TO THE MOON AND BACK - Kathi Macias - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Kathi has written a number of novels over the years I’ve known her. I always look forward to reading them. They touch a place deep in my heart.

Welcome back, Kathi. Do you have a favorite genre to write? If so, what is it?

Though I’ve also written several nonfiction books, a couple of children’s books, and one historical fiction, my favorite is contemporary fiction, centered around some sort of current “hot-button” issue—i.e., human trafficking, homelessness, Alzheimer’s, etc.

If you didn’t live in the part of the country where you do, where would you live?

My husband and I have spent quite a bit of time in Hawaii and Florida, and certain parts of each state would work for me. However, I suppose I’d have to say the Pacific Northwest would be my first choice. Despite the fact that it rains incessantly, the greenery is lovely, and I never tire of driving through the woods, rolling hills, and farm country.

Sounds lovely. What foreign country would you like to visit and why?

Israel because, of course, it’s the land where both Judaism and Christianity began, and I consider them inseparable. I would also enjoy visiting Germany, as that’s where my father was from, and he told me so many stories about it over the years.

Describe what you think would be the most romantic vacation you could take.

Cruises are nice, but I’m not a fan of the constant eating, etc. I suppose it would be a trip to the Emerald Coast in Florida or the lovely Kona area on the Big Island of Hawaii. We would leave our cell phones behind, opt for no TV, and just enjoy our time together.

James and I have often dreamed of going to Hawaii. Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

I suppose the Emerald Coast of Florida would be perfect. And, of course, it would require another visit there for research.

Yes it would. What is the main theme of the featured novel?

The main theme of To the Moon and Back is a woman in her late sixties, as well as her family, coming to terms with the fact that she has Alzheimer’s.

Tell us about the story.

Rachel and her husband have lived in the Pacific Northwest their entire married life. They raised their only child in the home they still live in, and Rachel has been plugged into her banking job and church life. But soon after a car accident, when her husband becomes a semi-invalid, she begins to get confused, even frightened because she has so much trouble remembering things. In the interim, her grown daughter finds herself going through an unwanted divorce. When she realizes her mother has Alzheimer’s and will only get worse, she moves back home to help care for her and also for her father, whose resentful attitude doesn’t help the situation at all. The three of them, with help from an understanding pastor, a support group, and others, wrestle with the acceptance of a heartbreaking disease, and find hope in the middle of the encroaching darkness. (A resource page and discussion questions round out the book, making it useful for individual or group study.) 

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

The moon was a pale sliver that mid-October night in the small coastal town of Wildflower, Oregon. The diminutive but still attractive sixty-seven-year-old shivered as she stood in the shadows near the rose bushes that had stopped blooming weeks earlier. She clutched her sweater a little tighter across her middle. Was it always so chilly here in the evenings? For some reason, she couldn’t quite remember, but it didn’t really matter. Somewhere, in the nostalgic canyons of her mind, she recalled another moon—a harvest moon. And she remembered a voice promising that he would always love her “to the moon and back.”

She smiled, wondering if the man who spoke those words so very long ago ever thought of her now. Did he still love her “to the moon and back”? Had another love taken her place? Or had he already departed earth and stepped into eternity?

Her smile faded at the thought. She had no idea if the man, whom she considered her first and only true love, had ever made his peace with God. She was certain he hadn’t at the time he declared his love for her—didn’t even believe in God, or so he claimed. But she had been a Christian since her childhood, and she imagined that was the reason the two of them had eventually gone their separate ways. The thought saddened her, as it always did.

“Rachel!” The voice called her back from a precipice of darkness, one that seemed to loom closer and threaten her more often lately. She pushed the fear away and tried to focus on the present.

“Rachel!” The voice was more impatient this time. “Where are you? I need you to help me with something.”

She sighed, as thoughts of a harvest moon and a promise from another time faded from her consciousness. Pete needed her, as he always did. That comforted her somehow, though it also frightened her, as she sensed she was slipping away more often these days and could no longer be trusted to do what she must. That couldn’t be good—for her or for Pete.

“I’m coming,” she called, leaving the cool shadows of the backyard that had seen so many parties and get-togethers over the years. Would there ever be another celebration in this place? It seemed unlikely. But the thought scarcely registered as it skittered through Rachel’s mind.

Wow! How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.kathimacias.com. I am also on Facebook (Kathi Macias and Kathi Macias, Author) and Twitter (@alandkathi). They can email me from my website. I would love to hear from them!

Thank you, Kathi, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book.

To the Moon and Back - Paperback
To the Moon and Back - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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

RETURN TO CHRISTMAS - Kathi Macias - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Kathi Macias has written a Christmas novel each year for several years. I’m always anxious to read them. I think you will be, too.

