Disraeli Avenue. Caroline Smailes

       Introduction

      There was once a girl, she was sexually abused in real life. On that very day she lost her voice and no other person asked her why.

      That girl changed, she became silent, almost invisible, she had no words.

      I wrote a novel, In Search of Adam, telling the story of a girl called Jude Williams who lived at 9 Disraeli Avenue. Jude suffered emotional and physical abuse. Readers emailed me, they could identify with Jude, they knew of the abuse that she had experienced.

      One reader told of the organisation One in Four and of how they provided a safe environment, a place to give voice. One in Four is a charity run for and by people who have experienced sexual abuse. They offer unconditional support and advice to those who need it most. Each and every donation makes a vast difference to this small charity.

      I offer Disraeli Avenue for you to read about the people who live in the thirty-two houses on the street where Jude Williams lost her words. And I dedicate this novella to the little girl who lost her voice and to all those others who have suffered sexual abuse.

      The profits from the sale of this book will go to the charity One in Four, in the hope that they will help someone begin to heal.

      Thank you, for listening.

      Caroline