Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling and Christy Award-winning author of more than 65 novels, including the Hidden Bay, Missing in Alaska, Rocky Mountain Courage, and Uncommon Justice series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Carol Award winner, a two-time Reader's Choice Award winner, and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.
Visit Elizabeth Goddard online
When The Silence Breaks
A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers--and danger closing in. When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather's deathbed confession connected to her brother's murder, she's determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand. After his father's death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can't stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community. Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find. This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.
- ISBN: 0800747682
- Publisher: Revell
Interview with Elizabeth Goddard 2026
Elizabeth Goddard is a USA Today bestselling and Christy Award-winning romantic suspense author who begins her stories by immersing readers in a stunning, action-filled setting.
“Readers often say the setting becomes a character in its own right,” Goddard shared. “I love dropping readers into the middle of the action and gradually revealing the characters’ backstories while maintaining a fast pace. That approach creates a strong sense of intrigue as readers uncover the truth alongside the characters. Plus, I’m figuring the story out as I write!”
Discovering a Calling
Elizabeth’s love for writing began with a love for reading.
“I was an avid reader from a very young age,” Goddard said. “My mother had bookshelves overflowing with everything from gothic romances to novels like My Friend Flicka. I spent most of my summers reading, sometimes returning to the same book two or three times if I loved it. I read everything I could get my hands on, including books far above my grade level. For me, reading and writing have always gone hand in hand. My love of reading naturally grew into a love of writing. I wrote poetry and stories and even started my first romance novel when I was fourteen. I loved the way words could carry me somewhere else, and eventually I wanted to create that same experience for other readers.”
As much as Elizabeth enjoyed the literary world, she shared that when it came to selecting a college major, the idea of writing a novel seemed distant and almost unachievable—more like a dream than a realistic career. So, since she also loved the sciences, she first opted to pursue marine biology.
“But then I took a scuba-diving class in college and quickly realized I probably wasn’t going to make it as a marine biologist. Ha!”
Goddard then turned her attention to another career possibility.
“At the time, computer science was emerging as an important new field, so I decided to pursue a degree that would lead to a good-paying job while also giving me the freedom to explore other interests.”
Although she didn’t realize it at the time, writing was also a calling.
“It just never let me go,” Elizabeth said.
Years later, after she became a stay-at-home mom to three young kids, a couple of significant changes inspired Elizabeth to finally pursue
writing and publishing.
“I was so accustomed to the corporate world that it was hard to stay home,” Goddard shared. “I’d trained to work outside the home, and not so much cleaning house and changing diapers! Second, I sensed that God kept nudging me toward writing for Him. I resisted and questioned that calling for several years. Eventually, I bought Marlene Bagnull’s Write His Answer because I hoped it would help me decide whether God had truly called me to write. Deep down, I already knew the answer. In January 2001, I joined what was then American Christian Romance Writers, now ACFW. I attended conferences, joined a critique group, studied the craft, and began pursuing publication seriously. That decision changed the course of my life!”
Although she now knew she’d been called to write, Elizabeth Goddard didn’t yet know exactly what kinds of stories she’d been called to tell.
“I think it can take writing several books before your true voice emerges and you discover the niche where you belong,” she said. “It took writing a number of books before I fully recognized my niche. I finally landed on the advice writers often hear: write what you love to read. I love romance, mystery, action, adventure, secrets, and unexpected twists. Romantic suspense allows me to combine all those elements. I can place two people in extraordinary danger, force them to depend on each other, and explore how trust and love develop when the stakes are at their highest. It’s the best genre to read and to write, and in my opinion, one of the most difficult genres in which to write.”
In addition to figuring out her genre, Goddard spent the next few years attending conferences, making connections, and joining a critique group.
