Spotlight on Megan DiMaria and Searching for Spice

I am so happy today to spotlight, not only another friend, but also another fellow debut novelist AND an author who will be joining me for my very first book signing on April 12th! She's having a Book Launch party on the 10th then driving down here so she and I along with 2 other author friends can all sign together. We're looking forward to it!

Her book is so popular right from the start that there are only TWO left in stock at Amazon.com, with more coming. But that's a fantastic way of seeing what a great book this is.

And now, let's let you meet Megan (pronounced Mee-gan Dee-Ma-ree-a).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan DiMaria received her B.A. degree in Communications, with a specialization in Mass Media from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. She has been a radio and television reporter, a Web content editor, a contributing writer for local newspapers and has worked for a weekly newspaper. Megan has sold magazine articles locally and nationally. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers since January 2001, is a member of HIS Writers (Denver branch of ACFW) and is assistant director of Words for the Journey Rocky Mountain Region, a Denver-area writers group. She is an alumnus of the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference and the Glen Eyrie Writers Conference.

In her day job, she works in the marketing department of an upscale Denver portrait photography studio. She is also a freelance writer, crafting magazine articles and advertising copy. Her second novel, Out of Her Hands, will release from Tyndale in October 2008.

Megan and her husband Carl currently live in suburban Denver near their three adult children. They often travel back to their roots in Long Island, NY to visit family and get their fill of delicious Italian food.

To learn more about Megan and her books, visit her website at megandimaria.com or for more interactive information, stop by her blog at megandimaria.blogspot.com.

SEARCHING FOR SPICE
by Megan DiMaria
Published by Tyndale House

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this debut novel, readers will meet Linda Revere, a woman who longs to experience true romance with her nerdy, practical husband of twenty-four years. Her desire to add a little pizzazz to her marriage only confuses her husband and frustrates her. Linda struggles to ignite romance and excitement into her marriage amid the turmoil of contemporary life.

From the Back Cover

Linda Revere longs to have a sizzling affair . . . with her husband--a practical, no-nonsense community college science teacher. Unfortunately, life isnt scripted, and nothing goes according to plan. From having a demanding boss and at times a frustrating job, to helping her family and friends with their troubles, life seems to be preventing Linda from achieving her goal of an exciting and passionate marriage. Linda hopes God will answer her prayers to jazz up her marriage, but is she ready for what happens next?

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your debut novel. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Thanks for hosting me, Tiff. Searching for Spice was written as a response to a running joke I had with some girlfriends. You know, despite being long married, women still want romance in their lives. God hard wired us to crave closeness and a special connection with the men we love. Unfortunately, some times we need to remind them of that. :)

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

My observations influenced my characters more than my own experiences. However, as far as the setting of Searching for Spice, anyone familiar with suburban Denver will recognize certain areas and establishments. My favorite local restaurant is in the book, but it's called the Gray Pony Inn. I've worked in two different photo studios and trained in a handful more. Dream Photography is 100% a figment of my imagination, and the references within the studio are industry-generic. In some ways I think we're all a little like my character, Linda. In our hearts we truly want to trust the Lord, but when difficulties arise we sometimes run ahead of our faith and try to "fix" things on our own. I've been told by some close friends that they believe my internal dialogue is similar to some of the things Linda thinks, although I've been told by many women my age that Linda's internal dialogue is similar to the way they think as well. What if very different between me and Linda is that she is a bit more patient than I am. I tend to speak my mind more quickly than she did in Searching for Spice.

3. What themes exist in Searching for Spice that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Life is hard, and that’s a reality that must be accepted. We shouldn't be caught off guard when we hit a bump in the road. The biggest theme is to trust God despite what your circumstances look like. That was a lesson I had to learn during a difficult valley I walked through. At the time it looked like nothing good could come of that situation, but now I see the hand of God guided me. Equally important to me is the theme that marriage is valuable and precious and should not be lightly regarded. Another theme in the book shows that friendship is priceless and we should cherish the people in our lives.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I think the hardest parts to write were the ones that travelled toward deep emotions. I am too sympathetic toward the pain of others, and even though my characters are fictional, I felt sorry for the pain and trials they faced. My favorite parts of the story to write were the moments when Linda and Jerry really connected with one another.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book, Out of Her Hands, is scheduled to release this October. It has the same characters as Searching for Spice, but the focus is more on the relationships Linda and Jerry have with their children. Like many parents of young adults, the Reveres want their children to be careful about making decisions that will impact the rest of their lives. As usual, there is always more than one situation clamouring for Linda's attention. They're helping Jerry's father get on with life after he's widowed, Linda's best friend is moving out of state, and then their son decides he's falling in love, but the object of his affection doesn't share his Christian values.

