Interview with Marianne Evans & GIVEAWAY of 1 copy of "Devotion!"

From This Day Forward
Christian Music agent Kellen Rossiter has everything he ever wanted: A-list clients from coast to coast, a loving wife who honors and respects him, and a faith life that’s never wavered—until now.

Juliet Rossiter has the perfect life: a rewarding schedule serving the underprivileged, a husband who loves her as Christ loved the church, and a blessed future as a mother—at least that's what she thinks.

For Better or Worse
But what happens when their rock-solid marriage begins to crumble under the weight of an unexpected and powerful temptation?  How does love survive when its foundation is shaken?

'Til Death Do Us Part
When human frailty and the allure of sin deal a harsh blow to their relationship, it will take more than love to mend the shattered trust and heartbreak. It will take a lifetime of devotion.

About this author
Marianne Evans is an award winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories she creates. Her career began when Kensington Publishing purchased her book, Friends & Lovers. Her second offering, Right Hand Man, followed shortly thereafter. Her third release from Kensington, Hannah’s Heart, won critical acclaim from reviewers and in the local media. 
Her fourth book marked her inspirational romance debut at White Rose Publishing – an award winning novel entitled Hearts Crossing. Hearts Crossing led to the creation of the four-book Woodland Series. The Woodland church romances center around the parishioners of a lakeside church located in suburban Detroit. Evans has tackled the topic of a loving marriage fallen into turmoil in her Christian fiction debut, Devotion from Harbourlight Books.
A lifelong resident of Michigan, Marianne is an active member of Romance Writers of America. She’s a long-time member of Greater Detroit RWA where she served the chapter most notably as Chapter Treasurer and two terms as Chapter President. She also belongs to the Faith Hope and Love chapter of RWA, American Christian Fiction Writers, Mid-Michigan RWA and the Michigan Literary Network.

Connect with Marianne at www.marianneevans.com or www.marianneevans.blogspot.com

Interview ~

I'm so happy to have had this opportunity to ask Marianne Evans a few questions about herself and her writing. She's a wonderful and very talented author, and has become very dear to me. 

1. Tell me a little bit about how you got started as an author.

I earned my start as an author by torturing my friends. No, I'm serious! There I was, in pre-algebra and science classes, detesting every equation and experiment because I'm completely and totally not a math and science girl. My mind would wander, and stories would evolve. Characters would speak. Romances were born. Yes, even back then I had a soft spot for the genre. I began writing stories, longhand, and a friend of mine asked to read them. And they told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on, and so on. Pretty soon math and science took a back seat to English and creative writing.

And, little did I know, but, back then I was laying the groundwork for how I'm marketing here and now in the techno-age. In so many ways, I feel like that's what I'm doing now, responding to interest from readers, and hoping to keep spreading the word about stories that uplift and affirm people's hope and faith!

2. How long have you been writing, and what was your first book?

In a professional sense I've been a published author since July 26, 1996--that's when I received 'the call' from Kensington Publishing that my book Friends & Lovers had been contracted. What a thrill! Best part was, we were heading away from home that day, to spend a weekend with my parents at their home in northern Michigan. On our way to their house that evening, a large and vivid rainbow painted the sky! 

3. Where did you receive your inspiration for "Devotion?"

Wow. Great question. So many factors influenced the creation of this book. First, I "met" KellenRossiter in the book Hearts Key which is the final installment of my Woodland Series from Pelican Book Group. I instantly fell in love with him, and his wife Juliet. Kellen is successful, edgy, driven and charismatic, but all of that is tempered by his deep faith and his love for Juliet. God created an itch in my heart to tell their story, but once He revealed its details to me--once the issue of adultery came to life as the story arc and conflict, I'll be blunt. I looked upward, took a deep breath, and said, "God, are you sure? I don't know if I can do this..." What I've discovered, though, is a hunger in readers for stories just like Devotion. Stories that show Christians as human, as fallible, but always growing and always redeemed by God's power and grace. We love, we have joy, we sin and we fail. It's part of who we are as human beings, and exploring all those nuances within the context of a long-term marital relationship was an awesome journey to take as a writer!

4. Do you find your own personality comes through in your fictional characters? 

Not really. My 'voice' as an author comes through in my writing, so I think who I am certainly adds a texture to the stories I've created, but the personality of my books comes straight from the characters, and from the fact that I live with them and feel them in my heart. Therefore, another admission: it's so bittersweet to reach the conclusion of a book!

5. What is your favorite verse from the bible, or favorite book in the bible? 

I adore the Book of Ruth, and absolutely love Proverbs 3:5-6: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.'

6. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

Writing. Seriously! It sounds like tunnel vision, but free time is a precious commodity to begin with, so when I have any ounce of time available you'll find me happily snuggled beneath a blanket with my lap top whirring. Or, in the summer, you might catch me on our deck, seated on the glider with a note pad and pen. I simply love creating stories of hope, love, faith and redemption.

***Marianne, thank you so much for taking the time to answer the above questions in order that your readers might come to know you better. It's been such a pleasure getting to know you, and having the opportunity to read and review several of your books. God has blessed you with a wonderful gift for writing books that glorify Him and teach godly principals in your messages. God bless you, and I look forward to working with you in the future! Thank you also for offering a copy of your book, "Devotion," for this contest!

CONTEST DETAILS: 

To qualify for an opportunity to win a copy of Marianne Evans' book "Devotion," please leave a comment below, and leave your email address in the following format: janedoe[at]yahoo[dot]com, so that I can contact the winner of this contest. Also please take the time to "like" Marianne's author page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marianne-Evans/308711716744?fref=ts and take some time to check out her other books. You won't be disappointed! Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog!