Author: Lizard Books

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world, and Mexico sits at the heart of it.

Behind every statistic is a story: a girl promised work in the city, a migrant hoping for a better life, a child whose trust is stolen.

Understanding why Mexico has become a critical hub for trafficking helps us see both the scope of the problem and the urgency of fighting it.

1. Geography and Migration Corridors

Along migration routes—bus stations, border towns, and shelters—recruiters prey on desperation, offering transportation, food, or false promises of employment. Once victims accept help, traffickers confiscate documents, isolate them, and sell them into labor or sex work.

Mexico’s location makes it a bridge between Central and North America. Millions of migrants travel north each year, fleeing poverty, violence, and instability in their home countries. Traffickers exploit this movement. Border regions such as Tamaulipas, Baja California, and Chihuahua have become high-risk zones where cartels and smuggling networks overlap with trafficking operations.

2. Organized Crime and Corruption

Trafficking in Mexico cannot be separated from the power of organized crime. Drug cartels diversify their income through human trafficking because people, unlike drugs, can be sold again and again.

Corruption at multiple levels (police, immigration, and local government) creates a system where traffickers operate with relative impunity. Victims often fear reporting crimes, knowing that those meant to protect them may be complicit or indifferent. This culture of silence enables a cycle where exploitation becomes invisible, and justice feels unreachable.

3. Poverty and Gender Inequality

Poverty drives vulnerability. In rural and indigenous communities, limited access to education and employment makes women and children especially susceptible to false job offers.

Gender discrimination deepens the danger. Many girls are raised to believe obedience is safety, even when that trust is betrayed. According to human-rights groups, entire communities in southern states like Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Guerrero have become recruitment zones for traffickers who target young girls for urban brothels or cross-border transport.

4. Demand Across Borders

Human trafficking is not sustained by supply. It’s sustained by demand. Sex tourism, forced labor, and online exploitation fuel the industry. The proximity to the United States, one of the largest markets for commercial sex and cheap labor, amplifies the flow. Victims from Central America and Mexico are trafficked both domestically and internationally, often ending up in cities across North America where their identities are erased.

5. Gaps in Enforcement and Protection

While Mexico has national laws criminalizing trafficking, implementation remains inconsistent. Limited funding, understaffed agencies, and threats against investigators often stall progress. Survivors who escape rarely have access to long-term rehabilitation, education, or safe housing, leaving them vulnerable to re-trafficking. Advocates and nonprofits work tirelessly, but systemic change requires both public awareness and international cooperation.

6. Hope and the Path Forward

Despite the darkness, there is hope. Grassroots organizations, churches, and survivor-led movements across Mexico are breaking cycles of exploitation through education, rescue, and restoration.

Each story of freedom matters. Every time someone learns to recognize the signs, supports survivor programs, or speaks up, another link in the chain is broken. As I researched for my novel Rejected—which reimagines the biblical story of Hagar through the lens of trafficking in Mexico—I was struck by one truth: even in the most desperate places, God still sees.

We are not powerless against this crisis. Awareness is the first act of resistance.

📖 Rejected by Elizabeth Simon available for preorder today! 50% of all pre-order royalties will be donated to The Mekong Club, a group that promotes awareness of human trafficking in the supply chain.

📅 Coming Black Friday 2025

#HumanTrafficking #SexTrafficking #Mexico #SocialJustice #FaithAndFiction #RejectedNovel #VoiceForTheVoiceless

Writing Rejected has been both rewarding and deeply challenging. This novel confronts a devastating global reality—human trafficking—and seeks to tell the truth with honesty, compassion, and hope.

As readers prepare to experience the story, I believe it’s important to acknowledge the difficult themes this book portrays. While Rejected is a work of fiction, it reflects circumstances that are tragically real for millions of people around the world.

Why These Warnings Matter

Rejected reimagines the biblical story of Hagar through the lens of modern sex trafficking in Mexico. It is not a light story, but it is a necessary one.

Many readers in my community come from a faith-based background, and I wanted to approach this subject matter with both truth and tenderness. The novel does not sensationalize trauma, but it also does not look away from it. The goal is to honor survivors’ experiences while holding space for readers who may find the content emotionally heavy.

If you are sensitive to topics of abuse or exploitation, I encourage you to take care while reading. Step away when needed. The story is meant to shed light, not cause harm.

The Story Behind the Story

The biblical narrative of Hagar is brief yet powerful. Scripture tells us that she was “an Egyptian” and a servant in Sarai’s household (Genesis 16, 21). Beyond that, her early life is shrouded in silence.

Some Jewish traditions imagine Hagar as an Egyptian princess given to Sarai, while others see her as a slave or handmaid. In every interpretation, her story is shaped by systems of power beyond her control, yet Hagar becomes the first woman in the Bible to receive a direct promise from God, and the only person who gives God a name.

