Picking Cotton 2 (update)

Stand with the Blue: Honor Nicola Cotton, Learn from Redfern
Imagine a young officer, full of promise, gunned down in broad daylight—her only "crime" was stepping up to protect her community. That's the heartbreaking reality of Nicola Cotton, the 24-year-old New Orleans policewoman murdered in 2008 while trying to arrest a suspect. Eight weeks pregnant, she was shot 15 times with her own service weapon by a man with a history of severe mental illness who had been prematurely released from care. Her death wasn't just a loss for Louisiana; it exposed raw cracks in our systems—mental health failures, under-resourced patrols, and the relentless dangers officers face in high-risk neighborhoods.
Now fast-forward to Sydney's Redfern riots of 2004, half a world away. A 17-year-old Indigenous teen, TJ Hickey, dies in a tragic bike accident during what police called a routine patrol—but his community saw it as yet another flashpoint in a cycle of distrust, poverty, and over-policing. Riots erupted, fueled by grief and frustration, echoing the same themes: communities feeling hunted, officers stretched thin, and a desperate need for bridges over blame.
These stories aren't isolated—they overlap in the shadows of inequality, where vulnerable people clash with those sworn to serve, and everyone pays the price. Nicola's murder highlights the human cost to those in blue; Redfern underscores the pain of those policed too harshly. But what if we could rewrite the ending?
Your Call to Action: Pick Up Picking Cotton 2 Today
Dive into Picking Cotton 2, the unflinching sequel that spotlights the Redfern riots through raw, real voices—families shattered, officers haunted, and a community's fight for justice. It's not just a book; it's a mirror to Nicola's legacy, urging us to confront these shared wounds head-on. Grab your copy now on Amazon or your local bookstore—read it, share it, discuss it. Let it spark conversations in your book club, your precinct, or your neighborhood watch.
Then, take it further:

Donate to mental health initiatives like NAMI (nami.org) or Indigenous-led programs in Australia (e.g., beyondblue.org.au) to prevent tragedies on both sides.
Advocate locally: Contact your city council for better officer training on de-escalation and community outreach—mention Nicola and TJ as why it matters.
Amplify voices: Post about the book with #HonorNicola #RedfernLessons—tag law enforcement leaders and community activists to build that bridge.

We can't undo the past, but we can demand a future where officers like Nicola patrol safer streets, and communities like Redfern feel seen, not surveilled. Start with one page—your action could save the next life. What's stopping you? Order Picking Cotton 2 right now and join the change.
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Nicola Cotton: A Tragic Loss of Duty
A young pregnant policewoman, gunned down in cold blood—doing nothing more than her job.
TJ Hickey: A Fatal Run on Valentine's Day
Then, a 17-year-old boy, TJ Hickey, out with his 14-year-old girlfriend.
Police spot them. He bolts—and impales himself on a fence pole.
By Valentine's Day, he's gone.
The Blame Game Begins
Outrage erupts. Crowds point fingers: It's the police's fault.
Riots tear through the streets.
Cops insist: We weren't chasing him.
The Truth Emerges
Weeks later, conservatives push back: There's plenty of blame to go around.
The New South Wales Premier reveals the real story—it was a drug raid.
TJ ran because he knew he was caught red-handed.
His girlfriend? Arrested on the spot—with drugs in her pocket, hurling abuse at officers.
She still blames them for his death.
A Family's Shadow
TJ's whole family was no stranger to police.
His dad? Behind bars at the time.
It almost feels like the real crime was cops daring to patrol that neighborhood—at that hour.
Grief, Choices, and Hard Realities
A family unites in sorrow... but one that's long struggled with its own demons.
Police work is brutal.
Young lives get chances they squander.
And in the end, another young officer—Nicola Cotton—pays the ultimate price, her light snuffed out.