Aya Walksfar's Blog, page 17
February 24, 2014
#Author Aya Walksfar put on the Spot….
Check out Allison Bruning’s Blog and see her put me on the hot spot….er….I mean, the spotlight!
http://allisonbruning.blogspot.com/2014/02/author-spotlight-aya-walksfar-exposes.html
JAIMIE WOLFWALKER DISCUSSES MISSING #CHILDREN
Today I have the pleasure of #interviewing Jaimie Wolfwalker, #psychic, member of #Missing #Children’s Rescue, Pacific NW Chapter, who recently worked with the Special Crimes Team in cracking a ring of #human #traffickers and saving the lives of a number of children.
Interviewer: Jaimie, I’ve always been curious about people with special gifts. When did your abilities first manifest?
Jaimie Wolfwalker: I was six weeks away from high school graduation when my mother’s car was hit head-on by a drunk driver. My mother was killed immediately. Apparently, that triggered my ability to See children who are lost.
Interviewer: I’m very sorry to hear about your mother. When your ability manifested, did you have anyone to guide you in dealing with it?
Jaimie: My grandmother on my mother’s side was Native American. She helped me understand that I hadn’t suddenly gone insane and begun having hallucinations.
Interviewer: How did you get involved with the Missing Children’s Rescue?
Jaimie: After I graduated, I moved to Bow, Washington to live on Gran’s alpaca ranch. Gran was best friend’s with Eleanor Hasting who was the head of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of MCR. Gran introduced us.
Interviewer: What type of job do you have that will allow you to leave at a moment’s notice to search for a missing child?
Jaimie: Gran died the summer after I moved to Bow. She deeded me the ranch and left a small legacy for me, as well. I sold the ranch. And, when I’m not searching for children, I’m pretty handy with carpentry so I pick up odd jobs like building kitchen cabinets or cute doghouses. That kind of thing.
Interviewer: What can you tell us about the case you worked with the #SpecialCrimesTeam?
Jaimie: It was a heart-breaking case. Especially the little girl, Becca. I don’t know what we would have done without the medicine man, Traveler. All the case details can be found in Street Harvest, Book 2, Special Crimes Team. You can find the case study at http://www.amazon.com/author/ayawalksfar
Interviewer: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Jaimie: Wherever Creator would have me go.
Interviewer: If you could tell people one thing, what would it be?
Jaimie: Cherish the children, all the #children. They are the future.
(Some children walk down a lonely road, or leave school smiling at their besties……
And some of them never make it home)
Interviewer: Thank you for being here today.
You can read all about the Special Crimes Team and the case of the missing children (Street Harvest, Book 2, Special Crimes Team) at: http://www.amazon.com/author/ayawalksfar
For the latest updates on the Special Crimes Team visit Aya at: http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor
To see the latest posts from Aya go to: http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar
Be sure to CLICK the FOLLOW button so you’ll be informed of the latest news about the Special Crimes Team as well as Aya’s other books!
Aya loves feedback. Please click on the comment button and tell her what you think! Or visit her on her facebook pages and join the conversations!
IMAGES COURTESY OF: Images courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
February 23, 2014
I HIT BESTSELLER STATUS!
Allison Bruning
4:36am Feb 23
Congratulations to Aya Walksfar!
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,432 Paid in Kindle Store
#48 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Crime Fiction >Kidnapping
What do the bodies of two young children have in common with the murders of two adult men?
Eleanor Hasting, a black bookstore owner and child advocate, knows these killings are linked. How can she convince Lieutenant Michael Williams, head of the Special Crimes Team? Someone is abducting street children and their bodies are showing up sexually abused and manually strangled.
Psychic and member of Missing Children’s Rescue, Jaimie Wolfwalker, is prepared to do whatever it takes to locate and rescue the missing street children. The law be damned. Jaimie’s attitude and methods place her on a collision course with Sergeant Nita Slowater, second-in-command of the Special Crimes Team.
Four dedicated people struggle to come to terms with each other in their desperate search for clues. Every day brings more missing children, more young bodies. Can they stop the monsters before another child disappears?
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Street Harvest (Special Crimes Team)
http://www.amazon.com
What do the bodies of two young children have in common with the murders of two adult men? Eleanor H…
February 21, 2014
STREET HARVEST, Book 2, Special #Crimes Team
What do the bodies of two young #children have in common with the #murders of two adult men?
