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.