“I attended the ACFW Conference every year, but honestly, I spent most of that time networking, making friends, meeting editors and agents. I didn’t spend that much time in conference classes. That said, I think I learned the most in those early years from my critique group. I had to submit a chapter each week, and through that process I began learning how to construct a novel. I think the most important teacher is to simply read the kind of books you want to write, and then it becomes instinctual. That said, I’m still learning. We never stop. Recently I had to cut twelve thousand words because I was over word count, and I used that as a learning experience. I noticed all kinds of unnecessary phrases and ways that I was telling the story when I’d already shown it.”
Achieving Publication: “I began pursuing publication seriously in 2001 and received my first contract in 2006. My first novel, Seasons of Love, was published in 2007, so it took approximately five years of writing and submitting before I received that first yes. I was in the habit of sending out multiple proposals and hoping something landed, and I got the call from Tracie Peterson, who was an editor at Heartsong Presents at the time. I had not written the manuscript, but with that request, that become my priority to get it done. The steps I took had more to do with those connections I mentioned earlier. I’d made a lot of friends, and Lisa Harris and Lena Nelson Dooley approached me to join them in a three-book anthology for Barbour Publishing—the book would first be published through Heartsong Presents. Learning the craft and making connections and working hard are still the most important steps to publication in the traditional market.
Active Influences
As she writes her books, Elizabeth Goddard is inspired and influenced by her faith in God, her role as a mother, serving with her husband in ministry, and traveling to beautiful places.
Faith: “My faith is foundational to both my life and my writing. I believe God gave me the dream of writing novels and then opened the doors that allowed that dream to become a career. I usually don’t begin a book by deciding what spiritual lesson I want to teach. I discover the characters and their spiritual journeys as I write. The faith themes tend to develop organically from what the characters are facing. Often, I reach the end and recognize something God has been teaching me through the story as well. My hope is that the faith element will feel natural and truthful and that readers will see God’s presence even in the most trying circumstances.”
Motherhood: “Being a mom has taught me how to juggle life and writing. When my kids were young, I couldn’t always wait for a perfectly quiet day or several uninterrupted hours. I had to write when I had the opportunity. Sometimes that was only on Saturdays—I’d hole up in my office and spend the entire day getting the word count in. But over the years, my methods have shifted, and I basically get the words in when I can and when I must. Being a mom also helped me to deepen my perspective. As writers our experiences find their way into our stories, and being a mother increased my understanding of love and sacrifice and that need to protect those we love. We need to understand that writing is only one part of life. Family comes first.”
Ministry: “Serving in ministry continually reminds me that everyone has a story and that people are often carrying struggles we cannot see. It made me more aware of the need for grace, hope, and encouragement. I think of writing as a ministry of words. I want to give readers an exciting story that’s not only an escape from life’s troubles, but I want to include spiritual nuggets, and relatable characters that let them know they’re not alone.”
Traveling and Setting: “I first fell in love with the Pacific Northwest when I was in my twenties. I traveled from Dallas to Seattle for my job, and Mt. Rainier sat larger than life behind the cityscape. My husband and I used to stay in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for our anniversaries and ski the mountains near the Grand Tetons or snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park. Then we moved to Oregon for a few years before moving back to Texas and I saw the redwoods, the Oregon Coast, and Crater Lake. Call it love at first sight. I started writing stories set in PNW even before I lived in Washington State. For now, my favorite places to travel still remain in the Pacific Northwest. There are plenty of places I still haven’t explored, and many more stories to write here.
“As far as setting goes, it’s the first spark for a story. I look for places that are visually beautiful but also contain natural danger, isolation, history, or mystery. Mountains, rugged coastlines, remote Alaskan communities, forests, storms, and wilderness terrain all offer opportunities for suspense. But more importantly, I look for places that inspire me. Once I find a setting that fascinates me, I begin asking what kind of danger or secret could be hiding there. And usually, I just have that instantaneous reaction and I know I’ll set a story in a particular location.”
