GIVEAWAY: “The Moses Quilt” by Kathi Macias (A CSS Blog Tour and Interview)

Family Secrets the Cause for Lack of Commitment?

Mazie is white and deeply in love with Edward, an African-American lawyer who adores her and wants to marry her but tries to be respectful of her hesitation to make a commitment. What he doesn’t know is that Mazie is disturbed by what she considers secrets in her family’s past, secrets that begin to be unraveled as her great-grandmother, Mimi, tells her and Edward the story behind her Moses quilt, which she bought years earlier in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, a little town famous for its quilts.

Edward thought he knew everything there was to know about Harriet Tubman, who had always been somewhat of a hero to him, but Mimi’s story opens up new avenues of discovery for both the young people in this relationship—and takes them straight back to the quilt’s origin in Gee’s Bend.

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Ku5tygrMs&feature=youtu.be

Free Book Opportunities: 

POST A COMMENT ON THE BLOG for an opportunity to enter your name for the random drawing on FEBRUARY 28, 2013 for a FREE COPY of THE MOSES QUILT by Kathi Macias. GO TO >>> http://christianspeakerservices1.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/1956/

For more opportunities for free copies of THE MOSES QUILT by Kathi Macias, please follow this book tour on Facebook at:  http://www.facebook.com/CSSVBT.KathiMacias.

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) at the annual Golden Scrolls award banquet. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al.

Interview:

The Quilt Series sounds interesting, but what makes it unique or sets it apart from the many other quilt books that are so popular right now?
First, I must confess to NOT being a quilter. I’ve never even considered taking it up! Second, I love quilts and have always been fascinated by the stories behind them. I combined that fascination with my passion for writing issues-related fiction, and I ended up with a three-book series that is, for the most part, contemporary but told against historical backdrops.

Sounds interesting! Can you tell us a bit about each of the three books in the series? Sure! Book one, The Moses Quilt, involves an interracial romance, where the couple works through their concerns and apprehensions as they learn the story of Harriet Tubman’s faith and courage as told through the patches of the Moses quilt that represents her life. Book two, The Doctor’s Christmas Quilt, deals with the topic of abortion told against the backdrop of the life of America’s first woman doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell, who was strongly pro-life. Book three, The Singing Quilt, deals with a young woman overcoming a physical disability; the background for that story is based on the “Queen of Gospel,” Fannie Crosby.

Was it difficult to do the research on these women, particularly Harriet Tubman? What did you learn about her in the process? I knew more about Harriet Tubman than I did about Elizabeth Blackwell or Fannie Crosby, but I expanded my knowledge of each as I did the research. Harriet Tubman’s amazing faith and courage is what stood out most to me about her life. Here was a woman born a slave, penniless for the majority of her life, and illiterate except for the scripture verses she had memorized (even if she couldn’t read them). Her prayer life was powerful, even as a child. After she escaped to the North and began making forays back into the South to help bring others out of slavery, friends would caution her against it. “Harriet, there’s a reward on your head—dead or alive. Aren’t you afraid?” She brushed off their fear and explained that she believed God had called her to help rescue her people; therefore, He would protect her. When her job was done, He would take her home to heaven, so what was there to fear? Wow, what a dynamic woman of God! I also learned that her achievements went far beyond rescuing slaves, though that’s what she’s best known for. She also served as a spy for the Union Army, worked as a nurse, and opened a home for indigent elderly former slaves. She died there herself in her mid-nineties, and the entire town flew their flags at half-mast in her honor.

Tell us a little more about the contemporary story in The Moses Quilt. The majority of the contemporary story is set just outside San Francisco. Mazie is white and deeply in love with Edward, an African-American lawyer who adores her and wants to marry her but tries to be respectful of her hesitation to make a commitment. What he doesn’t know is that Mazie is disturbed by what she considers secrets in her family’s past, secrets that begin to be unraveled as her great-grandmother, Mimi, tells her and Edward the story behind her Moses quilt, which she bought years earlier in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, a little town famous for its quilts. Edward thought he knew everything there was to know about Harriet Tubman, who had always been somewhat of a hero to him, but Mimi’s story opens up new avenues of discovery for both the young people in this relationship—and takes them straight back to the quilt’s origin in Gee’s Bend.

