Nicolas: Author Note

Dear reader,

 

A few days after I released my first novel, MissTaken, I was told by several people that they loved the story, but there was one character in particular—Nicolas—they wanted to know more about. Roughly a week later, I woke up at two in the morning, and his story just flashed through my mind. I furiously scribbled notes before it faded from memory, then set to work writing.

I am delighted to now present to you, Nicolas: A MissTaken Story.

This story occurs over roughly the same timeline as the first book, but through the eyes of Nicolas. While I have attempted to make this story stand on its own, I do think reading MissTaken first will improve the clarity and make it a more enjoyable experience.

For those who have read MissTaken, I will note this story is a bit darker in tone, owing to the perspective of the protagonist. It delves more deeply into the world of trafficking, though I have worked hard to do so in a way that is tasteful.

I am writing this note just a few days after watching Sound of Freedom, a movie based on the story of Tim Ballard and his efforts to combat human trafficking. It has reignited in me a desire to do something, to help in some small way; to shed some light on this contemporary issue.

It is nearly 160 years since the end of the American Civil War, which many see as the “end of slavery”. Yet today, there are an estimated thirty to fifty million slaves worldwide (0.5 to 5 million in the US). That’s three to five times the total number of slaves brought to the US during the entirety of the transatlantic slave trade. It is estimated that roughly thirteen to twenty percent of present-day slaves are children.

While this story is a work of fiction, most of the concepts surrounding slavery and trafficking are founded in reality, based on information shared with me by people from Central and South America, who have witnessed its horrors. It is a very real, very sobering problem. One which needs more attention, more sincere effort to resolve. Nobody should live in bondage.

It is my hope that this novel—in addition to being an enjoyable story—will help to create awareness, and perhaps to inspire others to become more involved in whatever way they can.

As a small step on my part, I am committing twenty percent of the profits from the sale of this book to one or more organizations dedicated to fighting and preventing human trafficking, and to helping its victims.

Thank you for your support and enjoy Nicolas: A MissTaken Story.

Sincerely,

Edwin Philips

(Back to Landing Page for Nicolas: A MissTaken Story)