Uncovering When the Silence Breaks
Elizabeth Goddard’s latest book, When the Silence Breaks, was inspired by an article about a WWII plane that crashed in the Cascades during the 1940’s, close to where the Mission Ridge Ski Resort is now.
“That immediately drew my attention,” Goddard said, “and I kept that article as an idea seed for a new series. I just started asking ‘what if.’”
As a seventh generation Texan, Elizabeth had fun making Ryder’s mother, Dinah Goodwin, a Texan as well, “adding in all the hospitality and the Texas drawl.”
Some of the central themes in this story include trust and the cost of silence.
“Sarah and Ryder are both carrying secrets and grief, and neither is comfortable depending on another person. Yet survival requires them to trust each other. The story also explores the cost of silence. Silence can sometimes protect people, but it can also allow deception and injustice to continue. Other themes include family loyalty, courage, grief, truth, and learning that faith does not always mean knowing exactly what will happen. Sometimes faith means taking the next step even when the rest of the path is hidden.”
As Goddard wrote the book, she was reminded that truth often comes with a cost.
“My characters must decide how far they are willing to go for answers and whether uncovering the past will bring healing or simply create
more pain.”
When people read her book, Elizabeth hopes they will feel as though they have experienced a thrilling adventure in the Cascade Mountains.
“I want them to enjoy the suspense, romance, mystery, and danger.”
She also hopes they come away with the reminder that fear and grief do not have to control our choices.
“The truth may be difficult to face, and trusting another person can feel risky, but God is present even when the way forward seems impossible. I hope readers close the book feeling entertained, encouraged, and a little more hopeful.”
A Glimpse into Author Life
Toughest Part of Writing Romantic Suspense: “Balancing all the different threads. A romantic suspense novel must have a strong mystery or danger plot, a believable romance, satisfying character development, and an organic spiritual journey. But really the toughest part for me is just starting. Where to start, when to start, how to introduce the characters—all of that takes the longest. I often rewrite the first three or four chapters because I’m also getting a feel for the story, the rhythm and I’m learning who my characters are.”
Writing Routine and Must-Have Snacks: “My routine changes depending on the book and the deadline, but I have to treat writing as a profession and so I try to write every day if possible—but sometimes that will be at different times of the day. Also, I’m “writing” while I’m not actually at my computer. I’m writing in my head while I’m doing the dishes or driving to the grocery story—always figuring out the characters, the plot, the twists and turns. I can’t wait for inspiration to arrive. I usually begin by rereading and lightly editing what I wrote the previous day. That helps me get back into the story and gets the words flowing.
“As for snacks, potato chips are my must-have snacks, and, in fact, I’m eating potato chips right now. I also love chocolate—because who doesn’t?—but I love potato chips more.”
How Long it Takes to Write a Book: “I have found that the amount of time I take to write a novel is the amount of time I’m given. Initially, I was given nine months to write my Revell books, and that’s how long it took, but to be fair, I wasn’t writing the whole nine months. Now I’m writing a book every six months, and when you add on edits and galleys of previous books, I really only have four months to write my book and I get it done and turned on time.”
Most Significant to Publication journey: “Joining ACFW in 2001 was one of the most significant decisions I made. Through ACFW, I found instruction, critique partners, encouragement, industry connections, and friends who understood the writing life. Joining an ACFW critique group taught me how to write and how to have thick skin when the critiques came, plus I have made life-long friends through that group.”
Greatest Moment of Writing and Publishing Career: “That’s a hard question. For different reasons, I would have to choose between receiving my first publishing contract and winning the Christy Award for Cold Light of Day. Winning a Christy had always felt like an impossible dream—but then again, so had getting published. Another important and pivotal moment was signing with my agent, Steve Laube. Even though I was already published by then, being represented by such a highly respected agent gave me a new sense of validation. It made me feel as though I had truly become a professional author.”
