Unlocked (38 page)

F
OR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW
, I
’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
offering Forever in Fiction
^™
*
as an auction item at fundraisers across the country. So many of my more recent books have had Forever in Fiction characters that I hear from you reader friends how you look forward to this part of my novels, reading this section to see which characters in the coming pages are actually inspired by real-life people, and learning a little about their real stories. Then you enjoy looking for them in the coming pages, knowing with a smile how it must feel to their families seeing their names Forever in Fiction.

For those of you who are not familiar with Forever in Fiction, it is my way of involving you, the readers, in my stories, while raising money for charities. The winning bidder of a Forever in Fiction package has the right to have their name or the name of someone they love written into one of my novels. In this way they or their loved one will be forever in fiction. To date, Forever in Fiction has raised more than two hundred thousand dollars at charity auctions. Obviously, I am only able to donate a limited number of these each year. For that reason, I have set a fairly high minimum bid on this package so that the maximum funds are raised for charities. All money goes to the charity events.

In
Unlocked,
I bring you a very special Forever in Fiction character. That character is precious little Kate McRae, a six-year-old Arizona girl who has battled brain cancer for more than a year. Kate is the blue-eyed, blonde-haired daughter of Aaron and Holly McRae—a young pastor and his wife. The McRae family
has two other children —Olivia, seven, and Will, four. Life as this family knew it changed dramatically the summer day in 2009 when they noticed a tremor in Kate’s hand. A simple trip to the doctor led to a myriad of tests and the diagnosis that would rock any family. Kate had an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Treatment for Kate has been both risky and uncertain. More than that, it is terribly expensive. Since Kate’s mother, Holly, is one of my reader friends, I decided to do something new with Forever in Fiction. I figured we could make Kate a character in one of my books as long as enough people would come alongside me and donate at least one hundred dollars to the Kate McRae Fund. In return, I would list the names of Kate’s special supporters here, in the acknowledgments of my book.

We opened up a two-month window, and during that time my hopes were wildly exceeded by your tremendous generosity. Nothing can ease the pain of cancer for a family like the McRaes. But your financial help and your tireless prayers have made it possible to withstand the storm. As I write this, Kate has finished her chemotherapy treatments and a bone-marrow transplant, along with radiation, after more than a year of almost constant time at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. For now, her family, my family, and many of you must pray and wait and believe for God’s miraculous touch on her life. I’ve followed Kate along with you through her Caring Bridge site. Her mom has done a beautiful job detailing their very difficult and painful journey in a way that glorifies God at every turn.

Kate is a vibrant, gregarious little girl who loves to sing along with Hannah Montana and run around the house with her siblings. She is crazy about her goldendoodle, Patrick, and SpongeBob Square Pants and jumping on her hospital bed when the chemo and medications don’t leave her flat on her back. “I’m a dangerous girl, Mommy,” she’s been known to say. And so she is. Never once has she considered anything but fighting the battle
ahead of her. Even in the darkest times, her eyes provide anyone near her a window to a most precious soul.

In
Unlocked
Kate will play the sweet-natured, always believing young cousin of Holden Harris. In the book, her fictitious parents are both stationed in Iraq, serving our country. During that time, she lives with Holden’s family and provides insight that can only come from a child like Kate. She is integral to Holden’s world and the innocence that lies inside him.

I know Kate will be honored when she understands her place here in this special book, and I hope her family will always see a little bit of their precious Kate here in the pages of
Unlocked,
where she will remain Forever in Fiction.

Now a special thanks to the many reader friends and friends of Kate McRae who helped put her Forever in Fiction. Each of the following people donated one hundred dollars or more to the medical costs incurred by the McRae family. These special friends of Kate’s include the following:

Karen’s book
Oceans Apart
changed my life. She has an amazing gift of bringing a reader into her stories. I can only pray she never stops writing.

Susan L.

Everyone should have the opportunity to read or listen to a book by Karen Kingsbury. It should be in the
Bill of Rights.

Rachel S.

I want to thank Karen Kingsbury for what she is doing with the power of her storytelling—touching hearts like mine and letting God use her to change the world for Him.

Brittney N.

Karen Kingsbury’s books are filled with the unshakable, remarkable, miraculous fact that God’s grace is greater than our suffering. There are no words for Ms. Kingsbury’s writing.

Wendie K.

Because I loaned these books to my mother, she BECAME a Christian! Thank you for a richer life here and in heaven!

Jennifer E.

When I read my first Karen Kingsbury book, I couldn’t stop. … I read thirteen more in one summer!

Jamie B.

I have never read anything so uplifting and entertaining. I’m shocked as I read each new release because it’s always better than the last one.

Bonnie S.

I am unable to put your books down, and I plan to read many more of them. What a wonderful spiritual message I find in each one!