Jerusha: If this doesn’t get you excited for Christmas, I don’t know what will! Bestselling author Elizabeth Ludwig is sitting down for a chat with us today, AND she’s giving away a free copy (print or digital) of her mystery novel, Garage Sale Secret, to one of you! Leave a comment below after this Christmassy, encouraging interview to enter the giveaway!
Welcome to the FW Blog, Elizabeth! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today. I’m so excited to get to talk with you this time of year because I get to ask you about Christmas, my favorite time of year. Do you get excited for Christmas?
My family will laugh when they see this question. I LOVE Christmas! Like, really, reeeeally love it. Starting in November, I decorate every room in my house (including the bathrooms) and trim every eave in garland and lights.
It’s more than just the pleasure I get from the sparkle and beauty of the season—it’s the sheer joy and anticipation on the faces of my grandchildren. It’s the surprises, and kindness, and goodwill all around. It’s the food, visits, and laughter.
I truly wish it could last all year long. But then…it probably wouldn’t be as special.
Ooh! I knew we were kindred spirits! I LOVE Christmas, as well. I wish I could see your decorated house—it’s sounds gorgeous! So, amid all that time spent decorating, have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?
My husband and I both come from very large families—he has five siblings and I have four. All of them are married and most have children. Because of this, I started shopping clearance sales years ago just to be able to afford gifts for all my nieces and nephews. Literally, I begin shopping for the next year the day after Christmas!
I have several large boxes I keep in my attic for storing these sale items. In November, I take all the boxes down and begin sorting. It’s so much fun seeing my Christmas list get longer every year with the birth of each new baby. Of course, there are always those last-minute purchases everyone MUST make, so really, my shopping is never done until Christmas morning. 😊
What a great idea to buy ahead and take advantage of sales! But I know what you mean, my Christmas shopping never seems done until Christmas day no matter how much I buy ahead. Sometimes the shopping and many other factors can add stress or other emotional struggles to the Christmas season. I have some specific fears that seem to become more powerful at Christmas. Do you have any fears associated with Christmas? How do you battle them?
I don’t think it would be fair to talk about the joys of Christmas without also acknowledging the tears—tears for those who are no longer with us. Tears for the faces we long to see and the laughter we long to hear.
As my children grew older and started their own families, so did my fear that those special times when we were all together would happen less frequently. I dreaded having my children move away. I dreaded having to “share” them with another family. I dreaded spending my Christmases alone.
But then I realized that while no Christmas would ever be like the ones from years past, they were no less special, no less memorable. And I shifted my focus from the days long gone, to the ones yet to come.
Such a positive and fear-fighting perspective to have, Elizabeth! I struggle with those same kinds of fears, especially as losses come with the passing years. Thanks for this encouragement to trust God for future blessings, too. Do you have a recurring struggle with fear in your life at all times of the year?
I’m almost ashamed to admit that some of the fears I struggled with as a child are the same fears I battle today—fear of rejection, fear of inadequacy, fear of failure.
I know what you’re thinking…I probably chose the wrong profession. All three of those things are fears writers face every day.
It seems almost cliché to say, but there is strength to be gained by facing those fears. I am stronger because of it. I do have a tougher skin.
In moments of weakness, I am still reduced to a little girl, hiding my face and crying when a book isn’t received well or when the new contract doesn’t come. Other days, I remember what grace I have been given and I am able to dry my tears and search out the next challenge.
I think most of us can relate to those fears. I love your testimony to how God has strengthened you in your battle against them! You mentioned that being a writer makes you face those fears. Can you share more about that and how you overcome the fear to pursue your calling?
I’ve published 24 books but I still haven’t written that one book that speaks to my soul. It’s in me. I feel it. I’ve started and stopped writing it more times than I can count. But to actually put it down on paper is so hard.
Some of what stops me is the fear that it will be “less than.” Less than perfect. Less than the whole story. Just…less than.
Part of the challenge of overcoming this fear will be setting aside the time to work on the project. The other part will be trusting myself and my critique partners to mold the story into exactly what it needs to be.
But the greatest challenge of all will be devoting myself and my writing to the Lord and letting Him lead.
Amen. I think that’s the challenge and key for all of us in every fear we face! Let’s get specific about those other life fears we all face. Would you share a frightening experience in your life and how God enabled you to battle your fear?
I’ve lived long enough now to have experienced a great number of things that caused me to fear—finding out my mother-in-law had terminal cancer; hearing my daughter say she’d been referred to an oncologist; waking up to learn my son had died; hearing my husband say he was losing his job.
These are just a few of the larger hurdles. But with each new challenge, one thing remained the same…I knew I had a Father who loved me, and He was not surprised by the storms I faced.
I’m not saying it wasn’t hard trusting Him. It was. But thankfully, His shoulders have always been big enough to carry me and all of my fears.
