About
Anina Swan
Survivor, Advocate, Author
Anina is a retired art teacher, child advocate, women’s advocate, author, blogger and public speaker. Her professional background focused on teaching art as well as writing art curriculum for both private and public schools, K through 12. She also taught summer educational community outreach programs sponsored through the Artist in the Schools Program. Anina spent much of her free time supporting children’s after-school activities through coaching gymnastics, soccer and skiing and volunteered part of her summers to teach art at a children’s cancer camp for cancer survivors as well as children that were currently battling cancer. Anina attributes her extensive volunteer efforts and passion for children and now advocating for women victims of crime as a reaction to her own life’s traumatic experiences as a survivor of her own childhood’s life-threatening abuse and related crimes, and later in life realized healing from those same crimes and abuse.
From Pain to Purpose
Anina’s experiences set her on a 14 year quest to compose her memoir in a very unique assembly of events that expresses the truth about the atrocity of childhood abuse, the mystery of traumatic amnesia, the battle to contend with the truth, legal system fights, followed by a pathway to healing and the ability and desire to live life abundantly. Anina is grateful to be able to share her story of healing and considered this quest as a privilege that far outweighed the pain she endured during childhood and the battles that ensued on her journey of regaining an abundant life.
Anina uses a pen name to protect the privacy and confidentiality of any and all victims associated with Ivan the Alligator during his 40 year crime spree.
She serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Anina Swan LLC, an advocacy to help children and their families who are victims of crime, which she co-manages with her husband.
A Voice for Healing and Hope
Anina currently speaks at women’s conferences, focus groups as well as maintaining her blog and website for her Alligator in the Ocean followers. Discussions of critical issues such as crimes against children, child abuse, human trafficking, depression, guilt and intrusive self-harm thoughts are all of which can be overcome through healing and living a life of victory with the goal of being able to move forward welcomely to life ahead. Anina’s biography, Alligator in the Ocean, One Family’s Fight to STOP a Serial Predator and Their Determination to Heal, recounts her determination to stop a child predator and reclaim her life. It is this experience that compels her to encourage other victims and their families that their lives are worthy of repairing and that they too can live life abundantly with joy and peace that are free gifts from God given to them to experience in their daily lives.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
(Hebrews 11: 1)
Endorsements
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"She weaves three narrative points of view—one of the child victims in third person, her adult self in first person, and the predator through his letters to his wife. Without the ugly details, Swan masterfully reveals the stages of discovery, vindication, and healing."
—Janet Holm McHenry, award-winning author of twenty-seven books, including the best-selling PrayerWalk: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength, and Discipline
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"Anina writes powerfully of her journey with God from a life of betrayal, abuse, danger, and confusion into radiant health and trust in Him. She skillfully shares her experiences in a way which does not mitigate the details of the crimes committed against her, but rather shows how God used those very events to build her faith and bring her to healthy, Godly adulthood."
—Arlene Hendriks, Author, Treasures out of Trauma, a guide to biblical teaching on healing from trauma. Hearts Being Healed Ministries, Board Member/Speaker. GEMS Ministries, Founder.
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"I am wowed and moved. Alligator in the Ocean is a rare and precious gift—both powerfully written and emotionally authentic. Through the short point-of-view chapters, Anina reveals how hope emerges alongside pain, and how freedom gradually deepens through relationships and faith. This book is like a wise, kind friend walking alongside the reader’s own journey, offering both solace and direction."
—Jan Kern, author, life coach, spiritual director, and advocate for courageous storytellers