This sounds like more than just a “feel-good” story. Can it be used as a study book in some way? Absolutely! As with nearly all my books we have free downloadable discussion questions at www.newhopedigital.com that will enable The Moses Quilt to be read as a study book for individuals or used as a discussion/study book for groups.

My Review:

Kathi Macias’s book, The Moses Quilt, is not a fast-moving story line, but it’s warm and inviting.  It’s as if you know the characters personally, and wonder yourself what is hindering Mazie from making a commitment to Edward.  What is her hesitation?  Edward is such a kind, patient man, willing to marry, but continues to wait for Mazie’s answer to his marriage proposal.

Mimi, Mazie’s great-grandmother was such a delight.  Though ailing, she doesn’t complain much except maybe for the cold California weather, as she lived most of her life in hot, steamy Alabama.

Thinking to encourage Mazie, Mimi began to draw out the stories of the Moses quilt, one quilt block at a time, that were created around the life of Harriet Tubman. I was only aware of Harriet’s involvement in the Underground Railroad.  You are  in for a grand surprise if you’ve not read more of her life!  However, Mimi passes away before the stories are completed.  Now what is Mazie to do?

We find her and Edward on a trip back to Alabama to learn about the quilt’s ending.  What they find took them by complete surprise, as well as me.  Will it help Mazie to commit or will it divide their relationship?

This book is a great personal and historical fiction that will intrigue you in many ways.  Kathi tackles the tough issues of slavery, freedom and inter-racial marriage, which make for an interesting and educational read.  God’s hand is in all the circumstances, and each person senses His presence in their personal needs.

I  was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview and/or book review on this blog.

CSS Virtual Book Tours are managed by Christian Speakers Services.

(http://ChristianSpeakersServices.com).

CSS Book Tour and Book GIVEAWAY: “Light Under the House” by Aaron L

Aaron L might be a newcomer to the creation of Christian fiction but is not one when it comes to the arts and all things creative. Growing up spending a lot of his time drawing, Aaron always knew that his future lay in this field. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in graphic design. Although the usual application of this degree is in the creation of print art, Aaron chose instead to focus his creative skills on the task of storytelling. With his first novel, “Light Under the House”, Aaron seeks to display his creativity in this promising new arena.

INTERVIEW:

What inspired you to write this story?
I feel very strongly about the breakdown of the family and fatherlessness and how there is much dysfunction and despair because of it. I wanted to tell a story to shed some light on the situations that many face and hopefully bring some type of reversal to the current dynamic in whatever small way I could. I wanted to challenge men, fathers especially, to be who they were created to be….its certainly a challenge I face myself daily. A challenge that I often fail at but keeping picking myself up to start again.

Did you model any of the characters after people you know?
I used many things to model the characters … people I know, other literary figures, actors, biblical characters, celebrities … the characters are a combination of all of these. I wanted them to be new and familiar at the same time, universal.

Why did you choose the Dallas/Ft Worth area as your primary setting?
First of all, the south has a certain reputation for is deep spiritual roots (bible belt and all). I patterned the book in part after GONE WITH THE WIND (another book set in the south) … not in the sense of a love story but in the sense of “here is civilization that is about to cease to exist, come see it before its gone”. In the case of my novel it is a spiritual civilization on the brink. Dallas just seemed to have everything I needed to make the story work from both a symbolic and technical standpoint.

Do you have plans to write more books?
I have an idea or two floating around … nothing concrete yet.

What sort of research did you do for the historical portions of your book? What did you like best about the research? The least?
My co-author and I researched deeply into ancient history for some aspects of the book … I learned a lot of things … some things I’d rather forget but most of it was enlightening. What I liked best was that it confirmed for me mostly what I already knew, there really is nothing new under the sun.

Where can we find out about more opportunities for a free copy of this book?
Follow @ChristianSpkrs on Twitter.

ANCIENT HISTORY ABOUT TO BE LOST!

