How did you come up with the idea for this story?
As I was finishing up my first fiction series for New Hope
Publishers, the four-book Extreme Devotion series (also New Hope’s first-ever
fiction books) about the Persecuted Church around the world, the publisher and
I were discussing where we wanted to go next. She suggested the topic of human
trafficking, which immediately resonated with me as I too am interested in this
tragic problem, so I developed a three-book series on the topic, with Deliver
Me From Evil being the first one.
If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary
fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
Wow, this is a tough one, as I love contemporary fiction.
Okay, here we go: Patti Lacy, Susan Meissner, Susanne Lakin, Mary DeMuth, Athol
Dickson, and Jim Rubart. All are different and unique, and all are people I
greatly admire.
I'd crash that party in a minute. Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical
fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
This is tougher, since I don’t read as much historical
fiction, but I have to say my sister-in-law, Kacy Barnett-Gramckow because I
loved her Genesis trilogy. Also, Francine Rivers, Bodie Thoene, Eugenia Price,
Sarah Sundin, and Laurie Alice Eakes. Though I don’t read a lot of historical
fiction, these ladies all write about eras I find fascinating, so I usually try
to make time to read their latest offerings.
Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it
made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with
writing at this time in your career?
Oh, if they only knew! People are surprised when I tell them
I don’t get contracts for every proposal my agent sends out, but it’s true.
However, I must sheepishly admit that my greatest problem right now is far too
many contracts and not enough time to write! I also do a little editing and
collaborative writing on the side, plus travel/speak/teach, so life is
crazy-busy!
Tell us about the featured book.
Deliver Me From Evil is the first in the Freedom series, which
follows the life of a young girl named Mara (meaning “bitter”) who is sold into
sexual slavery by her family when she is only eight years old. She is brought
into the United States
and forced to do whatever her uncle—the brothel owner—demands of her for ten
years. At last she meets someone who seems to want to help. Does she dare dream
of being rescued? The subplot takes place in the Golden Triangle of Thailand,
where two sisters are also held in a brothel, not realizing they have a
connection to the main story taking place in the United States . All this will play
out as the stories dovetail throughout the series.
I love the symbolism in the cover. Please give us the first page of the book.
Prologue
Mara fought
to breathe against the thick darkness that pressed her down. The closet was so
small…so dark and cramped. Impossible to stretch out, whether lying down or
standing up. How long had it been now? Hours? Days? The blackness was too
complete, the confines too cramped even to venture a guess.
She’d been
in what they all termed “the hole” before, but not for a while now. In the
beginning, before she’d learned to obey the rules without question or
hesitation, she had often found herself confined in what felt like a tomb,
wondering how long it would take before she crossed so far into insanity that
there was no way back. And though the times in the hole were the worst, life
outside the silent box wasn’t much better. To survive, Mara had quickly learned
to remove herself from the horrifying reality that had become her life, to
travel far away in her mind where the torture was only a distant terror, one
she could endure if she disciplined herself to think of something else.
Eventually she had become one of the most compliant of the twenty or more
wretched creatures that dwelled in this nameless location, which she had come
to understand was somewhere in the San Diego area of Southern California, not
far from the Mexican border. As a result, her trips to the hole became only a
vague yet obedience-motivating memory.
But this
time she had dared to break a rule, not openly but secretly, praying to a god
she didn’t really believe in to protect her. Unfortunately, the nonexistent god
had apparently chosen not to answer her prayer, and she had been caught and
severely punished—beaten mercilessly and thrown into the hole without food or
water—because she had allowed the face of a young child to entice her to
venture beyond the tentative bounds of safety.
And for
what? Not only had she failed to help the girl escape, but she had probably
caused her to be thrown into the hole as well, for there were several such
confines within the compound. Nearly as bad as being in the claustrophobic
enclosure herself was knowing that a captive no older than six or seven was
being held in a similar prison nearby, terrified beyond imagining.
When would
Mara learn? She herself hadn’t been much older than the tiny child when she was
spirited away from her previous life, never again to see her home or family or
anything else familiar. Thrust into a world of violence and perversion, Mara
had learned to endure the most nightmarish and degrading of conditions. Though
at first she had cried and begged to go home to her parents, even though they
too had beaten and abused her, she finally came to understand that it was her
father who had sold her into this new life from which there was no escape—and
her very own uncle, her “tio” who had
arranged the sale and was now her owner. And that was the worst part of it
all—realizing that no one would ever come to rescue her, for those who should
care enough to try were the ones who put her there—all for the price of a few
weeks worth of drugs or alcohol, possibly even some food.
