The Lilac Bed: A Memoir of a Family Breaking Free of Inherited Patterns

Freya Wilder was born into a family where mental illness and trauma were prevalent. She saw her family hold onto these things like a badge of honor, venerating men above all else - even when they didn't love or support their family. She was constantly told to "hush," as no one wanted her to divulge family secrets - even when it might result in help. Somehow, innately knowing what she saw the men in her life doing was wrong, she spoke out. Over time, however, she almost resigned herself to accepting that life was just the way it was. Thinking an early marriage might give her a chance to escape, she found only more of the same. She had children, went through a divorce, and endured a rocky start to a second marriage. Through it all, she kept telling herself that she'd find a better life. This is a story that highlights the gritty, often unspoken truths that so many families face, as well as how the author broke free of the status quo that so often prevails in rural Appalachia.