Eleanor Hasting, a black bookstore owner and child advocate, knows these killings are linked. How can she convince Lieutenant Michael Williams, head of the Special Crimes Team? Someone is abducting street children and their bodies are showing up sexually abused and manually strangled.
#Psychic and member of Missing Children’s Rescue, Jaimie Wolfwalker, is prepared to do whatever it takes to locate and rescue the missing street children. The law be damned. Jaimie’s attitude and methods place her on a collision course with Sergeant Nita Slowater, second-in-command of the Special Crimes Team.
Four dedicated people struggle to come to terms with each other in their desperate search for clues. Every day brings more #missingchildren, more young bodies. Can they stop the monsters before another child disappears?
AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 22 ON AMAZON! http://www.amazon.com/author/ayawalksfar
GET YOUR E-COPY NOW! AVAILABLE ON SMASHWORDS! http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AWalksfar
February 17, 2014
#FEMINIST #EROTICA: IS IT REALLY GOOD FOR WOMEN?
Feminist Erotica?
Today I am #interviewing Diana Persaud, author of Lucien’s Mate, an erotica novella. I have asked her to talk about what she terms ‘feminist erotica’ and why she writes it.
As my readers know, I support strong women, women who face challenges and make tough decisions. All too often in the past erotica has been more of a man’s fantasy and has revolved around the submission and humiliation of women, or at the very least, had reduced women to parts such as breasts and vaginas to be used and abused.
However, as an author, a feminist, a lesbian and a woman, I would be remiss not to explore what current erotica presents to its audience. Of course, my question is always: does this celebrate women and their lives, their sexuality or is it simply another mask for presenting women as disposable chattel?
Let’s hear what author Diana Persaud says:
“Feminist erotica. An oxymoron? Not necessarily. The general idea behind feminism is that women and men are equals. Unfortunately, in our society, men are allowed to be sexual yet women are not. We are taught to be ashamed of our bodies and called names if we embrace our sexuality. In the name of feminism, I urge you to stand for your rights. Embrace your sexuality. Be proud of your bodies, no matter what the shape. Don’t listen to the media. They prey on women, making us feel insecure about everything from our physical looks to our sexuality.
You would be very shocked to discover that this #erotica author is pretty conservative. Yet I have embraced my sexuality. I enjoy sex. Often. I have multiple orgasms 99% of the time. If you label me a slut or a whore, you’re about to be shamed. The only partner I ever had is my husband. Frankly, for me, it’s incredibly arousing to know that he is the only one that’s ever touched me intimately. It didn’t matter to him at first but now I think it’s arousing for him as well.
Embracing our sexuality means discovering the things that arouse us. Are you visual? Do you like to watch? Or do you prefer to use your imagination and read? Do you prefer vanilla sex or are you more curious about taboo subjects?
Given the popularity of the 50 Shades series, it seems that a lot of women are now interested in the BDSM lifestyle. I applaud sexual curiosity, but I caution, the fantasy is sometimes better than reality. A long time ago, I asked my then boyfriend to engage in a little light bondage. The moment my hands were bound, I began to think: What have I done? I’m completely helpless and at his mercy. He could kill me or rape me. What if he wants to try something sexual I’m not ready for? I’m not exactly in a position to say no. After about thirty seconds of panic, I asked him to untie me. I was so relieved when he did. I learned a few things about myself. One, I was very naïve. I also realized that it’s ok to satisfy sexual curiositybut only with someone you trust. Obviously, at that particular moment, I didn’t trust him fully.
In my journey to discovering and embracing my sexuality, I discovered erotica. There are so many subgenres, I’m sure there is something for everyone. Almost a decade later, I am writing erotic and I would classify it as feminist erotica because my females are strong women who stand up for themselves. Some might be more submissive than others, but they are not doormats. My main characters treat each other with respect, even if one is more dominant than the other.
In my newest novella, Isabella’s Dilemma, Isabella faces a choice that most women eventually face: housewife or career?
Isabella is a Soldier. In her culture, this is simply not done. Her father expects her to be a housewife. Incidentally, her soul mate has the same expectations. Izzy has to decide which is more important: being a “good” mate an giving up her career to raise (future) children or sacrifice her love life so she can focus on her career. She faces an extreme choice.
Real women make these choices with varying degrees of compromise. Some women stay at home and once their children are old enough, they return to work. Some chose to be a “housewife” permanently while others remain childless and focus solely on their careers, like Oprah.
