Author Interview - Elizabeth Ludwig

Anne: Good morning all. Today we have a prolific and excellent writer with us, Elizabeth Ludwig, who wrote the novel I reviewed yesterday on this blog, No Safe Harbor.

Elizabeth, my first question is as always, What inspired this book--and, too, why Ellis Island?


Elizabeth: Family members on both my side and my husband’s emigrated from Europe in the early 1900’s. Some of my ancestors were from Spain. My husband’s ancestors were from Holland, Ireland, and Germany. These brave men and women who risked everything in search of a better life were the inspiration for this story. I hope I’ve done them proud!

No Safe Harbor is set in and around New York City, especially Ellis Island. For those of you not familiar with its history, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954. Many of those immigrants were Irish, so when I decided to write a book about an Irish girl searching for her brother in America, it seemed the natural choice.

Anne: If you could be best friends with any of the characters in your novel, who would it be? Why?
Elizabeth: Goodness…I love them all, but if I had to narrow it down, I guess I would have to say Cara. She’s the perfect definition of a true friend—honest, loyal, and caring, and she would do anything for those that she loves. Want to know a secret? I fashioned this character after my four beautiful, loving sisters. J

Anne: I would love it if you would tell us how your writing journey began.

Elizabeth: Believe it or not, I started writing in elementary school. I had a fifth grade teacher who really got into the creative writing stuff, and encouraged us to love it, too. I also LOVED to read, so I guess she thought it was a natural progression for me to also write. So when she learned of a contest for young authors, she pushed me to enter.

I told myself I was going to hate it, but as I got into the story, I found I really liked coming up with my own characters. I did spend most of my time daydreaming about books, after all. I guess that was the spark I needed, because I never forget what it was like to write and began seeking publication in 2001.

Well, I wish I could say success came immediately, right after I submitted my first manuscript. The truth is, I wrote for five years before I sold my first book, and I completed six full manuscripts, none of which will probably ever see the light of day.

I sold my seventh book to Barbour Publishing in 2006 (though the book did not actually release until 2008). It’s a mystery called Where the Truth Lies. I co-authored it and two sequels, Died in the Wool (which was a Carol Award Finalist this year) and Inn Plain Sight, with Janelle Mowery.

Anne: What are 3 things you like to do to relax?
Elizabeth: First, I love to read. Even as a kid, I spent hours curled up with a book. My sisters never understood the fascination. One of my younger sisters (whom I affectionately call Magon Dragon—she knows what that means) used to hide my books just to get me outside to play!

Apart from reading, I love to ski. My family and I look forward to going to Colorado every Spring Break. Last year, we took twelve newbies with us and taught them all how to ski. Okay…so we taught them how to avoid killing themselves. Still, by the end of the week, they could all get off the lift, and they all could stop at the bottom of the mountain before they crashed into the chalet.

And lastly, I’m a sports nut, so everyone knows…don’t bother me when the Steelers are playing. Go Pitt!

Anne: Last but definitely not least--How can people contact you?

Elizabeth: I’ve actually made quite a home for myself out in cyber space. Readers can find me at:

Website: www.elizabethludwig.com

Blog: www.theborrowedbook.blogspot.com.

I’m also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.ludwig.33?ref=tn_tnmn and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/theborrowedbook.

Stop on by! I’d love to have you visit.