Friday, August 19, 2016

Friday Fun: Author Spotlight on Liz Johnson


Ashley here! Welcome to our fun new Friday edition. If this is your first time to stop by with the new Alley format, you're in luck, because today we are doing a GIVEAWAY!!!

I am delighted to host my dear friend Liz Johnson for our author spotlight today. Liz has graciously offered to give away one copy of her beautiful novel The Red Door Inn to a lucky reader (US address only). Comment below to enter, and do remember to leave your e-mail address in case you win. And while you're at it, be sure to keep an eye out for Liz's newest novel, Where Two Hearts Meet, which debuts in October. Get the inside scoop about her newest story right here!

Without further adieu, here's Liz!

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Tell us about The Red Door Inn and your upcoming release!
The Red Door Inn is the first book in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series, and it introduces us to Seth and Marie. Marie is running from betrayal and heartache, and Seth is trying to forget the fiancée who stole his business and cleaned out his bank account. These two broken hearts find their way to the North Shore of PEI in order to help open a new bed-and-breakfast, but neither counts on the other’s presence. For the sake of the inn’s owner Jack, they’ll have to learn to work together to bring a dream to life. And in the process they may find hope, healing, and even love.

Book two in the series, Where Two Hearts Meet, hits store shelves in October, and it’s a trip back to PEI and the inn. Caden, the chef at the Red Door Inn, is back and reluctantly agrees to leave the safety and comfort of her kitchen to show a visiting travel writer around the island in hopes that he can save the struggling inn. But journalist Adam Jacobs is on a forced sabbatical on Prince Edward Island. He's also on assignment to uncover a story. Instead he's falling in love with the island's red shores and Caden's sweets. When Caden discovers Adam isn't who she thought he was, she realizes that the article he's writing could do more than ruin the inn's chances for survival—it might also break her heart.

What's the most random thing in your bag? 

Right now? I just packed my Elvis bobblehead in my bag to take it into my office tomorrow. Because I can never have enough Elvis in my life, and when he’s on my playlist, I bobble him so he’s singing along to me. :)
What are you reading right now? 
I just finished writing a book, so I have time to read for fun again! Right now I’m reading a book that I picked up at the Global Leadership Summit last week—The 4 Disciplines of Execution. It’s not my normal fare, but it’s great for someone who’s tackling a new job, like I am. I’m also reading Sandra Byrd’s Bride of a Distant Isle.

Your movie snack of choice? 
If I’m splurging and buying at the theater—I love their nachos with a big ol’ diet dr. pepper.

What's your favorite recent discovery?
My favorite recent discovery is actually a re-discovery. TNT plays reruns of Castle in the evenings when I get home from work, and I’m loving it all over again. The witty banter between Castle and his muse Beckett is sharp and so fun. 


If you could go back in ti
me to the beginning of your writing journey, what advice would you give yourself? 
I’d like to tell myself to enjoy the journey more. It’s so easy for me to get caught up in the rush to write and publish and build my platform and market my books. Sometimes I fail to enjoy the journey. Allen Arnold talks about the joy of creating with the Creator, and while I try to be conscious of that now, I sometimes still miss out on the delight of connecting with God through the process in favor of the stress of just getting it done. I’ll never get those moments back, but I try to be more aware now of how God is with me throughout the process, how his miracles surprise me as I’m writing—like when friends bring me home-cooked meals in the middle of deadlines or when a plot that just isn’t coming together suddenly falls into place. I don’t want to miss the moments when God shows up.



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Thank you, Liz, for being our guest today! 
Don't forget to comment below for your chance to win a copy of The Red Door Inn!

13 comments:

Julia M. Reffner said...

Great interview! I love Castle, too, although I do prefer those repeats. Disappointed with the last few seasons. My dream is to go to PEI someday, major Anne fan here! Congratulations on your new release!

Loraine Nunley said...

I love Castle as well. The dialogue is so great! I have The Red Door Inn on my TBR list. I'm an Anne of Green Gables fan as well. Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!
momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

Angie Dicken said...

Hi Liz! I really appreciate your "one thing you would change". I feel like I look back on this journey, and many times I've struggled with striving instead of enjoying each part. Having my first contract, I hope that I can really enjoy the process and not rush through it to the deadline. Thanks for joining us on the Alley today!

Keely Brooke Keith said...

"I don’t want to miss the moments when God shows up." Me either, Liz! Thanks for that word.

Anonymous said...

What an interesting book.
MarilynDKC[at]AOL[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this giveaway. The book looks like a great read.
JoanEC128[at]AOL[dot]com

Anonymous said...

This book looks like a great read. Thank you for the giveaway.
MarionMPC[at]AOL[dot]com

Pam K. said...

Prince Edward Island sounds like a great setting for a contemporary novel. I've really only known it through the Anne of Green Gables books. The Red Door Inn and Where Two Hearts Meet both sound like books I'd enjoy. Sandra Byrd's Bride of a Distant Isle was really good. She really knows how to write Gothic romantic suspense.

pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

diannekc said...

I would really enjoy reading "The Red Door Inn". I like the setting being in Prince Edward Island. Interesting location for a book. Can't wait to read.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

Susan Mason said...

Hi Liz,
I'm so glad I saw this post and get the chance to tell you how much I LOVED The Red Door Inn! I can't say enough good things about the characters and the setting! (I'm Canadian and have never been to PEI, but one day..)
Can't wait for the next book!
And thanks for the great words of wisdom. I have to remember to enjoy the creative process and not look on it as a job, or a have to.
Cheers,
Sue

Dawn L. said...

Hi Liz, The Red Door Inn was a great book! I can't wait to read Where Two Hearts Meet! I love that you have an Elvis bobblehead in your purse. THANKS for slowing down and "creating with the Creator" (I love that phrase - it's so perfect!)! No contest entry for me please so someone else can enjoy your great book!

Liz Johnson said...

Julia - I hope you make it to PEI soon! It's absolutely amazing!

Loraine - Thanks so much for stopping by!

Angie - Congrats on your book contract! I hope that you savor every moment of this special time!

Keely - Thanks for stopping by today!

Pam K. - I only knew PEI through Anne of Green Gables until I visited in 2010, and it's just as magical as Anne ever dreamed it was. :)

Sue - Thank you for your kind words about The Red Door Inn. I'm so delighted that you enjoyed it. I hope you make it to PEI soon! It's amazing! Good luck in your writing too! Find joy in the process!

Dawn - Thanks for your comment! Allen Arnold, former fiction publisher at Thomas Nelson, says that phrase frequently, and I'm grateful to have heard him teach on it several times. It's been a game changer for me.

Good luck to all of you entering the contest!

Mary Vee Storyteller said...

Liz,
I really appreciate the thoughts you shared from Allen Arnold. We live in a hurry up and wait culture. It robs us of so many joys.

Good thoughts and congratulations on your upcoming release.

Thanks, Ash for a great post!