A Technology Break

Hey there! Liz Johnson here. Back from vacation and plugged back into technology. You see, I took a break from technology last week.

My mom and sister and I just spent a week on Prince Edward Island, Canada--home of Anne of Green Gables. And I was unplugged the whole trip! No phone. No internet. No television. No twitter! Oh, my! For someone who practically lives on email, I thought I'd feel like I was missing my right arm. And I admit that the first day, I grabbed for my phone to check facebook, but it was turned off. So I stuffed it back into my purse. That was the last time I looked at it for a week.

Turns out that without my phone, I was free to phone I could revel in the beauty of the Gentle Island free from distraction. Without email I got to enjoy uninterupted conversation with two of my favorite people in the world. I got to focus on enjoying my vacation.

And when I had a book idea ... well, I had to hand write it! Shocking! I know.

I have to admit, it was one of the most enjoyable weeks, I've had in a long time. And I think being tech free was a big part of it.

Have you unplugged recently? How was your experience?

Romance Novels to the Rescue!

Maybe, like me, you've read a blog post or newspaper article lately about how romance novels are ruining women's lives. Bloggers, psychologists, and theologians have all weighed in on how romance novels set unrealistic expections for relationships and lead to dissatisfaction, etc, etc.

Well, my goal here isn't to defend Christian romance novels or explain why I love them and read them ... and write them. But I have been thinking about those things a lot lately. And it got me thinking about when I was in college...

I began reading novels with a strong romantic story lines when I was in junior high. These were mostly historicals by authors like Gilbert Morris and Bodie and Brock Thoene. In addtion to being wildly entertaining, they modeled what a pure love can look like. And, yes, they modeled what a good man could be, who loves God and seeks to serve Him.

Fast forward seven years. I'd just finished my first year of college, which had been full of meeting new friends and wrought with plenty of heartache. One of my new friends was a guy who was a couple years older, lived off campus (that was a huge deal at the time!), and knew just the words to say to make a girl swoon. He also had what he called "a special relationship" with God, which meant he thought he could do anything he wanted without consequence. It also meant he wasn't concerned about purity or a God-centered relationship, quite the opposite of the examples I'd first read about in books and then seen in real life. Quite the opposite of what I hoped for in a relationship.

But I enjoyed his friendship, and we talked every night that summer. With just a couple weeks left before classes resumed in the fall, our conversation reached a head when he asked me, "Why aren't we dating?"

Oof! What's an immature 19-year-old kid with a grand total of one official boyfriend ever supposed to say to that? I wanted a boyfriend. And I really liked this guy. He didn't hold a candle to guys in the novels I read, so that's why I dug into depths of my mind and pulled out the best fairy-tale line I could come up with. "You're not the man of my dreams." (Feel free to laugh or groan here. Either is appropriate.)

He promptly told me that I wasn't the woman of his dreams either, and our friendship crumbled pretty fast after that.

So, was I missing some tact? Absolutely. Do I wish that I'd said something kinder? Yup. Did romance novels rescue me from a whole lot of heartache? You betcha! More than 10 years later, there's nothing I regret about not dating that guy. While I'm all for realistic expectations in a relationship, I'm also for not settling for less than God's best.

I still read them. And I'm going to keep writing them. Because I believe that good novels not only offer an escape, they also give us hope for the best that God has for each of us. Life's not easy--but good romances rarely portray it that way, anyway.

What have romance novels done for you lately?

Some Friday Fun - Less Interesting Books

Friday is my favorite day of the week! It's ripe with anticipation for the weekend ahead. Somehow the workload in my office feels a little more manageable on Fridays. And sometimes it's even pay day!

So today, I thought we could have a little bit of fun with book titles--actually, less interesting book titles. Maybe like thousands of others, you caught the popular topic on twitter several days ago called Less Interesting Books. The idea behind it was simple: Take a popular book title and tweak it just enough to make the book a whole lot less interesting.

For example, The Great Gatsby becomes The So-So Gatsby. You can't wait to read the first. The second is ... well ... so-so. Here are some of my very favorites that were flying along twitter. Wish I'd come up with some of them!

1. Of Mice
2. Harry Potter and the Order of Takeout
3. Bored of the Flies
4. A Series of Not Too Shabby Events
5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Commerce
6. Love in the Time of Chicken Pox
7. To Somewhat Offend a Mockingbird
8. Minor Discomfort and Casual Resentment in Las Vegas
9. The Grapes of Math
10. There’s Waldo
11. Where the Wild Things Were
12. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Artist Formerly Known as Prince
13. The Call of the Skittish
14. The Second to the Last of the Mohicans
15. Farenheit 72 - the thermostat wars in offices across the country

In all seriousness, all the laughs got me thinking about the importance of book titles. What if Mr. F. Scott Fitzgerald had called his book simply Gatsby or Mark Twain had called his The Story of Huckleberry Finn? Titles have a power to draw readers, engage them from the get-go, and give them a reason to keep reading.

Take, for example, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. The title might not make readers bat an eye in modern book culture, but when this book debuted in the 1950s, it probably turned a few heads. When I was 8 and reading it for the first time, you can bet that I was way more fascinated in discovering who the witch was than I was interested in reading a book about blue dolphins. Speare's classic is still my all-time favorite book.

Titles tell a story of their own and are much more important than just identifying the story within. Now it's your turn to share! What book titles do you love? Are there any that you felt were misleading or not strong enough for the great book between the covers? What Less Interesting Book titles have you come up with?

Hometown Visits

Hi. My name is Liz Johnson. And I'm addicted to this season of American Idol. I just can't stop watching it!

In the past, I may have teased my roommate about her affection for the show, but I'm starting to understand it. Maybe, like me, you've made this show one of your weekly rituals. If so, you probably saw this week's episodes--where the top three contestants took trips to their hometowns. They were greeted by mobs of cheering hometown fans and visited areas of interest. Sweet Scotty McCreery visited the grocery store where he once worked. And in a particularly emotional segment, Lauren Alaina visited her hometown in Georgia, which was hit hard by the recent string of tornadoes across Alabama and Georgia.


Watching these clips got me thinking about my hometown. Really all of our hometowns. What is it about the town where we grew up that evokes nostalgia and a sense of belonging? I haven't lived in the smallish city in Arizona where I grew up in 5 years, but it's still home. Still the place where I know my way around and where I belong.

It also got me thinking about how authors--myself included--pay homage to our hometowns. Maybe it's the way we make our fictional towns resemble the real thing. Maybe it's the way we add our favorite restaurant into a story. Maybe it's the way we bring the quirky real characters to life on the page.

For me, it was in my first book, The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn, where my hero Myles reminisced about his high school football days at Yuma High playing the Kofa Kings. Neither school is my alma mater, but definitely a cross-town rivals. And when I shared that book with friends and strangers alike, they loved the Yuma connection.

So here's my question for you: Have you ever read a book set in a city you call home? Or have you written one and included some of your hometown favorites? What did you enjoy most about it?

Rock City

My parents flew out to visit me in Tennessee last weekend. What I hoped would be a really relaxing time, turned out to be moving weekend. And if you've ever moved, you know it's anything but. After two days, we were finally (mostly) unpacked in the new house and ready for to enjoy a couple days of fun in Atlanta and Chattanooga, TN.

All along our drive the first day, we saw signs for something called Rock City, which I'd never heard of before. So on our trip back to Nashville, we stopped to see what all the signs were about. And it was incredible.

If you haven't heard of it, Rock City is a naturally formed rock formation that seems as thought it's laid out with streets and avenues, all atop Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga. There are several stops on Lookout Mountain (and we stopped at them all), but the natural beauty of Rock City took my breath away.

Of course they've added bridges and restaurants and gift shops over the years, but the wonder of it all is this amazingly beautiful display of God's creation.

So what does this all have to do with suspense novels? The whole time I was there, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if someone were chased between the often narrow crevices. Or what if someone tried to dispose of a body between giant rocks? Was someone blackmailing the owner or hiding out from a stalker behind the counter at the fudge shop?