Welcome back, Kathi. Do you have a favorite genre to write?

I prefer general contemporary, issues-related fiction, though I will write other kinds as well.

If you didn’t live in the part of the country where you do, where would you live?

Somewhere in the mountains, possibly in the Pacific Northwest.

What foreign country would you like to visit and why?

Israel, for obvious reasons. I would love to see the sites so often mentioned in the Scriptures, and to see the places where our Lord and Savior walked, talked, healed, delivered—and then died and rose again.

Describe what you think would be the most romantic vacation you could take.

A month (or more) in a cabin in the mountains, with a fireplace stocked with lots of wood. And, of course, lots of good books to read.

Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

Hawaii, most likely the Big Island, but possibly Kauai.

Tell us about the story.

Return to Christmas is about a Marine who comes home from his second tour of duty with PTSD. This causes him problems in his family and at work. He is in denial about his problems until a little boy with Childhood Attachment Disorder manages on Christmas Eve to break through the Marine’s hardened heart.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Sand. Why did there have to be so much sand? At times Chet Mason suspected it was in his food; other times he was certain of it.

           

He glanced at his friend and fellow Marine, Todd Bishop, who stood less than fifty feet away. Their guard duty would end in less than an hour. Chet knew Todd would make a beeline for some chow; the guy was always hungry. After considering the very real possibility of sand in their food, however, Chet wasn’t so sure it was worth it. Besides, the lure of sleep was stronger. He’d been up for nearly thirty-six hours, and all he wanted now was some serious shut-eye.

           

Todd must have felt Chet’s gaze, as he turned his head and offered a smile. “Hey, Sarge,” he teased, “don’t tell me we’ve been here so long that I’m starting to look good to you.”

           

Chet chuckled. “Never happen, Bishop. Your ugly mug’s the reason they call us Jarheads.”

           

Todd scarcely had time to shake his head and grin before a white-hot explosion rocked their world. The next thing Chet knew, he was face-down in the dirt, wondering if his ears had been blown off. He couldn’t hear a thing.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is kathimacias.com. I am on Facebook (Kathi Macias and Kathi Macias author), as well as Twitter: @alandkathi, and Pinterest at www.Pinterest.com/kathimacias

Thank you, Kathi, for sharing this new book with us. I always look forward to your Christmas novels.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Return to Christmas - Christianbook.com
Return to Christmas: A Novel - Amazon
Return to Christmas: A Novel - Kindle

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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

UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS HERO - Kathi Macias - One Free Book

Welcome, Kathi. I've looked forward to featuring this book after I got the first peek months ago at the possible cover. I even voted for this very one. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?        

I don’t see myself deviating much from issues-related fiction, though I may write a few less intense ones now and then. I also have a couple of nonfiction book stirring around inside me that I’d like to let out, but we’ll see what time allows. The biggest change I see in my career is that I’m doing a lot more speaking these days, much of which has opened up as a result of writing about such issues as the Persecuted Church, human trafficking, etc.

What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?      

The only conference I consider attending where I’m NOT speaking is ACFW, and that depends on what other engagements/deadlines I have at the time. I have a couple of writers’ conferences scheduled where I’ll be speaking, but primarily I’m speaking at women’s conferences now, which I absolutely love. I’m so grateful to God for combining my two great passions—writing and women’s ministry—in a way that I can continue in both venues.

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?      

Much would depend on the makeup of the attendees—beginning, intermediate, or seasoned writers; fiction or nonfiction writers; men, women, or both; older, middle-aged, or young writers who might be more interested in fantasy and/or film/screen writing. The answer to these questions would determine the topic focus and who I would invite to be part of the panel. Panel members (and faculty in general) need to already be accomplished in the area(s) of writing aspired to by attendees.

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?

Hugely important! When I first considered trying to write professionally I joined a group called Pen Women. It is the oldest writers’ organization in the country and was founded by Longfellow’s niece because women weren’t allowed into most professional writing associations. That group is not only national but has local branches where members gather monthly to hear speakers from all areas of professional writing. The more accomplished members encouraged the rest of us to press ahead and to continue to polish our craft. Their help was invaluable to me. Even now, as a seasoned writer with 40 published books to my name, I belong to such professional writing/speaking groups as Advanced Writers/Speakers Association (AWSA), Christian Authors Network (CAN), American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and others. Networking is the key, and we to be connected with others who share our passion.

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?       