Because Scripture leaves her beginnings untold, Rejected offers one possible reimagining of what her life might look like if she lived today. In this retelling, that silence becomes the story of a modern woman trapped in the cycle of trafficking and exploitation, searching for freedom, faith, and identity.

It’s not the only interpretation, but it’s one way of asking how her voice still speaks to us now.

Content Advisory / Trigger Warnings

This novel contains sensitive and potentially triggering material, including:

* Human trafficking and modern slavery

* Child sexual exploitation

* Prostitution

* Sexual assault and forced sexual experiences

* Emotional abuse and trauma

Reader discretion is strongly advised.

If you are a survivor or someone affected by these issues, please know that this story was written with great care and respect. Its intent is not to retraumatize, but to bear witness and to help readers see those who are too often silenced.

A Story of Seeing and Being Seen

At its heart, Rejected is not about despair. It’s about resilience.

It’s about the God who sees, even when the world looks away.

If certain passages are difficult to read, that’s understandable. My hope is that you’ll also find moments of strength, compassion, and redemption woven throughout.

Thank you for trusting me with your time, your heart, and your empathy.

📖 Rejected by Elizabeth Simon

🕊️ Book Two in the Margins of Genesis Series

📅 Releasing Black Friday 2025

The moment has finally come! I’m beyond excited to share the official cover for my upcoming novel, Rejected, releasing Black Friday 2025.

📖 A reimagining of Hagar’s story. Set against the harsh realities of sex trafficking in Mexico.

About the Story

Rejected is inspired by one of the most overlooked women in the Bible — Hagar. Cast out, abandoned, and forced to survive on her own, Hagar’s story in Genesis resonates deeply with women today who are still fighting to be seen.

In this modern retelling, Rejected follows a young woman caught in the brutal world of sex trafficking in Mexico, where faith becomes her only light. It’s a story of pain and survival but also of courage, resilience, and the God who never looks away.

This book was written to give voice to those the world often forgets, and to remind us that every story, no matter how broken, can still find redemption.

Why This Cover Matters

The cover of Rejected captures the tension between desolation and hope. Helena (Hagar) and Ignacio (Ishmael) walk across cracked earth, backpacks on, moving toward a distant horizon where sunlight breaks through heavy clouds. Behind them stand simple wooden crosses; ahead, a single tree rises strong against the fading light.

Every element is symbolic. The barren landscape reflects the emptiness of rejection, the feeling of being cast out and forgotten. Helena and Ignacio represent survival and the relentless human spirit. And that lone tree? It’s a promise of life after loss, a sign that even in the driest soil, something living can still take root.

The light spilling across the horizon reminds us that redemption is never too far away. It is Hagar’s story retold in modern form: a journey through hardship, guided by faith, toward the God who still sees.

Coming Black Friday 2025

Mark your calendars: Rejected releases November 28, 2025 (Black Friday).

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing:

* Sneak peeks into the characters’ journeys.

* Insights about the real-world issue of human trafficking in Mexico.

* The inspiration behind Hagar’s transformation from victim to survivor.

Join the Movement

This book isn’t just fiction. It’s a call to see, to speak, and to act.

💬 Share the cover.

🎧 Listen to Chapter One in audio format.

📖 Follow along for updates leading to launch.

When we bring these stories into the light, change begins.

👉 Visit lizard-books.com for the full journey.

#RejectedNovel #CoverReveal #BiblicalFiction #HumanTraffickingAwareness #SexTrafficking #FaithAndFiction #BookLaunch #BlackFriday2025 #VoiceForTheVoiceless

Some stories are meant to be heard.

I’m thrilled to announce that Chapter One of Rejected is now available in audio format, the first glimpse into a novel that reimagines the biblical story of Hagar through the modern lens of sex trafficking in Mexico.

Why Audio First?

Voice has power. Hearing a story brings it closer. You feel every breath, every pause, every plea for freedom. Rejected opens in the shadows of Mexico’s human trafficking crisis, where faith and survival collide.

Chapter One introduces readers to a girl whose choices are stripped away, yet her hope refuses to die. It’s the kind of story that reminds us: even when the world looks away, God still sees.

About the Story

Rejected (releasing Black Friday 2025) is a modern retelling of Hagar’s story from Genesis.

But this Hagar isn’t walking through the desert. She’s trapped in a system that profits from the broken and forgotten.

The novel explores: the harsh realities of human trafficking in Mexico, the courage it takes to survive rejection and exploitation, and the enduring truth that every person is seen, known, and loved by God.

Listen. Reflect. Share.

