Design & Photo Credit: Studio Absolute, Russ & Cheryl McIntosh

In her new book, Rescuing Hope, Susan Norris dares to dive into the grit of child sex trafficking taking place across our nation. Her story of Hope, an innocent 14-year-old, weaves together all the stories of all the girls and all the families, the pimps and the police officers she interviewed.

It’s real life fiction for young adults. It’s gritty. It’s necessary.

From the back cover:

Every two minutes, evil strips innocence from a child and sells her into slavery for sex. Not in a third world country, but in the United States of America.

Before you take another breath, the next victim will be tricked and taken from her family by a profit-hungry criminal. She could be a neighbor. A friend. Your sister. Your daughter. You. 

At fourteen, Hope Ellis is the all American girl with a good life—Until the day she tries to help her mom with their crosstown move by supervising the movers. . . .

Hope’s disappearance sets a community into motion. She’s one of their own. They determine to find Hope, whatever the cost, before she’s lost forever. Will you?

I took up that invitation when, two and a half years ago, I began walking alongside Susan as her coach, her agent and her  friend to develop, publish and distribute this important work. It’s been a busy time! But, oh, so worth every ounce of energy spent.

In fewer than ten days, on the eve of the 150th anniversary of The Emancipation Proclamation, Susan will be at Stage AE in Pittsburgh helping Resolution Hope launch their national 13A Campaign to End Child Trafficking in the U.S. This concert event features Matthew West, Brit Nicole, Rebecca & Greg Sparks and other surprise guests (including Susan!). It will be a New Year’s Eve countdown like no other, and you can take part!

HERE’S HOW:

NYE Concert Event Live in Pittsburgh

1. Attend the New Year’s Eve Concert Event 13A Campaign kickoff in Pittsburgh to end U.S. child trafficking. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit Resolution Hope or Stage AE.

2. Attend the simulcast New Year’s Eve Concert Event 13A Campaign kickoff  in Marietta, GA at Susan’s home church of RiverStone. They’re gonna be partying! For more info and to purchase tickets, visit Riverstone online.

3. Join the 13A campaign by signing their petition asking the President to call our Federal Government to the task of ending this U.S. epidemic.

4. Purchase Rescuing Hope on New Year’s Eve directly through Susan’s website, at one of the events, or through Resolution Hope. Portions of the proceeds will go toward raising awareness of the issue and providing rehab for rescued girls. (If you’re in the Atlanta area and purchase your book at the RiverStone simulcast, Susan will be at The Daily Grind for a book signing in January. Watch her site for the date!

5. Pray. No, really. Pray. We positioned the book in the Teen/YA Real Life General Fiction category for a purpose. If you’ve visited B&N recently or have teen girls, you know why it fits.

6. Join us in this fight to save our precious girls. Help them see their vulnerabilities, their true identities, to give them Truth, equip them with wisdom and awareness to protect their innocence and help those held captive to recapture theirs. They’re worthy. They need you. Please raise your voices with ours and do what you can with what you have to be a voice for Hope and all the Hopes within your influence. It’s the only way they’ll ever be free. It’s the only way we’ll ever truly be free.

7. Now, take part in the conversation. Better yet, start one. Learn what you can, share what you know, and never again look the other way. Oh, and by the way, will you tell your friends about Rescuing Hope? And if you would like to help us raise up voices for Hope, will you let me know? We would love to feed you a pdf for review on your blog, clips for your social networks and other pieces to make our collective voices heard.