Because I’m on the road speaking so much I’ve had to back off of regular ministry involvement on a local level, though I still consult regularly with aspiring writers in our community (and even online). When possible I volunteer my time to lead the women’s retreat at our church, and I often donate my time to speak at local events. When my travel schedule isn’t so demanding, I enjoy being involved in jail/prison ministry, homeless ministry, and always in women’s ministry at any level.

James and I have been involved for over a decade in homeless ministry, but now that involvement has changed to different ways to minister to them. Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?

Wow, that’s a tough question! Let me give it a try:

*My mom, who was a prayer warrior and a worshipper; I learned from her the importance of quality time with the Lord

*My dad, who wasn’t a Christian until the last days of his 88 years on earth, taught me the importance of hard work and of doing my best at whatever task came my way daily

*Margaret Brownley, whom I met during my early days at Pen Women; her clear, concise advice on fiction writing taught me more than any class I could ever have taken

*Rosey Grier, with whom I was privileged to work on several projects and whose advice to “speak from your heart” was a huge help in getting me over the hurdle of “I don’t do public speaking”

*My husband, Al, who has known me since we were six years old and who always reminds me of the day when we were teenagers and I told him I was going to be a writer someday—he especially brings that to my attention when I start grumbling about being too busy, and the reminder helps me refocus on the blessing of being able to live out the dream God birthed in me as a child

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?

She loved God and left nothing undone that He called her to do.

Tell us about the featured book.     

Unexpected Christmas Hero is a fictional story about a young family (mother and two small children) who become homeless when the husband/father dies and they are suddenly thrust into economic disaster. A homeless Vietnam vet takes them under his wing and, through a selfless act, gifts them with a true Christmas miracle.

In addition, let me tell you about the “story behind the story.” The man on the cover, Willard Parker, truly is homeless and hadn’t seen his family in years when New Hope Publishers asked him to pose for the picture. When he told us his story, we set about trying to reunite him with his family, using social media to spread the word. It worked. We are now in the final stages of raising funds to cover the cost of their reunion. Isn’t God amazing? He knew this would happen all along, but I’ve been blessed and surprised at every turn.

Yes, I’ve been so excited watching this unfold and praying for it. Please share the first page with us.

      The late November sunshine was thin and tepid, but a welcome interruption to the gray skies and constant drizzle that usually hung over the small Washington town of Riverview for the better part of eight or nine months each year. Josie Meyers shivered as she stood in line behind her two children, waiting their turn for a free Thanksgiving meal.

            Tears bit her eyes at the memory of past Thanksgiving celebrations, particularly the most recent one the previous year. Though they had all been grieving the passing of Josie’s mother, they still managed to turn the day into a festive occasion, as the four of them gathered around the table to give thanks for the spread that awaited them.

            Sam, she thought. You stood there that day, offering a brief prayer of thanksgiving to a God I’m not sure you even believed in, and never let on for a moment that you hadn’t a clue where our next meal would come from or how we’d make the mortgage payment that month. How in the world were you able to carry it off for so long? If you hadn’t gotten sick, would you finally have found a way out of the mess we were in—or would you be standing here with the three of us now, begging for a hot meal and wondering where we’d sleep tonight?

Jacob and Susanna shuffled forward a couple of steps, each clutching a plastic tray in their bare hands. Josie had agreed to let them remove their mittens since the day was slightly warmer than normal and it would simplify the eating process, but she’d cautioned them to tuck the hand coverings securely in their jacket pockets as they would need them again by evening.

            Josie could smell the food now, and her mouth watered despite the sadness that clutched her insides and regularly threatened to emotionally disembowel her. They’d lost it all. Everything! First her mother, then her husband…and finally their home. Not to mention our dignity, she thought, refusing to let the tears flow from her eyes onto her cheeks. Will there ever be an end to this?

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

www.kathimacias.com or www.boldfiction.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathi-Macias/75996188045

https://twitter.com/alandkathi

http://pinterest.com/kathimacias/

Thank you, Kathi. I can't wait for my copy of this book to come. It will move to the top of my reading pile.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Unexpected Christmas Hero - paperback
Unexpected Christmas Hero - Kindle (only $.99 today)


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

THE DELIVERER - Kathi Macias - One Free Book

Here's my friend, Kathi Macias. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

You are so right! The Deliverer is the third (final) book in the Freedom Series on human trafficking. I honestly hadn’t even considered writing on that topic until my publisher challenged me to consider doing so. I told her I’d do some initial research and get back to her. After doing that research and discovering how prevalent and widespread—and hideous—this crime is, I called her back and said I’d do it. I now write/speak on the topic every chance I get. The Salvation Army was also extremely helpful in getting resources to me on the topic, and I can’t forget the handful of trafficking victims I met/spoke with who willingly opened their heart and shared their painful memories so I could better bring these books to life.