At every turn of the trail, I was reminded how amazing nature is at giving me ideas for stories. But sometimes ... well, sometimes we just need a moment of peace with our families and our God. And nature is pretty amazing for that too.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to appreciate God's creation this weekend. Whether it displays his power in a thunderstorm or his beauty in a sunset, it's all a reflection of the Creator.

A Helping Hand

Hey there! Liz Johnson here.

I'm a pretty independent person. I've always been this way. I like to be on my own, and I like only relying on myself. Maybe that's why I like being a writer. It's a pretty solitary activity, just me and my laptop.

But this week, I started a new prescription medication that literally laid me out. My head has been spinning, my stomach rolling for the last three days. I couldn't move to get food for myself or even drive myself home from work today. So I knew I was going to have to ask for help. No matter how much I wanted to be able to take care of myself on my own.

But before I could even ask someone to help me get some crackers for lunch, one of my sweet friends was off to Walgreens and returned minutes later with the only thing that sounded remotely appetizing. And when I needed to get home, immediately a friend drove my car home while another followed to take her back to the office.

In the midst of feeling my lowest, I was reminded why friends are called friends. Because they stick by our sides and offer a helping hand, even when we don't want to ask for it.

I hope this week, you'll take a moment to offer a helping hand before someone even asks for it. And also allow someone to help you.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." - Proverbs 17:17

Cozy fires and comfy reads

Greetings from snowy, blustery Nashville, TN.

I grew up in the desert southwest, in an obscure part of Arizona that never saw a fleck of snow in the 20 years that my family lived there. So when I ventured out to find a job in publishing, which had been a life-long dream, I faced some weather I hadn't seen since my early childhood. My longest stop on this journey called life after college was in Colorado Springs, where I sure saw my fair share of the white stuff.

But when I made the move to Nashville, I thought I was leaving the snow behind for sun--and humidity.

Not so quick!

While this summer was certainly hot and humid, this winter has proven full of snow and ice thus far. And I've discovered that no matter where I am in this country if there's snow on the ground and a chill in the air, I want to be snuggled under a blanket in front of a cozy fire reading a good book. So that's what I've been doing lately--even if I can't find a fire or a blanket. My book has traveled everywhere with me this week, and I'm grateful for the company every chance I get amidst the frigid temperatures.

And did I mention my pink, fuzzy socks? Oh, those help me fight the freeze every day, too!

Are you battling cold right now, too? How do you deal with it?

Welcome to 2011

Hey, all! Liz Johnson here.

I'm honored to get to share with you on New Year's Eve. This is one of my all-time favorite holidays. There's something so wonderful about looking forward to a fresh year. The slate is clean. The opportunities endless. One of my favorite literary heroines, Anne Shirley, is famous for saying, "Tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes in it." And that wish is never as real to me as it is on December 31. Tomorrow is fresh--and with it the rest of the year.

Now I've never been one for making resolutions. They seem so easy to

break. I mean, you're practically expected not to follow through. But I do like the idea of setting goals and challenging myself. Stretching out of my normal routine.

Last year that revolved around my unhealthy book-buying patterns. I had a terrible tendency to go to my local Christian bookstore, Barnes and Noble, or even Walmart and buy three books but only get around to reading to one. What a waste of both money and perfectly wonderful books that just sat on my bookshelf. Unread. Unappreciated. So last Christmas I committed to not buying a single book for myself this year.

Tonight my dad asked me how I'd done. Truthfully ... well, I wasn't perfect. When I saw the spread of L.M. Montgomery books for sale at Green Gables when I visited Prince Edward Island this summer, I plum forgot. I snapped up five new books on vacation. And then I picked up a couple Christmas novella collections back in October--to help me research what I needed for the novella that I'm working on. But other than that, every book I've added to my collection this year has either been a gift, trade, or purchased with a gift card.

I even took it a step further and gave away nearly 25 books from my shelves--giving them homes where someone will love and read them.

For a bibliophile like myself, 2010 was certainly a test. But I'm glad I did it. What an encouragement to know that I can walk into a bookstore and leave empty-handed. I hope practicing that self control will help me show restraint in other areas of my life, too.