The wonderful thing about feminism is that we have a choice. We can choose to be full time or part time house wives. We can also choose not to be a housewife. The choice is entirely ours. So embrace your sexuality and read an erotic novella. I hope you will check out Isabella’s Dilemma and see if she made the right choice for her.
~Diana”
One interview cannot change my mind, but Diana has presented some thoughts to allow for exploration of the concept of feminist erotica. PLEASE remember, that the beliefs expressed in the interview belong to Diana Persaud and do not speak for the author of this blog, Aya Walksfar.
If you wish to learn more about Diana Persaud….
Connect with Diana: http://www.facebook.com/diana.persaud.146
Blog: http://dianapersaud1.wordpress.com/
Follow Diana on Twitter @LuciensMate to receive tweets about Giveaways and New Releases. Don’t forget to check out her webpage dedicated to Lucien and his pack, dianapersaud.weebly.com.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7314263.DianaPersaud
Discover Diana’s eBooks on:
Amazon.com/Diana-Persaud/e/B00FPOAEAM
Apple: log in with your iTunes account and search Diana Persaud
http://ca.axis360.baker-taylor.com
Barnes and Noble: Go to Barnes and Noble then search for Lucien’s Mate by Diana Persaud
Kobo
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/author/dianapersaud
Sony (this site is slow to update new releases)
Don’t miss exciting new posts! CLICK AND FOLLOW! Every week brings new thoughts and explorations into the world of the mind and soul!
Connect with Aya on facebook and see the awesome VIDEOS and other postings at http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar
Have you heard the latest about the heart-breaking case the Special Crimes Team faces now? If not, go to http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor and check out the updates for Street Harvest, Book 2, Special Crimes Team. COMING SOON! TO BE RELEASED FEBRUARY 21st! Watch for this exciting mystery to become available on Amazon.
February 10, 2014
4 INSIGHTS INTO LOVE
“You are the light of my soul; the fire of my heart.”
“Relationships are more like flowers than fairy-tales. They’re living, dynamic things. They need to be out in the open air and the sunshine to survive.” Jesse Markham, Good Intentions
“The ones you love are butterflies…don’t cage them up or they will die….Love can only live when it is free.” Rene Lawson, Good Intentions
“You have to hunt for what’s real then find the courage to keep it.” Rene Lawson, Good Intentions
“Showing emotion is what the strong can do. The weak can’t afford to.” Patricia Markham, Good Intentions
“Yes, I loved her. I loved all that she was and all that she couldn’t be. I loved her in her imperfections as much as I loved her perfections.” Maddy St. James, Good Intentions
Burning Heart Image: courtesy of Chrisroll/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tulips and Butterflies Image: courtesy of Anekoho/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
To learn more about the characters quoted here, be sure to read Good Intentions, available at : http://amzn.to/1e4c0tF or from Barnes and Noble at: http://bit.ly/1lOTv0m
Visit the link at the top of this Home page to learn more about the award winning novel, Good Intentions.
Be sure to click on the FOLLOW button so you won’t miss all the exciting posts to come!
Drop by facebook and say Hi! at http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar Or check out the latest book news at http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor
February 3, 2014
THE REST OF THE STORY
After you have watched this video, read below for the rest of the story. @greatcaesarband (via @Upworthy) http://t.co/1N0E5hLV8r
THE REST OF THE #STORY
This heart breaking video celebrates love and hope in the face of violence and despair.
But a video can only tell so much; here is the rest of the story:
#Interracial couple: What you don’t see on the video is that the young black man was castrated then lynched. His girlfriend was forced to watch while this occurred then she was brutally gang-raped and beaten. She was found in time by a neighbor who rushed her to the hospital. When her parents came to the hospital she told them what happened. Her mother ran from the room crying, disgusted that her daughter had lain with a black boy; her father told her not to come home; that she deserved what had happened to her.
#Gay couple: During the attack on the boy in the locker room, someone shouted that the teacher had come in. The boys dispersed with a warning that should the gay boy report them, they would ‘finish what we started somewhere where we won’t be interrupted, fag!’
