over my backside. Mama would always nurse me back, of course. She would put cold washcloths on my back, legs and bottom, too. She would tell me to always close my eyes. “Don't look at him, honey,” she would say. “He won't stop if you keep looking at him.”

I closed my eyes and the fist hit. I could hear the sound. I heard his fist hit hard but I felt no pain. Why couldn’t I feel the pain? When he hit me with the belt it hurt—but it didn't hurt this time.

I could feel pressure up against me. He must be looking at me. Could he tell that it didn't hurt? But I mustn’t look! If I did he’d know and he might hit me again—and then it might really hurt. I'll just wait, I thought, and maybe he'd go away.

I think I heard him cough but it sounded like it was far away. I could still feel the pressure up against me, so he must have still been there. There was that cough again! I just knew it was him, but it sounded like it was coming from another room.

I had to open my eyes but I couldn’t move my legs—there was something heavy on them.

I managed to crawl out from under her. I whispered in her ear, “Mama it's okay—you can open your eyes now. Daddy’s gone into the living room.” I sat up to look at her. “Oh mama!” I gasped. “Your face is all bloody! I’ll get a tissue and wipe your face.” But it wouldn’t wipe off—it was all sticky. “It's okay, mama, I'll get a washcloth and take care of you, just like you always take care of me.”

But I couldn’t wash all the blood off. “Mama, please open your eyes, he's gone!”

Mama looked up at me and took me into her arms. She held me just as tight as could be.


Mama	Jerry (top left) Cecile (top right) Emelia (bottom left)

The following reviews of Why Daddy, Why have appeared:

Unbelievable!
Reviewer: I.B.L. from Rochester N.H. U.S.A.
   This is a book that once you start to read it, you can't put it down.It keeps you on the edge of your seat. You have to keep reading because you have to know what else is going to happen.
   It's unbelievable what this family went through!.
   It goes on to tell what the author went through being split from her other siblings and mother. What a terrible life this child had!
   While living with nun's in a convent, it's hard to imagine that these woman of God could be so cruel! and Emelia tells it all!
   The Author described in detail all the terrible things that took place in her life...and there were many things!.. Everyone should read this book!...alcoholics, child abusers, and wife beaters..then and only then, maybe they can see what their actions can do to a family and especially a five year old girl who grows up and ends up trying to kill herself when she was only fifteen from something that wasn't her fault!
The reader will be drawn into this true story and can't help but fall in love with this little girl.
The reader will find that this is a very easy book to read because it is written by same little girl.

You won't be able to put this book down, April 3, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from King, North Carolina United States

This was a great book. I can relate to it in so many ways. The writer keeps you wanting to read more. It is so amazing how people can look the other way especially your own family. We need to break the cycle of abuse. It seems like it goes down from generation to generation and it has to stop somewhere. I felt like I was right there in the book. It is so hard to believe what a child can go through and still come out on top in the end. The writer did such a wonderful job telling her story. Not many people can do that. With faith all things are possible.

Get Your Kleenex!!, April 7, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from Escondido, CA United States

I've read the book twice!! I was afraid that I missed something the first time. I cannot believe how powerful this story is. I was intrigued with page one. How one family could have gone through so much is beyond me. I was brought to tears many times and actually had to put the book down for a few hours because I was so distraught over what I had read. I cannot imagine what horrible things happened that we didn't read about and the writer having to relive these moments in order to tell her story. I can only hope that this family has overcome the tragic events that have taken place in there life. My heart goes out to this little girl and her brothers and sister. My heart also goes out to the mother of this little girl, who should have died many times but her sheer will and determination kept this woman going, and her desire to get her children away from this evil man. May god bless and take care of this family as they continue on there journey in this world and into the next.

Fantastic Book!, April 6, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from New Hampshire. U.S.A.
I never do much reading. I went to have my windshield replaced and they told me that it would take a while. My wife had this book in the car that she just bought so I picked it up and started to read it to pass the time.
     When I got home, my wife wanted her book but I wasn't about to let it go until I finished reading it! but it didn't take long because I couldn't put it down.
     "Why Daddy Why", is a book that everyone should read! it's a rude awakening to things all around you but no one really wants to look!
     I can't believe the things that this girl went through.
     You need to get this book and read it! and it's real easy to read.
     It say's right on the book that there are no words that you can't pronounce or understand. How true that statement is.
     Very powerful book!

Alcohol Abuse, April 6, 2002
Reviewer: Charles Mundo from Nottingham, NH, USA
My wife and I feel this book should be read by any woman who is engaged to someone who drinks excessively, who is married to someone who drinks to much, or is being abused by her spouse. The book is a real eye opener as to just what can happen if you think you can change someone after you marry them. You will not be able to put this book down once you start reading it. You will be horrified at the things that this family went through. My wife and I read this book in two days. If you think things are tough in your marriage or your family, read this book and then start counting your blessings

Why Daddy Why, April 17, 2002

Reviewer: A reader from Berlin NH
Wonderful book It was a tear jerker and I'm from Berlin NH. and I'm Emelia's cousin of the Dion Family.

Hope, April 21, 2002
Reviewer: Karen Anderson from Dover, NH

A powerful message of hope for everyone who reads this true account and who may be going through similar situations. A book everyone relates to. A book that from the first word on page 1 to the last word on page 262 you just can't put down even when you are trying to read through your tears! This book is made for the big screen or tv at the very least. I have known Emelia for a few years but never knew the pain she experienced until she wrote this book and now I know her family as well. God Bless every one of them. God is Good, God is Merciful and may He continue to bless Emelia, her family and all who are touched by this powerful message!

Light at the end of the tunnel., April 24, 2002
Reviewer: Kim from New England
This book should be a reminder to everyone that no matter how bad you think you have things someone else out there has it much worse. God Bless the author of this book to endure the lifetime of struggles and to have a heart so forgiving and good.

Blownaway, April 23, 2002
Reviewer: cindy from North Carolina
This book literally blew me away.It's unamagineable the things that took place in this family.I believe this book would make an unbelieveably successful movie!!There's so many people that have suffered different things and have never talked about it,but never have I heard thing's like what took place in this family.The author explains everything in such detail,you feel like your right there with her.Sometimes you feel yourself reaching out to help,only to find out your not really there.I also have to say that I know of a few people that have bought this book,but due to the fact they don't have computers they are unable to write review's,so I guess I speak for them as well!!These people too were amazed,unable to put this book down until they read it cover to cover..As horrible as it was for her,I loved the book.What a variety of emotions I experienced while reading this,I laughed,I cried , sometime's even bacame angry and then finally relief.All I can say is everyone should read this book,you won't be sorry!!!