Vivian Manning-Schaffel: As D.C. sniper John Muhammad faces execution, his courageous ex-wife and mom of his three kids, Mildred, comes forward with Scared Silent, a harrowing book chronicling her survival from abuse.

Momlogic: What inspired you to write Scared Silent?

Mildred: Since late 2006, I've been telling my story to domestic violence organizations, conferences, and workshops. I was encouraged by those organizations and individuals to write a book so that what I went through could help others. The book contains contents from my personal journals regarding my relationship with John, a comprehensive safety plan, and resources for those who may find themselves in an abusive relationship and in need of assistance.

ML: What was the turning point in your marriage, where you realized John could be dangerous?

MM: We were separated at the time. He came over to the house, stating he needed to talk to me. We went into the garage. It was there that he said, "You are not going to raise my children by yourself. You have become my enemy, and as my enemy, I will kill you."

ML: Did you ever think he would hurt your kids?

MM: Yes ma'am. I felt that since he had abducted the children to hurt me in the first place, the ultimate pain would be to wait until they were asleep and shoot them in the head.

ML: In your book, you describe a horrific 18 months where John kidnaps your children and you go into hiding from him to recover from abuse. Through this ordeal, your faith that they'd return remained unshakable. What got you through those dark hours?

MM: Prayer, and understanding that I did not have the option of giving up. I had to find a way to get my children back. I knew that external distractions (smoking, drinking, taking drugs) would only hinder my growth and distort my focus on what I needed to do. I turned inward to the God within myself. I focused on what I needed to do, and along with my faith, I knew I would see my children again. I didn't know when or where, but I knew God would return them to me. I wanted to be prepared mentally and physically to receive them.

ML: You describe the emotional distance between you and your son when he was returned. How did you bridge that distance?

MM: I looked my son in his eyes and told him that I am fighting for him. I told him that we will only speak the truth, regardless of how much it hurt, because honesty was the only way we were going to get through this ordeal. He agreed with me, and I could tell he really liked the fact that I didn't give up on him. Like I said before, giving up was not an option!

ML: How did you keep it together when you all were in protective custody?

MM: I prayed and asked God to keep my heart open, my spirit calm, and my focus on my children. I had to keep it together for my children. They were looking to me for strength, and I had to give it to them by sacrificing my own feelings for theirs.

ML: You allowed your children to watch the news coverage of their father. How was this helpful to their emotional recovery?

MM: They didn't know they were kidnapped. So once they found out, they were eager to know more. I told them that since I didn't know everything their father did, we would rely on law enforcement to find out everything he did. Watching the news and other reports gave us a better understanding of who and what John had become.

ML: How are your kids handling the impending execution of their father?

MM: One day at a time. For now, they are doing well. They are aware of the day and time it is to take place. I don't bring it up. If they want to discuss it, then we will.

ML: As a mother, how will you guide your children through it?

MM: With prayer and the understanding that a crime has been committed. A jury of 12 people decided that death by lethal injection is the punishment for the crime. We decided a long time ago that we would allow the judicial system to decide John's fate. So now we know. We have accepted the decision and we move forward.

ML: Tell us about the nonprofit organization you've formed to help domestic abuse victims.

MM: I began After the Trauma, a nonprofit organization to assist survivors of domestic violence. After my own trauma, there weren't many resources available to me. I thought of the many women who are in the same position that I was, and I wanted to do something to help them. We help women all over the world to understand that you don't have to have physical scars to be a victim or survivor of domestic violence. This message has been very well received -- and I pray that I am able to assist in changing the shift in the thinking of society to begin looking at the non-physical abuse (verbal, mental, psychological, economic, stalking, and in some cases, sexual assault).

For more information on After the Trauma, visit afterthetrauma.com, MildredMuhammad.com, or follow Mildred on Twitter.

Vivian Manning-Schaffel has written for Babble, Parenting, The Advocate, The New York Post, Business Week and a variety of other publications and lives and works in the heart of breeder Brooklyn with her husband and two kids. She authors two pop culture blogs: The Mad Mom and A Hag Supreme, and is on the web at vivianmanningschaffel.com.