Monday, June 26, 2017

Blog Tour: The Buddha Made Me Do It by @marlamartenson #interview




Spiritual Memoir
Date Published: 5-25-16
Publisher: Cupid’s Press

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What starts as a search for a decorative Buddha statuette leads one woman on a spiritual journey that will change everything.

Marla lives the good life in Los Angeles—house, pool, her own business helping Cupid find love for LA’s most discriminating singles. Her handsome and ardent hubby Adolfo performs at an exclusive steak house in Beverly Hills. He tends to scoff at Marla’s green juice, vegan diet, yoga, and daily affirmations and can be a teensy bit of a control freak.

A discarded Buddha statuette that Adolfo suddenly can’t live without sends Marla searching through New Age boutiques along with her skeptical friend Julie. They are soon schooled by a charismatic “Goddess,” delving ever deeper into self-realization, conversations with angels, pendulums, candle “Magick,” Reiki, crystal healing, and more. Attend a Hindu Bajan? Sure. Orgasmic Meditation? (Wait, what…?) Maybe not that one. 

Growing in her spirituality, yet exceedingly frustrated with some of her persnickety clientele—aging men who see themselves as Dorian Grays, worthy of exquisite young women—Marla’s world is shifting. She achieves certifications as an energy healer and encourages Julie to sample the concoction Julie calls “green gunk” and other healthy practices to help her conquer an addiction to unavailable men. Marla deepens her communication with the Beyond while Adolfo, always so practical, asks, “Have you lost your mind? Are you hearing voices? Angels aren’t real, come on!” Matters grow worse when certain psychics warn of “dangerous low-vibrational entities” and rabidly disagree with each other. 

Her alternating universes give Marla spiritual whiplash, yet she discovers the LITE way to balance the human carnival with a transformational spiritual journey.

Interview

Is there a message in your memoir that you want readers to grasp? Yes! The message is to not be afraid to try new things, that life is meant to be fun, and that there are great mysteries in this life yet to be discovered like an old dusty jewelry box just waiting to be opened!

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Oh boy! For sure. Writing is hard! Or let me clarify, writing really well is hard. At least for me it is. So I just plug away, and then when I have a really great chapter, there is nothing sweeter!

How many books have you written and which is your favorite? I have written 5 books, a short story and an ebook. I love my three memoirs so much. And my short story, Amateur Night is hilarious! I would say though that my latest, The Buddha Made Me Do It is my favorite.

If you had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would it be and why? I would choose Amy Adams, because we look alike and she is so versatile, I can totally see her playing Marla in Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker & Hearts On The Line. I would love Drew Barrymore to play me in The Buddha Made Me Do It. Drew is so quirky, she would be perfect!

When did you begin writing? I started writing poetry and short stories in the third grade.

How long did it take to complete your first book? It took me about a year since I also had a full time job working at a matchmaking agency in Beverly Hills. I couldn’t devote hours per day on writing, so I wrote in the evenings and on weekends.

Do you have an author who inspired you to become a writer? Yes, Beverly Clearly who wrote Ramona The Pest. I read Ramona in the third grade and became hooked on all things reading and writing.

What is your favorite part of the writing process? Ha! I will be honest here and say when the book is done, and I have it in my hot little hands and can sit back, relax and read my masterpiece and bask in the fact that all of my hard work has finally come to fruition.

Describe your latest book, The Buddha Made me Do It, in four words: Ok, I’m going to cheat and give you 8 words. Kirkus Reviews described by book this way:
“A warmly funny, wide-ranging and off-kilter spiritual odyssey.”


Can you share a bit about your current work, or what is in the future for your writing? I’m currently trying my hand at writing a cozy. (Murder mystery) Stay tuned!

Love Marla,


www.marlamartenson.com


About the Author


Born in Tacoma, Washington, “The City of Destiny,” Marla was destined to move to Los Angeles where she shoots her arrow of love on a daily basis as a professional matchmaker, helping countless couples connect with their soul mates.

She is the author of three memoirs, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Hearts on the Line and The Buddha Made Me Do It.

Marla has been interviewed on the Today Show, WGN Chicago Morning News, San Diego Living, Urban Rush, CTV Calgary, Better TV, KUSI San Diego Morning Show, and over 100 radio shows including Coast to Coast AM with George Noory.

Her husband Adolfo has asked her, “Marlita, do you want to go to the moon too?” referring to her many interests—a true Gemini. Yet nothing has fascinated her like her profound adventure far beyond the moon and into the vastness of cosmic spirituality.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting

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