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I do a lot of both. I will be keynoting and teaching at the Maranatha Writers’ Conference in Muskegon, MI, the end of September. October is a stay-at-home-and-meet-my-next-deadline month. Then I’m gone the first two weekends in November—first to lead back-to-back women’s retreats in Lynchburg, VA, and then to keynote a missions conference on human trafficking in Rochester, MN. Sprinkled throughout that time are one-day local speaking engagements at Calvary Chapel Oceanside (CA) and Assembly of God in Hemet, CA. The first Saturday of December is an author event at The Bible Bookstore in Hemet, CA, where I’ll be signing books with several other CAN (Christian Authors Network) authors. I also have several speaking engagements already locked in for 2013, so life is busy but blessed!

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

Wow, that’s a tough one. My husband and I were both born and raised in SoCal but have lived other places, including Texas (Amarillo and Houston), Colorado and Washington State. I love Colorado when it’s not snowing, but since it does that so often, I’d probably pick Washington State, which is green and beautiful, and where our youngest son and his family live.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Be very, very patient—and tenacious! When I first broke into the Christian publishing world in the early ’80s, no one even wanted to talk about Christian fiction. I wrote nonfiction books galore, including a bestselling women’s devotional, but no one would even talk to me about my fiction. I was quite frustrated then, but I now know it just wasn’t the right season. Things began changing thanks to people like Frank Peretti and Jerry Jenkins, and now I have more fiction contracts than I can juggle. So patience was extremely important during that time, as well as not giving up. (Trust me. I was tempted more than once to chuck the whole thing and get a “real” job—you know, one with paychecks. Obviously I didn’t, as I’m still writing and still hoping for paychecks.) So again, patience and tenacity are they key—and using your waiting time to hone your craft. 

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

EGADS, I’m so NOT celebrity-oriented! I don’t even know who’s popular these days and who’s not. But since you didn’t say these celebrities had to be Hollywood types, I would invite my own personal heroes: Li Ying, Pastor Youcef, Ranjah Masih, Sung Se Pao—those who suffer for their faith around the world. There are many, but the ones I named are on my regular prayer list. And after all, they’re the true “stars,” who shine for Jesus. Not sure how well they sing, but I imagine the Father loves their voices.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Deliverer picks up just months after Special Delivery leaves off, continuing with the stories of Mara, freed from slavery but still struggling with scars and memories from the past; Jonathan, attending Bible college but strongly drawn to Mara, despite her past; and Lawan, having escaped the brothel in Thailand and miraculously reunited with her younger sister in the US and adopted by the same family. Will Mara be able to move past the pain and hatred that bind her, even if it means traveling back to the place where her parents betrayed her and sold her into sexual slavery? Will she allow The Deliverer to set her free—once and for all?

Here’s the link for the video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NobFUST7xlk

Please give us the first page of the book.

The sun set early in late November, and though a pleasant warm spell had kept San Diego’s daytime temperatures in the lower eighties for the past week or so, the air cooled quickly as darkness approached.

            Mara didn’t mind. She loved watching the sun go down over the Pacific at any time of year and in any sort of weather. Just being able to sit on the seawall and watch the colorful streaks in the broad expanse of sky, seeming to frame the dark and restless ocean, reminded her of how precious her freedom was and how much she’d endured before obtaining it.

            She zipped her windbreaker against the encroaching dampness and then gazed down at the envelope in her hand, postmarked Juarez, Mexico. She’d nearly memorized the words in the one-page letter, handwritten by the fifteen-year-old girl Mara had helped to rescue just months earlier. Mara had been working at her waitressing job when she spotted Francesca with her owner and immediately recognized the signs of a girl caught up in human trafficking. The situation had dredged up many of her own dark memories, but Mara was glad she’d been in the right place at the right time to assist the girl’s release and eventual return to her family.

            I’m just glad she had a family and a home to go back to, Mara thought, resisting the tears that bit her eyes as she compared Francesca’s situation to her own. At least Francesca had been kidnapped, not sold into slavery by her own parents.

            Mara shook her head. She had to stop this constant slipping back into self-pity about her past and just enjoy the present. She was free now, working and hoping to start classes at the local college after the first of the year. It was more than she had ever dreamed of during her ten years of captivity.

            She pulled the letter from the envelope and squinted to re-read portions of it in the fading light. The baby will come soon…not sure yet about adoption…praying for the right answer. Mara too had become pregnant during the years she lived as a sex slave—several times, actually—but she’d never even had the chance to choose to carry her babies to term. Always there was a forced abortion…and always she had to suppress her grief and go right back to the life she despised.

