The Journal of Sharise Sills

Companion Short Story to Indigo Tears

By: Dennis Butler

Narrated by: Stacy Towles

Sharise Sills is one of the main characters in the human trafficking novel Indigo Tears by Dennis Butler. Even before Sharise arrives at her final destination (a horrible living hell), she becomes the leader and protector of the other victims. Sharise becomes the source of hope and courage for the other women, often putting her own life on the line to protect the weaker and terrified victims.

From the author: Sharise is a fictional character who lives in my heart. She represents all that the human race can be. She is a "black woman of the ages". She is strong, brave, intelligent, kind, selfless, and beautiful. She is loving. She is lovable. But she falls victim to the most horrible crime in human history. Human trafficking is an insult to God. For those victims who are lucky enough to survive, life will never be the same. And what about Sharise? A piece of her inner soul has been savagely ripped out and destroyed by depraved savages who perpetuate this perverse inhumanity of humankind. Will this amazing and wonderful woman ever be the same?

©2013 Dennis Butler (P)2015 Dennis Butler

Shocking

If you could sum up The Journal of Sharise Sills in three words, what would they be?

Shocking, heartbreaking and real to life fiction.

What other book might you compare The Journal of Sharise Sills to and why?

None.

Which character – as performed by Stacy Towles – was your favorite?

Sharise Sills I liked that she could tell her heartbreaking story with courage. It was nice that the author also gave her a happy ending.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When they were rescued. I thought thank god these girls are getting out.

Any additional comments?

This was an amazing audio book. It was short and to the point of a real world problem human trafficking. It is a sad fact in our world that these things happen to good people. I was surprised many times through out the short novelette. To say I ran through a list of emotions would be putting it mildly. It could easily be listened to in one setting or in the car to and from work. The drama of following Sharise kept me on edge. Her surprise rescue was a huge triumph. I loved it that these girls had a happy ending. Well worth listening too.

I have never listened to anything from Stacey Towles before. She was great. I liked her voice she keep the drama alive for the story line. I would like to listen to more by her giving a chance.

I received the audio-book in exchange for a honest review.

SAD STORY WITH A HAPPY ENDING!

What made the experience of listening to The Journal of Sharise Sills the most enjoyable?

Good narration and story!

What did you like best about this story?

That it ended on a happy note!

What about Stacy Towles’s performance did you like?

She was good, very believable!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Very short story....cant see it as a movie...maybe a SVU episode!

Any additional comments?

** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

Sharise is kidnapped and forced into slavery as a young girl...this journal tells an all to true tale of the human trafficking trade that happens every day...sad and bitter sweet short story...that ends on a happy note...shows how the human spirit can be broken and repaired...and people can bond even in the worst of situations!

Thank You Dennis for thinking of me...this was very moving..and I cant wait to listen to more of your work!

Frighteningly and shockingly real

The story of Sharise Sills, a fictional character in Dennis Butler's novel Indigo Tears, is presented in this companion short-story as a first person narrative, a journal that Sharise started writing on the day of her capture.

An ordinary afternoon and what seemed like a routine request for directions from a driver of a van on a busy street started Sharise's descent into what she refers to as Hell. For thirteen years, she was held in captivity, treated like a slave of the historical past that she was so well aware of, and abused physically and emotionally. But instead of giving up in what seems like a desperate situation, Sharise chooses to fight back. Her struggle is described in this audiobook exceptionally well, both by Dennis Butler's wonderul writing and by excellent narration of Stacy Towles. The ending does not disappoint.

Overall, a wonderful book!

A must read after INDIGO TEARS!!!!!!

THE JOURNAL OF SHARISE SILLS

STORY: 3.75-4 stars
PERFORMANCE: 5 stars
OVERALL: 4 stars

I received this audiobook for free in exchange for my honest review.

STORY:
THE JOURNAL OF SHARISE SILLS is a very necessary short story about one of the characters/victims from the book INDIGO TEARS. When I reached the end of INDIGO TEARS I was left with several unanswered questions so I was relieved to find answers for all of these questions in THE JOURNAL OF SHARISE SILLS. We also get to learn more about Sharise and why she behaved the way she had in
INDIGO TEARS.

I had expected/hoped to learn what Sharise had experienced while forced to be a sex slave. Specifically, I'd expected to hear about the sexual abuse she endured. However, as he did in INDIGO TEARS, Butler refrained from writing anything exploitative or potentially sexually stimulating. Initially, I was disappointed that Butler hadn't shared more details about the sexual abuse Sharise suffered through while being held captive yet because Butler took the time to explain WHY he intentionally omitted these details, I understood and even came to admire this decision. His reasons also resulted in my having even more respect for Butler and these books.

In my opinion, THE JOURNAL OF SHARISE SILLS was too short. I understood why the book lacked sexual details yet I had hoped for more detail in general. I wanted
to have a sense of how Sharise felt while captive and to share some of her emotions during that trying time. There were numerous occasions where I felt more information and or descriptions would have been useful.

PERFORMANCE:
This narrator has what I feel is the perfect voice for Sharise! I have listened to and still listen to many, many audiobooks yet I rarely find narrators who sound as natural and relaxed as this one did. I truly have nothing but positive things to say about this narrator... She provided a +5 star performance!