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The Courageous: Kate Ranta did what all women are told to do when they’re in an abusive relationship: she just left. But, she was then in more danger.

October 2020: A Note from Tracy Schott, founder of Voices4Change and the director and producer of the documentary Finding Jenn’s Voice and Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, Inkandescent Women magazine — It is a privilege to introduce you to the courageous Kate Ranta, one of the women featured in the film, and her co-author Alisa Divine.

About Kate: A survivor of being shot by her abusive ex-husband; her then 4-year-old son witnessed it. In the years since, she has become a vocal advocate determined to put an end to domestic violence. She is  the Board Chair for Survivors Lead and is a member of the NCADV Speakers Bureau.

Kate has a B.A. in English from Franklin & Marshall College, which helped when it came time to sit down with Alisa Divine to co-author her memoire: Killing Kate: A Story of Turning Abuse and Tragedy into Transformation and Triumph.

The book , released a year ago in October 2019, follows Kate from the beginning of her relationship to the climax at the end, when she and her father used their combined strength to push against her front door as her estranged husband, an Air Force Major, tried to push his way inside. In an ambush, he fired bullets through the door, shooting Kate and her father in front of the couple’s son.

Within its chapters, Killing Kate details episodes of her husband’s mind games, ways the legal system let her down and her journey to rebuild her life after the shooting.

“We released this book with the intention of informing women of warning signs of abusive relationships and to share hope for healing afterwards,” Kate explains. “The book is a rallying cry for women to identify the red flags of domestic violence, support each other through the process and help women avoid entering abusive relationships in the first place.”

The foreword is by actor and activist Evan Rachel Wood.

Alisa Divine is the author of #SheWins: Harrowing Stories From Women Who Survived Domestic Abuse. This book captures and shares the irrepressible spirit of survivors through portraits and stories.

“Both books raise awareness on domestic abuse,” says the co-owner of the publishing company, Personal Power Press. “My goal is to provide a platform for individuals to share their stories and turn their pain into power.”

In addition to writing and publishing, Alisa has founded The More Than Beautiful Project™. She mentors young women to build confidence, develop a positive body image and learn key components of healthy relationships. Alisa is also a life coach and feels great purpose to encourage others to rise above their circumstances and triumph.

“I believe in creating lives full of meaning and purpose and am on a mission is to help women and girls step into the best versions of themselves, transitioning from where they are to where they want to be,” shares Alisa, who sits on the Board of Directors for the Saginaw Underground Railroad, which serves survivors of domestic violence. She lives in Michigan with her husband and their blended family with 8 children.