Kathi Macias and Free Books!

Finally free from a life of slavery, Mara believes she is safe—until her uncle and former owner uses his underground connections to seek revenge...

Before we talk with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Eye of the Storm, by Hannah Alexander, is:

frmcm@ . . .

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 (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!

Now let's revisit Kathi Macias, author of Special Delivery, Freedom Series #2 (New Hope Publishers, March 2012).

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. 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. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and her other awards include Golden Scrolls Novel of the Year for Red Ink, ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Carol Award Finalist for Red Ink, and 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net.

Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

--Most people aren’t aware that until very recently my husband and I were avid Harley riders—hence my “road name” of Easy Writer.

--I served as an associate pastor at a major Southern California church for several years (in the ‘90s).

--I've been active in jail and prison ministry, going into some of the most hard-core prisons in the country, where I met/interviewed Charles “Tex” Watson of the Manson Family, as well as others (even spent a day on Death Row at San Quentin).

--I also helped David “Son of Sam” (now known as “Son of Hope”) Berkowitz write/edit his prison memoirs.

--Finally, my husband and I have known one another since we were six years old.

Wow, that last one sounds like a book in itself! Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Special Delivery.

In Special Delivery, book two of the “Freedom” series, readers find Mara fighting against her attraction to Bible college student Jonathan Flannery even while wrestling with risking her own precarious safety to become involved in the rescue of another girl who is pregnant and desperately wants to escape her captors and save her own life, as well as her child’s.

Halfway around the world in a brothel in Thailand, a young girl is rescued with the promise of being reunited with her younger sister who was adopted by an interracial couple in the States, friends of Jonathan’s family.

Meanwhile, Jefe—Mara’s uncle, who held her as a sex slave in his brothel in San Diego for years—seeks revenge for Mara’s testimony that put him behind bars for life. Will his underworld connections be successful in kidnapping and killing the girl who believes she has finally won her freedom?

What is it about Mara that will make your readers care about her?

Mara has suffered more than any young woman should ever have to do, beginning when she was a young child. Yet her determination to be free drives her onward, despite her skepticism about a loving God who waits to welcome her into His family. Her distrust of others is understandable, but she finds herself considering risking her own precarious safety and freedom to help rescue another young girl now in a position similar to her former captivity.

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

I’m not a movie goer and am completely unfamiliar with young stars, but Mara’s part would definitely have to be played by a beautiful young Latina woman, while Jonathan Flannery could be a younger version of Brad Pitt.

Please share with us one quote that either inspires you or simply amuses you as you go about your efforts as a writer.

“There is no limit to where a man can go or what he can do if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit for it.” (President Ronald Reagan)

What a succinct way to stress the importance of motivation! I love that.

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

It’s a toss-up between The Rhythm of Secrets and What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy. Not only are they wonderful stories, but Patti Lacy is an exceptional novelist.

What are you working on now?

I have two fall releases that are currently in production—The Deliverer (Freedom series #3) and Unexpected Christmas Hero. I am just now diving into researching/writing Last Chance for Justice, one of the books in the new multi-author Bloomfield series from B&H, and then I will begin writing a new trilogy for New Hope Publishers titled “Patches of Courage.”

Where else can readers find you online?

The primary place is at www.kathimacias.com (though you can also get there via www.boldfiction.com), but I’m also at my Easy Writer blog (kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com) and www.TheTitus2Women.com. In addition, I have active pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Google.


The book can be purchased at fine book stores and online via the following buttons:






CBD.com



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What would it take for you to become not just a fan of one of my books but a Kathi Macias fan, one who stands in line for my next release?

Thank you, Kathi, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Kathi has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, March 26. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Kathi's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

And I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

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.