by Lucy | May 3, 2011 | emotions
In fearful times, celebrate Christian faith and missions around the globe, even in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of the terrorist Osama bin Laden and mastermind of 9/11, now dead!
Join me as I interview award-winning novelist Kathi Macias on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m. Pacific). Her Extreme Devotion features courageous women of faith, including Muslim-turned-Christian Farah of People of the Book, set in bin Ladin’s birthplace, Saudi Arabia.
The link the the show (live or archived) is HERE.
~ Hear how Kathi faced the fear of speaking in public and overcame it.
~ Discover why she champions courageous female characters of deep faith in faraway lands.
~ Get Kathi’s insights on bin Laden’s first homeland, which she studied in-depth.
~ Hear the heartbeat of the protagonist Farah, a devout Muslim, who has a troubling dream, troubling because Isa — Jesus — calls her to himself.
The take away: In our uncertain times, we can be certain of this: God is good. He’s in control. And. . .
He
cares
for
you.
Sweet sisters, I have a new eBook and it’s free. Click FREE E-BOOK FROM LUCY: 5 Amazing Names God Calls You!
You Are Blessed,
by Lucy | Apr 21, 2011 | biblical counseling |
Hi friends,
I’m honored to take part in the blog tour for Kathi Macias’ compelling novel, People of the Book. While I, ahem, sold my {fiction-loving} soul — a free book for posting the interview below — what I’m about to say is true: People of the Book made me cry, get mad, fall in love with several courageous female characters, and learn more about the way women are treated in fundamentalist Islamic homes. I am richer for reading it. I applaud Kathi Macias’ handling of a difficult subject with sensitivity and grace.
Now the interview. 🙂
An Interview with Kathi Macias
Q: People of the Book is the fourth and final book in your Extreme Devotion series. Each book is set in a different country, with the theme of first devotion and commitment to Christ above all else running through all four. How is People of the Book different, and who/what inspired you to write this book?
Kathi: People of the Book was the most difficult of the four Extreme Devotion series books to write, but it is also the strongest when it comes to a call to personal commitment to Christ and to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. With each of the books, I began drafting the manuscripts through Internet research, since I had never lived in any of the four countries and had only visited one of them.
After the original draft, I worked with someone who either currently lived in the country or who had recently spent many years there. People of the Book was the toughest because the Saudi women I connected with via the Internet were understandably apprehensive about associating with me. Most, in fact, were terrified to do so.
I was therefore quite pleased to meet a young woman named Dolly Dahdal here in the States who, until just a few years ago, had spent the majority of her life in Saudi Arabia and understood perfectly why I had chosen to write this book. We shared a passion to help expose the fallacy of “honor killings,” a horrific crime perpetrated primarily against women and girls who in some way bring “dishonor” on their Muslim families, and Dolly was a major contributor to the authenticity of this book.
Q: Can you give us a brief synopsis of this story?
Kathi: Eighteen-year-old Farah, who lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with her family, wants nothing more than to develop a deeper, more meaningful devotion to her Muslim faith. She sees the month of Ramadan as her chance to draw nearer to Allah, and she pursues that goal throughout the holiday. All goes well until the prophet Isa—Jesus—appears to her in a dream and calls her to Himself. At the same time, her only brother, Kareem, who has never liked Farah, actively seeks an opportunity to expose her for the sham he believes she is.
Meanwhile, Farah’s seventeen-year-old cousin, Nura, has begun to frequent an online chat room where former Muslims gather to discuss their new faith, based on their belief that Isa is much more than a Muslim prophet—He is actually the Son of God. While there, Nura becomes acquainted with an American girl of Muslim ancestry—now a devout Christian named Sara—and a friendship quickly develops. However, Sara has problems of her own due to her fifteen-year-old brother Emir’s involvement with a gang.
The lives of Farah, Nura, and Sara ultimately dovetail until each finds herself at a place where her faith is put to the test. Will they remain faithful to the end? Will God protect and keep them safe in the midst of persecution and treachery? Or will they be required to pay the ultimate price for their faith?
Q: Kathi, how did you get into writing? Has it always been your passion, or is it something you came to later in life?
Kathi: I’ve always wanted to write, for as long as I can remember. I was an avid reader even before I started kindergarten. I wrote a short story in third grade that the teacher liked so much she showed it to the principal, and they decided to turn it into a play for the entire PTA. I was hooked!
One day when I was about 13, I was walking home from school with my then boyfriend (now husband), Al, and I told him I’d be a writer some day. He often reminds me how blessed I am to have been able to do what I dreamed of all my life.
Q: I understand you’re running a special contest that has to do with this book. Can you tell us about it?
Kathi: Not only are there several opportunities to win a copy of the book on various blog sites included in this tour, but I’m giving away the entire four-book series at the end of the tour to someone who leaves a comment on one of the blogs, so be sure to check them all out and leave comments on each one!
Q: In addition to writing, you are a popular speaker at women’s event, writers’ conferences, and various venues around the country. How can people find out more about you, your writing and speaking, sign up for your weekly devotional newsletter (in English or Spanish), and view your many book videos?
Kathi: They can find me at one of my websites (http://www.kathimacias.com; http://www.theTitus2Women.com) or on my Easy Writer blog at http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com. There is a “contact” button on my Kathi Macias website if they’d like to send me a message. I always respond to all my emails!
Friends, 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 Speaker Services (www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com).
Remember, when you leave a comment, you’re entered in a contest to win all four of Kathi’s Extreme Devotion books. The best to you!
You Are Blessed!