            Never again, she told herself. And never again for Francesca. But what about all the others…?

            The tears won over at that point, dripping onto her cheeks as she thought of Jasmine and others who had died at the hands of their abusers. She thought too of what she’d heard about a young Thai girl named Lawan, rescued from a brothel in the Golden Triangle and even now winging her way across the ocean to join her adoptive family right here in the San Diego area.

One more set free…so many left behind. No matter how hard she tried, Mara could not banish that truth from her thoughts. She’d often talked about that very thing to her friend Barbara Whiting, the lady involved with an outreach to human trafficking victims, and Barbara too had lamented the many who never escaped. “But that doesn’t mean we quit trying to help them,” she’d said. “We may save only a small percentage of them, but each life we save is precious and makes our efforts worthwhile.”

            Each life? Even mine? Mara wasn’t so sure, though she wanted desperately to believe it. The reminder that she had also discussed this topic with Jonathan, the handsome Bible college student who had helped rescue her more than two years earlier, brought a rush of heat to her cheeks, and she was glad for the near darkness that hid her emotions. She had tried to deny her feelings for Jonathan and to hide them from him, but he’d faithfully kept in touch with her through letters since going back to school this past fall. One of the things he said to her over and over again was that her life was precious to God and that He loved her and had a purpose for her. At times she dared to believe it, but most of the time…

            A taunting male voice from a passing car interrupted her thoughts as he called out a suggestive comment to her and then laughed as the vehicle sped away. Mara recoiled at the sound and shoved the letter back into the envelope. She stood up from the seawall, brushed the sand off the back of her jeans, and turned toward home. She had to work the breakfast shift in the morning, so she’d better get to bed early. Tomorrow was Saturday, and Mariner’s would be busy. She just hoped that meant some good tips because she could sure use the money.

Where can we find you on the Internet?

www.kathimacias.com

www.boldfiction.com

www.thetitus2women.com

Thank you, Kathi, for sharing your passion with us.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

The Deliverer (Freedom) - paperback


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

SPECIAL DELIVERY - Kathi Macias - Free Book

As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

Special Delivery is book two in the Freedom (human trafficking series), following Deliver Me From Evil and preceding The Deliverer. As such, I have to first give much of the credit to Andrea Mullins at New Hope Publishers. Not only did she believe in and share my vision to launch a first-ever fiction line at New Hope (“Fiction with a Mission”), but she also suggested the topic of human trafficking for this second series in the line. My agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, also championed my cause to write issues-related fiction, and I so appreciate her support. In addition, several ministries already engaged in rescuing victims of human trafficking and working to abolish this horrific crime, jumped onboard to help endorse/promote/distribute the books. The national headquarters of the Salvation Army has been especially supportive, and I so appreciate it, as this has been a dark topic to research. And yet I believe it had to be done, as the crime is so widespread and the results so cruel and inhumane. As the Church, I believe we are called to combat such evil any way we can.

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

Quite a bit actually, as people (both within/without the Church) seem eager to learn more about this topic (and some of the others I write about, including the persecuted Church, illegal immigration, and homelessness) and how they can help. I will be speaking to the Women’s Missionary Union in Dallas in March, doing a national TV program in Toronto in early April (Easter week), teaching at a half-dozen writers’ conferences throughout the year and across the country, and continuing to do weekly radio interviews. The calendar is filling up, but I am so grateful for the opportunities!

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

Oh my, that’s a tough one! I must admit to being a wimp when it comes to cold weather, so unless God specifically spoke to me about moving to ice-and-snow country, that probably wouldn’t be on my list of preferences. Going strictly by location and weather, I’d probably want to stay somewhere in the Southwest or possibly Florida. But who knows where God has purposed us to be except the Father Himself? When He calls, may I have a faithful and courageous heart to answer, “Here am I, Lord; send me,” wherever that may be.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Spend time seeking God’s heart to discover the plans He has for you. Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that they are “for good and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope.” In my almost 64 years of life (all but the first 26 knowing and walking with God), I can confirm that His plans are good, and He has birthed a passion inside us that will motivate us towards the fulfillment of those plans IF we are patient and obedient to listen and obey. When our God-give passions and His perfect purpose for us collide, the possibilities are limitless! So although you may need to learn about things like publishing trends and building your platform, don’t let that be your focus. Discover God’s unique calling for your life, and then pursue it with passion. You will never regret it.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why?

