When I was contacted by
Cheryl (Pierson) Cuccio and Rob Cuccio to help them write their book, I had no
idea of what an amazing story this would be. Interested parties: the book is
currently represented by literary agent Paul S. Levine--see Contacts page.
Over the past few years I have become an advocate for abuse victims, having
helped to write books like La Bella Mafia for abuse survivors. But this was
more. It is the stuff that movies and fictions are made of.
Picture this: A sexually, physically and mentally abused teenager whose mother
died when she was 11, hires a classmate to kill her father who is now threatening
to also go after her 8 year old sister. Teenagers don't think like adults or
realize the consequences sometimes. What they know comes from TV, movies and
books. She paid a heavy price. Not just with time in jail, but in her entire
emotional well-being. But her sister was protected.
Cheryl and her high-school boyfriend Rob got married after she was released
from jail, had two beautiful daughters and tried to live as normal a life as
possible. It was not without obstacles.
Then the biggest obstacle of all. Due to malpractice, proven
but with a "not liable" decision for the doctor by a six person jury,
Rob found out what it means to be dead for 43 minutes, then miraculously
brought back to life without brain damage. A true miracle. That happened in 2012.
After extensive physical therapy and experiencing severe mental stress, he was
able to resume his career as an oncology nurse and was named "Nurse of the
Year-New York 2015" three years after he died.
Sounds like fiction, right? Well, it's all real and for the first time in 30
years Cheryl and Rob are telling their true story--not the fabrications and
suppositions that filled newspapers, magazines and TV for over 3 years. We hope
the book will be published soon. Cheryl will appear on an episode on the Discovery
ID TV channel in 2017. Cheryl and Rob are available for radio, TV and
print/online interviews.
