Cut Flowers was written to help young people understand female genital mutilation without frightening, shaming or silencing them. The novel is accompanied by PSHE lesson plans designed to support careful, age-appropriate discussion in schools.
Writing it demanded precise language. At home, even words once avoided as “private parts” became easier to say. That mattered: safeguarding begins when children and trusted adults can name a concern and talk about it clearly.
Cut Flowers launched in London on 28 June 2016. A limited edition of 500 copies was created for the event, with sales supporting Freedom Charity’s work. My hope was practical: to give schools a credible way to begin conversations that might otherwise never happen.
The book remains available through Freedom Charity and Amazon.
Sources and further reading
This article was reviewed on 30 July 2026.