If anyone had told 13-year-old Karen Quinones Miller that she would grow up to become a successful reporter and author, she would never have believed them.
The junior high dropout never dreamed that she would one day be sitting at the Penn Bookstore, presenting her second novel, I'm Telling, which was released in July.
But yesterday evening, Miller eagerly discussed her new novel in front of a small group of mostly city residents.
"I never aspired to write a novel when I was younger," Miller said. "I was just satisfied with growing up."
But now, at age 42, after returning to school to earn a B.A. in journalism and then working as a reporter at various newspapers, Miller realizes that fiction writing is her main focus.
I'm Telling is the story of a black family torn apart by incest. One of the protagonists, Faith Freeman, grows up with a secret that her stepfather has been molesting her twin sister, Hope, since she was 11.
After enduring the sexual abuse for over 20 years, Hope turns to drugs and prostitution. Unlike her sister, who is a successful literary agent, Hope has no money or desire to make something of her life.
Parts of the novel are a reflection of Miller's personal life. The idea to write the novel sparked after a close relative was missing for four months. Like Hope, the author's relative was molested as a child and had turned to drugs and prostitution as a means of escape.
"Everyone [who knew about the molestation] knew this was coming," Miller said. "No one talked about [the molestation] to her. They should have been helping, should have told someone or done something."
"I'm Telling is a healing experience that I never knew I needed," she added.
Miller said she was surprised at how many people who have been molested keep the secret to themselves.
West Philadelphia native and Wharton alum William Hawes, worked as a teacher in the Philadelphia public school system, said that many students used to confide in him about being molested. He is currently doing research on incest in black families.
"The secret of incest is just as damaging as the act itself," Miller said. "I'm Telling will let them know that they need to share it for their own sake and confront it so they can move on with their lives."
