During the ICRS last July in Atlanta, I had the pleasure of talking with Kathi Macias about her books and the writing life. Here are a few highlights:
By The Book: What is your writing schedule like?
Kathi Macias: I am a writer that likes a schedule. I write at least 5 days a week and am up at 5 in the morning to begin. I put in an 8 hour day and try to write 5000 words per day. In addition to writing fiction and non-fiction books I am a contributor to periodicals such as Crosswalk. (Kathi has a background in journalism.)
BTB: Tell us what you are working on now.
Kathi: I have a 3 book series in the works. (Deliver Me From Evil is now available.) The series focuses on human trafficking and follows the life of a young woman sold into the sex trade by her own parents at the age of 6. There is also a parallel story set in Thailand. Human trafficking is a difficult subject and not usually depicted in Christian fiction. But my publishers, New Hope, wanted me to pursue the topic. I also talked to a reporter in southern California who had investigated the activity in an area called The Reeds. Although not a Christian, he told me to do it.
BTB: Your previous series for New Hope, the Extreme Devotion series was very powerful. What was your inspiration?
Kathi: In Hebrews 13, we are told to remember those in prison, as if we are charged with their care and their release. I thought about what I would do if I had a family member imprisoned for his belief in Christ. I met with resistance from publishers that liked the concept, but didn’t think readers would like the books. I had written non-fiction for New Hope and was approached to write fiction for them as well. That’s how I got the stories out. (New Hope is the publishing arm of the WMU.)
BTB: What have been readers’ reactions?
Kathi: I have a lot of teenaged fans. One 17 year old girl said that after reading No Greater Love (book 1 in the Extreme Devotion series) it made her want to live a noble life.
BTB: What is your Beyond Me foundation?
Kathi: Beyond Me is an annual award given to someone that is behind the scenes. Someone who lives beyond themselves. The 2011 award winner is Yvonne Ortega, someone who ministers out of her own pain.
Thanks so much to Kathi for talking with me. I will be reviewing her newest book, A Christmas Journey Home, on October 26th.
Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored more than 30 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, and won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time buzzing around in their new ride: Al’s 2005 sunburst orange Corvette. Here latest releases are Deliver Me From Evil and A Christmas Journey Home.
Recent Comments