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Friday, April 12, 2019

INTERVIEW WITH ELIZABETH LUDWIG


Elizabeth Ludwig is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Book three in her popular Edge of Freedom series, Tide and Tempest, was named a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Elizabeth was also named afinalist in the 2015 Selah Awards for her novella “One Holy Night”, part of the bestselling anthology collection, Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine. Most recently, she was honored to be awarded a HOLT Medallion for her book, A Tempting Taste of Mystery, part of the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries series from Guideposts. Her latest releases include Sheeps Passing in the Night, part of the Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard series, also from Guideposts, and The Coffee Club Mysteries from Barbour Publishing. To learn more, visit ElizabethLudwig.com.

INTERVIEW


If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?

One sentence? Goodness. I guess I would say I am the shyest, most insecure, funniest, extroverted introvert you’d ever want to meet. How’s that for a complicated mix!

What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?

I love to read, snow ski, hang out on my porch and watch the wind stir the trees, play with my four miniature dachshunds, and love on my grandkids—although not necessarily in that order.

Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.

First…I really wasn’t kidding about the insecure part. I have the worst anxiety when a new book comes out, because I worry that readers won’t like it and that the reviews will say it’s all a bunch of hogwash.

Second…I used to work part-time as a youth minister.

Third…I have an inexplicable fear of driving off a mountain. Like, when we go skiing, I almost have to lay on the car floor so I can’t see the sheer cliffs falling away out the window on either side.

What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Is there another genre you’d like to try someday? What is it?

Are you ready for this…insert drumroll…I started out writing a Scottish historical series! Still love those early manuscripts, but I doubt I’ll go back to them any time soon. From there, I veered toward writing historical suspense, but when those didn’t sell, I switched to cozy mysteries. I sold four books before I went back to my historical suspense, which eventually found a home with Bethany House. Now, I’m sort of settled between historical suspense (which is my passion) and cozy mysteries (which is my entertainment). Although I would, someday, like to experiment with steampunk. LOL!

If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be?

I wasted a lot of time worrying about things I had no control over. Things like sales numbers and reviews used to eat my lunch. If I could go back, I would invest all of that time and energy in honing my marketing skills and developing a strong fan base. Not a wide fan base…just a very dedicated group of friends and influencers who would walk alongside me and pray for me on this writing journey.

Do you have any writing goals you haven’t met yet? What are they?

I’ve published 23 books but I still haven’t written that one book that speaks to my soul. It’s in me. I feel it. I’ve started and stopped writing it more times than I can count. But to actually put it down on paper is so hard. Part of what stops me is the fear that it will be less than. Less than perfect. Less than the whole story. Just…less than. I’m working on it.

What are you working on now?

I just signed another contract with Guideposts for a new series set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It’s about three sisters who run a resale shop out of their parents’ barn. Of course, there are lots of mysteries that come with all those vintage finds!

I’m also working on a new project called Summer of Suspense that will release later this year. It’s a collection of sixteen short stories from 16 of Christian fiction’s most popular mystery and suspense authors.

What is the most important thing you’d like readers to take away from your books?

More than anything, I hope my readers find peace inside the pages of my books—a moment away from the heartaches of everyday life. And because there is always a little piece of me inside each of my characters, I hope readers are able to glimpse the grace and mercy that has been poured out over me by a loving and generous Heavenly Father.

Anything else you’d like to share?

It’s been a long time since I did any interviews. Thank you so much for hosting me, Nancy. And thank you to the wonderful readers of Suspense Sisters for stopping by!
  



Six Mysteries Are Brewing in Small-Town Kansas

The coffee shop on the corner of First and Main in Oak Grove, Kansas, seems to attract a series of mysterious events. Or perhaps it is the six women who frequent the shop for book club who are the magnets for trouble. . . .

Morgan Butler, owner of the Coffee Perk, finds a project worker hanged at her shop.

Evelyn Kliff discovers a church meal organizer dead.

Harper Daggett is being stalked for an antique jade owl she bought.

Baker Jeanine Gransbury’s charity event money goes missing.

Jo Anderson shares hazelnut coffee creamer, sending a man into anaphylaxis shock.

Penny Parson finds a gun in one of her beehives.

Join them as they unravel six unexplained events that have the potential to ruin business and spoil friendships if not handled with care.



You can win a copy of  The Coffee Club Mysteries by leaving a comment, along with your contact information! You can choose from a print copy (U.S. only, please) or an eBook.



45 comments:

  1. Great interview, Elizabeth. It's so nice to get to know you.

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  2. I've loved mysteries since I was a little girl (thank you Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden).This collection of mysteries sounds delightful!!

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  3. This book is right up my alley,! Thank you for the chance to win it.

