Eva, describe yourself for our visitors.
My name is Eva Marie Everson. I started writing “seriously” about ten years ago, was published for the first time in 1999. Since then, it’s been a roller-coaster ride and I’m truly having fun! As far as hobbies go, I love reading, shopping (even window!), going to the beach in the summer, the mountains in the fall and winter, meeting friends for a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop, going out to dinner with my husband and our friends (or alone!), and watching classic movies.
My favorite music to listen to, the majority of the time, is Classic Oldies. When I’m writing, I’m either listening to Latin music or Movie Scores…it depends on WHAT I’m writing. But I’m totally eclectic here. If you look in my CD collection you’ll find everything from Frank Sinatra to Josh Grobin, from any number of contemporary Christian artists to Messianic music.
I’m associated with Loving the Least of These and sponsor a child in the D.R. I am fairly active in my church, Northland A Church Distributed, a megachurch here in Central Florida. I say “fairly” because with my travel schedule, it’s hard to be consistent. My greatest love, of course, is God, followed by my husband, our children, and our grandchildren…my mother and brother…and my late father.
How do you find time to connect with God?
By getting up early enough to smell the coffee. 
My husband and I get up at 5:30. In total silence (with the exception of the shuffling of our tired old feet) we prepare our coffee, then he goes outside to watch the sun come up over the golf course behind our home and I curl up on the sofa to have my quiet time with God, Bible study, etc.
Tell us about your journey to publication.
HA! It’s a Cinderella story and I don’t lie about that. Here’s the short version: I walked into the Christian Booksellers Association (a closed trade show) with a badge, approached several editors (politely, of course) and nine days later was offered a contract. There! That’s it in a nutshell. I hate telling that story because I think SURELY I should have some angst to share. So, if you want a little angst, I’ll tell you that when I was 12 I announced to my class (after the teacher had asked what we wanted to be when we grew up) that I wanted to be a novelist. The class laughed and my teacher told me I couldn’t do “that.” So, I squashed that dream and went on to become a nurse.
Tell us about your current book.
Oasis, A Spa for Body and Soul is a book that explores the lovely and fun ways we girls pamper our physical bodies (even those of us who think we don’t!) and how that overlays to the “working out” of the spiritual body. For example, when I write about getting away for a nap, a day, a weekend or a vacation, I explore how we must find time alone with God. When I write about how to care for and “make up” the eye area, I explore the psalm of David that says, “I will set before my eyes no vile thing.”
I developed a weekend retreat to go along with this book and ,so far, what fun I’m having! The weekend is designed to allow for local gals to come in and for the group to enjoy a little mini-spa. So, perhaps, if you were having the retreat for your group, you’d invite a local nail tech, an expert in makeup (anything from Avon to Lancome!), an exercise guru, etc. I’d handle the spiritual side of the weekend along with your praise and worship team. There’d be coffee and quiet time and girl time and…well…doesn’t that sound like FUN?
How did you come up with ideas for your current release?
My husband called me High Maintenance.
I said, “I am not!” And I kept my perfectly lined and painted bottom lip in a pout until a few days later when the truth finally seeped in. Or, I should say, knocked me over. I was taking a shower at the time. Overhead, the adjustable showerhead pelted out at just the right pressure and temperature. Beside me, on the window shelf and neatly lined up, were bottles of what my daughter refers to as “product:” shampoo, conditioner, body scrub, face scrub, little brush for scrubbing, foot scrub, back scrubber, loofa sponge, shaving cream, razors, body wash (both scented and unscented)…. I raised my recently waxed brows. “Eva Marie,” I asked myself, “if you are this high maintenance with your physical body…what about your spiritual body?”
A book idea was born with a simple question to me, from me.
List your most recent books.
Oasis if my most recent nonfiction title.
I also have a new release in the fiction line: The Potluck Club Takes the Cake. This is the third in a six book series coauthored with Linda Evans Shepherd. We’ve had a blast writing these books! An absolute blast!
What’s next for you?
I have several things in the works. The fourth Potluck title was recently turned in. It will release in June of ’08. A book about Israel, published by Thomas Nelson, was turned in and it will release in Spring of ’08 and includes writing by my good friend Miriam Feinberg Vamosh as well as our photography and the incredible photography of Doron Nissim
You can read more about it by going to EvaMarieEverson.com and clicking on the JOURNAL page!
Linda and I are working on the fifth Potluck, which will take place (partly) in NYC…so we’ll be heading up there during the Christmas season later this year. Finally I’m writing a southern novel for Baker/Revel. The working title is “Heels oimn Wood, Soles on Carpet.”
Where can visitors find you online?
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