Happy Sunday! Through September 19th (culminating with a list of winners), I have the privilege of sharing mini interviews with nearly all of the 2020 ACFW Carol Award Finalists! Today I’m beginning with Liz Johnson and her Carol Award finalist book A Glitter of Gold! You can check out a list of all the finalists HERE.
FYI – There will be 2-3 posts per day, and a series-long giveaway, so make sure you catch them all!
Liz Johnson is the author of more than a dozen novels, including A Sparkle of Silver, A Glitter of Gold, The Red Door Inn, Where Two Hearts Meet, and On Love’s Gentle Shore, as well as a New York Times bestselling novella and a handful of short stories. She works in marketing and makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona. Visit her at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com
A GLITTER OF GOLD
SERIES: Georgia Coast Romance #2
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
PUBLISHER: Revell
RELEASE DATE: August 6, 2019
PAGES: 368
Discover a treasure worth more than all the pirate gold in the world
Anne Norris moved to Savannah, Georgia, for a fresh start. Now her pirate-tour business is flagging and paying the rent requires more than wishful thinking. When she discovers evidence of a shipwreck off the coast of Tybee Island, she knows it could be just the boon she needs to stay afloat. She takes her findings to local museum director Carter Hale for confirmation, but things do not go as planned.Carter is fascinated with the wreck, the discovery of which could open the door to his dream job at a prestigious museum. But convincing Anne to help him fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle is no easy task. And working with Carter means that Anne will have to do the one thing she swore she’d never do again: trust a man.
amazon affiliate link used
Hi Liz! Welcome back to the blog!
Q: How has Christian fiction impacted you personally?
Liz: Oh, wow! How much time do you have? I fell in love with Christian fiction in junior high, reading late into the night, devouring historicals from Gilbert Morris one after another. That love of inspiring, encouraging stories made me want to work in Christian publishing. I had always loved writing too, but it wasn’t until I started working in publishing that I seriously pursued writing my own books. My work in publishing took me across the country—from Oregon to Colorado Springs to Nashville—and introduced me to some of my very best friends. I still look to Christian fiction when I need an uplifting read or an exciting escape.
Carrie: ‘How much time do you have?’ – that would totally be my first reaction too lol
Q: When you’re not writing your next award-nominated book 😉 who are your fave authors to read & why?
Liz: I have so many! I love Regency romances, and no one writes them like Julie Klassen. Her characters are intriguing and her plots original and gripping. I love the humor and history of Karen Witemeyer’s Texas-based books. And, of course, the romance. She writes amazing kisses! Rachel Hauck’s contemporary and split time novels are filled with so much joy and hope. In women’s fiction, Lindsay Harrel has consistently inspired me.
Carrie: Four of my very faves too!
Q: Do you have any strange writing habits/quirks?
Liz: I’ve realized—especially during quarantine that I write so much better when I’m not in my own home. I like restaurants and coffee shops and any place with lots of distractions that aren’t actually distracting.
Carrie: I am the exact opposite – if I try to work in a public place I get nothing done from people watching lol
Q: Which of your characters has really stretched you as a writer?
Liz: The hardest character I’ve ever gotten to write is Anne Norris from A Glitter of Gold. I loved her from the beginning, but getting inside the head of someone who spent almost six years in prison wasn’t easy. It was even harder to put on the shame that she carried, to feel that hurt she felt. Unpacking how her past affected everything about her made her more real. And also required more rewrites than any other character. But I loved where she landed.
Carrie: I bet she was difficult to write – but well worth it!
Q: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve googled lately while researching a book?
Liz: I’m currently writing about a lobster fisherman, and I’ve been googling all sorts of weird stuff—like what do lobster fishermen wear and is there a female version of that?
Carrie: haha!
Q: What is something God taught you while you wrote A Glitter of Gold?
Liz: While writing this book, I moved, bought a house, and started a new job in Phoenix. It’s not possible to do all that and write a book at the same time. Not on my own, anyway. God reminded me over and over again how much I needed friends and family to support me through each step. For someone who likes to be independent, it’s not easy to rely on others. But writing A Glitter of Gold was a daily reminder of the importance of community and how we are designed for relationships—with God and with others.
Carrie: amen!
I am offering one reader any TWO books (print copies) that finaled in the 2020 Carol Awards! (open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your address) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read the romance Carol Award finalist A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson & what did you enjoy about Liz’s answers?
Sounds like a book I will enjoy reading. Thank you for the interview, I enjoyed reading it.
I love Liz Johnson books! I have read this whole series and have two if the Red Door Inn series yet to read.
I was so impressed with Liz Johnson’s skill in her Red Door Inn books, I read them both twice for plot and character development and excellent dialogue. She’s a hard-working champion. Now I look forward to reading her newest book and wish her well!
I really enjoy Liz Johnson’s books, especially this series.
I’ve actually read this book and need to get my hands on the third in the series.
I agree with you, Liz has great taste and other authors!
Sounds good.
I love Liz Johnson’s books and can’t wait to read A Glitter of Gold!
This book sounds so exciting, it would be an adventure to read it.
I am some of the books in this series and I need to start reading them. Interesting interview.
I am so thrilled for Liz! She is a sweetheart. 🙂 Haven’t read this book yet, but it’s in my TBR universe. 🙂
I think it’s interesting that you write better away from home. Beautiful cover on this book.
This sounds like a book that I would enjoy reading.
This has been in my TBR pile. I’ve always been curious about the life of lobster fishermen, especially seeing a portrayal in movies…her next book already has me intrigued. 🥰📚
I read all three Georgia Coast romance series, and loved them. The journal/diaries within each book is quite captivating! I think moving, starting a new job and writing a book would be a little overwhelming!
I’ve read the first book in the Georgia Coast series, so I would definitely like to read the next one. I’m a bit jealous that she’s been reading Christian fiction since junior high. I didn’t discover Christian fiction until well into adulthood. I also can’t imagine moving and taking on a new job during this pandemic much less writing a book. I have no idea how you do it!
The Georgia Coast series sounds like the perfect beach read.
I won A Dazzle of Diamonds, which hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m about to read a Liz Johnson book. This whole series sounds fascinating, so I may just binge read them all. Also, I have a trip planned to Prince Edward Island next summer, so that series would be good to binge read as well. It was fun to get to know Liz Johnson in this interview.
I’m loving the idea of a pirate-tour business. I’d go on this tour.
This is a great series! I’ve read all of these books and loved them!
I want to read A Glitter of Gold because I enjoyed the first book in this series. LIz’s Red Door Inn series is a favorite of mine.
Looking forward to reading it!
I really liked the blurb. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Loved the entire series!
So…what DO lobster fishermen wear?? 😀 I’ve seen many good reviews about A Glitter of Gold!
I could never work in the environment Liz describes! I usually need a noise-free environment and can sometimes even be distracted by the ticking of a clock! The setting and pirate angle are very appealing!
I agree! Christian fiction is life changing!
I don’t mind my favorite music playing when I need to concentrate, but other things would distract me. My hat is off to Liz Johnson for her ability to write in a busy environment. That would be a very advantageous talent to have in my home.
I can’t wait to read this book (especially since I share my last name with the main character)! I loved Liz’s “Prince Edward Island Dreams” series.