This audio release is more than a preview. It’s an invitation.

💬 Listen to Chapter One and share your thoughts in the comments.

📢 Spread awareness by sharing this post.

💡 Support survivors by learning how trafficking happens and how to fight it.

Every share helps break the silence around trafficking.

🎙️ Listen Now

📅 Rejected — Coming Black Friday 2025

📖 A story of survival, rejection, and the God who sees.

#RejectedNovel #HumanTraffickingAwareness #SexTrafficking #BiblicalFiction #SocialJustice #FaithAndFiction #AudioBookRelease #VoiceForTheVoiceless

We released Rejected’s first chapter to the Deep Dive Podcast. Listen to what they say about Elizabeth Simon’s second book in the Margins of Genesis series.

Human trafficking, especially sex trafficking in Mexico, is a silent epidemic. Every year, thousands of women and children are coerced, exploited, and sold. This criminal industry thrives in secrecy, often fueled by poverty, organized crime, and corruption. Victims are promised jobs, love, or safety, only to be trapped in a cycle of abuse and control.

Raising awareness matters. Without it, traffickers continue to profit while survivors remain voiceless.

Why Focus on Sex Trafficking in Mexico?

Mexico is one of the largest hubs for human trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. Its central location, along with migration routes and cartel activity, makes it a key corridor for traffickers moving victims across borders. Vulnerable communities, especially women, children, and migrants, are targeted because they lack protection and resources.

According to human rights organizations, traffickers often lure victims with false promises of work or romance. Once trapped, women and girls are stripped of freedom, documents, and dignity. It is a brutal system designed to profit from the most vulnerable.

By telling these stories, we bring them into the light where traffickers don’t want them.

The Novel Inspired by Survival

My upcoming novel, Rejected (coming Black Friday 2025), takes this reality and frames it through the story of one of the most overlooked women in the Bible: Hagar.

In Genesis, Hagar was cast out, abandoned, and left to survive alone. She became the first woman in Scripture to name God, calling Him “the One who sees me.” That powerful moment of being seen in the wilderness echoes the cries of trafficking survivors today—women who feel invisible, forgotten, and discarded.

Rejected reimagines Hagar’s story through the lens of modern sex trafficking in Mexico. It is a novel about pain, resilience, and hope, because even in rejection, there can be redemption.

How You Can Make a Difference

While Rejected is a work of fiction, the reality it points to is very real. Here are ways you can take action today:

1) Learn the signs of trafficking and share them with others. Awareness saves lives.

2) Support survivor-focused nonprofits in Mexico and beyond. Your donation or time can change someone’s future.

3) Advocate for stronger laws and enforcement that protect victims and punish traffickers.

4) Use your platform, whether you write, teach, or lead, to amplify survivor stories.

More Than a Novel: A Call to Action

When Rejected releases on Black Friday 2025, it won’t just be another book launch. It will be a reminder that stories matter, survivors matter, and their voices deserve to be heard.

Like Hagar in the wilderness, trafficking victims cry out to be seen. And like Hagar, they are not forgotten.

✨ Rejected by Elizabeth Simon

📅 Coming Black Friday 2025

📖 A reimagining of Hagar’s story set against the harsh realities of sex trafficking in Mexico

Elizabeth Simon now has an author profile on Bookbub. Follow her for updates on her latest novel Rejected: A Contemporary Story of Hagar, coming fall 2025.

The only way that a niece could marry her uncle in the United States today is if they were a part of a sovereign nation Native American tribe that’s culture and traditions allowed for those types of marriages. I have a great respect for Natives and wanted to put them in the best light possible. Therefore, in writing the book, Barren, I had to do extensive research on the Native American culture and traditions. One of the sources I used was Anton Treuer’s book Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask.

Anton Treuer, an Ojibwe professor and scholar, masterfully tackles nearly 200 pressing questions about Native Americans, blending history, personal anecdotes, and contemporary issues into a clear, engaging narrative. He opens dialog on topics that many wonder about but hesitate to address, from stereotypes and language revitalization to sovereignty and cultural representation.

The book is in a question and answer format, organized into logical sections like Terminology, History, Powwow, Politics, and Identity, making it easy to read in small bites or deep dives. Treuer doesn’t shy away from tough or silly questions (“Why do white people dress up as Indians for Halloween?” “Why is it called ‘fry bread tacos’?”), yet he answers with respect, wit, and honesty. He moves beyond guilt and stereotypes to offer constructive ways for readers to engage and support Indigenous communities. And he includes new sections on activism, the Dakota Access Pipeline, language and identity issues, with over 50 photos for context, earning starred reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, and others.

