Interview and #Giveaway with Author Harry Kraus

So pleased to have Author Harry Kraus here today, a renowned fiction and non-fiction author and a medical missionary in Kenya. I personally haven't read Harry's fiction, but I have read his non-fiction book "Breathing Grace" and was blessed and inspired by it. So i am so happy to have Harry here today and be sure to check out his website, it's a fascinating read!

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Harry, what inspired your latest story idea?

My latest novel, One Drop of Me was inspired by the concept that it only took one drop of black blood to make a person a slave. If a white man had children with a slave who was 3/4th caucasian, his children (like Thomas Jefferson’s in my novel) would be 7/8th white, yet still be considered black and therefore, property. We still do this to some extent. Think about it: President Obama is just as white as he is black, but we say, he is African-American, not white.
How would you describe your favorite characteristic about your story’s hero and heroine?

My heroine, Lisa Griffin, has resiliency! Faced with some of life’s most difficult challenges (betrayal by her husband, loss of a child) threatened, but failed to defeat her (oh, she had plenty of downward movement, but she bounced!). She found strength and inspiration to overcome in the life of Sally Hemings, a slave (and sexual partner) of Thomas Jefferson.
What spiritual theme in your story do you hope every reader is challenged by?

The spiritual theme is that there are many things which can enslave us (not just governments, such as in the Civil War). We can be enslaved by our own fears or a bad marriage. In this novel both Lisa Griffin (the contemporary heroine) and Sally Hemings (the historical heroine) find that true freedomis found through unconditional love.Jaime & Anne are coffee addicts. Erica & Gabrielle are tea lovers. What about you? Coffee or Tea?

COFFEE! I served for most of a decade in Kenya as a missionary surgeon and Kenya grows some of the best coffee beans in the world. I came back from Kenya, a full-fledged coffee-snob! I grind my own beans and drink it straight and uncontaminated by all the girly taste-destroying creamers. (I’m smiling as I write this if you can’t pick up on my tone of voice here).
Jaime inserts comment: Can I share this with my male coworker who puts so much girly creamer in his coffee it tastes like melted pudding?
Favorite historical movie? Or mini-series?

I enjoyed Band of Brothers. War and crisis knit men together like nothing else can.
While Jaime loves to take selfies, and Erica & Gabrielle love museums, Anne loves Pinterest and food pics. What comes to your mind to share?

Chicken Spinach Manicotti: Take 1 and 1/2 cup finely chopped chicken and mix it with 2 cloves garlic, a package of thawed chopped spinach, 16 ounces of cottage cheese, two egg whites, and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese and stuff into cooked manicotti shells and cover with spaghetti sauce and bake. (From kraftrecipes.com). Easy and so good. Enjoy with a glass of fine Chardonnay if you are so inclined (smiling again).
Jaime inserts comment: When's supper? I'll be there. (Bringing the Chardonnay)
Always wanted to be an author? Or surprised your path led you to publish?

My first dream of writing came when I was in my surgical residency training, an absolutely crazy time to take up a new occupation! My path to publication was smooth. After one rejection, I was picked up by Crossway Books who subsequently published my first five novels. All my stuff (predictably) has a realistic medical stripe. That’s a Kraus signature.
Favorite century to read? To write? To watch on TV or in a movie?

My favorite century to read it the one I live in. That said, I loved writing the story in One Drop of Me of Thomas Jefferson and his slave, Sally Hemings.
Favorite heroine of all time, and why?

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games). She is loyal, resourceful, and never melodramatic!


Readers may contact me through my website: www.harrykraus.com, but I’m afraid it’s a bit out of date. I’ve been taking out a few too many gallbladders and that interferes with my web upkeep. I can be emailed at harry@harrykraus.

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Jaime Wright -

"The Cowgirl's Lasso", Coming 2016, Barbour Publishing
Spirited and gritty turn-of-the-century romance stained with suspense. Youth leader. Professional Coffee Drinker. Director of Development & Associate Relations and specializes in sarcasm :)
- Represented by: Books & Such Literary Agency

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