Katy Weitz – författare

Cassie was only thirteen when her mother died of a degenerative illness, leaving her vulnerable to sexual predators in the Halifax area who had been grooming her since the age of eleven. She fell through the net of the care system and reached out for friendship, only to be consumed by an escalating spiral of abuse. This harrowing and truly shocking story captures in vivid detail how gangs of men were able to ply a child with drink and drugs, then rape her and pass her around their associates with no one seemingly able to step in and prevent it. Cassie was lost in a world of appalling degradation for years before a local policeman and caring social worker became instrumental in helping her to escape and rebuild her life. In 2016, the largest case of child sexual exploitation ever brought to trial at that time in the UK resulted in the conviction of 17 men. Since Cassie's abusers were jailed, child safeguarding policies have improved so that vulnerable children like Cassie should never again fall through the net and become prey.

For fans of One Born Every Minute.The Secret Midwife is a heart-breaking, engrossing and important read. At once joyful and profoundly shocking, this is the story of birth, straight from the delivery room.Strongest supporter, best friend, expert, cheerleader and chief photographer . . . Before, during and after labour the role of a midwife is second to none. The Secret Midwife reveals the highs and lows on the frontline of the maternity unit, from the mother who tries to give herself a DIY caesarean to the baby born into witness protection, and from surprise infants that arrive down toilets to ones that turn up in the lift.But there is a problem; the system which is supposed to support the midwives and the women they care for is starting to crumble. Short-staffed, over worked and underappreciated - these crippling conditions are taking their toll on the dedicated staff doing their utmost to uphold our National Health Service, and the consequences are very serious indeed.

For fans of One Born Every Minute.The Secret Midwife is a heart-breaking, engrossing and important read. At once joyful and profoundly shocking, this is the story of birth, straight from the delivery room.Strongest supporter, best friend, expert, cheerleader and chief photographer . . . Before, during and after labour the role of a midwife is second to none. The Secret Midwife reveals the highs and lows on the frontline of the maternity unit, from the mother who tries to give herself a DIY caesarean to the baby born into witness protection, and from surprise infants that arrive down toilets to ones that turn up in the lift.But there is a problem; the system which is supposed to support the midwives and the women they care for is starting to crumble. Short-staffed, over worked and underappreciated - these crippling conditions are taking their toll on the dedicated staff doing their utmost to uphold our National Health Service, and the consequences are very serious indeed.

"In the beginning, I lived day to day, sometimes even hour to hour. I was pleased at the end of the day, to have survived, more or less. Now I know, I am strong. Life continues, for which I am glad."For Julia Engelhorn life divides into the Before and After.There was a time Before, when her life was filled with the joys and struggles of parenthood, when she was run off her feet trying to take care of a seven year old and three year old twins Octavia and Maximo. And then there was a time After, when her world was encased in darkness, when there was only one child left and she had become a member of a club that no one wants to join.On 6 April 2016 Julia went to pick up her three children from the rental home of her ex- husband Mario Deus where he had been taking care of them over the Easter holidays. Although it had been a difficult couple of years, Julia hoped that now the divorce was finalised they could get their relationship on a better and more stable footing for the sake of the children. Nothing could have prepared her for what happened that day.On arrival to the house, Mario told her to pick up a knife because he intended to kill her. When she asked what was happening he said that the twins were dead. Julia's world shattered in that moment, she ran to the bedroom where she thought her children were asleep, only to find their lifeless bodies.This is the story of her Before and After - a story of healing after unimaginable loss. Precious Scars is Julia's inspiring story of how she put herself back together again after being broken apart by unthinkable loss. It is about finding a way through impenetrable grief and learning to love, laugh and sing again."The scars I carry with me, inside me, are a reminder of what I have survived. From the broken pieces of my old self, something new was created, just as beautiful, but different."

Tressa Middleton blev förstasidesstoff då hon 2006 som tolvåring blev Storbritanniens yngsta mamma. Hennes historia provocerade och chockerade hela landet, men sanningen visade sig vara långt mer tragisk än vad någon kunde ana.Tressa föddes i en fattig och dysfunktionell familj och blev omhändertagen redan som fyraåring. Vid sju års ålder flyttade hon tillbaka hem till sin mamma, där hon blev sexuellt utnyttjad av sin bror och gravid med hans barn. För att hålla ihop familjen talade hon aldrig om hur det egentligen låg till, fram till den dag då hennes mörka hemlighet höll på att förgöra henne fullständigt. Tressa har gått igenom mer smärta och elände än vad de flesta vuxna människor behöver genomleva under en livstid. Ändå är hon idag en modig och stark ung kvinna vars historia är full av hopp, förlåtelse och inte minst kärlek.

Tressa Middleton nousi otsikoihin tullessaan äidiksi vain 12-vuotiaana. Hänen kohtalonsa hätkähdytti ja järkytti monia, mutta todellisuus osoittautui paljon pahemmaksi kuin kukaan osasi kuvitellakaan.Tressa syntyi vähävaraiseen ongelmaperheeseen, ja hänet otettiin huostaan neljän vuoden ikäisenä. Myöhemmin hän muutti takaisin kotiin äitinsä luokse, joutui veljensä seksuaalisen hyväksikäytön uhriksi ja tuli raskaaksi. Koska Tressa halusi pitää perheensä koossa, hän ei koskaan puhunut siitä, mitä perheessä todella oli tapahtunut, kunnes synkkä salaisuus ei ollut enää piiloteltavissa. Tressa on kokenut lapsuudessaan enemmän tuskaa ja kurjuutta kuin useimmat meistä joutuvat kestämään koko elämänsä aikana. Hänen tarinansa on kuitenkin täynnä toivoa.