Local author discusses book with students

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

It’s been said that everyone has a story to tell. Sometimes, though, that story isn’t a happy one.

Author Charlotte Roberts thinks it needs to be told anyway.

“I’m just trying to get out there that everybody’s story is interesting, and everybody’s story can help other people,” Roberts said. “No matter how insignificant, off-the-wall or upsetting your story is, there’s somebody out there it’s going to help.”

Roberts gathered with about a dozen students Thursday in Charles City High School English teacher Trudy McKeag’s classroom to discuss her debut novel, “The Black Maze,” which was released a little more than a year ago.

The Black Maze is primarily about dealing with physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and it is biographical. The book recounts challenges that many people face, but may not be open about. Roberts said the book, by and large, is about her own personal struggle.

“Basically, my life was riddled with different kinds of abuse, even into young adulthood,” said Roberts, who lives in Charles City and is from the area. “That’s what I was used to, that’s what my life was full of, and I really just wanted to write the book to let people who might find themselves in those situations or know someone in a situation like that — they don’t have to remain in the situation, they can overcome it, they’re not alone.”

The book’s protagonist, Ava, is based on Roberts. In the book, Ava struggles to simply survive her life, psychologically, emotionally and physically. The account is filled with details of horrifying and devastating abuse, terrible mistakes, disheartening failures and physical discoveries.

Roberts was invited to discuss the book by senior Bethany Linde, who works with Roberts in Charles City.

“I was reading her book for Mrs. McKeag’s contemporary novel class, and she was impressed by the fact that I knew the author,” said Linde. “The more I read the book, the more I related to it, and I felt like if other students could understand that this type of thing actually happens, I and many others wouldn’t have been treated as outcasts like we were.”

As much as some of the students could relate to the experiences Roberts shared in her book, Roberts could relate to the students.

“I think it really speaks to them because maybe they don’t have that confidence yet. Maybe they can’t bring themselves to say anything,” Roberts said. “I know, when I was teenager I didn’t want to tell anyone. I didn’t want anyone to know, because I felt like it was my fault.”

Although “The Black Maze” deals with dark and sensitive subject matter, Roberts said the underlying message can be uplifting and empowering.

“Just because you came from abuse doesn’t mean you have to live in abuse,” she said. “I think that’s clear in the book.”

Roberts said the subject matter in her next book will also be ripped from real life situations.

“The next book that I will be working on is based on a true story about one of my very best friends, who also struggled with physical and sexual abuse, and there was drug addiction involved,” she said.

Roberts said it took five years to complete the manuscript for “The Black Maze.” Because of the sensitive nature of the material, Roberts wants to be referred to by her pen name rather than her real name. The author said she used her husband’s first and middle names — Charles Robert — to come up with the pseudonym.

The book is available for purchase on her website, and also at online booksellers. More information about “The Black Maze” and its author, can be found at www.charlotterobertsauthor.com.