So what does 2011 mean for me? How am I challenging myself this year?

I'm giving up cable TV.

This is huge for me. But I'm ready. I'm ready to save $50 a month and countless hours of wasted time. Who knows what I might get done without a perpetual distraction? And that money? I think I can come up with some good uses for $600.

So how are you planning to stretch yourself in 2011? Have you made resolutions? Set goals?

It's officially the Christmas Season

Liz Johnson here, writing from frigidly cold Nashville. If you consider the necessity for winter-weather outerwear, the pervasive use of twinkle lights in my apartment, and the hot apple cider being made in my microwave ... well, there's no other possibility than the arrival of the Christmas season.

For most this season is filled with shopping, parties, travel, and family bonding. My life is no different. As I write this, I'm waiting to get on a plane for 3 days of travel for work. I'm still trying to decide what to get my dad. I haven't even started the family Christmas letter (one of the perks of being the writer in the family). Oh, and let's not forget that proposal my editor asked for and the novella that's due in February. It's a plumb busy season.

But as I think about the rush and tumble of these coming weeks, I'm encouraged by a single verse from the book of Matthew.

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” – Matthew 1:23

Not only is Christmas a reminder of Jesus' birth and his death and resurrection that saves us, but it's also a reminder of the promise that God is with us in the good and bad days of our lives. It's a reminder that through the grace of God we have the strength to make it through every day--even the crazy holidays.

So the next time you're feeling a little bit worn out, remember that God is with you, giving you the strength you need. And I bet there's someone else you know who could use a reminder that they don't have to just suffer through another hectic holiday season. This is a time to be merry because the grace of God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. And that God is with us every step of the way.

So, here's to a Merry Christmas. I hope you enjoy the season and find a renewed strength to enjoy every moment of it.

Meeting Characters in Real Life

My name is Liz Johnson. And I'm addicted to books. And stories in general. Pretty much the written word in form.

Like me, I bet most of you love disappearing into the an imagined world, filled with characters that become as real as your best friends. But what happens when those imagined characters pop up in real life?

The first time I saw a character in real life, I was on the treadmill at the YMCA. I think it should be noted that I wasn't moving very fast when I looked to the treadmill next to me and saw Morris, the 12-year-old boy from Allison Pittman's Stealing Home. The speed of the belt had nothing to do with me nearly falling flat on face. I was staring at exactly the face that I'd imagined in the spirited, baseball-loving boy from Missouri.

That was very cool. But I couldn't help but hope to come face to face with one of my own characters some day. But my chances of meeting the likes of Debra Messing (Kenzie Thorn from my first book) aren't good. Even living in Nashville. So I was resigned to never getting to meet one of my heroes or heroines.

Until this week.

This week I met Brandon Heath, who in my mind was always the face of Nate Andersen, the hero of Vanishing Act. I met him at a concert at the Bluebird, a little tiny venue in Nashville, and he was so gracious, listening to my story of how he came to the real-life counterpart of my FBI hero. I left him with a signed copy of the book. And then he signed my book back to me.

I'm still walking on cloud nine.

It was beyond cool to meet Brandon--like looking into the face of a page of my book. Have you ever seen someone who could be a character in the book you're reading or writing?

Make a Difference Tour

As y'all read this I'm on my way to the Make a Difference Tour in Corbin, KY. I can't wait to see some of my favorite artists like Michael W. Smith, Third Day, Tobymac, and Jason Gray. Oh, and Max Lucado is speaking, too!

The whole night is all about doing big things that we were created to do. We have a great God, who has equipped us each to to make a difference in someone's life. Max Lucado's new book is called Outlive Your Life, and that's what he'll be speaking about at the show. So that's got me thinking. What kind of legacy am I leaving, not just in my writing but with my life? And how can I use my books to serve others through more than messages of hope and faith in God?

I've heard about a lot of authors who give away their books to people going through chemo or other extreme medical treatment. I've also seen members of my local Christian writers group collect books to send to men and women in the military.

