The Red Trade is now available to pre-order as a kindle ebook.
(special introductory price of $0.99 / £0.99 / E0.99. The price
will be increased to $3.99 on the 12th September)
Two
must die, so that one may live.
Editorial.
A
truly frightening tale, more so because it is based on documented
fact. The Red Trade is the heart wrenching story of a group of small
children who are abducted from their homes by ruthless, heartless
men, and sold for organ harvesting, sacrifice to superstition, and to
satisfy the sick and twisted desires of wealthy foreigners.
A
look at rural life in East Africa, and an accurate portrayal of the
hardships faced daily by the less privileged in Kenyan society, (who
are the vast majority). The book also touches on a subject considered
by many as taboo. Albinism generates mixed response in Africa,
misunderstanding and superstitious ignorance surround these people
who are pure African, yet of the “wrong” colour.
Finally
a book that champions the less fortunate, and hopefully will help
towards understanding and tolerance.
The Red Trade.
Anita
is a happy and healthy girl, but she has a problem, something that
sets her aside from her peers, an inescapable condition. Anita is
white, yet her heart and blood are pure African.
For
Anita is albino. A cursed child; an abomination.
Junior
and Uncle are happy, carefree twins. Mischievous boys, full of life,
pranks and optimism.
Natasha
is a happy go lucky schoolgirl without a care in the world.
But
they all share one thing in common. They are targets for The Red
Trade. For a criminal gang is operating in their small
corner of Africa,
and customers around the world eagerly await.
Fortunately
there are people willing to stand up and shout, “Enough is enough,”
Glenn Ridgely is one such man, and with the help of his street-wise
Kenyan girlfriend Ruth, and world weary Kalanjin police officer,
Morgan. He sets about dismantling their sinister and sordid empire.
The
Red Trade. A story of human trafficking that reveals hidden truths
that many wish to deny exist.
A
story that ranges from the IDP camps of northern Uganda to the wide,
majestic plains of the Serengeti, and far across the Indian Ocean to
distant Pakistan. A story of abuse, subjugation, cruelty and
superstition, morality, and finally hope and redemption.
On
a personal note: This is a story that has been in the back of my
mind for some time, just waiting for a chance to put pen to paper, or
more accurately, fingers to keyboard.
The
Red Trade explores the darker aspects of the despicable trade in
human beings that is carried out across the world, regardless of
region, 1st and 3rd worlds are equally guilty.
Trafficking of human organs is rife, more transplant patients than
donors will always be an issue, a situation that favours the
heartless and conscienceless in society, and this book does cover
this terrible trade at its core, but I also wanted to look a little
deeper, because there is a less well known trade in human life. A
trade that sadly flourishes, fuelled by superstitious belief in
witchcraft, Muti killings do take place, human beings are murdered so
that their body parts can be used in potions and charms, and Albino
children are in huge demand.
It
is documented fact that in 2009, three Tanzanian men were found
guilty of the murder of a 14 year old albino boy, his legs were
removed to be sold for use in witchcraft. A similar crime occurred
again in 2010 in Tanzania and Burundi, when an albino child was
dismembered for Muti.
National
Geographic estimates that the total revenue for a complete set of
albino body parts is valued at $75,000.
Albinism
amongst Caucasian peoples is a noticeable genetic trait, yet
reasonably accepted, however, albinism carries a huge stigma in
Africa in conjunction with considerable superstition. As
an example, in some regions it is believed that sexual intercourse
with an albinistic woman will cure HIV AIDS, this unbelievable
misconception has
led to a dramatic increase in the reported cases of rape amongst
albino women, and
also
vastly increased levels of infection. Only
recently a documentary on a national television channel in East
Africa investigated the trait of albinism, I was shocked to note that
the headline for the piece was “Hope for albino creatures”
This
novel is entirely fictional, but I
would stress,
fiction in this case is based on fact. To
mention a side topic that enters the story, I make reference to
the Lords Resistance Army (LRA),
a
terrorist group who still retain a strong presence in central Africa.
The LRA has
abducted thousands of innocent children in Northern Uganda and
surrounding countries, and
these
children have
been
forced into lives of horror and degradation. The
LRA
leader, Joseph Kony is still at large today.
Although
the topic of my trafficking series of books may appear unsavoury, I
hope, and it is my intention to not only entertain with exciting
adventure stories, I also pray that just maybe I can open a few eyes
and minds at the same time, and raise a little awareness.