#Lesbian couple: Lisa finally got the courage to tell her parents that she is lesbian. Her girlfriend, Jackie, came with her for support. After Lisa was kicked out of her home for being lesbian, Jackie’s mom refused to let her stay even overnight as she didn’t want to get involved in a dispute between the girl and her parents. Jackie promised to meet Lisa the next day at the McDonald’s on Broadway. Lisa never showed. What Jackie didn’t realize was the night before Lisa had been beaten and raped. She huddled for the rest of the night in a cardboard box in an alley, shaking. Ashamed of being raped, Lisa couldn’t face Jackie so she hitchhiked to another city. On the streets without money or skills and being underage, Lisa was forced to become a prostitute in order to earn enough money to buy food and sometimes, for a place to sleep.
I don’t know if this video portrayed actual people, or if the couples were representations of what happens all too frequently. The scenarios I have shared have occurred again and again throughout the United States to many interracial, gay and lesbian couples. No one state has a monopoly on hate.
I wish I could say this type of thing no longer happens, but I would be lying. Every day violence driven by hate happens. Every day violence against women happens.
Every day dozens young girls like Lisa sell their bodies for food and shelter. This isn’t happening overseas in economically depressed countries or countries that are ruled by religious fanatics. It is happening here in the United States.
Will you be part of the solution, or part of the problem?
Leave a comment, or visit Aya’s facebook page and engage in conversation. http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar
COMING FEBRUARY 21, 2014, STREET HARVEST, Book 2, Special Crimes Team.
STREET HARVEST:
What do the bodies of two young children have in common with the murders of two adult men?
Eleanor Hasting, a black bookstore owner and child advocate, knows these killings are linked. How can she convince Lieutenant Michael Williams, head of the Special Crimes Team? Someone is abducting street children and their bodies are showing up manually strangled and sexually abused.
Psychic, and member of Missing Children’s Rescue, Jaimie Wolfwalker is prepared to do whatever it takes to locate and rescue the missing street children. The law be damned. Jaimie’s attitude and methods place her on a collision course with Sergeant Nita Slowater, second-in-command of the Special Crimes Team.
Four dedicated people struggle to come to terms with each other in their desperate search for clues. Every day brings more missing children, more young bodies. Can they stop the monsters before more children disappear?
http://www.amazon.com/author/ayawalksfar
http://www.twitter.com/AyaWalksfar
January 26, 2014
AWARD WINNING #AUTHOR: KELLY MILLER
Today I have the privilege of interviewing award-winning author, Kelly Miller. We’ll discuss her newest book, Deadly Fantasies, but we’ll touch on a few other subjects as well.
Q: What is your #mystery novel, “Deadly Fantasies,” about?
A: A ringing phone at 1:17 AM is never a good thing, but Homicide Detective Kate Springer doesn’t have the luxury of ignoring the call. On the other end of the line, a confessor admits to murdering her husband. Dr. Nina Grace needs help, and Kate knows it’s time to repay a debt. No matter the consequences, Kate must fight to keep the investigation from focusing solely on her friend.
Jonathan Grace controls the people in his life like he does his business—with a chokehold. His insatiable appetite for living life on the edge leads him to a club where he’s encouraged to act out his darkest desires. But what happens when one man’s fantasy becomes another person’s nightmare?
Did Dr. Nina Grace kill her husband or did Jonathan’s secret life lead to his death? Detective Springer believes that no matter what her friend admitted, she couldn’t be capable of the horrific torture and murder of her husband. But will Kate’s blind loyalty be her downfall?
Q: Do you have any other books published?
A: Yes. “Deadly Fantasies” is actually the second book in the Detective Kate Springer Series. The first book, “Dead Like Me,” was all about the protagonist. It’s her story and in it, the reader finds out what makes Kate tick, why she makes the decisions she does. In this second book, “Deadly Fantasies,” I wanted to develop the secondary characters and explore Kate’s relationship with them. But even though the two books build off each other, it’s not necessary to have read the first novel, to enjoy the second.
Q: Can you give us an insight into your main character?
A: Homicide Detective Kate Springer is a flawed woman. When you first meet her, you may not like her—she seems a bit cold and bristly. It’s just her way of keeping everyone at arm’s length. She’s lived too much life in her thirty-eight years and she struggles with issues of trying to control the people and the circumstances in her life. Yet once you get deeper into the story you realize she’s trying to become a better person. She knows her faults and she wants to overcome them. But just like all of us, she makes mistakes on the path to becoming the woman she wants to be.
Q: How would you describe your writing style?
A: I’m the “Law & Order: SVU” of books. My stories deal with dark adult themes, but they would still only get a NC-17 rating.
