Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Author Kathi Macias - HOW CAN I RUN A TIGHT SHIP WHEN I'M SURROUNDED BY LOOSE CANNONS - Free Book

Today we're featuring a book by Kathi Macias. I just love the title, don't you?

Welcome, Kathi. You are writing nonfiction. Do you also write fiction?

Absolutely! Though I’ve done slightly more nonfiction than fiction books, they’re nearly evenly balanced, and I’m currently working on a new fiction series for my publisher, with the first book scheduled to release in Winter 2010.

What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

I have always wanted to write. I can’t ever remember wanting to do anything else! What a blessing that God has allowed me to see the desires of my heart come to pass. May it always be for His glory!

Tell us about your family.

My husband, Al, and I have known one another since we were six years old (more than fifty years!). We were junior high/high school sweethearts. Our children are all grown, and our grandchildren are getting there as well. In fact, our oldest grandchild, Shana, is now married with a child of her own (Isaiah), so we are great grandparents. Our grandson Mikey just joined the Navy a couple of weeks ago, so we are “military grandparents” as well! In addition, my 87-year-old mother lives with us, and I am her primary caretaker.

James and I have a military grandson, too, and he has a son, so we're also great grandparents. Have you written other nonfiction books?

Yes, about a dozen of them!

What other books have you written, and where can the readers of the blog find them?

This current book, HOW CAN I RUN A TIGHT SHIP WHEN I’M SURROUNDED BY LOOSE CANNONS, is number twenty, with two more coming right behind it (one fiction and one nonfiction), plus the four-book fiction series I mentioned earlier. All the current books are listed on my website (http://www.kathimacias.com/) on the “books” page. You can find many of them in bookstores right now. Some of the older ones can occasionally be found on Amazon and other similar sites.

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

Yes. In fact, in addition to the four-book fiction series I mentioned, I have a couple of nonfiction books and one stand-alone novel in various stages of development.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

The primary place would be my website (http://www.kathimacias.com/), though a Google search of my name will turn up lots of alternatives.

Isn't that fun. My daughters are amazed when they Google my name. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

Taking the typical “busman’s holiday,” I spend what little leisure time I have reading other people’s books. I also try to break away when I can to ride with my husband on his Harley. (Hence my nickname, “Easy Writer.”)

Why did you write the featured book?

Okay, this is going to sound really shallow, but I thought of the title first and liked it so much I decided I really needed to write a book to go with it! Then, once I got started, it took on a life of its own, and I believe it has a really powerful (if amusing and entertaining) message.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

The primary characteristic that makes this book unique from other humor books is that it is actually a teaching book of things I’ve learned from my life as a Christian (over thirty-five years), all told in a humorous (and sometimes humbling!) way. The book takes the reader through what I see as the five stages of Christian life: crawling (on our knees); walking; running; flying; total dependence on God (back on our knees again).

I want readers to understand that as Christians we are WIPS (works in progress), and we go through various stages of development, in different seasons of life. No one can be in control all the time; there are just too many “loose cannons” in our lives! Surprisingly, we usually learn that we are the loosest cannon of all, and the only way to get past that is to turn complete control of our lives over to the “Master of the Seas” and let Him guide our ship safely home.

I love that. Kathi, thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, you can order a copy of the book using this link:

Leave a comment. You might win the book. Check back a week from Saturday to see if you do. If you don't, you can still use the link.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

this sounds like a book I need to read! enjoyed the interview :)

angela said...

I love the title, too, though I'm probably one of the loose cannons in my household. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Lena:

And thanks for the great post about my new book! I look forward to meeting some of your readers on my website (www.kathimacias.com). Blessings!

hippmom said...

The title certainly does grab you on this book! Love to win!

Unknown said...

I'm almost finished with Kathi's last book, Beyond Me, and look forward to reading Tight Ship soon. Great interview!

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the interview. I would like to enter. I love the title. That is neat that one can write a book around a title. I am amazed at writers.

Thanks.

Patricia PacJac Carroll said...

I love the title. Sounds like a good book. Hope you have great success with it and your others.

Anonymous said...

That's a great title! :)

Please put my name in the hat to win!

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great book, one which will be of great benefit.... in more ways than one.... again thanks for the opportunity to be included in the drawing.... good interview...

cedson76255(at)yahoo(dot)come

Hoarders Extraordinaire said...

What a great interview...and the book sounds great..sounds like something that needs to be on my tbr pile ;)

Marta's Meanderings

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed the interview, and would love to read this book.

Please enter me in the contest.

Thank you,

Becky C.

rec(at)hiwaay(dot)net

apple blossom said...

This sounds like a good book. Thanks for the interview.

Abi

lilac grandma said...

Love the title! Please enter me.
msproule1225 at gmaildotcom

Marla said...

I love Kathi's "5 stages of a Christian. This sounds liek a very interesting book. Please include me in the drawing. Thanks!
koinonia572001@yahoo.com

windycindy said...

I agree with Kathi, that we Christians are works in progress. I would enjoy reading her humorous take on the stages that she feels we go through on our journey.
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Simply Stacie said...

I like the sound of this book- thank you!

Anonymous said...

I love Kathi's work, great title, please enter me.