‘Me and my mother and the babies, we live in a hut, in a room, next to the canal. We have nothing. We only wish for my father to come and live with us again. You see my foot?’ She pointed to her left foot. Startled, Dilawar now saw she had only four toes. ‘One night when I was small, a rat ate my little toe in the night. That is how we live. But it is OK. I am good at selling flowers.’

It was in 2011 that I watched the documentary The Day My God Died. I blogged about it shortly thereafter. Seven years later, after a number of false starts, my story inspired by the film sees the light of day.

It’s not a book that you may wish to read. It’s disturbing though not graphic. But, knowing that – as individuals – we are powerless to halt human trafficking, I felt impelled to write on the subject. If it helps to raise awareness then who knows, it might do some good.

Kindle e-book at the moment, paperback to follow shortly.
United Kingdom – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KV4SJX9
United States – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KV4SJX9
India (where much of the story is set) – https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07KV4SJX9

Two young women from a remote Nepal village, full of happy hopes and dreams, are kidnapped and trafficked to work as sex slaves in Sonagachi, Kolkata’s notorious red-light district. One of them, Chameli, tells her story. Chameli’s younger brother sets off on a quixotic rescue mission only to find himself fighting to survive on the city’s streets. Meanwhile, an Australian student arrives in Kolkata with idealistic intent, determined to help young sex slaves if she can. Can there be a rare happy and life-affirming ending to this story of the world’s most inhumane trade?

OK, I need your help. I need a title for my new novel which is nearing completion.

It’s a novel based on what I know of human trafficking and modern slavery. A young woman and her friend are trafficked from a Nepal village to Kolkata, India. They are forced to do sex work in a brothel there. Her story is told through her own eyes. One of her frequent laments is ‘My god is dead.’

credit insidermonkey.com

In the unfolding of the story I try to explain the reasons behind this ghastly trade, all of which are, of course, financial. The grim truth is basic economics.

I have narrowed it down to a choice of two, both of which would carry the sub-title along the lines ‘A story of the world’s most inhumane trade.’

Thank you for taking the time to vote.