My author friend Kathi Macias writes another compelling and important novel on a horrific crisis worldwide: human trafficking. Do you dare read it? Do you dare not to?
Kathi Macias has done it again. Another compelling and important novel on a horrific crisis worldwide (including the United States): human trafficking. Her novel, Special Delivery, is the second of three in a series that shines light in the darkness of this crime, too evil to imagine.
May our great God bless the children and young people–both male and female–enslaved in human trafficking, specifically sex slavery, as well as people like Kathi who keep us aware of it. Let us pray for these modern-day slaves’ rescue and recovery. May He also bless our enemies as He sees fit, for Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43,44).
God hates evil. Yet by His grace, He brings many blessings in this life to unbelievers in order to bring them to repentance and to everlasting life through Jesus Christ. (By the way, I’m giving away professionally designed t-shirts with the words “Save the Girls” to the first ten folks to comment here on this blog post.)
An Interview with Kathi Macias
Q: Special Delivery is book two in the Freedom (human trafficking) series. For anyone who may not have read book one, Deliver Me From Evil, can you fill us in on the focus of the series in general, and Special Delivery in particular?
Kathi: The Freedom series is a three-book fiction series built around the horrifying topic of human trafficking. People often ask me why I decided to write about such a dark topic. First, I explain that I’m not writing about a dark topic; I’m writing about the Light that shines in that darkness. And second, I believe the Church should be at the forefront of the modern-day abolition movement to set the captives (modern-day slaves) free.
The three books in this series specifically follows the life of a young woman named Mara, who was sold into sexual slavery by her own parents in Mexico, and then smuggled across the border into San Diego by her uncle who then served as her pimp. A strong sub-plot throughout the series tells of two sisters in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, Chanthra and Lawan, who are also trapped in a brothel. Finally, a teenage girl named Francesca, kidnapped in Juarez, Mexico, and forced into prostitution, is introduced in book two. Special Delivery picks up two years after book one, Deliver Me From Evil, ends, and continues with the stories of Mara and Lawan, as well as others carried over from book one. Mara hopes she is finally free to pursue her own life because she was rescued from the brothel and her testimony helped lock up her uncle for life. But the man has underground connections and is driven by revenge to reach out from behind bars and deliver the ultimate punishment to his niece.
Q: This isn’t the first fiction series you’ve written on nationwide and even worldwide social issues, the one previous to this being the persecuted Church. What draws you to these difficult topics?
Kathi:As a Christian, I believe I am compelled to use my God-given gifts to honor God in all I do—and that includes exposing the deeds of darkness, calling sinners to repentance, and taking a stand for righteousness by doing all I can to help rescue those who are suffering. I dare not turn my back on “the least of these.” I also believe that God placed this sort of burden on my heart even before I became a Christian at the age of 26. I’ve always been a champion of the underdog, a “soap-box” preacher, if you will. When I met Jesus, I simply redirected that passion toward His people, realizing I couldn’t effect real change in my own strength anyway.
Q: With your obvious passion to right social and moral wrongs through the power of the Gospel, how did writing and speaking enter into that?
Kathi: I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since I was a child—never wanted to do anything else. When I was a teenager I told my then boyfriend (now husband) that I was going to be a writer one day. What a blessing that God allowed me to fulfill that dream!
After becoming a believer and growing in my faith, it was natural to take my passion to fight for others and incorporate it into my writing. Speaking, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. I was terrified of public speaking when I was young, and the day I received Christ I made a “bargain” with God, promising to do anything He asked of me—so long as it didn’t include public speaking. (Does God have a sense of humor or what?) Now, when I stand in front of audiences where I believe God has called me to speak (and actually find myself enjoying it!), I tell my listeners that if God has called them to do something and they feel it’s impossible, they can consider me their “visual aid” that NOTHING is impossible with God IF we will simply take that first step of obedience and let Him fulfill His purpose in and through us.
Q: With the topics of the worldwide persecuted Church and human trafficking under your belt, what other issues are you dealing with in your writing?
