How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surounded by Loose Cannons? by Kathi Macias

About the Book:

(Homeland, CA) - For all the Christian women in the world who dread reading Proverbs 31 and wonder who on earth could ever live up to that woman - this book is for you. Between dirty diapers, complaining children, housework, husbands and a multitude of other attention-grabbing detours women face, award-winning author and speaker, Kathi Macias finds a way to encourage and biblically instruct women of all ages and phases. Women everywhere are the glue that holds their families together. Keeping everything under control challenges even the most organized household CEO. Kathi uses humor, God's Word, as well as practical insight and instruction to lovingly encourage women to grow in this progression of grace.

Readers will find How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons?: Proverbs 31 Discoveries for Yielding to the Master of the Seas, filled with scriptural explanations and journaling pages to process and write their personal feelings and prayers. With sections of the book focused on each step of the learning process to guide our ships to safe harbor, readers will be happily surprised to find the funny without the fluff. Kathi's words are the "spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down." Her vulnerable approach facilitates the teachings of Proverbs 31, making it easier for women to swallow. The truth of the scriptures is very much alive and well throughout the pages, yet the ease and charm of the author's words entice readers to press forward and embrace the plan for God's woman today.

About the Author:

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored 26 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 recently 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, where the two of them spend free time riding their Harley.

"Will the Real Superwoman Please Stand Up?" (an excerpt from How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons?)

I've always been a control freak who wanted everything to run smoothly--perfectly, actually. No bumps or surprises, just--well, a "tight ship," as they say. And somewhere along the line I got the idea that I could make that happen--if I just tried hard enough. I think it may have started when I first saw Superman on our family's black and white TV and wondered, Is there a Superwoman somewhere? When I put that question to the adults in my life, they smiled and patted me on the head and said, "I don't think so, dear." So I decided to sign up for the job--a reasonable if somewhat naïve aspiration for a six-year-old, not so reasonable and way beyond naïve at twenty-six. Two decades after the birth of my Superwoman dream, I was still running as fast as I could and getting nowhere. My twenty-year-old dream was going down for the count, and I was nearly at the point of throwing in the towel--and then I met Jesus.

What a difference! Now I could latch on to verses like "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and "All things should be done decently and in order"--biblical affirmations of my desire to do things right, to do things efficiently and effectively, to do things with power and authority. Finally I was invincible--in Jesus, of course. Now all I needed was a godly role model and I'd be on my way.

I began my search in earnest, reading through the Scriptures until I came to Proverbs 31. Eureka! There, at last, was the epitome of the Superwoman I'd been hoping to become since I was six years old. The perfect woman--perfect wife, perfect mother, perfect housekeeper, perfect entrepreneur--all rolled into one! Not only did her husband and children praise her, but God must have approved of her as well or He certainly wouldn't have included her as an example in the Bible. My dream was alive and well once again! At last I would be able to "get it all together," to win instead of fail, to run a tight ship, and to keep things under control. Life was good, and the future looked bright.There was only one problem. I hadn't figured on all the loose cannons rolling around the deck of my not-so-tight ship...

Author Interview here

Read my review here

For more information:

www.kathimacias.com

Follow the Blog:

http://tightships.wordpress.com

Order the Book:

www.newhopepublishers.com

Paperback: 208 pgs

New Hope Publishers

Retail: $13.99

Release Date: February 1, 2009

ISBN-10: 1596692049

ISBN-13: 978-1596692046

What Others Are Saying:
“Note to marketing department: Retitle this book How Can I Get Any Work Done When I’m Surrounded by Funny Stories? The antics of Kathi Macias made me laugh out loud! As a recovering perfectionist and survivor of three workaholism-related crash and burns, I identified with Kathi’s quest to do it right. Her transparency regarding both her faith and her foibles make this book an essential read for any woman who struggles with that insidious “not good enough” syndrome. Kathi has charted the way to smoother sailing for us all. Anchors aweigh!”

—Debi Stack, humorist, speaker, and author of Martha to the Max: Balanced Living for Perfectionists and Smotherly Love™: I Know Where Your Buttons Are and I’m Not Afraid to Push Them

The blog tour host having the most comments left on his or her site for this tour will be able to conduct a random drawing from the reader comments for this very special giveaway.

Kathi Macias has put together a lovely collection of books, which include:

A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser
A Woman's Guide to Overcoming Depression by Archibald Hart, Ph.D. and Catherine Hart Weber, Ph. D.
Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity by Keri Wyatt Kent
Dragonlight, a novel by Donita K. Paul
Blue Heart Blessed, a novel by Susan Meissner
Taking a Stand by Janet Lynn Mitchell

And her own books:
Beyond Me: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World
The Train-of-Thought Writing Method: Practical, User-Friendly Help for Beginning Writers
Emma Jean Reborn, a novel

Sally Stuart's 2009 Christian Writers Market Guide

You all have done excellent in the past leaving comments. I'd love to be the blogger host that gets to give this away to one of you. What I'd love for you to comment on this time is tell me how you found out about this give away. 1.) Are you a faithful follower of mine? 2.) Are you a subscriber? 3.) Did you follow a link? Where did you hear about me? 4.) Also if you'd like to tell me where in the world you live I'd love to know where I'm reaching. KCWC says they'll mail to the winner anywhere in the world so tell me where in the world you are.

I'm just a curious George type of person.

This give away will run until April 20th. Winner can be anywhere in the world. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. I have in the past had to go to winner #2 because winner #1 didn't leave a contact e-mail.

I'm so excited. I was able to pick a winner of this lovely book basket.
The winner was Jinxy and Me.

This blog tour through