With that
realization, Mara had chosen to harden her heart and do whatever she must to
get through, one day at a time—sometimes one moment at a time. That was how she
had gained the tiniest amount of freedom and privileges, being fed more
regularly and even allowed to walk relatively unhindered around the small
compound that had become her world—so long as she continued to obey her tio and his two henchmen without
question.
But then the little girl with the
terrified eyes had arrived, bound and gagged, bloody and bruised…and everything
had changed.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My main website is www.kathimacias.com;
I also have an “Easy Writer” blog at http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com
and another website at www.thetitus2women.com.
Thank you, Kathi, for this peek into such a sordid world. This should be a call to arms.
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
25 comments:
This is a subject that I am interested in as well and would love to read this book. Please enter me.
Blessings,
Jo from Southern Arizona
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com
My eyes have been opened in the past couple of years to the reality that human trafficking is still happening today and while this is fiction, it is REAL to others.
Thank you for writing on such a closed subject. Those who live this life need a voice.
coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE
I'm a fan of Kathi's work and this is a subject we can't tire of. The cover is amazing.
Julie Arduini, Ohio
juliearduini(at)juliearduini(dot)com
Thanks so much, Lena. And if anyone wants to take advantage of our "try it before you buy it" offer, you can get a free download of the first two chapters at www.newhopedigital.com.
Kathi is such a talented writer and this book sounds as good as her other books. I would love to win a copy. Thanks for the chance.
Nancye from Kentucky
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Thank you so much for the chance to win this. This book looks great. I would love to win this. Thanks again.
I am from Oklahoma.
Such a sad, sad idea of slavery. I know it happens to young girls and it seems unthinkable. Thank you Kathi for being brave and opening our eyes.
God bless you.
Jean from Southern Oregon
jeanann_w(at)yahoo(dot)com
The Lord tells us his people perish for lack of knowledge. Does that mean we don't know enough about others who need our help ... and so they are perishing? If that is the case, Kathi's book sounds like an eye-opener that just might help turn lives of enslavement into lives of liberty.
Kathi is a wonderful author who can bring gripping current events into a personal prospective. I very much enjoy her work and would love to win this book.
Shirley in Mississippi
beekeeper5(at)bellsouth(dot)com
Wow what a moving story...very thought provoking! I would love to read your book Kathi...love the first page:)
Please enter my name for a chance to win!
Lorna from Alberta
lornafaith at gmail dot com
Oh, I like the sound of this one! I'm from Oregon :)
pinkdaddysgirl[at]msn[dot]com
This evil exists because good people know about it, but do nothing. What's worse, supposedly upstanding citizens make use of these 'services' -- providing the financial incentive. What these sisters and daughters, brothers and sons endure beggars belief. Few escape alive, more do so in an unmarked grave. Few seem to care. Do we? Thanks Kathi for writing about this.
This one sounds great!
Joyce in TN
Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!
Edwina from GEORGIA
Such a serious subject...one that should be on everyone's prayer list! Thank you for writing about such a hard and ignored subject.
Blessings,
Kelly Y in Virginia
kelly*at*dkcountryarts*dot*com
it sounds very interesting I would love to read it Please enter me
God Bless
Joanna Richmond
Blanch, NC.
Looks and Sounds interesting. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks! and God Bless!
Abigail Richmond
Blanch, N.C.
It looks and sounds interesting!
Please enter me in the drawing. thanks.
God Bless,
Sarah Richmond
Blanch,N.C.
Looks and sounds interesting!
Please enter me in the drawing.
God Bless!
Nathanael Richmond
Blanch, NC.
Things sounds like such an interesting topic, I have yet to read anything that would portray human trafficking and I am interested in reading this book! Thanks for the chance to win!
Courtney from WA state
kcmelone at yahoo dot com
All I can say is Wow! what a book.....would love to win this one.....Monet/Ohio
thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel :)
karenk...from pennsylvania
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Would love to win this Deliver Me From Evil, Lena. Thanks for the interview and giveaway.
mitzi_wanham@yahoo.com
from Peace River Country, Alberta
Sounds like a great story! I love reading and would love to win this book! Thanks and God bless!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.
The subject matter sounds difficult but relevant. I would like to read this book.
Northern Indiana
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