A Reluctant Warrior

A gripping novel that gives readers a rare glimpse into Colombia's notorious drug wars, told by someone who knows the landscape intimately. When Luzma's brother Jair unwittingly uncovers the plan by Colombia's most notorious drug cartel to smuggle an unprecedented cocaine shipment into the US, it puts their family in grave danger. Jair's kidnapping by the cartel forces Luzma to go face to face with vicious paramilitary leader, El Cubano, and General Ordonez, ruthless head of the military - men who will stop at nothing to protect their empires. But for Luzma, nothing is more important than saving her family - not even her own life. Kelly Brooke Nicholls worked in human rights in Colombia for a number of years. Although the story and characters in A Reluctant Warrior are fictitious, they are based on events she witnessed first hand and her interviews with thousands of victims of paramilitaries, guerrillas and drug cartels. She wrote this book to celebrate and support the brave people in Colombia who risk their lives to protect and make a difference to others.

Kelly Brooke Nicholls' fascination with other cultures was instilled in her early years growing up on a boat in the south pacific islands. She's been passionate about human rights from an early age and following a stint as a journalist at Australian Associated Press she moved to Latin America when she was 23. From there she was compelled to make a difference and help people affected by conflict, abuse and extreme poverty. She has over 15 years' senior leadership experience working for NGOs ranging from Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders to a small indigenous-led organisation in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Her extensive time living and working in Colombia has left an indelible mark. She has travelled extensively to places few foreigners have been, researching and documenting the impact of the ongoing war on ordinary citizens and the horrendous human rights abuses inflicted on them. Kelly wrote her novel A Reluctant Warrior to help shine a light on the way ordinary Colombian citizens have suffered and continue to suffer, despite the advancement in the Peace Agreement. But more than that, she wrote this book to celebrate, support and amplify the message of the brave people who risk their lives to protect and make a difference to others. Kelly strongly believes that everyone has the ability to make a difference in the world and bring about positive change, and has spent her life helping people achieve that. Kelly also works as a coach and strategist, helping passionate, entrepreneurial women make a difference in the world through her business, Audacify. She is currently working on her next book based on her work in this area. Kelly lives on the Northern Beaches of Sydney with her Colombian husband and two sons.