Free Maree: When Faith, Family and Freedom Collide
Maree Gauper, a unificationist and WFWP representative in Northern California, takes a stand against deprogramming in her powerful memoir, Free Maree: When Faith, Family and Freedom Collide.
Set in 1983, native-born New Zealander Mrs. Gauper details her abduction, imprisonment and ultimate rescue from deprogrammers at the age of 25. She also writes about her journey of faith and her early experiences in the Unification movement. Mrs. Gauper addresses religious intolerance with “intelligence, sassy humor, and gut-wrenching honesty.”
“I am an artist on a mission,” says Mrs. Gauper. “I like to write about matters of the heart and things that are personal and important to me. One of those things is religious freedom.”
Her memoir was published on January 11, and the reaction has already been tremendously positive. Readers said the book was, “easy to read,” and “great for those wanting to understand new religious movements from the first-person perspective.” Readers also said they were “captivated and moved by Maree’s true story of being kidnapped and held captive, and how she dealt with those people trying to break her faith. This [book] reads like a top-notch suspense drama– then you remember this really happened.”
Mrs. Gauper was interviewed for an article published in The Southland Times, a major regional newspaper based in her hometown of Invercargill, New Zealand. She is currently on tour with her husband, Bob Gauper, promoting Free Maree in Australia and New Zealand.
Rick McInerheney
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Lovely to meet you and Bob during your visit to Australia Maree, and must say your book was brilliant, very well written, and quite the page-turner. All the best, Rick McInerheney, Melbourne
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Laura Hornbeck
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Maree has produced a very good book — well-written, edited, and refreshingly honest. It helped me remember the appeal of the teachings of our church in those early days, how simple and clear they really are, and the irrationality of persecution. Maree was able to withstand the pressures of family, friends, and society with strength and grace, but not without paying a price. Highly recommended.
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Maree Gauper
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Thanks Laura, for your encouragement and validation!
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Frank Bell
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Kapai Maree! That was quite a series of things and this book would be an excellent read. I can say that because I was there then. Also you can check out my website kynx.us.
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Maree Gauper
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Thanks Frank! Yes you were part of that exciting time.
I will look at your website. Hope you and your family are doing well ❤️
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