LIGHT UNDER THE HOUSE BLOG TOUR

with Aaron L

January 16-30, 2012

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Light Under the House is the saga of an American family—the Levi’s, a family of secrets. None greater than the secret of what lies under their house, a secret that could destroy them. A secret that an ancient evil will stop at nothing to uncover. The novel follows the Levi family line for a generation, creating a story that explores lives lived in the aftermath of the cultural rebellion of the late 1960′s. It is a historical fiction novel that shows the power of consequence and the hope of redemption. Most of all, it is a story about fathers and their children.

Post a comment HERE to enter your name for the free book giveaways of this book that will be conducted on Monday, January 30, 2012. (U.S. and Canada residents only)

For announcements of blog tour posts, book review posts, book giveaways, and more:  Like on Facebook – CLICK HERE

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 This blog tour is hosted by:

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 (http://ChristianSpeakersServices.com).

For my review, go here.

Bethany House Historical: “The Sweetest Thing” by Elizabeth Musser

A Touching Story of Friendship and Faith During the Depression

Anne “Perri” Singleton’s world is defined by the security of family, the camaraderie of friends at an exclusive Atlanta girls’ school, and an enviable social life. She isn’t looking for new friends when Mary Dobbs Dillard arrives from Chicago. Besides, “Dobbs,” the passionate and fiercely individualistic daughter of an itinerant minister, is her opposite in every way.

But just as the Great Depression collides disastrously with Perri’s well-ordered life, friendship blossoms–a friendship that will be tested by jealousy, betrayal, and family secrets…

With her endearing characters and poignant storytelling, Atlanta native Elizabeth Musser vividly re-creates the charm of her beloved city amid the poverty and plenty that shaped the 1930s.

Price:	$14.99
ISBN:	978-0-7642-0831-7
ISBN-10:	0-7642-0831-4
Dimensions:	5.5 x 8.5
Number of pages:	400
Carton Quantity:	32
Publication Date:	Jun. 11
Formats:	Paperback

Elizabeth Musser, an Atlanta native, lives in southern France with her husband and their two sons. Her acclaimed novel, The Swan House, was a Book Sense bestseller list in the Southeast and was selected as one of the top Christian books for 2001 by Amazon’s editors. Searching for Eternity is her sixth novel. Visit Elizabeth’s Web site at www.elizabethmusser.com

Endorsement:

“The Sweetest Thing is a touching story of friendship and faith. Musser’s characters are as real and as unforgettable as the friends I grew up with.”
–Lynn Austin, bestselling author of While We’re Far Apart

My Review:

Elizabeth Musser, in her book, The Sweetest Thing, gives you a very personal, bird’s-eye view of life during the Depression years in different parts of the country in the early 1930s.

It’s a book of contrasts:  Anne “Perri” Singleton’s wealthy socialite family and Mary Dobbs Dillard’s poor family whose father is an itinerant pastor;   Anne who has a well-ordered, busy social life and Mary who is an outspoken individualist;  and the possibility of polar opposites becoming friends.

When disaster strikes Perri’s life, Mary is there to encourage her with her faith in God.  When sickness and secrets strikes Mary’s life, she questions and doubts her faith.  Jealousy, betrayal, and family secrets eventually causes an estranged in their friendship.  But it’s faith that comes from the least likely source that will surprise you through the end of the story.

The ups and downs of the girls’ friendship are typical for the circumstances and age of the girls.  They seem very familiar.  The descriptions of the calamities that befall some of the families are well-developed and so very real.  The destitution during the Depression is palpable and realistic. The mystery that is woven into the story keeps the pages turning!

A point I failed to mention earlier is that I loved the point of view rambling back and forth between Perri and Dobbs regarding the same episode, depicting their specific frame of mind about the circumstances transpiring.  It felt like you were eavesdropping!  Made for a fantastic read.

God’s intervention stands out in ways that shouldn’t surprise a believer, yet in ways it does.  God is faithful, just not always in how we expect.  Trust in God is the main emphasis that comes to my mind in the midst of trying circumstances in Elizabeth’s story.  Along with the faith, love and help of people when desperate times hit those they have come to love.

Friendship and the faithfulness of God are The Sweetest Thing.

This book was provided by Jim Hart of Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.