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
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.
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?
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.
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Unexpected Christmas Hero
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