It's amazing how simple these acts are and how, done with love, they show Jesus to others. And these acts leave a legacy of love. I don't know about you, but I sure want to leave that kind of legacy. So what do you think about outliving your life? What are you doing to leave a legacy?
-Liz Johnson

When you can't make it ...

Hey there, everyone! Liz Johnson here.

You know, last year at this time, I was typing frantically trying to finish sample chapters and synopses. I brought my laptop to work with me every day so that I could write through lunch. I wrote in every spare minute to get ready for appointments with an agent and an editor at the ACFW conference in Denver.

And I can't help but think that I should be doing the same thing this year. Except I can't make it to the ACFW conference in Indy. I'm going to miss out on catching up with friends, learning from some amazing workshop teachers, and connecting with suspense writers who are just as crazy as I am. No where else in the world can you overhear public plotting of murder and mayhem. Or listen to two women gleefully laughing over the near death of a hero ... because they know he's going to make it and win his woman's heart in the process.

I love the camaraderie of writers conferences, and I'm already feeling a little sad that I can't make it this year. So what am I to do with myself as I listen to my friends talk about packing their bags, polishing their proposals, and setting off for Indy?

I have a few ideas:
1. Start working on my proposals for next year. Come next year, I'll be ready to go!
2. Pray for the attendees, leadership, and staff.
3. Watch the Carol Awards Event online at ACFW.com. This is of particular interest to me this year, as I'll be waiting to hear if my first book, The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn, wins in the debut author category. If you're an ACFW member, log in to the website to watch it on September 19 @ 7pm.
4. Sleep in. If I was at conference, I'd have to be up early, so I'll appreciate my weekend even more.

What do you do when you can't make it to a conference, ACFW or otherwise, or something else that you regularly attend?

A little out of focus

Liz Johnson here ...
I went to the eye doctor this week. Generally not a traumatic expeirence for me, as I've had terrible vision since I was seven. But this week I went over my lunch hour and was surprised when they dilated my eyes. When I got back into my car after the visit, I discovered that I just couldn't get my eyes to focus. Try as I might, I could not make it out of the parking lot without wearing those silly, wrap sunglasses behind my regular glasses.

Do you have moments like that in your life, when you try to focus on something but it's just not working? And then when you put things in the right perspective, all of a sudden life becomes clearer?

That's how I've felt lately about the crazyness that has become my life. I'm so busy with my day job, writing, and trying to settle into a new city that sometimes I just don't know what to focus on. And if I can't bring anything into focus, nothing gets done.

What do you do when you feel that way? What lens do you put on to bring things into focus?

For me, that lens is prayer. When I start asking God to make my priorities clear, He makes it clear that my relationship with Him is number one. And when that's in focus, everything else becomes clearer, too.

Vanishing Act Interview

Today we're welcoming Nora James, the heroine of Vanishing Act, by Liz Johnson, August 2010.


Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.


1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.
I had no idea that my dad was mixed up in a money laundering scheme until I was kidnapped by thugs. When he came to meet my kidnappers in an alley, I saw them shoot him, and I ran. I ran all the way to Colorado, where I hid out for a year and a half working at a mechanic. Little did I know that a ruthless assassin was after me until FBI Agent Nate Andersen showed up in town. I didn’t know he was looking for me, but I’m sure glad he found me!

2. So, during the book you met Nate Andersen. Tell us a bit about him. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?
When I first met Nate, he was sleeping in his car, waiting for the mechanic to arrive. I was a bit annoyed that he immediately assumed I wasn’t the mechanic just because I’m a woman. I noticed that, and his steel-blue eyes. Shortly after that, he started showing up all over, including the class I was teaching at the community college. But when I started feeling like someone was watching me and then an SUV ran me off the road, I was so grateful to be able to run to him. Literally. When I was chased through the woods, I ran for his apartment. I think I first knew it was love he put a bag of peas on my ankle.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
I surprised even myself at my fast I picked up the ability to fix cars. And when my boss asked me to fill in for him teaching the Auto Mechanics 101 class at the local community college, I couldn’t refuse him. Nate said I was a pretty good teacher, too. But I’m also pretty stubborn. When Nate tried to get me to go back to Portland with him, I refused to go. I had a good reason, of course, but I couldn’t be swayed.

