Kathi Macias and Free Books!

Set in South Africa in 1989, during the violent upheaval just prior to Nelson Mandela's release from prison and ascendance to the presidency, this story tells of a forbidden romance, an unlikely martyr . . . and an even more unlikely hero.

Before we meet today's novelist, I'd like to announce that the winner of the drawing for Richard Mabry's novel, Code Blue, is:

johudd@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right in order to participate in future book give-aways!

And now let's meet novelist Kathi Macias, author of No Greater Love.

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer and blogtalkradio radio show host ("Communicate the Vision," co-hosted with Christian artist Ron DiCianni) who has authored 30 books and ghostwritten numerous others. She has also worked as an editor at Gospel Light/Regal Books and served for several years on the staff of a large Southern California Church. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women's clubs and retreats, and writers' conferences, and recently won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association).

Kathi "Easy Writer" Macias is a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time riding their Harley.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of No Greater Love.

No Greater Love is the first in my four-book Extreme Devotion (international) fiction series from New Hope Publishers (their first-ever venture into fiction), and it releases simultaneously with book two More than Conquerors (set in Mayan country deep in Mexico), on April 6, 2010.

Orphaned four years earlier when their parents, active in the African National Congress (ANC) movement against Apartheid, were murdered, 16-year-old Chioma and her 15-year-old brother, Masozi, now live and work on an Afrikaner family's farm.

When Chioma and Andrew, the farm owner's son, find themselves attracted to one another, tragedy revisits their lives. Chioma escapes to join an ANC rebel band in her effort to survive and gain revenge for her family and her people. When cultures clash in life-or-death struggles, Chioma must choose between violence and revenge, or forgiveness and selfless love.

Loosely based on historical events and set near Pretoria, South Africa, in the violent upheaval prior to ANC leader Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990 and his ascendance to the presidency of South Africa, this story of forbidden romance produces an unlikely martyr, who is replaced by an even more unlikely hero.

Which character in your novel most interested you while you wrote?

Definitely Chioma, whose life is the thread that ties the whole story together. She is strong-willed and determined, angry and intelligent, courageous despite the many heartaches and difficulties she has faced. She is a young woman who undergoes a quiet transformation in the midst of violent circumstances, knowing that it may cost her more than most people would be willing to pay.

Why will readers enjoy your novel?

They will learn of a different country in a recent time, where two cultures clashed in violent upheaval, changing the lives of all who lived there--some for the better, some for the worse. Readers will come to see that though times and geographical locations and even cultures and heritage may separate people, human nature is the same. We are all born "with eternity in our hearts," longing for restoration to the Father--though many will never recognize or acknowledge that fact. Those who do may be required to pay a costly price.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

That's a tough one, since I'm not much of a movie buff.

The main character, Chioma, would have to be young, African, beautiful, and strong.

I think the young actress Rutina Wesley might work for that role, Kathi. 

Andrew, on the other hand, would be handsome, blond, and only slightly older than Chioma. Perhaps the readers would have some suggestions, based on those descriptions. If so, I'd love to hear them!

Maybe a young Rutger Hauer?



How many points of view do you typically use in a novel? If you vary, what have you found you enjoyed the most? Why?

I normally write only in third-person POV, changing from scene to scene, and seldom employing more than half a dozen POVs throughout. I did do one book differently--My Son John--which I told first-person from the main character's POV, interspersed with third-person scenes from the POV of her three family members. I've never attempted an omniscient POV and can't imagine doing so. I am most comfortable in third-person.

What facet of the writing craft comes easiest to you? What do you struggle with?

I love creating characters because I'm a people person. My stories always unfold through strong characters and are character-driven, rather than plot-driven. I enjoy this part because I'm a people-person. I worked for years as a biblical counselor on a large church staff and found myself fascinated with human nature. I also studied and enjoy acting, though to a lesser degree than writing, and therefore enjoy the dialogue part of writing. I do struggle with the research parts, though--definitely not my strong point!

Choose an inanimate object to represent you. Explain what you have in common with that object.

Has to be a book! I am full of words. If I'm not writing, I'm speaking/talking/teaching. I'm a communicator. I love to read and study and gather knowledge, and then I so enjoy sharing it with others.

What is the last book you read that moved you?

The most powerful book I've ever read (not counting the Bible, of course) was Cry the Beloved Countryby Alan Paton. It so impacted me that it birthed my initial desire to write a novel set in South Africa; hence, No Greater Love.

I loved that book, too, Kathi! Simple and beautiful. 

What are you working on now?

In addition to gearing up to market No Greater Love and More than Conquerors, my two latest releases, I'm still busy marketing the four books that released the previous year (three nonfiction and one novel). I also have two novels in various stages of production, both scheduled for October 2010 release. One is book three of the Extreme Devotion series, Red Ink (set in Red China), and the other is a stand-alone historical novel titled Valeria's Cross, co-authored with Susan Wales and published by Abingdon Press. I am also in the middle of writing book four of the Extreme Devotion series, People of the Book, set in Saudi Arabia. I have a couple of other series on the drawing board for when I finish that one.

Well, I'm going to stop complaining about being too busy!

Where else can readers find you or your writing online?

My primary website is www.kathimacias.com, where readers can find out which books are already out and which are coming, as well as how/where to order them. They can also sign up to receive my weekly devotional in either English or Spanish.

I also have a blog kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com where they can find book reviews/recommendations, as well as notices about what's going on with me as far as writing and speaking.

Finally, they can go to www.blogtalkradio.com/communicatethevision to find out about/listen to "Communicate the Vision" online.

Here's the button to buy No Greater Love (Extreme Devotion) on Amazon. And the book is available at Barnes and Noble, below:



Thanks, Kathi, for visiting with us and telling us about No Greater Love. Readers, Kathi has offered to give a copy of her novel to the winner of our drawing on Saturday, April 17. To enter, leave a comment for Kathi, below. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Check out my interviews with Judy Duarte, and Eleanor Gustafson, below, and leave a comment under their interviews to be entered in drawings for signed copies of their novels.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.