Stephanie Plymale - American Daughter

Much more than a story of a rape and its aftermath, American Daughterin the tradition of classics like The Glass Castle, The L.A. Diaries, and White Oleanderexplores in unsparing detail the complex interplay between intimate family ties, generational abuse, cataclysmic losses, and the extraordinary and limitless power of compassion and self-discovery. Stephanie Thornton Plymale is often asked, throughout this riveting and powerful memoir: How? How did you emerge from that wreckage powerful and whole? But American Daughter resists such easy binaries and instead gives us a portrait of coming together stronger at the broken places as Plymale interrogates both her own survival and her fragile, damaging and compelling mothers. A story by turns feral and transcendent, American Daughter illustrates the enormous strength and will it takes for anyone to choose love.

GINA FRANGELLO , author of Every Kind of Wanting and A Life in Men, editor of The Coachella Review

Stephanie Plymale brings readers of her well-written memoir into the complex process of attempting to understand, reconcile and forgive adult family members who failed her. When she looks at her accomplishments in deep relationships and a powerful career, she asks the poignant question, Why am I the resilient one? Ultimately unanswered, it is gratifying to follow her on the journey to redemption. She leaves us with hope for every individual and every fraught family relationship.

JANIS AVERY , CEO of Tree house

American Daughter is a deeply compelling page-turner of a memoir, beautifully written, and insightful. The reasons some of us survive chaotic childhoods and go on to lead happy productive lives, to even thrive, are complex and seemingly random. Yet we long to discover a secret formula for resilience. American Daughter does not give us facile answers. We follow Stephanies journey from horrific childhood to successful businesswoman, mother, and wife, and are captivated by her inner strength, her kindness, her desire to seek truth, and most poignantly, her desire to find her place in the world, to belong. This memoir does not pretend that scars of a traumatic childhood can be erased, but it shows us happiness is still possible. Stephanies investigation into family history leads to a truth many abuse victims eventually discover, that our abusers have often survived their own hellish childhoods, and that we all carry the trauma of our ancestors.

KAREN LYNCH, author of Good Cop, Bad Daughter: Memoirs of an Unlikely Police Officer

American Daughter is a riveting page-turner that has the reader looking forward to each chapter with a mix of anticipation and unease; given that it inevitably means another heartache lay just around the corner for the author, her mother and siblings. The book is both a haunting memoir and Cinderella story that has you rooting for this family until the end. The writing is exquisitely vivid and poetic, making it easy to conjure up images of mother and daughter throughout the many decades of their lives together, and apart. In the end, American Daughter is one womans triumphant tale of determination and hope to create a truly beautiful life for herself against all odds.

TRACY KLINKROTH , founder of ChickChat and The Power of She

The story of American Daughter has affected my life forever! Stephanies story minimizes what being a survivor is: Does a victim really have a choice or in their journey do some just get luckier than others? The people they meet, the breaks they getbottom line, those who can survive the most horrific unimaginable things actually can break the cycle of such a terrible life. And if they do, then to me they are nothing short of a living saint! My heart is so heavy for Stephanies unimaginable story, but I have learned so much about loveeven if its too lateand about forgiveness even if it seems impossible.

I want to help share Stephanies story to inspire others! We have many surface similarities including a life in the Northwest, tennis, adopting a baby girl from Guatemala, running from things in life, family secrets revealed late in life, ancestry surprises, and life perceptions. Her book reminds me that we are all connected at some level and all of us have a story. 10% of life is what happens to us and 90% is really how we react to it! God bless her bravery in sharing her well written book with many intricate details of her life! You have a fan, a friend, and a real admirer in me.

KAREN PHELPS MOYER , founder of Good Morning Gorgeous, LLC; Emmy Award Winner; founder of Moyer Foundation

This book takes the reader along on a journey that is equal parts heartrending, shocking, and uplifting. It may be surprising to describe a story of homelessness, child abuse, and mental illness as uplifting, but Plymales open and thoughtful consideration of her life story gives hope to those who have struggled through adversity. She does not shy from describing those challenges, creating a sense of profound empathy for both her and, shockingly, for the mother who was the catalyst for so much suffering. But the heart and humanity at the core of her story ultimately leaves the reader with a sense of the redemption that is possible and an abiding appreciation for what we have.

CHRIS SHORTELL , author of Rights, Remedies, and the Impact of State Sovereign Immunity; Political Science Professor at Portland State University

The story is never less than compelling as the reader learns how her mothers grandiose statements have a basis in truth. The trauma Plymale discovers is so horrible it was recorded in the newspapers. Stephanie Plymale is honest about her familys failings and her own, but ultimately forgiving, reminding me that hope is not: the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out. (Vaclav Havel, Disturbing the Peace. 1985)

MARTHA CRITES , author of Grave Disturbance, mental health counselor

The names and identifying characteristics of persons referenced in this book, as well as identifying events and places, have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families.

Published by River Grove Books

Austin, TX

www.rivergrovebooks.com

Copyright 2020 Stephanie Plymale

All rights reserved.

For permission to reproduce copyrighted material, grateful acknowledgment is made to the following sources:

For California Dreamin. Words and music by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips. Copyright (c) 1965 UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORP. Copyright Renewed. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC.

For Just You and I. Words and music by Melissa Manchester and Carole Bayer Sager. Copyright (c) 1975 BMG Bumblebee, Trio Music Company, and Round Hill Music. Copyright Renewed. All Rights for BMG Bumblebee and Trio Music Company Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC and Round Hill Carlin, LLC.

For San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair). Words and music by John Phillips. Copyright (c) 1967 UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORP. Copyright Renewed. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC.

Thank you for purchasing an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.