Enter
INTERVIEWS & REVIEWS
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • Interviews
    • Interview Requests
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
  • Team Members Only
    • Biblical Fiction
    • Bible Study/Devotional
    • Children's Books
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Mystery/Suspense
    • June Nominations
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
    • February Nominations
    • March Nominations
    • April Nominations
    • May Nominations
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Anna Bottoms >
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Trinity Caver
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Jeanette Durkin
    • Elizabeth Eckmeyer
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Adriann Harris
      • Demetria Head
      • Raechel Helwig
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Heather L. Jones
    • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Diana Lea
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Rebecca Maney
    • Rick Norris
    • Trixi Oberembt
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
    • Kimberlee Sams >
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Katie Slocum
      • Amy Smelser
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Emily Stephens
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Ewurabena Wilson >
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood
  • 2024 Book of the Year Winner
    • 2024 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2023 Book of the Year
    • 2023 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year >
      • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • For Writers
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • Interviews
    • Interview Requests
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
  • Team Members Only
    • Biblical Fiction
    • Bible Study/Devotional
    • Children's Books
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Mystery/Suspense
    • June Nominations
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
    • February Nominations
    • March Nominations
    • April Nominations
    • May Nominations
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Anna Bottoms >
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Trinity Caver
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Jeanette Durkin
    • Elizabeth Eckmeyer
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Adriann Harris
      • Demetria Head
      • Raechel Helwig
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Heather L. Jones
    • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Diana Lea
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Rebecca Maney
    • Rick Norris
    • Trixi Oberembt
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
    • Kimberlee Sams >
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Katie Slocum
      • Amy Smelser
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Emily Stephens
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Ewurabena Wilson >
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood
  • 2024 Book of the Year Winner
    • 2024 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2023 Book of the Year
    • 2023 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year >
      • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • For Writers

Interviews
​

5/31/2017

2 Comments

An Interview with Liz Johnson

 
Picture
Today I am pleased to have author Liz Johnson visiting with us today. Liz  fell in love with Prince Edward Island the first time she set foot on it. When she's not plotting her next trip to the island, she works as director of marketing for a Christian radio network. She is the author of several novels including The Red Door Inn and Where Two Hearts Meet, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories.

Her latest novel On Love's Gentle Shore, releases this July and I know this Canadian gal is looking forward to it. Especially because it is set on beautiful Prince Edward Island.

Welcome Liz! For those who aren't familiar with your work, can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a marketing director by day. I write at night, which works well for me since I’m a night owl anyway. I love writing stories of true love with happily ever afters almost as much as I love doting on my five nieces and nephews and spending time with my family.

How long have you been writing?

I wrote my first short story when I was seven and signed my first book contract at 27. In those years, I wrote a lot of really bad books, took some writing classes, and wrote some not-quite-as-bad books. In 2007 I finally wrote a book that caught the attention of an editor at Love Inspired Suspense, and it released in 2009. I’ve been writing steadily ever since then. 

How many books have you written?

I tend to lose count, and always have to tick them off on my fingers when someone asks. As I mentioned, I’ve written many really terrible books while I was learning to write. They’ll never make it out of my desk drawer. Twelve novels, one novella, and a handful of short stories have made it to the public.

What is the hardest thing about writing for you?

I am so easily distracted! Staying focused is my biggest challenge on any given writing day. It means turning off Facebook, my television, and definitely Google. Researching cake options for a fictional wedding sounds like a great idea until you’re four hours into the internet and watching a video of a cat terrified of a cucumber, and you can’t remember how you got there, but you know you haven’t gotten any words written.
Picture
LOL! Been there. Done that! I think most writers can definitely relate. Let's talk about your latest book which releases this July. What can you tell us about it?

On Love’s Gentle Shore takes us back to the Red Door Inn on Prince Edward Island. Natalie O’Ryan’s fiancé has booked their wedding on the island, so after fifteen years, she’s returning to her childhood home and memories she’d rather forget. But when she’s forced to work with Justin Kane, the best friend she disappeared on, she discovers that the love she’s been looking for may be right where she left it.

Sounds exciting and I love the setting! P.E.I. is so beautiful and since I'm Canadian I look forward to reading this series as a way to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. Clearly you stepped foot in P.E.I. and fell in love. When it comes to writing, what advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Don’t be afraid to write badly. Aspiring writers are often told to write. Finish that first manuscript. And that is terribly important. But for many writers, finishing that first book is so difficult because they want it to be perfect—or at least good. And the truth is that the first book probably isn’t going to be great. It takes practice. So don’t be afraid of writing a bad book. Bad books can be fixed. Bad books are building blocks for better books. So write. Even if it’s bad.

Which do you enjoy more? Reading or writing?

Both? Reading is so fantastically relaxing. It requires me only to imagine what the author has already conjured. And I love that. Writing is difficult. It’s exhausting—emotionally and sometimes physically. It’s frustrating when the words don’t come as I want them to. Writing means pulling out my hair, pacing a hole in the floor, and angrily staring at a computer screen wondering why it’s not writing the book for me. But the having written part. That’s the best! When the book is done and as good as I can make it, I’m so glad I put in the effort.

What about movies? Any favorites types there?

Love stories, of course! Actually I like all kinds of movies, but my favorites tend to have a romantic thread. Some of my favorites include While You Were Sleeping, The Man from Snowy River, Pride and Prejudice, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Return to Me. Oh, and I love Disney true-story sports movies like Miracle, Invincible, and McFarland, USA.

Some of my favorites too! Thanks for stopping by today Liz. For those of you interested in starting this series from the beginning or touching base with Liz, just follow the links below!

Picture
Picture
Picture
Visit Liz Johnson through her website at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com
2 Comments
Shira Garnett link
5/31/2017 10:38:25 pm

Very nice interview. Thanks for sharing!

May the Lord continue to bless your write life, Liz❤

Reply
Michelle Holmes
6/3/2017 06:35:29 pm

I like to know about the person behind the book! Nice interview.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Author Interview
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Contemporary Fiction
    Fantasy
    Giveaway
    Historical Fiction
    Historical Romance
    Inspirational Fiction
    Islam
    New Book Release
    Suspense

    Archives

    May 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    April 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016

Services

Interviews
Reviews
Our Reviewers
For Writers
Book Submissions

Support

Contact


© COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Disclaimer
FTC DISCLAIMER: All the books reviewed on this site are given to us for the express purpose of review. They are provided by publishers, publicists, authors and agents. None of our reviewers were required to write positive reviews and none of them were paid monetarily. All opinions are those of each individual reviewer. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”