Q. Why did you decide to write in the genre of mystery/crime fiction?
A. You’ve heard the saying, “I didn’t pick the genre, it picked me.” For me, this is true. Before I started my writing career, I was a voracious reader. I still love to read, but now my schedule is so full it’s difficult to find time to finish reading a book. At the bookstore, I’ll pick up a variety of genres. My favorites are mysteries, suspense, thriller, and paranormal novels. The way my voice comes through in a book perfectly matches the crime fiction genre. So for now, I’m sticking with what works.
Q. What advice would you give to writers trying to get a book published?
A. Enter your novel into writing competitions. When my novel kept getting rejected, I entered the manuscript into the Florida Writers Association RPLA competition. I won second place in the Best Mystery category. In addition to winning the award, I got back invaluable information from three judges who’d critiqued my work, pointing out the weak areas. It was an inexpensive way to get feedback on my work.
Something else happened after I won the award. I finally got the attention of agents and publishers. I changed my query letter, adding the information about the award I won and each submission was met with positive feedback. I got past the first stage with the agents and publishers, each requesting the first three chapters of my book. Eventually, I signed with Black Rose Writing. Another option to keep in mind is that many small independent publishers offer their own writing competitions. Prizes sometimes include a publishing contract.
Q: What was one of the most surprising things you learned when first started out in the business?
A: I always thought, “If you write it, they will come.” That’s a laughable thought now, but I really thought if I wrote a great book, I’d easily hook an agent. But I started querying when the economy was sour, and I couldn’t get a bite. The same thought goes for readers. Just because I published a book, doesn’t mean everyone wants to read it. It takes a lot of work to get attention in such a crowded marketplace.
Q: Do you enjoy watching movies or TV shows?
A: When I’m not reading during my downtime, I’m watching television. I have to admit, I’m a reality TV junkie. In fact, when I was trying to sell my first book to an agent/publisher I created a comical animated movie on what a reality show based on writers would look like. You can check it out on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM4FRGTMogw. In my wild imagination, I envisioned the video going viral and eventually getting an agent out of the whole deal. Did I mention I’m a dreamer! Anyway, I’m a real sucker for all the reality shows where the average Joe gets a shot at making his dream come true. I love Project Runway, Top Chef, Face Off, and The Voice to name just a few. It’s amazing I ever find time to write!
Q: What should readers walk away from your books knowing? How should they feel?
A: I write mysteries with a sexual element. And not the 50 Shades of Grey kind. I shine a light on sexual taboo topics like in the case of Dead Like Me, childhood sexual abuse. But not in a preachy way. In the first book in the series, readers see one example of a girl who’s lived through horrible childhood trauma and the path she took because of it. I also want to make sure my readers get a satisfying ending. You know the type of story where you exhale. Readers have invested days, sometimes weeks into reading my book. They’ve immersed themselves in my characters, they’ve followed them through thick and thin, and when that final resolution happens, I want readers to close the book, hug it to their chest, and exhale. As a reader and author, it can’t get much better than that.
Bio for Kelly Miller
Kelly Miller lives in Tampa, Florida where her novel is set. She’s married, has three children, and a black Labrador named Gracie. Kelly is a proud member of the Florida Writers Association.
Deadly Fantasies is the second book in the Detective Kate Springer series. The first book, Dead Like Me, won second place in the best mystery category of the 2011 FWA Royal Palm Literary Awards competition. It was also named a semi-finalist in the mystery category of The Kindle Book Review’s 2013 Best Indie Books Awards competition.
REVIEW OF DEADLY FANTASIES
Detective Kate Springer is back! And this time, she has to save her friend, Dr. Nina Grace.
What do you do when the phone rings at one in the morning? If you’re Detective Kate Springer you answer it. And what do you do when your friend is on the line confessing to murdering her husband? Kate never hesitates: she plunges into a dark world to find the real killer before Dr. Grace winds up in prison.
The thing I like about Kate is her loyalty; misguided perhaps, but always there. It is her strongest asset and her greatest liability as she races into situations most of us would turn away from.
Author Kelly Miller weaves the past and the present together, creating a tangled web for her characters. In this second book, Ms. Miller deepens some of the supporting characters from Dead Like Me, Book 1 of the Springer Series. Not only do we get a different perspective on Dr. Grace, but we see another side to Detective Patrick Jessup, Mr. Quiet himself. To tell the truth, I was a bit shocked at how he acted this time, but when I understood why, well…I had to forgive the guy.
