I have written stories since childhood. I was a child struggling with bullying and being accepted by others when I discovered the cathartic benefits of writing. In writing, I found that I could finally have a voice…a say…and from there, I took my new hobby and ran with it. I honestly believe that writing and music saved my life!

This book is one I originally wrote years ago, during my pregnancy with my second child. Because self-publishing was almost unheard of back then and the publishing houses only wanted stories from people who were already famous, I kept the manuscript put away until the opportunities for publication finally presented themselves.

I would like to thank my family, friends and everyone whom supported me in the creation and publication of this book. Also, I have a message for aspiring authors: Don’t give up on your dream. If you continue to work hard and keep a positive mindset, a door will eventually open and you will become published! I promise!

SYNOPSIS:

“Chastity Diane Baker is a teenage prostitute and meth junkie living on the streets of Memphis. After being arrested by Detective Charles Riddick and hitting rock-bottom, she makes herself a solemn vow, that she would leave prostitution and drugs behind and live a better life.

Making good on her vow, Chas takes the necessary steps to improve her life, only she cannot seem to outrun her past. Her past mistakes follow her in the forms of a sadistic and vindictive ex-pimp and drug-supplier, who now wants her dead, different people who know her from her darker days and cruelly pass judgement on her, circumstances that arise and present themselves as roadblocks to her progress and her arresting officer, who now wants to protect her and eventually falls in love with her.

Despite constant adversity, Chas keeps her eyes on her goals and continues with focused determination. Will she escape the wrath of her ex-pimp or will she die? Will she reach success or will she let adversity, haters, and her own insecurity and negative feelings about her past bring yet even more failure? Will she be living proof that the old statement, ‘Once a hooker, always a hooker’ doesn’t always ring true?”

Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous new year!

The most insidious thing about being a victim of bullying is the loss of opportunities to meet new people and inability to move on with new friends. When your good name has been unjustly slandered/libeled, even total strangers will no doubt hear of you and chances are, they will automatically have their minds made up about you before they get a chance to meet you.

What’s even scarier is that you are left completely defenseless against any attack these strangers may bring because you haven’t the slightest idea who they are. How do you know who to watch out for? How do you know who to avoid? It’s impossible to protect yourself from enemies who are invisible.

It is a situation in which you are walking blind…a situation, which is very dangerous! You cannot see the enemy. Someone could walk right up to you on the street, in broad daylight, with a gun in the back waste of their pants and you would never know of their intent to shoot you until it was too late.

Remember. We lost the Vietnam War because we didn’t know who the enemy was! We didn’t know exactly who was or wasn’t on our side!

It’s the same when you are a victim of bullying, especially if you live in a rural area, where everyone knows everyone. Once your tarnished reputation reaches far and wide, there will be times when you won’t know who is coming for you and it will be as if you are fighting ghosts.