World Vision Trauma Centers: Child Exploitation

I would to thank all my friends at Saint David’s United Church, fellow book lovers, book clubs and all the kind folk who attended the launch of “Standing in the Whale’s Jaw” and dropped into the store signings. Part of the proceeds from each copy sold is being donated to World Vision’s Recovery Centers for victims of child trafficking. I’m happy to report I was able to mail a cheque to them today for $1000.00.

The trauma centers do offer hope for children traumatized by the unspeakable emotional and physical abuse of the commercial sex trade. When they flee the vicious cycle of exploitation, the centers provide health care, counselling, life and job skills training and begin to help them heal and move onto better lives. World Vision also advocates for child rights and better child protection laws. This is key, I think, and, most important, they educate children and families targeted by traffickers.

At this time of year when I see so many happy healthy children, starry eyed and rosy cheeked, brimming with the excitement of the holidays, the knowledge that this horrible stuff exists in our world sickens me.  I hope this small donation moves us one step closer to a world where every child is safe and sheltered.

A big Thank you!

Kathy-Diane

Congrats to GoodReads Winners!

 Congrats to the GoodReads winners of the draw for an autographed copy of my new novel “Standing in the Whale’s Jaw.”  Fifteen-year-old  Elsa Byrd is on the verge of becoming a woman in the summer of 1935. In a world run by men, it could be more of a curse  than a blessing. She stumbles upon a stranger hiding in the barn and decides not to tell a soul. When a dead girl is discovered floating in a dory, it quickly shifts from the kind of secret Elsa wants to hug close, to the kind she doesn’t dare let out. Her mentor,  Lavinia Twigg, joins the police investigation and Elsa is left teetering between risk and danger, silence and disclosure, trust and fear.

The winners are:

Heather C.

Ava W.

Alicia H.

Julianna P.

Mary H.

Adelynne C.

Amy J.

Lindsey E.

Helen W.

If you live in Canada you should receive it this week. UK and US residents may not find it in their mailboxes until next week. Hope you enjoy it! I just found out it’s landed on the bestseller list on the Saint John Telegraph Journal. Woohoo!

Kathy-Diane

“Standing in the Whale’s Jaw is a swirling, twisting tale of intrigue. Two bright and daring young women weave through a cast of characters… to solve one great mystery and open their minds to a greater one.  A rollicking ride with many surprises along the way.” -Linda Little author of Scotch River