I would choose emcees, pastors, preachers, speakers, worship leaders who are humble and prayerful, never self-seeking of cocky in their words or demeanor. There are few things I like better than being around Christian “celebrities” who don’t think of themselves as such. I would include people from such ministries as Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs, Samaritan’s Purse or Breaking Chains. In fact, I’d love to have Christians from persecuted countries (Li Ying, Asia Bibi, Pastor Yousef) speak to us, though their captors would have to release them first. But oh, what we could learn from their humble, dedicated hearts! These are my heroes, and they would be my first choice.

Tell us about the featured book.

Special Delivery is the second in the three-book Freedom series, and it officially releases on March 6, though it is available for pre-order on several sites, including http://www.amazon.com/Special-Delivery-Freedom-Kathi-Macias/dp/159669307X/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325604834&sr=1-11.

Here is a brief summary of the book:

In book two of the “Freedom” series, readers find Mara fighting against her attraction to Bible college student Jonathan Flannery even while wrestling with risking her own precarious safety to become involved in the rescue of another girl who is pregnant and desperately wants to escape her captors and save her own life, as well as her child’s. Halfway around the world in a brothel in Thailand, a young girl is rescued with the promise of being reunited with her younger sister who was adopted by an interracial couple in the States, friends of Jonathan’s family. Meanwhile, Jefe—Mara’s uncle, who held her as a sex slave in his brothel in San Diego for years—seeks revenge for Mara’s testimony that put him behind bars for life. Will his underworld connections be successful in kidnapping and killing the girl who believes she has finally won her freedom?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

            It was good to be back in San Diego, though Mara made it a point to avoid going anywhere near the area where she’d once lived as a modern-day slave. The memories were too ugly, and she did everything possible to block them out. When the topic came up—which it did all too often these days, as the general public became more aware of its prevalence—Mara immediately changed the subject or walked away. It was an evil best left for others to combat.

            The early summer sun shone warm on her dark hair, cut short now in a modern style that complimented her dainty features and accentuated her large hazel eyes. Her good looks and trim figure often drew whistles and comments, but she ignored them all. Having a man in her life didn’t even rate at the bottom of her priority list.

            Mara closed her eyes and let the mild breeze toss her hair and caress her skin. There was nothing she liked better than coming to the beach and finding a deserted spot to sit and listen to the waves rush in and break on the packed, wet sand. It was nearly impossible to find such a private place on the weekends, but this was mid-morning on Monday, and the place wouldn’t start filling up until closer to lunchtime. By then she’d be at work.

            She smiled at the thought of her new job. She was a waitress now, making enough in wages and tips to rent a room and meet her basic needs. Though she’d taken advantage of UI benefits, specifically designed to help people from other countries who had been victims of crime while in the United States, it had still taken her nearly two years to get all the necessary paperwork cleared so she could not only come to the States legally but do so as a U.S. citizen. But she’d been persistent, determined to leave her homeland of Mexico, with all its violence and corruption and poverty, behind. Even with all that had happened to her here in Southern California during her youth, she knew that America held more promise for her than the country of her birth. And besides, what did she have to hold her there? It was her parents who had sold her into slavery, and her own uncle, her tío, who had stolen her innocence, held her captive, and served as her pimp until at last he was captured and sent to prison. So far as she was concerned, her family was dead to her. She had no desire ever to see any of them again.

            Mara opened her eyes and watched a tanned, bathing-suit clad couple stroll along the sand in front of her, the waves lapping at their bare feet. Arms wrapped around one another’s waist, they seemed oblivious to anything or anyone else, talking and laughing together as if they were the only human beings on earth. The thought skittered through Mara’s mind that she might have a relationship like that one day, but just as quickly she excised it from her realm of possibility. At barely twenty years old, she’d already had enough of the male population to last her for several lifetimes.

            Affirming that thought with a quick nod of her head, she grabbed the towel she’d been sitting on and stood to her feet. She didn’t have a car yet, but it was only a ten-minute walk to the seafood café where she was now employed.

            Gainfully and respectably employed, she reminded herself. Tío used to tell me I’d never be anything but a prostitute, and that he’d kill me before he’d let me leave. But look at me now—free as a bird while he rots in prison. Maybe there really is a God after all….

Wow! I can’t wait to read the rest of the book. Where can we find you on the Internet?

