Monday, March 7, 2011

Giveaway and Author Interview: Code of Justice

Welcome to Writing for Christ Liz Johnson, it is great to have you here! Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?
     
      While a lot of my readers have figured out by now that I LOVE football, they might not know that I came in dead last in my fantasy football league this year. My team found injuries I don’t even think doctors knew about, so by half way through the season, I was completely out of the contest.

      What surprised you the most about being a published author?
     
      I think letters from readers continues to surprise me more than anything. They’re always unexpected, and I adore hearing from people who enjoyed reading my books nearly as much as I enjoyed writing them.

      Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?
     
      Thus far I’m only published in Romantic Suspense, but I’ve written proposals for several other genres. And they all have a common theme. Love. I’ll write nearly anything (I even had an idea for a dystopian futuristic romance) as long as it’s a love story. And that’s pretty much what I read, too. I do read some nonfiction, but mostly fiction. And if there isn’t at least a hint of a love story in a novel, I’m usually a little disappointed.

      When you aren’t writing or interacting with fans, what do you enjoy doing?
     
      I work full-time in the book marketing during the day, which keeps me really busy. When I have a spare moment between my day job and my night-time writing, I love going to see Broadway shows, off-Broadway. My goal this year is to see Les Miserables, which I’ve heard is amazing but I haven’t ever seen it. I’m relatively new to the Nashville area, so I enjoy exploring the history of the area as well as the music scene. Both are pretty incredible.

      Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?
     
      I’ve been on the receiving end of a lot of good writing advice, but maybe the best piece of advice (and the one that I often repeat) is that anything worth starting, is worth starting badly. A keynote speaker at a writers conference said that, sharing the example of a company that was on the verge of bankruptcy when a new owner came along. The company was failing, but not because it was a bad idea. It was just being executed poorly. Writing is the same way. A story may be failing, not because it’s a bad idea but because it needs some fixing. And it can be fixed. So when I’m not happy with the way a story starts, I let myself off the hook, remembering that it’s worth starting, even if I do so badly. I can go back in and fix it later.

      What do you enjoy most about being a published author?

                  It’s really a dream come true. There are so many great things about it! But I just can’t beat that rush of holding the finished book in my hands. It’s an incredible, tangible answer to prayer.

      What do you like readers to take away from your books?
     
      In each of my books, I try show that God loves us and cares about the details of our hearts. I try to write characters who learn that it’s worth it to trust God to take care of them because He never fails.

      Places for readers to learn more about you?
     
      Visit me online at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com or follow me on twitter @lizjohnsonbooks.

      Thank you for being with us today!
                  Thanks so much for having me! It was a pleasure. 
Okay readers, here is your chance to enter to win Liz's book!

Please leave an email address. If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win!

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on March 17th.

69 comments:

  1. Enjoyed reading your interview.I am going to check out your books and put them on my wish list. Always love hearing about a new to me author.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would love to win
    kkfoster35 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am a GFC follower
    kkfoster35 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am also an email subscriber
    kkfoster35 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am a follower. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Please enter me in contest.I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great interview, I look forward to the book. I am a follower and always look forward to these reviews of authors I don't know.

    Warmly,
    Terri
    www.terriforehand.com
    terri.forehand@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Would love to read this book...
    lgm52@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm a follower
    lgm52@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. email subscriber
    lgm52@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great interview. My favorite is romantic supense and I would love to win this one. The title is a grabber. ybutler@oppcatv.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. You are on my list of great writers. Great suspense with a touch of romance. Please enter me. Thanks.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

    I am a follower.

    I am a subscriber.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, I love love inspired books. please include me in this giveaway. thanks

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  14. gfc follower

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  15. email subscriber

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to read your book so ount me in. I am an email subscriber!

    dancealert at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I checked out the website. Her books look very interesting. Thanks for the chance. naburcaw@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am a follower. naburcaw@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am a subscriber. naburcaw@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh I love romance with suspense thrown in! Great interview.

    gravesok@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would love to be entered in this giveaway! The LI Suspense books are wonderful to read when I am traveling and they are pretty good. Thanks so much!

