The Story Behind Writing Saving Hope
When I started plotting Saving Hope, I had to research human trafficking and was astonished about what I discovered. This problem isn’t only in other parts of the world, but also in the United States. In fact, it is a growing concern. It is a $32 billion dollar a year business in the world. The risk of detection is less than for trafficking weapons and drugs, therefore more attractive for people who want to make money. (Check out this article at: http://www.asi-mag.com/.)
Many of the humans taken against their will end up in forced prostitution. I read stories from teens who were caught in this trap with little hope of getting free.
One of the organizations I was intrigued by was the Children of the Night (http://www.childrenofthenight.org/) in the Los Angeles area. It gives young teens, who were trapped in a situation they couldn’t find a way out, a second chance at a better life.
Another part of my research–the ways young girls were lured away from their homes–led to a plot point in my story. I wanted teens and parents to see how a child could be drawn into a situation they aren’t prepared for.
I worked with teens for years as a teacher. They are tempted with many things–sex, drugs, and alcohol. I don’t want becoming a victim of human trafficking one of those temptations that goes very wrong for them.
As a writer for more than thirty years, I have learned a lot while researching a book. Some research was informative, some fun, some tragic but good to know. I scoured the Internet for articles. I talked to people involved and I read several books to help me make this book realistic. But even in the middle of a tough issue, I still strived to make the story entertaining and suspenseful. And I especially wanted a sense of hope when the reader finishes the book.
About Saving Hope:
When a teenager goes missing from the Beacon of Hope School, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan and school director Kate Winslow are forced into a dangerous struggle against a human trafficking organization. But the battle brings dire consequences as Wyatt’s daughter is terrorized and Kate is kidnapped.
Now it’s personal, and Wyatt finds both his faith and investigative skills challenged as he fights to discover the mastermind behind the ring before evil destroys everyone he loves.
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