Eva Marie Everson is an author, speaker, teacher, wife and mother. She has a passion for studying and teaching the Old Testament and for anything that draws people into a deeper relationship with God.

Favorite Verse:  John 6:66-68 “You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him,"Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Visit Eva Marie Everson in our Writer's Corner

 Our Interview with Eva Marie Everson

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born and reared in the South. I live in Florida now. A lot of people say, “Well, you’re still in the South,” but I say, “No, you have to go North to get South of here.”

I’m married, have four children and five grandchildren. Should I mention the two dogs and the cat? The dogs are miniature beagles so we call them beaglets. The cat wears a tux and has a milk moustache. His name is Oreo.

I write, speak and edit full time and love what I do. I’m also passionate about Israel, travel to Israel, and Christian relations with Jews.

What made you decide to become a Christian fiction writer? 

I’m not sure I decided, exactly. I have had stories in my head since I was a child. My mother’s neighbor/friend used to say (while watching me playing in the yard with all my imaginary characters in my imaginary world) that I was not “of this world.”

When I was in the 8th grade, I started writing the stories down. After I married, my husband discovered my secret passion and asked why I had not chosen this for a profession. I shrugged and said, “No one wants to read what I write.”

In 1999, however, a door opened and I walked through. Now I get to write the stories that are in my head.

How did you come up with the concept for This Fine Life? 

I heard the Frank Sinatra standard, When I was Seventeen, while still working in the real world.  I was a tech writer for Glenn Hansen of Group Seven Technologies.  When I was working (my desk was directly behind Glenn’s), he’d put on the music he knew I loved.  So, hearing Old Blue Eyes was pretty common.  That particular day, when the song came on, a story formed in my mind of a young man who is fresh from the farm, moves to the city, and falls in love with his boss’s daughter. Their love is full of passion and tenderness and … that’s as far as I got.  But the years went by and little by little various ideas would come along; I’d add them to the original.  By the time I contracted for This Fine Life, ten years had passed. The story became about the young bride who, in 1959, feels her whole life has come together in the love of this man, only to discover that there is someone he loves more …and that someone is God. When he is called into ministry, their love faces new tests. The question is, can is a love based on passion strong enough to survive the trials?

Is any part of This Fine Life factual?

Only in that when I wrote the scenes in which Mariette, my main character, is setting up housekeeping in 1959. I asked my mother and others in that age group about life as an everyday housewife back in those days. It was very interesting … and I enjoyed writing out of those experiences. Then, I went to a few pastors and asked them about their first year as pastors … about some of the funnier or more intense things that happened. Those stories are woven in as well. Some are bust out loud funny, so get ready to grin while you’re reading.

What is the most interesting tidbit that you learned while writing This Fine Life?

Believe it or not … that women in 1950s used to put their sprinkled laundry in the fridge overnight before they ironed it!

What other projects do you have on the horizon?

I am working on a 3 book series for Baker, based in Cedar Key, FL.

What are some of the challenges you face as an author?

Not having enough time to write all the stories that come to mind. Still, I’m not complaining…

Who was the person who most influenced you in your writing journey?

My parents and my husband. They believed in me when I didn’t know enough to believe in myself.

What message would you like your readers to take from This Fine Life?

That God finds each and every one of us important … some of us are pastors, some of us are successful businessmen, and some of us are homemakers. And we are all precious and special.

What is your goal or mission as a writer?

To draw readers to the heartbeat of God.

What do you do to get away from it all?

That question has levels of answers. I take a walk. Take a nap. Go out for dinner or coffee with friends.  Watch an old movie. Read a good book. Go to Cedar Key… which reminds me…I’ve got a  novel to write!