You Are Amazing

Never forget...

You are beautiful, both inside and out. Don't let the media, or anyone else, tell you that you're not.

You are talented. Just because you aren't where you want to be yet doesn't mean that you won't get there.

You are loved. Your family and friends love you as much, if not more, than any partner may do.

You are kind. Don't allow your confidence to be broken by others perceptions of you. Their actions speak more of them than they do of you.

You are desirable. Someone may not be knocking down your door right now but you don't know who will appear tomorrow.

You are courageous. You may be waking up to a world that wants to bring you down. Yet every day you face it with courage and dignity. That takes more strength than you can possibly imagine.

You are not a failure. So you're angry/hurt/sad? This will pass. It's what you allow it to do to you that matters. Don't dwell on it; you're human and have emotions. But move on from it.

You are an inspiration. People will look up to you for many reasons but they may never tell you. Praise the people who inspire you.

You make the world a better place just by being in it. Keep loving and living because your life, and your spirit, are needed.

You are amazing. Never forget that.

Slavery

One of the things which seems to bother some people about my books is the way Erus treats Cedo.

Unfortunately, in the 1900's, it was a way of life. There was no welfare state and, if you were poor or destitute, you had two choices: take what was offered or starve, even if it meant you used for sexual favours or beaten. You took what was there because you didn't even want to think about the final choice: The workhouse. The workhouse, but that was not a place you wanted to go to, no matter how desperate. Tales from the workhouses are far more horrific than any novel or film could ever portray.

We'd like to think that such things no longer take place. Tragically they do, and may even be happening right where you live. People trafficked to be used as sex slaves. Whole families forced to work back breaking hours just to survive. Children who should be in school working in factories just to pay their way.

Whether you want to acknowledge it or not that, and much more, still happens around the world. There are numerous people trying to put a stop to it and, if you search for "Modern Slavery" you'll find many websites and charities which are dedicating to putting an end to it once and for all. Last Christmas, the Advent Conspiracy's advert discussed just how little of a person's annual Christmas spending it would take to help free people from slavery once and for all.

It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter if you only have a little money. You can give something you do have to help others: Your time. Go out there and help change the world. Don't think you can? Wrong! Of course you can!

Thanks for reading and keep being amazing!