4. What scares you?
I was terrified of being discovered by the men who shot my dad. Terrified of standing out in a crowd.
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d definitely want to be braver during the hard times early on. I wish I hadn’t been so scared when I first started feeling like someone was watching me.
6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?
At the start of my story, I was afraid of trusting anyone. I was afraid of relying on someone else. I was worried that I’d let them down, just like I’d let my dad down. I couldn’t even trust that God could handle the things I was afraid of.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?
By the end of the story, I’d learned that God was in control all along. He showed up by bringing Nate to me to help me through the most difficult time in my life. God rescued me and saved me even though I didn’t realize how much danger I was in at first. He proved himself faithful in my life, renewing my faith in His ability to control everything that scared me. That gave me new strength to face each day.
8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.
My scripture is 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Clearly fear was a real problem for me, but God has overcome all of that and given me a spirit of power and love. That’s a promise.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?

Well my life has certainly been filled with ups and downs, so I guess I’d be a great big bowl of Rocky Road ice cream.

Thank you Liz for sharing Nora with us today. This sound so exciting!

FEATURED BOOK: VANISHING ACT BY LIZ JOHNSON

Eighteen months ago, Nora James watched as her father was shot in an alley—and then she fled. She changed her name, her appearance and her job, hoping to keep her father's shooter at bay. For months, it worked…but now her luck has run out. A ruthless assassin is on her trail, and soon Nora, now known as Danielle, will be found. But this time, she has FBI agent Nate Andersen by her side—right? The handsome agent would give his life to protect Danielle, but he's wary of giving his heart…until a deadly confrontation leaves him with both on the line.

30 by 30

Hey friends,

Liz Johnson here. I just had a birthday. I love birthdays, even though the recent ones haven't been as exciting as they were many years ago. But it's always nice to be recognized and reminded how much I'm loved.

But this birthday, this year is special to me. It's my "almost 30" birthday. Yup. I just turned 29. And you know what? I'm pretty excited about that. (And not just because my sister always told me she thought I'd get married at 30.)

The exciting thing for me is what I'm determined to accomplish this year before I hit the big 3-0. I'm determined to start my next decade in a better place spiritually, mentally, and physically. And to that end, I've set my 30 by 30 list. I've decided on 30 things I'm going to do before next year.

Sure, some of them are silly--eat something with mushrooms. Some of them are serious--finish the Rock and Roll half marathon. But all of them are designed to push me and stretch me, and not let me finish this decade just resting on my laurels.

My third book is scheduled to release next year before my birthday, and there's a nice ring to that. Three books by the time I'm 30. I like it. But putting that on my list wouldn't stretch me this year. Not even close. Instead I've included things like complete 2 novels this year and sign a contract on a 3-book deal.

Completing my list on time isn't going to be easy ... but it's certainly going to be interesting! And it's really reminded me about the importance of setting goals. Of writing them down and following through.

What kind of goals do you set for yourself? Do you ever use your birthday as a milestone?

Well, I better get going on my list! Next July will be here before I know it.

Confessions of A Carol Finalist

Getting the call:

Getting the call that I'd been selected as a finalist for the Carol Award for The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn was a lot like getting the call that I'd sold the same book. My timing was completely off! When I sold Kenzie Thorn, I received a phone call while I was at a conference, and my editor left me a message asking me to call her back. I had to wait all day before I had a chance. With the call about the Carol Award, I was at my day job, so I missed it and didn't listen to it until hours after it arrived.

And the emotions and my reaction were very similar, too. I believe there was a little bit of shaking, a whole lot of laughing in disbelief, and a good chunk of time on the phone with my mom. I felt light as a feather and scared beyond belief.

It's amazing how the thing that you've prayed for for so long (getting that first contract) can also be incredibly intimidating when it actually comes true. And while I wasn't expecting to final in the debut author category for the award, I suddenly feel a renewed desire to improve my writing with every book. That's a lot of pressure on myself. But it's the good kind.

