SYNOPSIS

Maori is the daughter of Chief Rawiri and Mahore, young sister to eldest son Temuera, and best friend to Pai. She wants to be Chief, she wants to marry the boy who is labeled "forbidden blood", and she wants to know why her people are torn between two faiths. Maori's world is turned upside down when those labeled "forbidden blood" are marked as slaves. She commits the ultimate offense in her father's kingdom, murder. It is then she is forced with a choice, a sacrifice. One that will tear families apart, shed blood, test friendship, and measure life. Maori has to make a sacrifice, family or faith? Which one would you choose?

CHARACTER BIOS:

RAWIRI: He is Chief of his Kingdom, father to Maori and Temuera, as well as husband to Mahore. Rawiri has made a difficult decision based on his faith, one that dramatically effects his peoples way of life, and ultimately questions the morality of his decision. 

MAHORE: She is wife to Rawiri, mother to Maori and Temuera. She constantly battles with her teenage daughter in the way a princess should behave. She puts her foot down with stern resentment for how Maori wants to behave or choose to live.

TEMUERA: Next in line to be Chief, becomes General of Rawiri's Military, and posseses a passion of hatred towards young Maori because of her close ties with Pai and Pai's sister Nui.

PAI: She is young sister to Nui, daughter to Hiko, and is Maori's best friend since birth. Whenever Maori needs her, Pai is at her side, even if Maori is wrong.

Nui: She is older sister to Pai, daughter to Hiko, and lost love to Temuera because of her love for another.

Hiko: He is the father to Nui and Pai, and acting General of Rawiri's Military.

RANGI: Considered "forbidden blood" by Rawiri's decree, he is the love of Maori's life.

MAORI: A young teenage girl, growing into a woman. Daughter to Chief Rawiri and Mahore, young sibling to Temuera, best friend to Pai, and girlfriend to Rangi. She has always been told, her destiny will open great doors for her, but she never knew it would involve sacrificing one for the other: family or faith. Whichever one she chooses, blood is spilled, friendship is tested, and families are torn apart.

UPDATES:

Maori's Sacrifice, ISBN: 1-4137-8995-1, will be available 10/31/05 through Publish America and most retail book stores. Pre-orders as well as "review copies" can be requested from the Publisher, www.publishamerica.com or call 301-695-1707, at this time.