Most Heartwarming Moments: “The most heartwarming moments are always the messages from readers. One reader told me that when she felt down, she would pick up one of my books because she knew it would take her away from her troubles for a while. That meant so much to me because I understand the need to escape when life can be overwhelming. Other readers have shared that a spiritual truth in one of my stories reached them at exactly the right time. Those messages remind me that a novel can do more than entertain. It can encourage someone I may never meet.”
What’s Next: “I’m continuing the Mercy Ridge series. The next novel is Where the Shadows Begin, which returns readers to the North Cascades for another romantic suspense story filled with danger, secrets, and wilderness adventure. I’m also working on the third Mercy Ridge book. I love continuing to explore this community and the Goodwin family while giving each story its own mystery, setting, natural threat, and romance. Next week, I’ll be starting on a brand-new series with Revell tentatively called Blue Mountains Justice. I’m so grateful God called me to write and opened the doors, and he continues to give me the stories!”
Advice and Encouragement for Writer Moms: “Give yourself grace and recognize that writing may look different in different seasons of your life. You may not have long, uninterrupted hours, but small amounts of consistent work add up. A page written during naptime or after the kids are asleep is still a page you didn’t have before. Even chipping away at just five hundred words a day will get you there. My kids are all grown now, so I know it’s true!
“Learn the craft, attend a conference when you can, find supportive writers, and read widely. Most importantly, don’t compare your schedule or journey with someone else’s. Your family is not preventing you from becoming a writer. Your life as a mother is giving you experiences, emotions, and insights that can deepen your writing, but always remember your family comes first. It’s all in God’s hands and in His timing.”
As she ended this interview, Goddard extended her heartfelt thanks to ACFW for featuring her and her latest book, When the Silence Breaks, and, “because the organization played such an important part in launching my writing career.”
Elizabeth Goddard loves connecting with readers. You can learn more about the Mercy Ridge series, find her other books, and subscribe to her newsletter at ElizabethGoddard.com. When the Silence Breaks, the first book in the Mercy Ridge series, is available now from Revell.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jenny Fulton is a wife, mother, author, blogger, and freelance writer. An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, she grew up hearing stories from my dad about the supernatural workings on the Navajo Reservation. As a child, she collected angels and loved anything related to fairy tales. Her days are now mostly spent raising my three young daughters and writing as much as time and opportunity allows. Follow her at her blog, Heart Soul Mind.
“Readers often say the setting becomes a character in its own right,” Goddard shared. “I love dropping readers into the middle of the action and gradually revealing the characters’ backstories while maintaining a fast pace. That approach creates a strong sense of intrigue as readers uncover the truth alongside the characters. Plus, I’m figuring the story out as I write!”
Discovering a Calling
Elizabeth’s love for writing began with a love for reading.
“I was an avid reader from a very young age,” Goddard said. “My mother had bookshelves overflowing with everything from gothic romances to novels like My Friend Flicka. I spent most of my summers reading, sometimes returning to the same book two or three times if I loved it. I read everything I could get my hands on, including books far above my grade level. For me, reading and writing have always gone hand in hand. My love of reading naturally grew into a love of writing. I wrote poetry and stories and even started my first romance novel when I was fourteen. I loved the way words could carry me somewhere else, and eventually I wanted to create that same experience for other readers.”
As much as Elizabeth enjoyed the literary world, she shared that when it came to selecting a college major, the idea of writing a novel seemed distant and almost unachievable—more like a dream than a realistic career. So, since she also loved the sciences, she first opted to pursue marine biology.
“But then I took a scuba-diving class in college and quickly realized I probably wasn’t going to make it as a marine biologist. Ha!”
Goddard then turned her attention to another career possibility.
“At the time, computer science was emerging as an important new field, so I decided to pursue a degree that would lead to a good-paying job while also giving me the freedom to explore other interests.”
Although she didn’t realize it at the time, writing was also a calling.
“It just never let me go,” Elizabeth said.