    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would love to win! martha(at)lclink(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I would love to read this book, sounds amazing, thanks for entering me in the drawing! I am a follower!

    kcmelone[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I went to Liz's website and read the first chapter of "Code of Justice." Now I need to read more to find out what happens! I'd love to win this book. I'm a follower and a subscriber.
    Thanks.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  25. I enjoyed the interview. Liz, I saw Les Miserables in Los Angeles when I lived in California and it was absolutely WONDERFUL! I didn't want to leave the theater!

    Would love to be entered to win a copy of Liz's book Code of Justice. Thank you for the chance.

    Smiles & Blessings,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am an email subscriber.

    Smiles & Blessings,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am a GFC follower.

    Smiles & Blessings,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hey, I am a follower, and an email subscriber of your blog.
    I love Love Inspired Suspense...I've read most of them...and I'd love to have this one! Thanks for offering it to one of us to win.
    Blessings.....Joy Hannabass
    ibjoy[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  29. would love to read this novel...

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. i'm a follower, too

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sounds like a great book.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Wandaelaine at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm a blog follower
    wandaelaine at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'm an email subscriber.
    wandaelaine at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Sounds like a good read!! Welcome to the Nashville area!!
    Tori
    vrtheriot@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I am a gfc follower
    vrtheriot@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'm a follower and would love a chance to win this book.

    twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Beautiful book - I'd love to read it.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  39. I am a follower.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  40. Several members of my family looove Love Inspired Suspense books.

    amyholbrook2003[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  41. please enter me to win.
    ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. This was a great interview. Thank you for posting it and introducing me to a new author.

    gfc follower
    leah49 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love reading the Love Inspired books. I know this one will be great! Thanks for the giveaway.
    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  44. I would like very much to win this book. Thanks for the chance!

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  45. email subscriber

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  46. I am a follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  47. looks like a great read
    djackson1958@hotmail.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Just looking at the title of this book makes me want to read it - this sounds like a real page-turner.

    janmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I am a follower via GFC.

    janmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I am also a subscriber.

    janmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  51. This is all absolutely new to me. I'm an avid reader and would love to add your book to my collection. It seems difficult to find out about good Christian literature.

    carol.penhorwood@juno.com

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  52. The Love Inspired books are some of my favorites! This one sounds fabulous and the author's interview
    was fun. I always like reading about the person behind the book...
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  53. I follow you publicly via Google
    Friend Connect... (windycindy).
    Again, thanks very much!
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  54. Also, I am an email subscriber of yours!
    Merci, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  55. Can't wait to read Liz's book Code of Justice. Love mystery suspense..Keeps my mind young. lol I do enjoy reading The Love Inspired books.

    Thanks for the great interview and this opportunity to enter.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I am an old GFC follower

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  57. I am old email subscriber

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Thanks again for having me on your blog! It was a such a pleasure. Good luck to all the entrants for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Wow, we have something in common! A few of our favorite authors! I just finished reading one of Janette Oke's series. She is now on the top of my favorite authors list. I am finding so many new Christian books to read lately that I don't know what to do with myself. I love your interview and hope to have a good chance of winning your book. It looks delicious! Thank you so much for a chance to win. I am a follower on this blog, facebook and am looking for the email subscription link to be subscribed there, too.

    Thanks again!

    mzshawnaj at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  60. Looks like a great read! Thanks for the chance to win!
    kari_linder at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Would love to win. Sounds like a great book.

    true_sheila at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  62. Sounds good -- enjoy romantic suspense/mystery

    monagarg@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. GFC(Mona Garg)
    Email subscriber

    monagarg@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  64. I would love to win this book.

    GFC follower & e mail subscriber.

    lillieblue613(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  65. I would love to be entered please.
    Lou Ann Gibson
    louann@carolina.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  66. Great interview! Happy to hear that being published was a dream come true for her!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  67. GFC follower

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  68. Email subscriber

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love to hear from those who traffic my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)