Welcome to Writing for Christ Elizabeth Ludwig, it is great to have you
here! So you’re a writer? What made you decide to start creating characters and
story world?
Actually, that’s a very funny story.
See, ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a very vivid imagination. I loved to
daydream about interesting characters and daring heroes. I also had a voracious
appetite for books, and it was not unusual for my mother to catch me reading at
two or three in the morning…on a school night! Since that got me into trouble,
I took to reading with a small nightlight under the covers (my poor eyes—I’m surprised
I can still see).
Anyway,
fast-forward twenty…um…thirty years. I was sitting in church one Sunday, but
instead of listening to the sermon, I was daydreaming a story. It wasn’t until
I heard the preacher give the invitation that I realized what had happened. Not
only was I embarrassed, I was really heartbroken, because I had allowed the
same thing that used to get me in trouble as a kid to come between me and the
Lord.
Well,
I went to the altar that morning and laid it all out before God. When I asked
Him what I should do with the stories in my head, His answer was simply to
“write it down.” Many months later, when I was questioning whether I had truly
heard from the Lord regarding my writing, He gave me these verses:
Habakkuk 2:2-3
2 Then
the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision and make it
plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. 3 For the
vision is yet for an appointed
time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries,
wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (NKJV)
Since
that day, I’ve never doubted my call to write.
What is the one title that has significantly impacted your life?
Oh my goodness…I
know this answer is going to baffle most people but…I have to say the book (and
the character) that impacted me most is No
Flying in the House by Betty Brock, and the child/heroine of the story,
Annabel Tippens.
Annabel is a little
girl “with short blond hair and very good manners”
(taken from the book description on Amazon.com). She seems quite ordinary,
except that she’s also half fairy—and instead of parents, she has a two-inch
high dog named Gloria.
Well, you can imagine that for a kid who loved to read, this book
was extraordinary. I read it over and
over again, and dreamed of the day I would learn to fly. Later, I came to
realize that what captured my imagination was not so much the story of a
half-fairy princess, but of a little girl struggling to find herself. The
sacrifices that Annabel Tippens makes challenged me to acknowledge what was
real and important—love, faith, and family.
If you could get a do-over when it came to learning this whole thing
called writing, what would you go back and tell yourself?
This question
actually made me sad for a moment, because I realized that somewhere along my
publishing journey, I had inflicted too many provisions on what I considered to
be success. My prayer when I first started writing was simple—Lord, please help me to get published, and
let my words touch someone’s heart.
Oh, how that prayer
has changed over time! After my first book contract, I quickly discovered how
unpredictable the publishing industry can be (an article for another time). The
joy of holding my first published book disintegrated when I learned that the
subsequent two books in the series would not be published as had been promised,
and I added this line to my prayer—Lord,
please help me to get published, and let my words touch someone’s heart, and
let there be another contract.
Proving His love
and faithfulness, God did provide
another contract. I remember celebrating with thanksgiving the upcoming
Christmas novella that would allow me to tell the story of my walk into
adulthood. But then the book cover came, and I realized that readers would need
a microscope to read the teeny-tiny letters of my name beneath the big, bold
letters of the lead author, and I added this line to my prayer—Lord, please help me to get published, and
let my words touch someone’s heart, and let there be another contract, and
someday, Lord, let my name be the prominent one on the cover.
Since then, I’ve
added many lines to that first simple prayer. Weights like good sales numbers, positive
reviews, and contest awards
encumber what was once a sincere desire. God reminded me of this during a dark
period of wrestling with Him over the path I was to follow. I think if I could
go back, I would tell myself to measure success not by contracts or sales
numbers, but in my level of obedience and striving to please the Lord.
5 preference questions:
Homemade or take-out? Well, if my mom makes it, definitely
homemade. Otherwise—takeout! LOL!
Email or snailmail? Email, please. I am much too impatient for
snail mail.
Online shopping or Black Friday deals? Black Friday…but only if my
kids are with me and we’re out just to have a good time.
Books or movies? No fair! I love them both. Oh, all right…books.
Note-taker or memorization? Ahem…I am of a certain age where
memorization no longer holds the same charm it used to. ;-)
Yes, I’m asking you to play favorites…which of your books is your
favorite, published or unpublished? And if this is your debut novel, has your
favorite been published yet?
Originally, I had intended Edge of Freedom
to be a two book series, so the third book, Tide
and Tempest, was the only story that wasn’t planned, but it has turned out
to be my favorite. I love, love, love the hero and heroine—Keondric and Tillie.
Their story amazed me, and their love was just phenomenal to write.
Also, I share a common grief with
Tillie—the loss of a child. I think that’s why she resonated with me so deeply.
I really hope her triumph over guilt and grief speaks to readers.
Places for readers to learn more about you?
I LOVE connecting
with my readers. I wish I could visit with every single one—find out where they
are in life, and what hope or encouragement (if any) they drew from reading my
books. Stop by and visit with me! I post information on upcoming releases on my
website at www.elizabethludwig.com.
Or check out my
blog at www.theborrowedbook.blogspot.com.
We do author interviews, weekly devotionals, and book giveaways. We also post
book reviews and list upcoming releases from many of your favorite Christians
authors. In other words, there’s something for everyone!
Lastly, if you just
want to see what I’m up, search for me on Facebook. I would love
to visit with you.
Thank you for being with us today!
Thank you so much for having me!
Readers, enter to win Elizabeth's book here!
Please leave an email address! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.
For extra entries:
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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 21st
Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com
Don’t pressure yourself to “get it done, be
published”—that isn’t validation as a writer. Much the same way it’s vital “ .
. . to be still and know” in our relationship with God, it’s important for
writers to take the time (while working at learning craft, of course) to really
discern where this journey is leading them. When hard work, passion, and
calling combine, it’s a blessing worth waiting for. 
