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Thursday, September 22, 2011

DELIVER ME FROM EVIL - Kathi Macias - Free Book


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.

Deliver Me from Evil (Freedom)


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:

  1. 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

    ReplyDelete
  2. 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

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  3. 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

    ReplyDelete
  4. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 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

    ReplyDelete
  6. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 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

    ReplyDelete
  8. 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.

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  9. 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

    ReplyDelete
  10. 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

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, I like the sound of this one! I'm from Oregon :)

    pinkdaddysgirl[at]msn[dot]com

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  12. Cass Wessel11:53 AM

    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.

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  13. Anonymous2:55 PM

    This one sounds great!

    Joyce in TN

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  14. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!

    Edwina from GEORGIA

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous6:25 AM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  16. it sounds very interesting I would love to read it Please enter me
    God Bless
    Joanna Richmond
    Blanch, NC.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looks and Sounds interesting. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks! and God Bless!
    Abigail Richmond
    Blanch, N.C.

    ReplyDelete
  18. It looks and sounds interesting!
    Please enter me in the drawing. thanks.
    God Bless,
    Sarah Richmond
    Blanch,N.C.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Looks and sounds interesting!
    Please enter me in the drawing.
    God Bless!
    Nathanael Richmond
    Blanch, NC.

    ReplyDelete
  20. 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

    ReplyDelete
  21. All I can say is Wow! what a book.....would love to win this one.....Monet/Ohio

    ReplyDelete
  22. thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel :)

    karenk...from pennsylvania
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. 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

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sharon Richmond3:40 AM

    Sounds like a great story! I love reading and would love to win this book! Thanks and God bless!
    Sharon Richmond
    Blanch, NC.

    ReplyDelete
  25. The subject matter sounds difficult but relevant. I would like to read this book.
    Northern Indiana

    ReplyDelete