Years later, after she became a stay-at-home mom to three young kids, a couple of significant changes inspired Elizabeth to finally pursue
writing and publishing.
“I was so accustomed to the corporate world that it was hard to stay home,” Goddard shared. “I’d trained to work outside the home, and not so much cleaning house and changing diapers! Second, I sensed that God kept nudging me toward writing for Him. I resisted and questioned that calling for several years. Eventually, I bought Marlene Bagnull’s Write His Answer because I hoped it would help me decide whether God had truly called me to write. Deep down, I already knew the answer. In January 2001, I joined what was then American Christian Romance Writers, now ACFW. I attended conferences, joined a critique group, studied the craft, and began pursuing publication seriously. That decision changed the course of my life!”
Although she now knew she’d been called to write, Elizabeth Goddard didn’t yet know exactly what kinds of stories she’d been called to tell.
“I think it can take writing several books before your true voice emerges and you discover the niche where you belong,” she said. “It took writing a number of books before I fully recognized my niche. I finally landed on the advice writers often hear: write what you love to read. I love romance, mystery, action, adventure, secrets, and unexpected twists. Romantic suspense allows me to combine all those elements. I can place two people in extraordinary danger, force them to depend on each other, and explore how trust and love develop when the stakes are at their highest. It’s the best genre to read and to write, and in my opinion, one of the most difficult genres in which to write.”
In addition to figuring out her genre, Goddard spent the next few years attending conferences, making connections, and joining a critique group.
“I attended the ACFW Conference every year, but honestly, I spent most of that time networking, making friends, meeting editors and agents. I didn’t spend that much time in conference classes. That said, I think I learned the most in those early years from my critique group. I had to submit a chapter each week, and through that process I began learning how to construct a novel. I think the most important teacher is to simply read the kind of books you want to write, and then it becomes instinctual. That said, I’m still learning. We never stop. Recently I had to cut twelve thousand words because I was over word count, and I used that as a learning experience. I noticed all kinds of unnecessary phrases and ways that I was telling the story when I’d already shown it.”
Achieving Publication: “I began pursuing publication seriously in 2001 and received my first contract in 2006. My first novel, Seasons of Love, was published in 2007, so it took approximately five years of writing and submitting before I received that first yes. I was in the habit of sending out multiple proposals and hoping something landed, and I got the call from Tracie Peterson, who was an editor at Heartsong Presents at the time. I had not written the manuscript, but with that request, that become my priority to get it done. The steps I took had more to do with those connections I mentioned earlier. I’d made a lot of friends, and Lisa Harris and Lena Nelson Dooley approached me to join them in a three-book anthology for Barbour Publishing—the book would first be published through Heartsong Presents. Learning the craft and making connections and working hard are still the most important steps to publication in the traditional market.
Active Influences
As she writes her books, Elizabeth Goddard is inspired and influenced by her faith in God, her role as a mother, serving with her husband in ministry, and traveling to beautiful places.
Faith: “My faith is foundational to both my life and my writing. I believe God gave me the dream of writing novels and then opened the doors that allowed that dream to become a career. I usually don’t begin a book by deciding what spiritual lesson I want to teach. I discover the characters and their spiritual journeys as I write. The faith themes tend to develop organically from what the characters are facing. Often, I reach the end and recognize something God has been teaching me through the story as well. My hope is that the faith element will feel natural and truthful and that readers will see God’s presence even in the most trying circumstances.”
Motherhood: “Being a mom has taught me how to juggle life and writing. When my kids were young, I couldn’t always wait for a perfectly quiet day or several uninterrupted hours. I had to write when I had the opportunity. Sometimes that was only on Saturdays—I’d hole up in my office and spend the entire day getting the word count in. But over the years, my methods have shifted, and I basically get the words in when I can and when I must. Being a mom also helped me to deepen my perspective. As writers our experiences find their way into our stories, and being a mother increased my understanding of love and sacrifice and that need to protect those we love. We need to understand that writing is only one part of life. Family comes first.”
