The moment I received my invitation to write for Brave Authors and saw the topic of Human Trafficking, I knew I’d found my people. At last, the story that had been simmering in my soul for years had a place to land. What a relief.
Since that invitation arrived, I’ve learned a few things—some of them difficult. The biggest lesson? Most people don’t aspire to be reminded of the conditions that some humans must endure. Especially those of us living comfortable first-world lives. We choose where we’ll work, what we’ll wear, when to sleep and when to wake. So much freedom. So many choices. It’s difficult to imagine—and even harder to unsee—how modern-day slavery still thrives in the shadows of that privilege.
I’ll admit, I’m a little oblivious when a subject is close to my heart. I talk too long, share too much, and pray my passion will make others care as deeply as I do. A friend once tried to rein me in. She told me that everything I shared about human trafficking made people uncomfortable.
Maybe she was right. But I couldn’t stay quiet.
Two local cases hit close to home and left me haunted. I couldn’t stop thinking about the girls caught in those stories—girls who never asked for the lives they were forced to live. Though I never met them, I felt compelled to give them a voice.
One case involved an underage girl forced into prostitution. When her pimp learned police were on their way to the hotel where she’d been found, he gave a chilling order: kill the girl. Eliminating her meant one less witness—and one less charge—if he was caught.
The second case was even worse. A mother sold her five-year-old daughter to a man for cash. That story ended with something far beyond tragic.
Though my novella is fictional, I wove in enough truth to honor what those girls endured. Writing it wasn’t easy. Sharing it is even harder. I know books like mine don’t attract the widest audience. Many readers would rather look away. But maybe that’s what makes this story—and this Brave Authors project—so important.
I pray Unbroken, a story within Every Captive Freed, lives up to the name.
Angela D. Shelton is the faith-filled force behind heart-pounding romantic suspense and thought-provoking dystopian tales. With one foot planted firmly in Georgia cattle country and the other chasing publishing dreams, Angela blends hope, grit, and grace into every story she tells. Whether she’s decoding healthcare billing like a pro or plotting her next YA twist under starlight with Carly (her loyal black lab) curled at her feet, Angela’s always crafting something meaningful — something that connects.
Champion of clean reads. Master of subtle faith threads. And on a ten-year mission to land among the bestsellers.
