Interview and Giveaway!!!

Interview with Kathi Macias

+Kathi Macias 

Please tell us a little about yourself (your Bio):

I’m a Southern California girl, born and raised, though I’ve also lived in Amarillo, Houston, Colorado Springs, and LaCenter/Longview, WA. My husband and I currently live in a retirement community in a little unincorporated area called Homeland, about midway between LA and San Diego. I wasn’t raised in a Christian home but became a believer at the age of 26. I’ve been in love with words since I first discovered them and have always been an avid reader. I published my first book in 1988 and have now published about 40 books. I always wanted to be a writer but NEVER wanted to be a speaker. Now I travel/speak/teach almost as much as I write—and I love it! Just goes to show that God’s plans for us are so much better than our own.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

Tough to pick just one, but I suppose it would be Deut. 8:1: “Every commandment which I command you TODAY you must be careful to observe that you might live and prosper and go in and possess the land” (emphasis mine). I love this reminder that my only requirement is to be faithful (to love God and others, which encompasses all the other commandments) TODAY, and then He will bless me in whatever way He has purposed for my life.

What fun thing can you tell us about yourself that we don't know?

Most people don’t know that I once worked with former football star Rosey Grier, aka the “gentle giant.” He was indeed a mountain of a man, but a kind and gentle one with a generous heart. When we were together working on a project at some restaurant or something, if people came up to us he’d often introduce me as his bodyguard. We got some very amusing reactions to that!

What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?

Sleeping. Seriously! I’m either writing, thinking about writing, editing, marketing, preparing to speak about something I’ve written…you get the idea. But I’m cutting back on the insane schedule when my husband retires the end of March and I turn in my last tightly-contracted project. I’m not retiring, but I’m definitely scaling back to the point where I can take some time to smell the roses, as they say. (That will no doubt include reading other people’s writing, as reading is my favorite pastime.)

How did you become involved in writing?

As I’ve already mentioned I’ve always loved reading. When I was a child and ran out of things to read, I started writing my own story. A story I wrote in the third grade was so well received by my teacher and principal that they turned it into a play for the entire student body and PTA. I was hooked! From then on out I took every writing/English/journalism-related class offered in junior or senior high. I also took some journalism classes from USC and ended up writing a weekly column and doing some string reporting for a local newspaper. From there—after becoming a Christian at 26—I branched out into writing articles for magazines and newsletters. Soon after that I got a job at Gospel Light Publishing/Regal Books, where I published my first book, a woman’s devotional, which had outstanding sales. I’ve had my foot in the writing/publishing world to one extent or another ever since.

Where do you write? Do you have a dedicated office or nook in a room?

Yes, I have a little office area inside my house, but also a full office attached to the house as well. I got into the habit of writing in the little nook inside the house when my mom was alive and living with us. Her health wasn’t good so I needed to be close by. Now that she’s “graduated to heaven,” I’m in the very slow, long, drawn-out process of transitioning into the outside office, which may not happen until after my husband retires and I have someone at home to help me make the move.

Can you use 3 words that describe you?

I’ll choose the ones I hear from others about me most often: encouraging, cheerful, faithful. Because I live in my own skin and know me better than anyone except God, I cringe at those descriptions because I know how short I fall much of the time. But I also know that God has gifted me with those very traits, and it is His Spirit living in me that others see.

Do you always know the title of your books before you write them?

Usually. Once in a while I tweak them when I’m done (or my publisher might, for one reason or another), but most have remained the same from initial idea to published book.

Please tell us about The Moses Quilt:

Here is the sell quote about the book:

The Moses Quilt is a contemporary novel that bridges racial and generational divides. With a realistic and compassionate look into a twenty-first-century dilemma (interracial romance), multiple award-winning author Kathi Macias introduces readers to a confused and apprehensive young woman, Mazie Hartford. Facing major decisions about the love of her life and her future, she must also wrestle with a nagging question about her family’s past. She finds the answer to her questions in a most unexpected way—her great-grandmother’s Moses quilt. As her great-grandmother begins to explain how each patch represents a story of courage and freedom, Mazie must decide if she has the courage and freedom to overcome her own personal fears and prejudices.

What do you hope readers take away after reading this book?

My hope is that Mazie’s journey from fear to faith and from misgivings to courage will help readers deal with their own fears and prejudices, whatever they might be. I also pray the background story of the amazingly courageous and faith-filled Harriet Tubman will inspire readers to “put feet to their faith” and walk out what they say they believe, regardless of challenges or difficulties.

Where did you get the idea for The Moses Quilt?

Harriet Tubman has always been one of my personal heroes, so it’s not unusual that I would at some point want to build a story around her. When my publisher and I decided to launch a series about women in American history who made a difference because of their faith and courage, Harriet Tubman was the perfect place to start. I then came up with a contemporary story that could be told against the background of Harriet Tubman’s life. That concept laid the groundwork not only for The Moses Quilt but for the entire three-book series.

Did you have to do research?

Absolutely! I thought I knew about Harriet Tubman, but I discovered I knew only the bare essentials of her life. I was blown away with the additional information I learned about her! I also had to research Gee’s Bend, AL, and the famous quilters who live there. I REALLY want to go there one day!

How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?

I’ve been writing since I was a child, but for publication since I was in my early twenties (eons ago!). My first book, a woman’s devotional, published in 1988, followed by my first novel in 1989.

What are you working on now?

I am writing the third and final book in The Quilt Series. It will release in Spring 2014. It’s called The Singing Quilt because it is based on the life of the “Queen of Gospel,” Fanny Crosby. Book two in the series, The Doctor’s Christmas Quilt, is based on the life of the first woman doctor in America, Elizabeth Blackwell. It releases in October 2014.

What message do you hope readers take away from The Moses Quilt?

That there is no fear or challenge too great to overcome if God has called you to it. It’s all about taking God at His Word and living accordingly.

Please tell our readers where they can get your book.

The Moses Quilt is available at many bookstores nationwide (if it’s not in the store they can order it) or at most online venues (New Hope Publishers, ChristianBook.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.). They can also order it directly from my website (www.kathimacias.com) where they can watch video trailers about each of my books before deciding which ones they want to purchase. While there, they can contact me (I always answer emails from my website) and/or sign up to receive my weekly devotional (in English or Spanish).

Where can our readers find you?

I’m on Facebook and Twitter, Google and Pinterest, but primarily at www.kathimacias.com

Thank you Kathi for being my guest today.  I enjoyed learning more about Harriet Tubman :)

The Moses Quilt Giveaway!!!

U.S. residents only please.

Today the giveaway is for a copy of The Moses Quilt.

Enter with the Rafflecopter below:

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