Really I've just been incredibly humbled by getting both calls. I'm so honored to be recognized as a Carol finalist among some pretty amazing writers. I feel unworthy and just so thankful to be named in this group. And I'm thrilled for all of the other finalists, especially the others from Steeple Hill. Congratulations!

Interesting vs ... Interesting?

Hi, there! Liz Johnson here!

A new girl started at work this week. She's a little younger than me. Kind of new to the professional world. And in my position, I work with her mom. So I've tried to make a point to reach out to her. She's brand new to the city, and I thought she might want a friend, as I sure know what it's like to start over in a new city.

So the other day, I invited her to lunch. I said I'd like to hear about how she ended up here. She said, "I'm not that interesting. I hear you wrote a book."

"Yes," I said. "I did write a book, but that doesn't make me any more interesting than anyone else."

She laughed it off. And like the writer I am, I analyzed it to death. I tried to look at it from every angle, but for the sake of this blog, I came up with one question: Are interesting people by nature interesting, or are they interesting because they do interesting things? Am I interesting because I've written a few books ... or would I be interesting even if I'd never written a word?

I personally like to think that the interesting person comes before the book. I have a hard time imagining any writer as not interesting. Introverted? Perhaps. Boring? Never!

And, of course, I wondered how this applies to characters in my books.

That is to say, is it more important what happens to a character or how the character reacts to what happens? I suppose that literature enthusiasts would say that the difference is what editors call character-driven vs. plot-driven. I think it's a debate that will rage on ... But I suppose the real question is: what kind of story do you prefer?

Plan B - how is God going to show up?

Hey there, friends. Liz Johnson here.

I recently joined a small group through a church here in Nashville, and we've begun reading the new book Plan B by Pete Wilson, a local pastor who made national news for the way he recently organized the members of his church in flood relief efforts. I've been enjoying reading the book, and so far my favorite part is the subtitle: What to do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would. Pete writes about how we should respond when life doesn't go how we planned, how we thought it would.

Lately I've been thinking about how that relates to me in my life, and also the lives of my characters. Afterall, isn't that what all good novels have in common? Books would be awfully boring if every character's life turned out exactly the way he thought it should. If she got everything she ever wanted with no struggle, there's no story.

And I think it's the same with real life. When everything turns out the way we think it should, we miss out on the story. Because the really exciting part of life isn't getting what we want every time, but rather waiting to see just how God is going to show up. Oh, He's promised He won't ever leave or forsake us, so He will show up. We just might not realize it until it's happened.

As I'm working on my new book, I've started asking myself how God will show up to the heroine. She feels like she's on Plan F, and she's not convinced that God will do what He's promised He will. But she's about to be surprised that the biggest pain in her life, is really a gift from above.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I think we have a story. :)

I hope this encourages you, both as you're writing and as you're walking your day-to-day life. Maybe you're on Plan B. Maybe you're on Plan Z. Either way, God is going to show up. Make sure you pay attention so you don't miss the good stuff.

What to do after a break ...

Hi, there! Liz Johnson back again with yet another confession. (Y'all are going to think that all I do is break rules and confess about it.) I haven't written anything but blogs in over 3 weeks.

Yep, I'm under contract, with a July 15th deadline to finish my third Love Inspired Suspense book, but I haven't been able to write. It hasn't been writers block or laziness keeping me from my manuscript. It's been life. First a new job, then there was a move across the country, then a trip to see my new nephew and help my sister, then a flood that has ravaged my new hometown.

There was no way I could write as I watched the Nashville flood waters behind my house rise all weekend as the rain just wouldn't stop. And now there is so much to do to help the people of Nashville.

So what do you do when life keeps you from the writing?

Seriously, I need advice and help. I've completely lost my writing stride, but I have to get back on track. I have a deadline to meet.

I think my first step is recognize that I will be distracted right now. I will have other things--important things--requiring my attention and time, so for the time being, I have to embrace that. And then I have to figure out how to take what time I do have available and focus as much on writing during that time as I can. While that is truly freeing, I can't help but worry.

Will the real suspense of my next book actually be whether I can finish it on time?