CFBA presents OUT OF HER HANDS by Megan DiMaria

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducing Out Of Her Hands(Tyndale House Publishers - September 22, 2008)byMegan DiMaria


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I was born and raised in New York State and have since lived in Maine, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, and now I live in Colorado. My husband and I have three delightful, adult children and an old Jack Russell Terrier named Belle who seems to find her way into my novels. My resume will tell you I graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a degree in Communications, and after graduation I worked as a radio and television reporter, freelance writer, editor and marketing professional.

I'm a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and am assistant director of Words For The Journey, Rocky Mountain Region.

But what's most important to know about me is that I am a follower of Jesus, wife, mother, friend, reader and writer.

Life’s a journey, enjoy the adventures!

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this second novel by Megan DiMaria, Linda Revere is back and continuing to struggle with the turmoil of contemporary life. Linda has been praying for her children's future spouses since they were very small. Confident that her prayers will be answered, Linda is not prepared for the young woman her son brings home. But Linda soon learns that while everything she once controlled is out of her hands, God is still in control. Megan uses her trademark humor while dealing with issues to which her readers will relate.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Out Of Her Hands, go HERE

"No sophomore slump for DiMaria! This novel (Out of Her Hands) is as engaging and meaningful as her first, Searching for Spice. Her realistic portrayal of the characters' lives should endear them to readers and help Christians to feel less alone in their daily trials."
~Romantic Times Magazine, 4 ½ stars TOP PICK!

“Life in Linda's world is messy...but filled with love, laughter, struggle and faith. Megan has created a most real heroine for us to love...and I adore her!”
~Deena Peterson, reviewer: A Peek at my Bookshelf

“Megan DiMaria crafts a novel so compelling, so real, you forget you're reading fiction.”
~Darcie Gudger, reviewer: TitleTrakk

"This is a great read for a quiet afternoon or in those times when you feel your own life spinning out of control and need the reality check of knowing you're not in it alone."
~Amazon reviewer

JEN'S REVIEW

Out of Her Hands reunites us with Linda Revere, the frazzled heroine from DiMaria's debut novel, Searching for Spice. Linda's got her marriage issues worked out - she's got spice enough now - it's the rest of her family that's coming undone. Her son is making questionable romantic choices, her daughter is dealing with issues of her own, her best friend is moving out of town, and her widowed father-in-law is ready to find love again... whether the rest of the family likes it or not.

Linda Revere is the kind of character you can instantly relate to. Despite her earnest attempts to keep her family going in the right direction - you know, the direction she thinks they should go in - nothing works out quite the way she hopes it will. I thoroughly enjoyed following Linda on her journey to discovering that sometimes, the greatest thing we can do with those we love is to let them go and trust that God's got them in His always capable hands. Full of heart and humor, Out of Her Hands is wonderful slice-of-life novel.

Meet Megan DiMaria - Interview & Book Giveaway

It’s my great pleasure to introduce Megan DiMaria, author of Searching for Spice. Let’s meet Megan!

THE BIO
Megan DiMaria loves to spend time with other writers and be an encouragement to colleagues on their writing journey. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, HIS Writers, and is assistant director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild, Rocky Mountain Region. Searching for Spice, Megan’s debut novel, released April 2008, and her second novel, Out of Her Hands, will release from Tyndale in October 2008.

Megan 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. 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.

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.

THE INTERVIEW

JA: Congratulations on your debut novel, Searching for Spice. Time to dish: How does it feel going into a store and seeing your book on the shelf?
MD: I know it’s cliché, but it is a dream come true to see my book sitting on a store shelf. It’s funny, for years I’ve always noticed where my book would sit on a shelf, whether it was in a book store or a library—and not, there it is!

JA: Please tell us about Searching for Spice.
MD: Searching for Spice is about a woman who’s been married for 24 years who decides she wants to have an affair—with her husband. Of course nothing’s simple, and life doesn’t always go according to plan.

JA: Linda Revere longs to put some spice back in to her 24-year-old marriage. As a wife and mother of three, how do you keep things interesting? (Without getting too personal, of course!)
MD: I love to flirt with my husband and always have. We also laugh together on a daily basis, and that helps to dissipate any tension that may be in the air. Despite however long someone’s been married, it’s exciting when your spouse shows interest. And I’m convinced that no matter how secure or manly your husband is, he loves to be the object of your attention.

JA: Unfortunately, most people don’t equate “romance” with married couples – at least not in fiction. What was the most challenging part of writing this book?
MD: My novel is not so much about romance as it is about love. I could be wrong, but romance brings up images of new relationships. When you’re married for more than a few years, you know your spouse better than anyone else. That’s the great thing—you know exactly what type of flirtation or gift would hit their hot button. And in that respect, writing Searching for Spice wasn’t such a challenge. I just had to imagine situations that would allow my characters to relate to one another in the manner of two people who know each other inside and out. However, even the best of intentions can be off the mark, which only makes life more interesting.

JA: What do you hope people take away after reading Searching for Spice?
MD: The main thing I would hope people would take away from Searching for Spice is the notion that marriage is valuable, and your relationship with your spouse should be warm, deep, exciting and loving.

JA: What’s next for you in the writing arena?
MD: I just finished edits for Out of Her Hands. That story involves the same family featured in Searching for Spice, but the focus in on the relationships my character has with her young adult children. Out of Her Hands will be available in October 2008.

JA: As a child, your family used to make weekly trips to the library. What’s your favorite library memory?
MD: The library we visited is a grand, old building. I recall having a clear impression that it was an important building. What I didn’t know as a child is that the Troy (NY) Public Library, which was built in 1897, is an example of American Renaissance style. Its design and style is based on Italian renaissance palaces. It is absolutely gorgeous—marble floors and original Tiffany stained glass windows. I loved everything about that building, and my favorite memory is the huge mural of Gulliver’s Travels that decorated the wall of the children’s room.

JA: Is there something that people would be surprised to learn about you?
MD: Probably not. I’m not that much different than the woman next door. I have the same desire for a healthy, happy family and enjoy the love of family and friends.

JA: What’s your idea of the ultimate vacation?
MD: I’m torn between touring places I haven’t yet visited to and sitting on a beach with a satchel full of great books to read for my ultimate vacation. Of course it must include my husband and perhaps my kids.

JA: Last but not least, how can people keep up with your latest publishing news?
MD: I love to communicate with my readers. The easiest way to peek into my world is by visiting my website at megandimaria.com or my blog at megandimaria.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Megan, and continued blessings to you in your writing journey!

JEN’S REVIEW

Remember young love? That first blush of I-can’t-wait-to-see-him excitement? Well, Linda Revere sure does, and she wants some of it back!

Megan DiMaria’s debut novel crackles with the yearnings of a long-married wife who just wants to put a little spice back in her marriage. Anybody who’s been married for more than a few years will relate to Linda’s many failed attempts at seducing her husband. A sick dog, kid trouble, even the neighbors get in the way. But through it all, Linda rediscovers the man she married and redefines just what makes a man a prince.

Searching for Spice is an impressive debut novel. It’ll make you laugh, make you think, and maybe even bring a tear to your eye. DiMaria is a skilled writer with a gift for dialogue. She puts her characters into realistic situations and has us rooting for them till the end. I look forward to her follow-up novel in October, and many more literary offerings in the years to come.

WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Searching for Spice just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll combine the responses of my Blogger and ShoutLife blogs to pick a winner at random on April 21st. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) ShoutLifers will be contacted via ShoutMail. Good luck!