One of the things I enjoy about Ms. Miller’s work is the way she uses the past events to illuminate the actions of her characters in the present. It is part of what makes her characters real: the stress of personal issues tangles with the need to follow the facts and trips Kate up, time and time again. Still, she isn’t a quitter.
A good, solid story.
Buying Links
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/kelly-miller?store=allproducts&keyword=kelly+miller
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/393871
Social Media Links
Author Website: www.kellymillerauthor.com
Author Blog: http://apps.kellymillerauthor.com/blog
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kelly-Miller/218746298149725
Twitter: @MillerMystery https://twitter.com/MillerMystery
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KellyMillerMysteries
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ksmill7/
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=298040958&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104212278637740810813/posts
Rafflecopter
This rafflecopter is a giveaway to one person for two signed paperback copies of each title in the Detective Kate Springer series, “Dead Like Me” and “Deadly Fantasies.”
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b193cf0/
I hope you enjoyed reading about Author Kelly Miller as much as I enjoyed speaking with her. Would LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS!
For more author interviews, as well as the latest about my upcoming novel, Street Harvest, JUST CLICK AND FOLLOW my blog.
You can also visit with me on my Facebook pages: http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor and http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar On my profile page, I post a short book review on Fridays of what I’ve read that week. I love hearing about what my facebook friends and visitors read so be sure to stop by on Fridays and POST IN THE REVIEW THREAD about the books you love.
My guest poster on facebook, Biker Granny, posts every Tuesday. Please join us there and become a FRIEND and give us a LIKE. See you there!
January 22, 2014
HE SAID WHAT??!!
In order to support my addiction to writing novels, I work outside as a wildlife habitat designer/manager. Today was a long one battling invasive plant species while trying to preserve the indigenous plants, ones that wildlife and wild birds so desperately need. Back screaming, hip throbbing, wrists aching from bending and whacking; pulling and carrying, I finally stumbled home.
But, there’s no time to rest just yet. I have four German Shepherd dogs and two Papillons. They all have needs, and wants. So, it wasn’t until close to 11 PM that I at last sat down at my computer and opened up my social media to….
Gunnar Lawrence, author of A Perfect Day, posted his review of my book, Sketch of a Murder.
To see just what Mr. Lawrence thought of my book, go to http://gunnarangellawrence.blogspot.com
You might be surprised. I was.
January 13, 2014
#CHILDREN MISSING!
AN EPILOGUE FROM REALITY (Part 1: #MissingChildren)
A child is missing when it falls off the ‘normal radar’ such as the school or foster care system, when a parent or guardian no longer knows where that child is, and law enforcement cannot locate that child. In the United States, the Officer of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention estimates that a child goes missing every 40 seconds. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that roughly 2,000 children in the United States go missing every day, in a country that professes to love its children and to take care of them.
In the State of Washington alone, the Missing Children Clearinghouse estimates that over 20,000 children per year go missing. #WashingtonStateMissingChildren claims “Dozens of children go missing from Washington State and most of them don’t get an Amber Alert.” Also, in Washington State as of December 2013, there are over 354 children still on the Missing Children’s List after five to ten years of being gone.
A high percentage of children living on the streets are LGBTQ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) children who have been kicked out by their parents for their sexual orientation. All street children are at risk for exploitation through prostitution, sexual tourism, pornography, and #human #trafficking.
This graph is from an article on: http://www.thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/07/12/515641/study-40-percent-of-homeless-youth-are-lgbt-family-rejection-is-leading-cause/
We can, and must, work together to keep all of our children safe.
Next week, in Part 2 of An Epilogue From Reality, I will explore some of the other reasons children go missing.
The issue of missing children is the driving reason behind my writing of Street Harvest, Book 2, Special Crimes Team, to be released this spring.
Stay tuned to this blog for updates on Street Harvest.
Or visit me on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar I have shared some important videos dealing with children from such sites as UpWorthy. I do hope you will drop by and view them. Or stop by for a laugh. I often share wonderful photos that will bring a smile to your face.
Or visit my author’s page: http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor for updates on my upcoming books and links to important videos and articles.
You can also relax with photos on Pinterest. Have some nice scenic ones, inspirational ones, and, of course, the animals. http://www.pinterest.com/ayawalksfar .