* * * * *

Thank you, Megan, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Searching for Spice.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

* * * * *

Blog Tour - Susan May Warren and Taming Rafe

I'm so excited to share the latest book from this author with you today. Not only do you get a spotlight, but you also get the chance to enter a content Susie is hosting on Rafe's blog and enter for a chance to win a FREE copy of this book.

The other sites participating in this blog tour can be found here at Rafe's very own blog: Who's Rafe?. It began back on the 23rd of February and ends on the 7th of March (tomorrow) but you can still check out the other blogs and enter the contests available.

You can learn more about Rafe and his family, as well as check out the "meaty" contest Susan is sponsoring for the tour! "Win a steak dinner (an Omaha Steaks gift certificate) with Rafe".

Yum...red meat! :)

Oh...and here's a peak at the video trailers for Reclaiming Nick and Taming Rafe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep's Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader's Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

TAMING RAFE
by Susan May Warren
Published by Tyndale House

Buy Your Copy Today!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Meet Nick's younger brother--Rafe!

In less than eight seconds, two-time world champion bull rider Rafe Noble lost his title, his career, his best friend-all on the dirt floor of a noisy rodeo arena. Now he has no choice but to head back to the Silver Buckle, but not before he accidentally destroys philanthropist Katherine Breckenridge's NY Charity event. Now she's in town, wanting his money - or his help. And the last thing this broken bull rider is going to do is give her his heart. But Nick's little brother is going to learn just was it takes to tame the heart of a rebel!

Read the first chapter!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. Finally! The long-awaited sequel on Nick's brother, Rafe. Many women drooled over his picture at the ACFW conference last year, and many more had fun walking around with the stickers on their badges. Once again, you have crafted a story full of adventure, romance and downright grit. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

That was SO fun!! Thanks to all my good-sports/victims who wore the RAFE badge!! I love everything cowboy, and grew up going to rodeo and watching with awe the amazing bull-riders and bronc busters. I began to wonder what it might be like for a bull rider at the top of his game who has a terrible wreck, and how he puts his life back together. Especially how he finds that courage to get back on the bull. The story of Taming Rafe is how he get’s back on…but as a different kind of man.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of Rafe and katherine? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

I know that Kat's desire to make a difference in the world echoes my own. The images Kat experiences, and her sense of helplessness I took from my own work in orphanages in Russia. That feeling like I needed to do SOMETHING, but not feeling adequate. Also, Rafe's despair as he feels like he's caused his friend’s death – I remember my own despair when I blamed myself for an attack on our family that happened in Russia. So, although I've never been on top of a real bull, or been an heiress (yeah, I wish!), I've felt much of the same emotions that Rafe and Kat feel.

3. What themes exist in Taming Rafe that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Taming Rafe is the story of bull-rider who finds himself caught in his worst nightmare. A friend of his has died, and Rafe has destroyed his career, and he's broken and at the end of his rope. Enter Kat Breckenridge, a philanthropist from NYC who is trying desperately to keep her charitable organization from going under. It doesn't help when Rafe decimates her event – so she goes looking for him, hoping he’s a decent guy and will help her out of bankruptcy. Uh…sorry, no. Rafe's too wrapped up in his own problems to help her. But she's persuasive, and she's going to help him heal. In the process she also discovers a few secrets about herself that will change her life. It's one of my favorite stories because I just adore Rafe. He's a great hero – unwilling to see his need for someone until they practically force themselves into his life, but underneath that prickly exterior is a man with a great capacity to give, and love. Add to that the beauty of Montana, the excitement of bull-riding, a delicious subplot with a couple locals, and a spiritual theme about God at work in our lives. It's story I am very grateful to have been allowed to tell.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I agonized, fasted and prayed over Kat's spiritual epiphany. There is SO much I could have written, and keeping it streamlined and focused was a challenge. Also, I really wanted the suspense to be well, suspenseful, and yet, because there as SO much other story, working that thread in took a lot of pondering and care. Because of the "story in a story" aspect of the book, it was probably my most ambitious because of the pacing and the many voices. I'm very aware of the Lord's help in writing it!

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

I'm very excited for my next book – Wiser than Serpents. Set in Taiwan, where I lived for about a month, it's a story about an FSB agent who goes undercover inside a human trafficking ring, in the hopes of finding her abducted sister. Of course, there is also a handsome Delta Force captain who has to come to her aid when she destroys his cover. Together they face some pretty bad fellas with the hope of finding her sister, and other woman caught in the web of human trafficking. I'm really excited because I'm donating a portion of the proceeds of this book to the International Justice Mission, a real-live organization dedicated to rescuing women and fighting human trafficking around the globe. Wiser than Serpents comes out in May 2008.

