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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Interview with Elizabeth Goddard and Giveaway!



What better way to end 2014 and bring in the new year here on the Suspense Sisters blog than to interview one of the Suspense Sisters and offer a giveaway of her January 1st release. So we welcome one of our own, Elizabeth Goddard, for an interview this week. Elizabeth is giving away a copy of her latest release, BURIED! Be sure to comment and leave your contact information to be entered in the drawing.

Now let’s find out more about Elizabeth.

SS: Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m married to a pastor/potter and I’m a home schooling mother of four—three boys and one daughter who is now 22 and married. My boys are 15, 16, and 11. I started writing when they were all babies, so it helps to put all this in perspective. Over the last few years, we’ve moved frequently with my husband’s ministry, so that gives me a lot of new fodder for stories.

SS: When did you realize you wanted to be an author?
I loved to read from a very early age and have been writing as long as I can remember. I think the desire to write a novel has always burned inside—I wrote my first novel, or attempted to write one at the tender age of 14. But I had no direction, no path for how to reach this goal. It wasn’t until I was in my thirties, married with children, that I began to actively pursue this dream. And the internet helped me to achieve it, as it has for so many, because I had access to the knowledge I needed to write a novel.I could easily connect to other writers and mentors.

SS: What are some of the challenges you face as a writer? Are there aspects of your life that are hard for family and friends to understand? What are they?

My biggest challenge is probably the same for all novelists and that challenge is time. There are only so many hours in a day and I’m not supermom, and can’t do everything. My family pitches in to help in a big way, but writing and editing and polishing takes an enormous amount of time if you do it right. I’m sure family members get tired of me saying I have to work because I have a book due. It’s not something I can do in an hour, and when I’m getting closer to the deadline that means more time spent on editing the book I’ve written. Then if I’m not writing, I’m working on marketing my books, also a time sucker.

SS: What genre do you write and why? Are there other genres you’ve written or would like to try?

I started learning to write with historical romantic suspense, and even pitched myself that way at conferences. I loved reading the WW II Zion Covenant series by Bodie Thoene and I think those books are what got me thinking about writing the genre. But as Providence would have it, my first book to be published was a contemporary romance. Still, I added mystery and romance, as I do in most all my novels. Now I see myself focusing more and more on romantic suspense. It’s almost all I read now as I study the genre.

SS: How do you create characters? Are they based on people you know?

I don’t intentionally base characters on people I know, but in one of my novels, my family told me they could hear my grandmother’s voice in one particular character.  I think it just happens. But as far as how I create characters, I keep digging and it's usually during the writing, that the character begins to come alive for me. 

SS: Tell us about your current release.

BURIED is the first book in my new series called Mountain Cove and is set in southeast Alaska. The series features a family of mountain search and rescue volunteers. Here’s the blurb for book 1.


NOWHERE TO HIDE

Fleeing to Alaska is the only option for Leah Marks after witnessing a murder. Afraid for her life, the legal investigator hopes a remote cabin will be a safe shelter. But the killer has tracked her to Mountain Cove. As he chases her into snow-packed Dead Falls Canyon, an avalanche buries them both. Saved by daring search and rescue specialist Cade Warren, Leah longs to tell him the truth. But how can she, without bringing even more danger into Cade's life? Especially when they discover the killer is very much alive and waiting to take them both down.

Mountain Cove: In the Alaskan wilderness, love and danger collide

SS: Where did you get the idea for this book?

I read an article about a helicopter pilot searching the mountain for a dangerous man. In order to warn some campers, the pilot wrote a note on his Styrofoam coffee cup and tossed it down to them. I knew that was the seed for my story which grew into a series including search and rescue volunteers, and I knew the first story would start with an avalanche.

SS: Tell us about your main character.

Cade Warren is an avalanche specialist and volunteer with local mountain search and rescue. He works at the avalanche center his father founded in Mountain Cove. Before the story starts, his father is killed in an avalanche and Cade blames himself. He can’t understand why his father would die in an avalanche, the very thing he worked to prevent, and Cade questions God about this.

Leah Marks became a legal investigator to prevent the injustice that happens when an innocent person is put in prison because of an imperfect legal system. Then she finds herself in the middle of that same injustice.

SS: Is there a spiritual message in your book? If so, what is it?

My characters struggle and grow in their faith as they face intense battles, both physically and emotionally, and question why God allows certain things to happen. The biggest spiritual message is about trusting God with everything.

SS: What are you working on now?

I’m busy polishing up the fourth book in the Mountain Cove series, and then I’ll put together a new proposal for two more Mountain Cove books.

SS: Tell us three things about yourself that would surprise your readers. 

I can play the piano, cello, and violin and I won first prize at the county fair for my sketch of a cowboy. I love to run, even though I’m overweight (let 2015 be the year I get skinny!) and bake bread. I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up. Oops, I can’t count.

SS: Favorite TV shows?

I have the news running all day until my husband takes over the TV controller and then it’s movies, and more movies.

SS: Anything special you eat or drink while you’re writing?

It’s almost cliché that writers love chocolate but there’s just something about chocolate that powers my brain. I love peanut M&M’s and once I had a six week deadline and gained 15 pounds (no joke) eating those while I pounded the keys.

