Clover abuse survivor seeks to inspire with book of poetry, stories

Zanthia Boyd-Kesselly of Clover said she was in an abusive relationship for almost 10 years. When it ended, she wanted to help others.

Boyd-Kesselly, 45, recently published a book, “Wings of a Butterfly: The Poetic Justice of a Domestic Abuse Survivor,” a collection of short stories and poetry and resources for victims who need help.

“I just really want to encourage women, share my story with them, let them know they are not alone,” she said.

The new book doesn’t share her story, but Boyd-Kessely said she plans to publish another book that will. She is at work on her second book, “The Blackest Blue,” which she expects to publish in the spring.

“At the end of the day, I was able to survive and to continue my life on a positive level,” she said. “A lot of times, when women go through things like that, they are so down on themselves. And I was there.”

Boyd-Kesselly, the mother of two children, was born and raised in Detroit. She said she grew up in a domestically abusive household until her parents divorced when she was 9.

She said she was in an abusive domestic relationship for 10 years, until she was 26. She left her abuser and attended Northwood University in Michigan, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business.

Boyd-Kesselly, who attends First Baptist Church in Clover, said she has volunteered with the Charlotte speakers bureau and with domestic violence organizations and is available to speak to groups about her experience at no cost.

The book is available on Amazon and Create Space for $14.95. For information about speaking engagements, contact Boyd-Kesselly via email at zanthiak@gmail.com.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Clover abuse survivor seeks to inspire with book of poetry, stories."