My book is about the difficulty of a woman growing up and living in a patriarchal society, where men are in charge and free to live as they choose. The main character in my book, Madé Angel, travels abroad as I did, to escape the twin burdens of poverty and discrimination. She thought it would be different in western countries, but the same old problems are very much alive still all over the world. Women are still oppressed, in spite of education and the struggle for women's rights is ongoing. Madé learns that it is important to change her own self and demand respect, otherwise things will never get better.

At first I started writing to try and understand what was happening in my life. And then I realized writing it down actually helps us to distance ourselves from the problems we are facing and to see them in a different light. Just as a mountain gets smaller when you climb it. I want to help more women climb their mountains, and realize that they don't have to remain oppressed. It is up to us to get out from underneath the pressures that are upon us and set our own standards. There is a possibility of improving our lives and that of our children, breaking the vicious circles of abuse within our families if we refuse to accept the blame and insist upon the right to determine our own future.

Of course my main character Madé Angel has a lot of similarities to me. But her experiences in RENDITIONS OF MY SOUL are enough for several lifetimes, several women. I don't know if one woman could actually experience all those things Madé Angel does and still survive. She is particularly strong, stronger than me, as I want her to be a survivor! I wanted her to realize that the only person who could save her from her rendition was herself.