My primary website is www.kathimacias.com (or you can also get there via www.boldfiction.com). I also have an “Easy Writer” blog: http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com and am part of the Titus 2 Women Ministry, found at www.thetitus2women.com

Thank you, Kathi, for another wonderful interview.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

Special Delivery (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

A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY HOME - Kathi Macias - Free Book

Welcome back, Kathi. I just love Christmas stories. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

I knew I wanted to do a Christmas book—the first of what would become an annual event that my publisher and I were discussing—and I also knew that despite the lighter tone required in a Christmas book (as opposed to the darker themes of the persecuted Church and human trafficking, which I’ve been writing about), I had to stick to my “brand” as closely as possible: hence, an “issues-related” Christmas novel, dealing with the issues related to illegal immigration.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

I always struggle with this because I have so many “favorites,” but if I have to narrow it down I guess I’d have to go with Patti Lacy, Susan Meissner, Jeanette Windle, Mary DeMuth, Athol Dickson, and Jim Rubart. All are different and unique, and all are people I greatly admire, and I also appreciate that their fiction is more than just entertainment. I like to come away from my reads feeling challenged at some point, and these authors always deliver.

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Of course I’d have to invite my sister-in-law Kacy Barnett-Gramckow because I love her Genesis trilogy. Also, Francine Rivers, Bodie Thoene, Eugenia Price, Kay Marshall Strom, 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.

During Isabella Alcantara’s seventh month of pregnancy, her parents and siblings are murdered in gang- and drug-related violence, simply because their home was targeted by mistake. Isabella knows she was spared only because she now lives in a different location, but she knows too that the same thing could easily happen to her and her husband, Francisco. When her grandfather offers to hire a “coyote” to bring them across the border to America, she agrees. But Francisco and Isabella are abandoned by the coyote and left to die. Francisco then valiantly sacrifices himself to get Isabella to safety. Homeless, nearly penniless, pregnant, and alone, Isabella determines to find a way to honor her promise to her beloved husband.

Living on one of the smaller spreads along the Arizona border, Miriam Nelson becomes furious with God and turns from her faith when her border patrol agent husband, David, is killed in a skirmish with drug smugglers. Though her mother and young son do their best to woo her back from the anger and bitterness that have overtaken her, they make little headway.

Two widows—one driven by fear and a promise, the other by bitterness and revenge—must make their journeys along different pathways, but with the same destination: a barn full of animals that stands waiting for them on Christmas Eve. Forced to face their personal demons, Isabella and Miriam soon discover a common yearning that will bind them together in a most miraculous way.

Sounds interesting. Please give us the first page of the book.

PROLOGUE

            Isabella shivered, her teeth chattering as she huddled against the frigid night air, doing her best to burrow her backside into Francisco’s embrace. How could her esposo  sleep in such harsh conditions? She and her husband had not eaten in nearly three days, they were almost out of water, and now she felt as if they would surely freeze to death before morning. And yet his even breathing, blowing warm against the back of her neck, assured her that her beloved had indeed escaped their dilemma for at least a few hours.

            Isabella wished she could do the same. During the daylight hours, when her feet burned with each tortuous step, she imagined that she could fall asleep in an instant if given half the chance. But when the desert sun, still hot in mid-autumn, finally sank below the flat, dismal horizon and the night winds blew mercilessly upon them, sleep eluded her. True, Francisco did everything he could to protect her from the elements, even using his body to shield her as they sought meager shelter under a small rock overhang or behind a sand dune, but it was never enough. They were going to die; she was sure of it. She and her husband of eleven months would perish in the middle of the Arizona desert, with only the scavengers to dispose of their remains.

            A slight flutter in her stomach reminded her that death would come to three of them, not just two. The baby that had been growing in her stomach for seven months and that less than a week earlier had kicked with strength and determination now grew weaker by the day.

            Perhaps it is best, she told herself. It was a foolish dream to think we could escape the violence and poverty of our home country and find a new life here, north of the border. My abuelo meant well, but we should never have listened to him…should never have taken his money and given it to the coyote….

            The ominous glare of the coyote, the man who had promised to take them safely to the United States but who instead had stolen their money and left them to die in the desert, danced through her memory, but she pushed it aside. Instead she focused on the beloved face of her grandfather, her abuelo, and fought the hot tears that stung her eyes as she wished yet again that she and Francisco were back in Don Alfredo’s casita, sharing a simple meal of tortillas and frijoles with the leathery-skinned old man Isabella had adored since she was a tiny girl.

            Despite her discomfort, the memory of her abuelo’s face brought a smile to her lips, as she snuggled closer into her esposo’s embrace. But then another memory, the horror of what had driven Don Alfredo to the point of pleading with them to flee across the border, wiped away her smile and once again brought tears to Isabella’s weary eyes.

Sounds like a heart wrenching story. I can't wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.kathimacias.com;

www.thetitus2women.com;

http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com

I am also on Facebook, Twitter, Shoutlife, and various other websites/blogs


Thank you, Kathi, for sharing your book with us.



Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
A Christmas Journey Home: Miracle in the Manger


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

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

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK - Kathi Macias - Free Book

Welcome back, Kathi. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I like to focus on issues, such as the persecuted Church, human trafficking, and the illegal immigration issue—all of which I have used in my current series. At the same time I like to incorporate the faithfulness of God in the midst of unimaginable hardships and trials, which all of these issues naturally entail.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

In addition to People of the Book, my most current release, which is set in Saudi Arabia and is the fourth and final installment of the Extreme Devotion series, I have a stand-alone novel called A Christmas Journey Home, releasing in October for Christmas 2011. This deals with two young widows, one a pregnant Mexican whose husband died in their attempt to cross the border into America and start new lives away from the violence of their home country, and the other a young mother whose border guard husband was killed in a drug skirmish with smugglers from Mexico. The two find themselves in the most unlikely place on Christmas Eve, bonded in a mutual loss and an unconditional love they had never expected. I also have a new three-book “Freedom” fiction series, based on the topic of human trafficking, which begins releasing in Fall 2011. The books are titled Deliver me from Evil; Special Delivery; and The Deliverer. All are part of New Hope Publishers “Fiction with a Mission” line.

I want to feature each of these on my blog, if you'll allow me. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

Definitely Li Ying, the Chinese woman whose life inspired my book Red Ink. Li Ying is serving a 15-year prison sentence for publishing an underground Christian magazine. She is my hero.

I have a dear friend who is a missionary in China. We are amazed at the stories she sends home to us. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Mary, the mother of Jesus. What an amazing young woman she must have been! I think of that song, “Mary, did you know?” I would probably ask her many of those same questions.

You're the second person recently who has answered that way. Actualloy, "Mary, Did You Know?" is one of my favorite Christmas songs. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Oh my, I’m the queen of rejections! I’ve been in the Christian publishing industry for nearly thirty years and have more rejections than I can count. You just have to believe that this is what God has called you to do and keep moving ahead. Continue to network and study and hone your craft—and be willing to take other writing opportunities along the way. My first paying gig was writing an “about town” column for our local paper. I got paid $10/month for four columns—and was thrilled to have it!

Tell us about the featured book.

People of the Book is a story about three young women who meet on the Internet—in a chat room populated by former Muslims who are exploring the possibility or already come to the conclusion that the prophet Isa (Jesus) is more than a prophet—that He is who the People of the Book claim He is, the very Son of God. One of those three young women lives in the United States, while the other two are cousins who live in Saudi Arabia. One of them has a brother who is very jealous of the attention his parents give to his sister, and he is determined to discredit her—at any cost. People of the Book confronts us all with the question of just how firmly we believe in Jesus and how far we will go to defend our faith.

A very timely subject. Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Eighteen-year-old Farah Mohammed Al Otaibi lay bruised and bloody on the floor beside her bed. The image of her soft mattress floated in and out of her consciousness, but she had no strength to drag herself from her current position. Even the slightest movement brought stabs of excruciating pain, so she tried to remember to keep her breathing shallow and her body still.

How long had she been here? Hours, certainly. Days? She couldn’t be sure. Her father and brother had covered the windows with heavy, dark cloth, blocking out any light that might help her keep track of time.

Hunger wasn’t an issue, for who could think of food when the pain was so intense? But thirst? Oh, how she longed for just a sip of cool water! Surely her mother would sneak in soon and bring her some. She had always taken care of her before—

Before…

The memory was back, though she tried desperately to block it out. Impossible. She could never forget that moment in time, for it was the dividing line between the before and after of her life. Before the tragedy that led to her brother’s discovery. Before her father had flown into a rage over what he considered his daughter’s betrayal and treachery. Before they had threatened to kill her in order to preserve the family’s honor. Before her mother had tried to intervene…

Hot tears pricked the back of Farah’s eyelids, as the vision of her mother’s face before—and after—swam in front of her eyes. The pain in her heart at that moment far exceeded anything she felt in her body. Then suddenly, inexplicably, the meaning of her name—Farah, joy and cheerfulness—burst into her consciousness. Despite her agony and sorrow, Farah was unable to hold back the brief burst of laughter that exploded from her aching chest. How absurd that her parents had given her a name that implied happiness, and yet she now wondered if she had ever truly understood or experienced any of it in her not quite nineteen years of life.

But then she had met Isa, and everything—both good and bad—had changed forever….

Wow! How can readers find you on the Internet?

My websites are http://www.kathimacias.com/ and http://www.thetitus2women.com/, and my blog is http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com/. I am also on Facebook and Twitter and ShoutLife.

Thank you, Kathi, for the fun time again.

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 6 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/