Returning from home was like waking up from a bad nightmare, Smart said. But just like having a nightmare, once it's over, you get out of bed and move on.

Smart gives advice in different parts throughout the book, and each survivor has a small section dedicated to their specific incident. For Smart, she said she probably talked less about her experience than the others.

"I don't think it's worth spending time in the past," she said. "It's not something I think about. If I feel like I want to (retell my story to someone), I will. But I don't have to. I don't talk about it much (in the book), I really don't care to."

Although Smart wants to focus on the present and the future rather than relive the past, that doesn't mean she isn't fully aware of what's been happening with the court cases of her alleged abductors

"I like to know what's going on," she said.

The cases against Brian David Mitchell and his estranged wife and co-defendant, Wanda Barzee, both charged with kidnapping Smart, have been bogged in marathon court hearings and legal battles over the competencies of the duo. Currently, Barzee's case is in limbo as attorneys wait to find out if the U.S. Supreme Court will hear her case to decide if the standard set in Sell vs. the United States, which established guidelines for involuntary medication, were used correctly. A decision on whether Mitchell also meets that same standard and can be forcibly medicated was also outstanding Monday.

Whether they stay in a mental institution, jail or prison doesn't matter to Smart, just as long as they stay in a place where they can't victimize anyone else.

"I am very glad they are not on the street," she said. "I never want them getting out, that's for sure."

Ed Smart said amazingly, his daughter went back to being her normal self almost immediately. Shortly after she returned home, Elizabeth Smart said she hiked up to the camp where she was held hostage by Mitchell and Barzee for several weeks right after her abduction.

"I felt great. I felt triumphant," said Elizabeth Smart who has hiked up to that location several times since. "It's a good hike anyways."

Elizabeth Smart said it was interesting to hear the stories from the other survivors. Another piece of advice that came out of the group's meetings was that it was OK for a person to feel guilt.

"It's OK to feel whatever you feel when you come back," she said. "It's OK to feel angry or guilty. I hope people realize although bad things do happen, there are good people."

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com