SS: How do you celebrate after completing a book?

Take a week off and maybe eat at my favorite Mexican restaurant.

SS: Where can readers find you on the Internet?

Here at Suspense Sisters of course

SS: Anything else you’d like to share with us?

I’ve recently added a contest page to my website, so be sure to check out my monthly giveaway. If you’d like to receive the latest book news, be sure to sign up for my newsletter and blog. 

Thank you for the interview! Don't forget to comment to be entered into the drawing for Elizabeth Goddard's latest, BURIED! 

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!


30 comments:

  1. The book sounds thrilling. Put me down for the drawing. lill dot kohler at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Lill! I'll enter you in the drawing.

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  2. Beth, great to learn even more about you. Hope you and yours have a wonderful new year.
    Dr R L Mabry at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Doc! I hope you have a wonderful new year as well, and may 2015 be your best year yet!

      Blessings,
      Beth

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  3. I am looking forward to reading this one!! Thanks, Kristie tklovenest (@) . (com)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kristie! I hope you get your hands on a copy. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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  4. Sounds like a real page turner. I love a good romance thriller.
    Danajeweler at y mail dot com

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    1. Thanks for entering the drawing, Dana! I love a good romance thriller too. Love reading them, love writing them. You have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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  5. Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the interview and giveaway.

    mo1202007@yahoo.com

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  6. Thanks for stopping by, Melissa. I hope you have a wonderful New Year! And enjoy the book once you get your hands on it.

    Beth

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  7. Deanne Patterson Cnnamongirl(at)aol(dot)com
    You are a new to me author. I love discovering new to me authors that have exciting books like this one sounds to be. I hope to read it soon. Happy New Year.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Deanne. I hope you get your hands on a copy and enjoy! Have a Happy New Year!

      Beth

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  8. I love these books. please enter me thank you

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Carol. You are entered in the drawing.

      Many blessings and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
      Beth

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  9. Another book to be added to my to read list. Sounds great.

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    1. Ellen, Thanks for stopping by. If you don't win a copy via the various venues offering a giveaway this week, I hope you'll grab a copy anyway.

      Have a wonderful New Year!
      Beth

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  10. Avalanche & Alaska, this sounds like a great read !
    dkstevensne AT outlook DOtcOM
    Happy New Year ! !

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    1. Deanna, I had the same reaction when I started working on this idea, and I have a great time writing it.

      Many blessings and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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  11. Your book sounds like a page turner. I hope to get a chance to read It.

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  12. Velva and Sonja, thank you so much for stopping by. If you'd like to enter the drawing for a copy of BURIED, please leave your email contact information.

    And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    Beth

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  13. Great interview Beth! I loved how you shared about your beginnings to now...I can see where God planted that seed of desire for writing when you were young. Even though it took years to actually be able to do anything about it, it just makes it so much the sweeter! And your family must be tremendously supportive of you, I didn't really realize how much family time writing, editing & polishing up a book takes...not to mention trying to market your books! I can't even imagine a single person doing this...wow!! You are an amazing person & your books sound even more amazing! I am just getting into suspenseful romance, so to see a great balance between the two gets me excited to read more of this genre! And I think the most important aspect for me....is seeing God's hand in the story every step of the way. To me, if a book doesn't even mention anything about God, it just lacks substance. It may be a great story, but if I don't finish a book feeling like I've grown in my spiritual walk, it just isn't very satisfying ...does that make sense? God is the center of my life, therefore anything I read must have that aspect too! Thanks for sharing about yourself & being "real" about some things...I love that in an author! Blessings to you and your family & I hope 2015 brings you all the good things the Lord has for you (may you walk ever closer too!). I'd love to enter to win a copy of "Buried", thanks for the chance :-)
    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  14. Trixi,

    Thanks so much for stopping by. I love hearing from you, and glad you enjoyed the interview. I answered another interview over at The Big Thrill and talked about how my faith is part of me and it just comes out in the writing, and through the characters. I'm with you, when I read a book, I want to be changed in some way when I'm done--for the good of course. I love putting in spiritual nuggets in my stories, but I can't know what that will be. I let God direct me as I write. So the nugget will be for some and maybe not for others. Praying a wonderful 2015 for you as well.

    Many blessings,
    Beth

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  15. You can't beat Mexican food for celebrating. Thank you for this interview and for the chance to win a copy of this book.
    susanmsj at msn dot com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Susan! You are entered!

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  16. I am thrilled to meet you through this interview and I look forward to reading Buried. I enjoy mystery and suspense but I don't want gruesome! Best wishes as you continue to write and Blessings For you and your family.
    Connie
    cps1950 at gmail dot com

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  17. Cant wait to read this! I'd like to enter the drawing. Happy New Year.

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  18. Enjoyed finding out more about you! Love reading suspense in my downtime. Jkdubbs1 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  19. Your latest book sounds wonderful.. I love novels which contain suspense. The location also sounds wonderful.

    thejorns (at) gmail (dot) com

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  20. Connie, Sunny, Jolita, Jessica thanks for stopping by. You are entered in the drawing.

    Blessings!
    Beth

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