This book is ideal for anyone seeking a genuine understanding of the Native community, including educators, teens, curious adults. It serves both as an accessible introduction and a meaningful resource for deeper learning. The book also encourages respectful curiosity and offers clear pathways toward allyship and action.

In short, Everything You Wanted to Know… delivers clarity, compassion, and context making it an important, approachable resource for all readers. Highly recommended.

Get your copy of Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask on Amazon.

Get your copy of Barren on Amazon.

While doing research for both the book Barren and my new book Rejected (coming out fall 2025), it was recommended that I read American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. Both Barren and Rejected have interactions with the Mexican cartel, and American Dirt dives directly into the challenges of escaping the cartel.

Jeanine Cummins’ American Dirt tells a gripping and emotionally charged story that begins with a burst of tragedy and follows a desperate, high-stakes journey across Mexico. At the heart of the novel are Lydia Quixano Pérez, a bookstore owner in Acapulco, and her eight-year-old son Luca. After a violent cartel massacre devastates their family, the two are thrust into a dangerous migration north toward the U.S. border. Once the story finds its rhythm, it becomes deeply compelling and almost impossible to put down.

The novel’s strength lies in its ability to create tension and urgency while weaving in tender, human moments amid the peril. The mother-son relationship, and the small acts of kindness they encounter along the way, make the stakes personal and emotionally resonant. The story gives readers an intimate look at the fear, loss, and determination that fuels migration from Mexico into the United States.

However, the reading experience is not without challenges. The narrative shifts between present and past tense, often during moments meant to provide backstory or emotional reflection, but these changes are not always clear. Instead of enhancing the depth of the characters, the tense changes sometimes feel jarring and disrupt the flow of the story. I found myself pausing and rereading passages to understand when an event was taking place.

Similarly, the point of view alternates, mostly between Lydia and young Luca. While this choice adds dimension to the narrative, especially seeing events through the eyes of a child, it can also be disorienting. The POV changes aren’t always signposted clearly, and I frequently had to backtrack to determine whose internal experience I was reading. This lack of clarity occasionally made it harder to stay fully immersed in the story.

Despite these structural issues, American Dirt remains a powerful and thought-provoking novel. The danger Lydia and Luca face is palpable, the people they meet are varied and compelling, and the overarching themes of survival, love, and sacrifice are universal. Readers who can push through the confusing shifts in tense and perspective will be rewarded with a story that is both heart-pounding and heartbreaking.

Ultimately, American Dirt is a novel that stirs strong emotions and provokes important questions—even if its storytelling style occasionally leaves you reaching for the rewind button.

Read American Dirt here.

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Barren to see how American Dirt’s insights into the cartel are incorporated.

As a new author, I am always trying to find comparable books that have been recently published to compare to Barren. Mesu Andrews offers Biblical fiction that is close to what I do with my Margins of Genesis series. While Andrews’ books are historical fiction and true to the time and place in which the biblical story line happens, mine brings the storyline of Genesis to life in today’s modern American world.

I recently read Andrews’ book Potiphar’s Wife, which offers a compelling reimagining of one of the Bible’s most enigmatic figures, Zuleika, the woman who falsely accused Joseph. In this first installment of The Egyptian Chronicles, Andrews delves into Zuleika’s backstory, transforming her from a character in the margins of scripture into a complex, multifaceted character that is easy for readers to relate to.

 

Set against the rich tapestry of ancient Egypt and Crete, the novel explores Zuleika’s journey from a Minoan princess to the wife of Potiphar, Pharaoh’s captain of the guard. Her longing for her homeland and the cultural dissonance she experiences in Egypt are palpable, adding depth to her character. Andrews’ meticulous research brings the era to life, immersing readers in the customs, politics, and daily life of the time.

 

Zuleika is portrayed not merely as a seductress but as a woman grappling with loss, identity, and a desperate yearning for belonging. Her actions, while morally ambiguous, are contextualized within her personal struggles, prompting readers to empathize with her plight. Supporting characters like Ahira, a Hebrew maidservant, and Joseph himself are well-developed, providing contrasting perspectives on faith and resilience.

 

At its core, the novel is a story of redemption. Through Zuleika’s interactions with Joseph and others, themes of forgiveness, grace, and the transformative power of faith are explored. Andrews doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of the narrative but uses them to highlight the possibility of spiritual renewal.

 

Potiphar’s Wife is a thought-provoking addition to the genre of biblical fiction. Mesu Andrews skillfully humanizes a traditionally vilified figure, encouraging readers to consider the complexities of human behavior and the potential for redemption. For those interested in historical fiction that delves into spiritual themes, this novel is a worthy read. 

 

You can find Potiphar’s Wife on Amazon at https://a.co/d/hIum5RC

To order Barren, visit https://a.co/d/h8csTGF