Harrowing, Timely Novel Depicts a Woman's Life After Surviving Attempted Honor Killing

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Author and screenwriter Lucette Walters has made her literary debut with "Light of the Desert," an emotionally affecting novel about a young woman who narrowly survives an attempted drowning at the hands of her father and sets off on a journey to asylum that takes her halfway around the world.

Born to a wealthy family in Al-Balladi, Jordan, Noora Fendil lives a pampered life. She is her father's favorite daughter, and she is preparing to both graduate college and wed her childhood sweetheart. However, everything comes to a halt when her jealous and resentful younger sister fabricates a story that suggests Noora has dishonored her family. As retribution, Noora's father tries to drown her in an act of honor killing but she survives and flees her home in search of sanctuary.

Honor killing is the violent murder of a female relative who is perceived to have brought shame upon her family. Often, this horrific tradition is carried out by a male relative, like a father, uncle or brother. "Light of the Desert" brings attention to this global phenomenon and the archaic cultural norms that regard girls and women as property rather than human beings. At the same time, it's a sweeping story of endurance, hope and forgiveness in the aftermath of trauma, as Noora must pick up the pieces of her broken life and start anew.

"With 'Light of the Desert,' I sought to bring awareness to the cruel, misogynistic practice of honor killing and its increased prevalence across the globe," said Walters. "However, it's also an adventure story that focuses on a woman who overcomes many hardships and ultimately finds forgiveness for those who have wronged her."

"Walters's poignant novel puts a human face on 'honor killings' while tapping into the universal quandaries surrounding faith, hope, guilt and familial love," wrote Foreword Clarion Reviews.

"If stories of sweep and scope appeal to you, you'll likely be caught up in this saga of a young woman's incredible odyssey," wrote the US Review of Books.

"Light of the Desert"
By Lucette Walters
ISBN: 9781425977481 (softcover); 9781425977498 (hardcover); 9781491842560 (electronic)
Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AuthorHouse

About the Author
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Lucette Walters grew up in Paris and later relocated with her family to Los Angeles where she pursued a career in creative writing and film. She recently completed the screenplay adaptation of "Light of the Desert" and is working on her second novel.

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