Want to hear my latest online interview? Here's the link. Enjoy--and I would love to hear back from you! Blessings, my friends.
http://cwahm.com/wordpress/2009/cwahm-blogs/jills-blog/learning-from-the-proverbs-31-woman-an-interview-with-kathi-macias/
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Our son Michael visited us in Big Bear...
While my husband, Al, and I were vacationing in Big Bear, our son Michael and his beautiful wife, Risa, joined us for a few days. This is "proud mama" with Michael out on the porch. We really had a fantastic time!
On another note, please drop by my website (www.kathimacias.com) and sign my guestbook before the end of the month for a chance to win one of my books. We'll be having the drawing on the 31st. Blessings!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Hitting the ground running...!
After an amazingly lovely week in the mountains at Big Bear, my hubby and I are back to reality. And that's a good thing, yes? It's tough to return from a vacation, but we are here to "be about the Father's business." I spent much of the last week sitting on my Father's lap and listening to His heart; now I'm ready to start implementing what I heard. Onward and upward--and abundant blessings to you all!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Quiet as a...Churchmouse???
Ever hear the term "quiet as a church mouse"? Well, let me tell you about a church mouse (www.Churchmouse.com, actually) that is getting ready to roar!
Working tirelessly behind the scenes, the founders of Churchmouse have been at it for months now, bringing their vision for a Christian syndicate to life. And they've done it! This excellent site now provides churches, organizations, individuals--anyone with a need for quality Christian material for newsletters, magazines, etc.--for a nominal price, all at one simple location.
As one of the writers for Churchmouse, I want to encourage you to check out the site. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality and variety (and did I mention, nominally priced?) material available. It's a new site, only recently launched, but as the concept takes hold, I believe this "church mouse" is going to be anything but quiet. Won't you help us roar as we work together to "go into all the world" and preach the gospel/make disciples/encourage the Church?
Working tirelessly behind the scenes, the founders of Churchmouse have been at it for months now, bringing their vision for a Christian syndicate to life. And they've done it! This excellent site now provides churches, organizations, individuals--anyone with a need for quality Christian material for newsletters, magazines, etc.--for a nominal price, all at one simple location.
As one of the writers for Churchmouse, I want to encourage you to check out the site. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality and variety (and did I mention, nominally priced?) material available. It's a new site, only recently launched, but as the concept takes hold, I believe this "church mouse" is going to be anything but quiet. Won't you help us roar as we work together to "go into all the world" and preach the gospel/make disciples/encourage the Church?
Friday, July 31, 2009
You've got to read this book!
Tell us a little about your book: The Call of Zulina is the first book of a three-book saga. Set in West Africa, it centers around Grace Winslow, whose mother is African royalty and her father a British sea captain. Trapped in a marriage arrangement with a pompous, offensive white slave trader, she flees from her home and ends up in the middle of a slave revolt at Zulina slave fortress. There she comes to understand the horrific nature of her family’s involvement in the slave trade. She is forced to choose a side—slave or slaver.
How did you come up with this story? In West Africa, I toured an old slave fortress and was struck dumb by a set of baby-sized manacles bolted to the wall. Right then this book began to germinate in my mind. Then, while I was researching Once Blind: The Life of John Newton—a slaver turned preacher and abolitionist, and author of the hymn Amazing Grace—I virtually “met” a couple who ran a slave business in Africa in the 1700s. I couldn’t help but wonder, “If they had a daughter, who would she be? English or African? Where would her loyalties lie?” That imagined daughter became Grace. The characters of Lingongo and Joseph Winslow, her parents, are modeled after that real-life couple.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book? Delving into the history. It was astounding and confounding! What did you like the least? The horror of this episode of history. I suppose there is a reason why we gloss over historical hard spots, but of course salving our collective conscience doesn’t make the truth go away.
What message do you hope readers gain from your novel? Two, actually:
First: Having one foot in each of two worlds and not quite belonging in either is a common feeling, especially for Christians who are “in this world but not of this world.” I would like readers to see the power of taking a stand, even though there are consequences for doing so. The consequences of fence-straddling are far greater.
Second: Slavery is a blight on humanity that must be addressed. There is more slavery in the world today by four-fold than there was in the 18th century! Time for 21st century abolitionists to get to work!
What helps you relax despite looming deadlines? We have a great hot tub spa, and I love to relax in it—read or talk to my husband or do nothing at all! I also walk and enjoy the changing of the seasons. And I like to play tennis and bowl and golf via Wii!
Briefly take us through your process of writing a novel—from conception to revision. I am a pretty organized writer. Conception is no problem—my idea file is bulging! I gather info, then I make a fairly detailed chapter outline and attach all my research to the appropriate chapter. (This is a time-consuming step, but the better I do this, the easier and more trouble-free the actual writing.) Then I write a first draft: no corrections, no rethinking—just pouring it out. (I love this step!) Then I write a second draft: bringing order to the first, rewriting, switching info to another chapter, etc. (This is the painful step.) Then I do a final draft: polishing, fixing, double checking info. I move away from the project for a week or two and do something completely different and my husband reads it and makes corrections and suggestions. (He’s great!) I consider my husband’s comments, then I go back and reread the entire manuscript out loud one last time.
Tell us what we have to look forward to in the future. What new projects are you working on? I have two more books coming out in this series. One is written (set in London) and I’m just starting book three (set in the new United States of America). I have also been approached about possibly going back to Sudan and writing the story of the displaced Southern Sudanese going home again. But I’ll have to say, after writing four books this year, I need a bit of a breather!
