A Distant Calling

About the Book

Kate O'Neal, fresh from graduate school, and traveling abroad for the first time, is in Ecuador.  She and a group of friends have spent three weeks wandering the countryside.  When her friends return home, she decides to stay behind, relishing her new-found freedom.

Mistaken for a wealthy young heiress who regularly vacations in Mano de Oro,  Kate is abducted.  Thrown into a cell in the basement of a dilapidated barn, she is held captive as her kidnappers try to arrange for ransom.

When the kidnappers discover they have the wrong woman, the leader decides it is time to cut their losses and eliminate unfinished business.  Only the compassion of one kidnapper offers her the hope of escape as he vows to find help.  He seeks help from an unusual ally, Juan Ricardo Ayala, the man set-up to take the blame for the kidnapping.

 Thankfully gifted with a survivor's instinct, Kate meets challenge after challenge as she endures imprisionment, a forced marriage, and the dangers of the night jungle.  Through it all, there is a calling, a distant calling for her to survive, and a distant call to love.  Kate's adventure is only just beginning.

About the Author

Patricia Thorpe Christiansen was born in California and grew up at the beach.  She lost her parents at an early age and found writing a good outlet for her grief.  She writes essays, poetry and fiction.

Her poetry has been published in magazines, and several anthologies.  In 1991 she won the Golden Poet Award from World of Poetry for her poem "Chaos."  In 1995 she received the President's Award For Literary Excellence from The National Authors Registry for her poem "Abandoned."  In 1997 a local writer's contest awarded her a first place and publication for her essay "Parenting--90's Style," and two honorable mentions for her essays "Cast In Stone," and "The Sounds of Helplessness."  Most recently her essay "Defining Moments" was published in the international magazine, This Week on Okinawa.

Pat and her husband have two teenagers and four dogs, and live in Northwestern Montana.