Ministry: “Serving in ministry continually reminds me that everyone has a story and that people are often carrying struggles we cannot see. It made me more aware of the need for grace, hope, and encouragement. I think of writing as a ministry of words. I want to give readers an exciting story that’s not only an escape from life’s troubles, but I want to include spiritual nuggets, and relatable characters that let them know they’re not alone.”
Traveling and Setting: “I first fell in love with the Pacific Northwest when I was in my twenties. I traveled from Dallas to Seattle for my job, and Mt. Rainier sat larger than life behind the cityscape. My husband and I used to stay in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for our anniversaries and ski the mountains near the Grand Tetons or snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park. Then we moved to Oregon for a few years before moving back to Texas and I saw the redwoods, the Oregon Coast, and Crater Lake. Call it love at first sight. I started writing stories set in PNW even before I lived in Washington State. For now, my favorite places to travel still remain in the Pacific Northwest. There are plenty of places I still haven’t explored, and many more stories to write here.
“As far as setting goes, it’s the first spark for a story. I look for places that are visually beautiful but also contain natural danger, isolation, history, or mystery. Mountains, rugged coastlines, remote Alaskan communities, forests, storms, and wilderness terrain all offer opportunities for suspense. But more importantly, I look for places that inspire me. Once I find a setting that fascinates me, I begin asking what kind of danger or secret could be hiding there. And usually, I just have that instantaneous reaction and I know I’ll set a story in a particular location.”
Uncovering When the Silence Breaks
Elizabeth Goddard’s latest book, When the Silence Breaks, was inspired by an article about a WWII plane that crashed in the Cascades during the 1940’s, close to where the Mission Ridge Ski Resort is now.
“That immediately drew my attention,” Goddard said, “and I kept that article as an idea seed for a new series. I just started asking ‘what if.’”
As a seventh generation Texan, Elizabeth had fun making Ryder’s mother, Dinah Goodwin, a Texan as well, “adding in all the hospitality and the Texas drawl.”
Some of the central themes in this story include trust and the cost of silence.
“Sarah and Ryder are both carrying secrets and grief, and neither is comfortable depending on another person. Yet survival requires them to trust each other. The story also explores the cost of silence. Silence can sometimes protect people, but it can also allow deception and injustice to continue. Other themes include family loyalty, courage, grief, truth, and learning that faith does not always mean knowing exactly what will happen. Sometimes faith means taking the next step even when the rest of the path is hidden.”
As Goddard wrote the book, she was reminded that truth often comes with a cost.
“My characters must decide how far they are willing to go for answers and whether uncovering the past will bring healing or simply create
more pain.”
When people read her book, Elizabeth hopes they will feel as though they have experienced a thrilling adventure in the Cascade Mountains.
“I want them to enjoy the suspense, romance, mystery, and danger.”
She also hopes they come away with the reminder that fear and grief do not have to control our choices.
“The truth may be difficult to face, and trusting another person can feel risky, but God is present even when the way forward seems impossible. I hope readers close the book feeling entertained, encouraged, and a little more hopeful.”
A Glimpse into Author Life
Toughest Part of Writing Romantic Suspense: “Balancing all the different threads. A romantic suspense novel must have a strong mystery or danger plot, a believable romance, satisfying character development, and an organic spiritual journey. But really the toughest part for me is just starting. Where to start, when to start, how to introduce the characters—all of that takes the longest. I often rewrite the first three or four chapters because I’m also getting a feel for the story, the rhythm and I’m learning who my characters are.”
Writing Routine and Must-Have Snacks: “My routine changes depending on the book and the deadline, but I have to treat writing as a profession and so I try to write every day if possible—but sometimes that will be at different times of the day. Also, I’m “writing” while I’m not actually at my computer. I’m writing in my head while I’m doing the dishes or driving to the grocery story—always figuring out the characters, the plot, the twists and turns. I can’t wait for inspiration to arrive. I usually begin by rereading and lightly editing what I wrote the previous day. That helps me get back into the story and gets the words flowing.
