Lidia ("Belle")

Lidia Yuknavitch is the author of the memoir, but in her highly personal account she refers to herself as Lidia, the central character in her story. Lidia's mother, who is from Texas, also sometimes uses the term of endearment, "Belle," when speaking to her daughter. Today Yuknavitch is an award-winning author, writing teacher, and speaker, but her memoir reveals her struggle to overcome a painful past and accept herself as a writer. The book details her transformation from a silent, scared young girl living in an abusive household to a writer who uses her voice to rewrite and transform her life.

In Lidia's youth she was a competitive swimmer, but her dream of participating in the Olympics was shattered when the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympics. Lidia also sabotaged her swimming career by abusing alcohol and drugs to block out the pain she felt.

Lidia's Mother (Dorothy)