* * * * *

Thank you, Susie, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Taming Rafe.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:" when you leave a comment and type the email address where you'd like them sent. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to U.S. residents only.

* * * * *

Spotlight on Susan May Warren and Chill Out, Josey

Susan May Warren is the best-selling author of more than 20 novels and novellas with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A three-time Christy award finalist, and three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice contest, Susan currently has over 500,000 books in print. A seasoned women's events speaker and writing teacher, she's taught at the American Christian Fiction Writer's conference for the past three years, and she runs a fiction editing service (http://www.mybooktherapy.com/) training writers how to tell a great story. After serving for eight years with her husband and four children as missionaries in Khabarovsk, Far East Russia she now writes full-time while her husband runs a hotel on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota. Her most recent book is Chill Out, Josey! The hilarious adventures of a Minnesota girl who finds herself newly married, and pregnant…in Russia! (not autobiographical, or anything…) For more information, go to http://www.susanmaywarren.com/

CHILL OUT, JOSEY
by Susan May Warren
Published by Tyndale

BUY YOUR COPY TODAY

SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW

1. This is the sequel to your first chic lit, Everything's Coming Up Josey. You've got Josey and her husband headed back to Russia for another adventure. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I loved writing Josey's introduction to missions, and her first adventure in Moscow. I learned so much in my freshman year of being a missionary, and I loved watching Josey grow into her trust in God's plan. But she had so much more to learn! And she wasn't the only one – although we met Chase in the first book, I wanted to see him as a newlywed husband, and how he would adapt to Russian life. I remember vividly the challenges and craziness of being pregnant in Russia, and thought, what if Josey were a newlywed AND pregnant in Russia? And what if Josey, seeing Chase's excitement about living in Russia, didn’t want to douse his dreams…and didn't tell him about her pregnancy? I remember when I discovered I was pregnant – right during our fundraising for Russia! I wondered…if my husband knew, would he still want to go?And if he didn't, would he always wonder what could have been? It was this question that drove Chill Out, Josey. It's about being a newlywed…and trusting God's love, all the way around the world.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the character of Josey? What aspects became traits that were hers and hers alone?

My close friends laugh out loud when they read Josey because they know how alike Josey and I are. From her determination to her love of bagels! But not everything about Josey is me – for example, I'm a great cook, and know how to improvise in the kitchen. And, I'm a little more practical in my footwear. But as for Josey’s spiritual lessons? Yep, all me. And the pregnancy stories…true, every one!

3. What themes exist in Chill Out, Josey that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

As I was writing the "Josey" series (and yes, there is a number 3!) I was studying the book of Ephesians. One of the main themes is the breadth of God's love for us, and how that changes us. I really wanted Josey to feel abandoned by Chase in this book, event hough they were newlyweds. It so often happens in missions that the husband throws himself into his new projects and the wife gets left in the dust. I remember vividly when I sat at home with two toddlers, pregnant, thinking…what happened? I didn't sign up to do this alone! And that's when God showed me how much he loved me in so many creative ways. I wanted Josey to experience God's creative love. And I am hoping that it prompts other moms to look for God's creative love in their lives as well.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The most difficult part to write was also the spiritual theme. Although I knew what I was getting at, there is so much in Ephesians, as well as newlywed life that I could use, (ie, the Proverbs 31 woman!) that I struggled with not putting in TOO many spiritual themes. I struggled to streamline it and now throw in ALL the lessons I learned as a young mother in Russia. And, I really wanted to show Josey growing from the self-centered person she'd been to deeper…although with enough growth left for a book 3!

My favorite part of the book to write was the "Bus Lady" scene (true story!) and the watermelon scene (also, a true story). And I again laughed out loud remembering my own "doctor" experiences. I probably laughed harder writing this book than my readers will (although I hope not!), just because I had so much fun remembering the actual events that inspired the fiction!

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next Josey book, Get Cozy, Josey! comes out next year at this time. Join Josey as she and Chase head to…Siberia! Just when should a girl say NO?

My next BOOK is Taming Rafe, the story of a bull-rider whose world crashes at his feet, and the woman who helps him put it all back together again….it comes out January 2008!

Thanks for having me, Tiff!
Hugs!

* * * * *

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE, autographed copy of Chill Out, Josey. If you don't wish to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Otherwise you might miss out on winning a book.

Susie will be back to respond to any comments or questions you leave. This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.