Do you have any parting words of advice? I love the idea of fiction with a purpose.
Before Barbara Scott at Abingdon, no one was willing to take a chance on slave-based fiction. More than one looked at my manuscript and told me, “I love the story, but I’m afraid it will rekindle old feelings and make people feel guilty.” I’ll have to admit, it did my heart good to see great reviews for the book in Publishers Weekly and The Library Journal with no mention whatsoever of rekindling or guilt! I applaud Abingdon for being willing to reach into fresh, untapped areas. Their entire fiction line is great, and I recommend every book on it
My prayer is that when readers finish The Call of Zulina – then when they finish the complete Grace In Africa series—they will long to see slavery wiped from the earth. And that they will be willing to be an active part of accomplishing that.
How did you come up with this story? In West Africa, I toured an old slave fortress and was struck dumb by a set of baby-sized manacles bolted to the wall. Right then this book began to germinate in my mind. Then, while I was researching Once Blind: The Life of John Newton—a slaver turned preacher and abolitionist, and author of the hymn Amazing Grace—I virtually “met” a couple who ran a slave business in Africa in the 1700s. I couldn’t help but wonder, “If they had a daughter, who would she be? English or African? Where would her loyalties lie?” That imagined daughter became Grace. The characters of Lingongo and Joseph Winslow, her parents, are modeled after that real-life couple.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book? Delving into the history. It was astounding and confounding! What did you like the least? The horror of this episode of history. I suppose there is a reason why we gloss over historical hard spots, but of course salving our collective conscience doesn’t make the truth go away.
What message do you hope readers gain from your novel? Two, actually:
First: Having one foot in each of two worlds and not quite belonging in either is a common feeling, especially for Christians who are “in this world but not of this world.” I would like readers to see the power of taking a stand, even though there are consequences for doing so. The consequences of fence-straddling are far greater.
Second: Slavery is a blight on humanity that must be addressed. There is more slavery in the world today by four-fold than there was in the 18th century! Time for 21st century abolitionists to get to work!
What helps you relax despite looming deadlines? We have a great hot tub spa, and I love to relax in it—read or talk to my husband or do nothing at all! I also walk and enjoy the changing of the seasons. And I like to play tennis and bowl and golf via Wii!
Briefly take us through your process of writing a novel—from conception to revision. I am a pretty organized writer. Conception is no problem—my idea file is bulging! I gather info, then I make a fairly detailed chapter outline and attach all my research to the appropriate chapter. (This is a time-consuming step, but the better I do this, the easier and more trouble-free the actual writing.) Then I write a first draft: no corrections, no rethinking—just pouring it out. (I love this step!) Then I write a second draft: bringing order to the first, rewriting, switching info to another chapter, etc. (This is the painful step.) Then I do a final draft: polishing, fixing, double checking info. I move away from the project for a week or two and do something completely different and my husband reads it and makes corrections and suggestions. (He’s great!) I consider my husband’s comments, then I go back and reread the entire manuscript out loud one last time.
Tell us what we have to look forward to in the future. What new projects are you working on? I have two more books coming out in this series. One is written (set in London) and I’m just starting book three (set in the new United States of America). I have also been approached about possibly going back to Sudan and writing the story of the displaced Southern Sudanese going home again. But I’ll have to say, after writing four books this year, I need a bit of a breather!
Do you have any parting words of advice? I love the idea of fiction with a purpose.
Before Barbara Scott at Abingdon, no one was willing to take a chance on slave-based fiction. More than one looked at my manuscript and told me, “I love the story, but I’m afraid it will rekindle old feelings and make people feel guilty.” I’ll have to admit, it did my heart good to see great reviews for the book in Publishers Weekly and The Library Journal with no mention whatsoever of rekindling or guilt! I applaud Abingdon for being willing to reach into fresh, untapped areas. Their entire fiction line is great, and I recommend every book on it
My prayer is that when readers finish The Call of Zulina – then when they finish the complete Grace In Africa series—they will long to see slavery wiped from the earth. And that they will be willing to be an active part of accomplishing that.
Kay Marshall Strom
www.kaystrom.com
www.kaystrom.com
First winner of Beyond Me contest!
We have a winner! Yes, the first winner of our "beyond me living" contest is Valley Pickren, nominated by her good friend Cindy Clarke (aka Gigi). Here are just a few of the things Cindy had to say about this amazing lady:
***She is an advocate for the disabled and helps them find the programs to help make their lives more manageable.
***She has put her needs on the back burner whenever a friend calls and needs her help.
***She gives of her time and minimal resources with no strings attached.
***She is a no-nonsense kind of person.... so don't try to lie to her because she can smell a lie a mile away!
***She was personally responsible for helping us gain custody of our granddaughter by going to pick her up from a questionable home life. We are forever grateful for that!
Congratulations, Valley, and thank you Cindy, for bringing this "beyond me" lady to our attention. We are honored to know you both.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Blog radio interview tonight!
If you'd like to hear more about "beyond me living"--aka, true discipleship--join me at 6 p.m. (Central time) tonight (7/30/09) on "Not Just Talkin' the Talk" blog radio with Linda Goldfarb at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/linda-goldfarb. You can even call in during the program at 347-324-5810. I/we would love to have you join us!
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