In the first, a young girl was detained at a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan wearing what officials said was a suicide vest. The nine-year-old child is now in the protective custody of the provincial government. She said she will resist any attempt to make her return to her village. Her father will beat her and her brother will force her to wear the bomb all over again.
On the second story, Pope Francis has issued his strongest condemnation yet of abortion, calling it a "horrific" symptom of a "throwaway culture" that placed too little value on human life.
Be that as it may, does forcing a child to kill herself and take the life of others at the same time constitute more evil than killing an unborn human life?
There are so many forms of evil. Rather than turn away from them, I've woven stories showing different facets of good actions and bad in the novel Tidal Surge.
One reviewer wrote: 'Horrified at acquiring the power to force people to do evil things, a girl can't resist the bracelet that gives her this power—unless her mother's moonstone ring has greater power. This novel puts mother/daughter battles in a scary new light'.
Don't misunderstand my motive. In the first book of the Moonstone series, Still Rock Water, the heroine inherits an ancient Egyptian ring that gives her visions. She occupies the body of someone far away and works out how to whisper advice to help them through a difficult situation.
Neither of the novels promotes evil. I believe that good will triumph on every level.
We all hear a little inner voice that gives advice. Sometimes wicked thoughts slip into our minds too—temptations. Those of us who are strong enough force them away. But what happens to the weak? How can they resist?
This weekend, Tidal Surge will be available for 99c at Amazon. I'm hoping you'll take advantage of the offer. This wasn't an easy novel to write but I hope it will entertain and make the reader ponder the struggle between good and evil.