“An astounding ONE MILLION Children are victims of human trafficking worldwide.”
When I first encountered this statistic at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, a few years ago. I was stunned to silence. I remember I stood there, rooted to the spot, reading and re-reading the sentence.
One million children.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness month, so I thought it was an apt time to remember those lost in human trafficking. A few more stats hit me as well.
In the U.S. alone, 5000 teen girls are sucked into the world of human trafficking and prostitution each year. That’s about one every 90 minutes!
Now, in this year, more people are trapped in human trafficking and slavery than at any other time in human history.
That’s why when I penned my novel, Crimson at Cape May, I decided to use my voice to share my outrage about this horrible fate of one million children. You see, this novel, the second entry in my Haunted Shores Mysteries, is an award-winning, cold case murder mystery with a touch of romance, all set in the quaint, old resort town of Cape May, New Jersey. And all this is true. Just check out the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Not to mention, it became the #2 bestselling ghost story in the U.S.
But I chose to set my paranormal mystery in Cape May, with all the beauty and charm of this picturesque small town, with gorgeous white sand beaches which seem to go on forever and the most stunning collection of Victorian mansions and B & B’s anywhere, as a deliberate contrast to the ugly world of human trafficking occurring not very far from the city limits.
Why not check out my Crimson at Cape May for yourself? You’ll discover a captivating whodunit, get transported to a charming resort town and also might learn a bit about the secret world of human trafficking. https://books2read.com/u/mq1wnQ
No matter how far you run, you can never really escape a haunted past.
Darrell Henshaw—teacher, coach, and paranormal sensitive—learned this lesson the hard way.
With his job gone and few options, he heads for Cape May to coach a summer football camp. The resort town, with gorgeous beaches, rich history and famous Victorian mansions, might just be the getaway he needs. Only, no one told him Cape May is the most haunted seaport on the East Coast. One resident ghost, the Haunted Bride, stalks Darrell, begging for his help.
He can’t refuse.
Joining forces with Cassie, a street-wise teen and another sensitive, he investigates the bride’s death and discovers her murder is connected to a far greater horror. But can Darrell and Cassie expose those behind the crimes before they end up being the killer’s next victims?
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Since retiring from education, Dr. Randy Overbeck has used his four decades of experience as a teacher and school leader to create captivating tales of suspense, heroism and mystery, all set in the arena of schools. His books have earned national awards including the Gold Award from Literary Titan, Best Book Award from Chanticleer Books and Reviews, Thriller of the Year from ReadersFavorite.com and Mystery of the Year from ReaderViews.com. His most recent series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries, have become Amazon and Barnes and Noble Bestsellers. This fall the Wild Rose Press will release his newest work, an atmospheric amateur sleuth mystery, CRUEL LESSONS, the first installment in a new series, “Lessons in Peril.” He is the host of the podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual backstories of famous authors, directors and poets. When he’s not podcasting or writing his next blockbuster, you can find him speaking to audiences across the country, sharing his multi-media presentations, “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” “A Few Favorite Haunts,” and “Everything You Wanted to Know About Publishing.”
You can connect with Randy via email randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck, Twitter @OverbeckRandy, Instagram @RandyOverbeck or Facebook AuthorRandyOverbeck .
Although I know a little bit about sex trafficking from what I've read in the past, these statistics are still mind-blowing and horrific. It hurts my heart to think of it. Thanks for doing what you can do raise awareness concerning this important issue!
The numbers on this are alarming. Hopefully increased awareness will bring solutions.
I love Cape May, and a ghost story set in that town sounds super scary! Congrats on the book.
Thanks for coming today, Randy! You always have important things to share.