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    1. Don't you just love a good mystery?? I'm so glad to see more and more books like this coming out.

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  4. I love coffee and mysteries! This sounds like a great collection.

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  5. These are great authors! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Thank you, Joan. It was so great collaborating with these girls.

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  6. These are great authors! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  7. It was wonderful getting to know Elizabeth. I love mysteries and this book has some interesting characters written by wonderful authors.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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    1. Thank you, Maryann! It was so much fun to write. I love that its finally in the hands of readers.

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  8. Can't wait to read the Coffee Club Mysteries, Elizabeth!

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    1. Hi, Patricia! This was such a fun book. Each story was unique!

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  9. Enjoyed the interview, I’d love to read this book!
    Allofakindmom at gmail dot com

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  10. I just found the Edge Of Freedom series on audio! Yay!

    crafting4theking888(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. Thank you for sharing the 3 things we might not know! This book sounds good!

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  12. Thank you for a great interview! Her book sounds wonderful and I would love to read it!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  13. It was nice to read about the personal side of Elizabeth! (I wish we could be neighbors! :)) I am putting this on my request list for my county Bookmobile! Badawson16 at AOL dot COM

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    1. This made my heart smile!! Thank you for stopping by, Barb!

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  14. Nice to meet you Elizabeth, I love Mysteries! Thanks for the chance.
    isisthe12th(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. Thanks for the interesting interview and the opportunity to win!Book sounds good!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  16. Hi, your books sound amazing, I enjoyed your interview, Thank you for sharing. :) aliciabhaney@sbcglobal.net

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    1. That is so sweet! Thank you for the encouragement, Alicia.

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  17. Elizabeth, you sound a lot like me when it comes to being an introverted extrovert....lol! I can stand only so many people for a short period of time, even my small church family. Books are my down time!

    It's funny that you say you love to ski, but hate the drive to get there. I live on the Oregon coast and while I've driven over my share of places that have sheer cliffs, I guess they don't bother me that much anymore. When I first moved here, I was terrified of them, especially if it was a very windy road...yikes! So I can understand your fear :-)

    You know that "one" story you have inside you? Why not write it just for your eyes only? I've heard many authors say they sometimes just write a story that will never be published because it just has to come out. No edits, no corrections, just because. Who says it needs to be read by anyone else? I think the story may surprise you once you get it on paper :-) God knows your heart and He knows that "perfect" story you have inside of you. If it's good enough for Him, what more could you ask for?

    I looked on my Overdrive digital library and I see they have your Edge of Freedom series in ebook format...how fun is that?? Definitely putting them on my want-to-read list! I haven't read too many cozy mysteries over the years, but I know they are so fun to read. I really love that the Coffee Club Mysteries are Christian! You don't often find that. I'd probably read more of these if they were Christian based...though I can say cozies don't have anything questionable in them :-) Love the quirky towns full of quirky people, and the touch of humor you often find in them.

    I wished you could buy the cozy mysteries from Guideposts on Amazon or other online places. I know a few of my authors who have written some of them, Ruth Logan Herne and Nancy Mehl for example. But they are far too expensive for me to buy off of Guideposts.

    Anyway, now that I've written a book here, I'll close with saying thank you for the interview Elizabeth! I loved getting to know you more, and I love how you made me chuckle at some of your answers. I can SO relate to quite a bit, lol!

    Also thanks for the giveaway chance...this collection looks and sounds good!! Coffee and books naturally go together :-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Oh my heart!! What a blessing your words are to me this morning. Thank you, thank you. I guess I just haven't given myself permission to write just for me and my Lord. :-) I wish you lived closer. I get two copies of every Guideposts mystery series and always donate the second copy to my local library. I've also seen used copies of the mysteries for sale on places like Amazon and Thriftbooks. If Guideposts has a sale, I'll be sure to post it on my facebook page and put it in my newsletter.

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  18. Thanks for a great interview and the chance to win your book. The Coffee Club Mysteries sounds like a fun read!

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  19. nice interview
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  20. Nice to get to know you, Elizabeth. I'm a mystery lover also. Would love to read "The Coffee Club Mysteries", sounds like my kind of book.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. So nice getting to know more about you. Thank you for sharing. Blessings
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  22. I love cozy mysteries and live in Kansas so this seems like the perfect book for me.
    pmkellogg56@gmail.com

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    1. Perfect!! LOL! My son and daughter-in-law live just north of Wichita. I'm going to visit them for Easter!

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  23. DRUMROLL PLEASE...the winner of The Coffee Club Mysteries is Barb D!!

    Barb, please email me at elizabeth at elizabethludwig dot com so we can work out the details of getting your book to you. Thanks, everyone!!

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