“As for snacks, potato chips are my must-have snacks, and, in fact, I’m eating potato chips right now. I also love chocolate—because who doesn’t?—but I love potato chips more.”
How Long it Takes to Write a Book: “I have found that the amount of time I take to write a novel is the amount of time I’m given. Initially, I was given nine months to write my Revell books, and that’s how long it took, but to be fair, I wasn’t writing the whole nine months. Now I’m writing a book every six months, and when you add on edits and galleys of previous books, I really only have four months to write my book and I get it done and turned on time.”
Most Significant to Publication journey: “Joining ACFW in 2001 was one of the most significant decisions I made. Through ACFW, I found instruction, critique partners, encouragement, industry connections, and friends who understood the writing life. Joining an ACFW critique group taught me how to write and how to have thick skin when the critiques came, plus I have made life-long friends through that group.”
Greatest Moment of Writing and Publishing Career: “That’s a hard question. For different reasons, I would have to choose between receiving my first publishing contract and winning the Christy Award for Cold Light of Day. Winning a Christy had always felt like an impossible dream—but then again, so had getting published. Another important and pivotal moment was signing with my agent, Steve Laube. Even though I was already published by then, being represented by such a highly respected agent gave me a new sense of validation. It made me feel as though I had truly become a professional author.”
Most Heartwarming Moments: “The most heartwarming moments are always the messages from readers. One reader told me that when she felt down, she would pick up one of my books because she knew it would take her away from her troubles for a while. That meant so much to me because I understand the need to escape when life can be overwhelming. Other readers have shared that a spiritual truth in one of my stories reached them at exactly the right time. Those messages remind me that a novel can do more than entertain. It can encourage someone I may never meet.”
What’s Next: “I’m continuing the Mercy Ridge series. The next novel is Where the Shadows Begin, which returns readers to the North Cascades for another romantic suspense story filled with danger, secrets, and wilderness adventure. I’m also working on the third Mercy Ridge book. I love continuing to explore this community and the Goodwin family while giving each story its own mystery, setting, natural threat, and romance. Next week, I’ll be starting on a brand-new series with Revell tentatively called Blue Mountains Justice. I’m so grateful God called me to write and opened the doors, and he continues to give me the stories!”
Advice and Encouragement for Writer Moms: “Give yourself grace and recognize that writing may look different in different seasons of your life. You may not have long, uninterrupted hours, but small amounts of consistent work add up. A page written during naptime or after the kids are asleep is still a page you didn’t have before. Even chipping away at just five hundred words a day will get you there. My kids are all grown now, so I know it’s true!
“Learn the craft, attend a conference when you can, find supportive writers, and read widely. Most importantly, don’t compare your schedule or journey with someone else’s. Your family is not preventing you from becoming a writer. Your life as a mother is giving you experiences, emotions, and insights that can deepen your writing, but always remember your family comes first. It’s all in God’s hands and in His timing.”
As she ended this interview, Goddard extended her heartfelt thanks to ACFW for featuring her and her latest book, When the Silence Breaks, and, “because the organization played such an important part in launching my writing career.”
Elizabeth Goddard loves connecting with readers. You can learn more about the Mercy Ridge series, find her other books, and subscribe to her newsletter at ElizabethGoddard.com. When the Silence Breaks, the first book in the Mercy Ridge series, is available now from Revell.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jenny Fulton is a wife, mother, author, blogger, and freelance writer. An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, she grew up hearing stories from my dad about the supernatural workings on the Navajo Reservation. As a child, she collected angels and loved anything related to fairy tales. Her days are now mostly spent raising my three young daughters and writing as much as time and opportunity allows. Follow her at her blog, Heart Soul Mind.
For more great interviews, visit our Author Interview Archives.