Patricia Bradley here and today I'm interviewing our very own, Elizabeth Goddard! She is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than thirty romance novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES--a 2011 Carol Award winner.
This 7th generation Texan graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to homeschool her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.
Elizabeth is graciously giving away two copies of her latest Love Inspired Suspense release, Stormy Haven! Just leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.
If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say? I’m a ninja multi-tasking pastor’s wife, writer, and mother of four children.
Love it! What was your favorite book as a teen or child? I don’t have a favorite, but I remember in third grade our teacher read Mrs. Piggle Wiggle to us. I LOVED that book, and read it to my own children. Then in fifth grade I started tackling adult books like The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck, and even 2001 A Space Odyssey. I know, kind of strange choices for an eleven-year-old. Those are just a few books that stand out from the huge number of books I read as a child.
I read The Good Earth when I was eleven or maybe twelve, too! Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers. I’ve been doing these interviews so long, I don’t think there’s anything left to surprise my readers. Maybe . . .um. . .I’m an introvert. There’s one. Is it a surprise? No clue. In my twenties I worked in corporate America and flew all over the country and Canada for my job—but I was terrified of flying. Still am. Okay, that’s two. Just one more. Hmmm. We have an English Mastiff named Solomon, a Schnauzer named Dekker, and an African Gray parrot named Scooby. I’m allergic to animals. There—surprised?
Yes, I'm surprised you're terrified of flying! I can't imagine being terrified of flying and having to do it! What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not? I started out writing historical romance—or as I called my stories back then, historical romantic suspense. See? Not too far from my current genre. Then, get this—I started writing and pitching fantasy at the Christian conference I attended. My daughter had asked me to write a dragon story, and my family loved it so much—much better than my historical stories, so I went in that direction. I don’t regret the time spent writing fantasy because that’s how I met my agent, Steve Laube. But since then, I’ve definitely changed course. My first published book was a contemporary romance, but even that had elements of suspense. It just comes out my fingertips that way. I’m a romantic suspense writer. Period.
And a very good one! If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be? Oh, I’d start MUCH earlier. I’d start writing for publication in my early twenties or even in my teens. I just didn’t know how to go about it back then, but the internet has opened up so many doors for writers. We have easier access to classes and mentors—people to guide us along the path. And believe me, it is a journey.
It definitely is a journey, Beth! What is the most important thing you’d like readers to take away from your books?That God is always there watching and waiting to engage us. That He is good and He loves us.
I so agree! What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?
Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Attend conferences and meet agents and editors and make new writing friends.
Great answers, Elizabeth! Now for a peek at Stormy Haven, And BTW, Elizabeth is giving away 2 copies of Stormy Haven! So leave a comment and I'll enter you in the drawing! Be sure to leave your email address ...(me at somewhere dot com)
Stormy Haven releases September 1, but you can preorder it at Amazon and B&N !
Stormy Haven
He’s her undercover bodyguard—but she can’t know
A Coldwater Bay Intrigue story
When someone tries to kill former government agent Jonna Strand, Ian Brady comes to her rescue. Now Ian must keep Jonna safe and catch the would-be killer—without revealing he was sent undercover to protect her. But when Jonna learns the truth, can she look past his secrets and lean on him to ensure they live through the storm-ridden night?
Four of Elizabeth's six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried, Backfire and Deception are finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to homeschool her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.
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or Twitter: http://twitter.com/bethgoddard