Interview: Kathi Macias, Author of Special Delivery

Kathi Macias is the author of more than 30 books including, Beyond Me: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World; My Son, John; and A Christmas Journey Home. Her latest release is Special Delivery, the second book in her "Freedom" series.

Please tell us about yourself.

I’m a SoCal girl, born and raised, though I’ve also lived in Colorado, Texas, and Washington. I’m married to my junior/senior high school sweetheart (whom I’ve known since we were six years old). Our children are all grown, and we have 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Until she passed away in August at the age of 90, my mom lived with us (for 12 years). She was the last of our parents, so now that generation is gone and I must admit that I miss that connection. I’ve been a Christian since I was 26, and everything else revolves around/grows out of that great truth.

When did you first discover your writing was a ministry?

I suppose soon after I became a believer. I’ve wanted to write for as long as I can remember. About ten years after I was saved I got my first job in a Christian publishing house (having worked for newspapers before that), and the ministry grew from there.

How did you come up with the idea for your Freedom series?

I was actually in the process of finishing up the "Extreme Devotion" series (four novels about the persecuted Church around the world). My publisher and I were chatting about where to go next, and we found we shared a passion to reach out to human trafficking victims, to help raise awareness of their plight, and to stop the horrific practice of modern-day slavery. The more we discussed it, the more we knew we wanted to do a fiction series about it. Within a few weeks, the contracts were in place.

Why do you feel God called you to write about the topic of human trafficking?

I have always been active in social issues, even before becoming a Christian. I came of age in the 60s, so I was strongly influenced by the Civil Rights Movement of that era. I’ve always been one to jump on a soapbox, march in a parade, champion a cause. When I met Christ, my passion became directed toward setting the captives free, both physically and spiritually, and shining the Light into the darkest places around the world. Human trafficking would definitely qualify.

What is the most surprising fact you uncovered in your research on this topic?

The most surprising was that human trafficking isn’t just something that happens far away, across the seas in some third-world country. It takes place right here, in our own backyard. The most horrifying thing I learned was that children as young as two or three years of age are caught up in this evil and that depraved people are willing to pay untold amounts of money to enslave and destroy these precious little ones.

Article Author: Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Cheryl Malandrinos is a book reviewer, blogger, freelance writer and editor. Her first children's book, Little Shepherd, was published by Guardian Angel Publishing in 2010. She is also a member of the SCBWI. Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two children. …

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