Kathi: My Christmas 2011 book, A Christmas Journey Home, dealt with the immigration/border problem, and my Christmas 2012 novel, Unexpected Christmas Hero, will be about homelessness in America. The next issues-related fiction series I have on tap—which I am just starting to write, by the way—is called the “Patches of Courage” series and will begin releasing in late January 2013. Book one is The Moses Quilt, based on the life of Harriet Tubman, and will be followed by The Christmas Quilt and The Impossible Quilt. This series of books will highlight historical American women whose Christian faith enabled them to walk in great courage and make a difference in the lives of countless people.
Q: Where can people find out about you and your books, speaking, and appearances?
Kathi: They can go directly to my website or my Easy Writer blog. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, and various other social sites. Would love to hear from all of you!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services.
With Joy Overflowing!
Thank you for participating in the CSS VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR for book two of The Freedom Series, SPECIAL DELIVERY with author, Kathi Macias.
For information where FREE copies of this book will be given away, please follow @ChristianSpkrs on Twitter and also visit
http://christianspeakerservices1.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/blog-tour-kick-off-for-special-delivery-by-kathi-macias-book-giveaway/
Stay tuned to free giveaways and more on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CSSVBT.TheFreedomSeries.
Blessings and joy,
Karen Power
Owner
Christian Speakers Services
Website: http://www.christianspeakersservices.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/christianspkrs
http://www.christianspeakersservices.com/virtual-book-promotions.html
Karen and Kathi, it has been MY privilege. Kathi asked me to read and do a write up on her next book in this series. I am so excited!
Lucy,
Thanks for doing this great interview with Kathi. I recently started following her on Twitter and signed up for her email to keep up with what she is doing. I have GOT to get these books. I’m working on a non-fiction book about living out what I call the hungry-thirsty-visit prison list in Matthew 25:35-36. Reaching out to these people who have been trafficked is awesome. I’m inspired by what Kathi writes. Thank you! 🙂
Carol, Kathi’s books are amazing. . .the writing as well as Kathi’s willingness to write on a difficult topic with great sensitivity. I’d love to send you a “Save the Girls” t-shirt. Please send me your street address and your desired size (M, L, or XL) to my email address: Lucy@LucyAnnMoll.com and I’ll send you the tee. Thanks!
Such an important topic of our time. I think it’s great Kathi is creating books which deal with it in a sensitive, real story.
Kristine, thanks for your comment. I’d love to send you a “Save the Girls” t-shirt. Please send me your street address and your desired size (M, L, or XL) to my email address: Lucy@LucyAnnMoll.com and I’ll send you the tee. Thanks!
I often pray God would give me the chance to fight this on a real, front-line basis. I HATE knowing there are women right here in the USA who are trapped in this life. There’s no excuse for anyone to be in slavery anywhere…but especially in America.
Jason, it’s girls AND boys. Very sick. i’d love to send you a “Save the Girls” t-shirt. It is “female-ish” so maybe you could give it to your daughter or a friend. Please send me your street address and your desired size (M, L, or XL) to my email address: Lucy@LucyAnnMoll.com and I’ll send you the tee. Thanks!
This is the issue that keeps me up at night. In fact it kept me up until very late last night. I am hoping to raise money through my blog and the products I’m working on to help fight this horrible crime. I came up with some neat ideas last night as I was trying to sleep. I’m so thankful that this issue is finally getting some exposure and people are standing up to make it stop. This book looks like it will be a great way to let people know what’s going on.
Beth, thanks for your concern about the child sex slaves. I’d love to send you a “Save the Girls” t-shirt. It is “female-ish” so maybe you could give it to your daughter or a friend. Please send me your street address and your desired size (M, L, or XL) to my email address: Lucy@LucyAnnMoll.com and I’ll send you the tee. Thanks!
Kathi’s books are among my favorites. She has so much confidence in God and gathers courage miraculously to write her on the edge stories. I just finished Special Delivery and my heart is so full of awareness of the attention that we as Christians should be fighting this sinful slavery of children and adults. I pray for them and hope that God’s help and blessings reaches all of them soon and this ugliness will be wiped from earth into hell. Thank you for allowing me to reply.
Blessings,
Barb Shelton
You are so welcome, Barb. Thanks for asking me to be your FB friend too. We each can use all the encouragement and inspiration we can get. Praise God that He provides.