Whoa—you have gone through some very severe trials, Elizabeth. But I love that image, of our Father’s big shoulders that can carry us and our burdens and fears. Such a comfort. Speaking of comfort in the Lord, what are your favorite Bible verses that give you courage?
I have two verses that come to mind whenever I’m in need of courage. The first one is Habbakuk 2:2-3:
Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 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.
The Lord gave me these verses long before I sold my first book. With every rejection letter, I clung to them and held fast to the promise of the “appointed time.”
Now that time has come, and I sign every book with that reference after my name as a stone of remembrance.
The second verse is Jeremiah 29:11-13:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
I think on these words when the rejections come (and they still do, even 24 books later). I look to them for comfort and peace and the reminder that my Father loves me enough to order my steps, if only I will wait upon Him.
Those are such powerful passages of courage and comfort! Just the truth that the Lord of the universe promises to listen to me gives me goosebumps. 😊 A lot of people have go-to music that helps calm their fears, too. What’s on your Fear Warrior Playlist?
The song that has spoken to me loudest is a fairly new tune by Zach Williams called “Fear is a Liar.” In a couple of the lyrics, Mr. Williams sings:
When he told you you’re not worthy
When he told you you’re not loved
When he told you you’re not beautiful
That you’ll never be enough
Man, those words could have been written to me. With just a few lines, Zach touched my heart and told my story. He also let me know that he has felt exactly the same way.
That knowledge gives me hope. It also makes me want to keep writing. Keep telling stories. Until I finally write that one that speaks life and hope to peoples’ hearts. So that someone, someday, will say to me…I felt exactly the same way.
I have the feeling you’ve already written those stories that speak life and hope through Christ into the hearts of others! I love your goal to do (or keep doing!) that. As a suspense and mystery author, do you ever frighten yourself with what you write?
Several years ago, while researching for my book Tide and Tempest, I came across a picture from the morgue on Ellis Island. It was a bare room, with just one small window and a tile floor. But in one corner were several lockers where the bodies were stored. It was these lockers that drew my attention and gave me nightmares.
What would it be like to be imprisoned inside one of them? What if my heroine were trapped there? No light, no sound, just the knowledge that right next to her, and above her and below her, were bodies? I still shiver thinking about it.
Whoa! That IS scary! 😊 I know we both have Christmas festivities to get to, so let’s wrap up our chat with one more fun Christmas question. As a Christmas-lover, you must have many Christmas traditions. Is there one special one you’d be willing to share with us?
My favorite Christmas tradition happened by accident. My husband and I had just moved from Michigan to Texas and we were sending all our Christmas gifts through the mail—each one wrapped and tagged.
One day, a box arrived from my sister. I assumed she had done the same thing I did and wrapped everything, but when I opened the box…well, let’s just say my kids were thrilled. Since they had already seen their presents, I figured there was no sense keeping them.
My son got a movie. We watched it together that night camped out on the floor.
My daughter got a sweater. She wore it to go Christmas shopping the next afternoon.
Each day, another box, and each night, a special gift to enjoy.
Instead of the clamor of Christmas morning— we shared one gift. One giver. More appreciation for each thing and each person.
So now, beginning the week before Christmas, we open one gift and celebrate one giver. It stretches the fun and makes us even more thankful for each person in our lives.
Wow, I’ve never thought of doing Christmas presents that way! It sounds very special. Elizabeth, thank you for taking the time to chat about Christmas and share your own battle against fear and how God is helping you win. And thanks for offering a giveaway of your book! I pray you and your family have another marvelous Christmas this year!
What about you, FW readers? Could you relate to any of the fears Elizabeth talked about in this interview? Have you found ways to fight your fears with God’s help? Are you looking forward to Christmas? Please share!
Photos by Evelyn, Arun Kuchibhotla, Aaron Burden, and Thomas Kelley on Unsplash. Original graphics designed by Jerusha Agen.
Elizabeth Ludwig is a USA Today bestselling author and speaker, often attending conferences where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Book three in her popular Edge of Freedom series, Tide and Tempest, was named a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.
Elizabeth was also named a finalist in the 2015 Selah Awards for her novella “One Holy Night”, part of the bestselling anthology collection, Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine. Most recently, she was honored to be awarded a HOLT Medallion for her book, A Tempting Taste of Mystery, part of the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries series from Guideposts.
Her latest releases include Garage Sale Secret and Pride and Pettiness, part of the Mysteries of Lancaster County series, also from Guideposts. To learn more, visit ElizabethLudwig.com.
You can also connect with Elizabeth on Facebook, Twitter, or at The Borrowed Book blog.
Garage Sale Secret (Mysteries of Lancaster County Series)
When Mary rekindles her love of painting, using the picturesque local cemetery as her backdrop, she stumbles on a personal family mystery. Why was her uncle Paul buried so far away from his family’s plot?
And at Secondhand Blessings, another mystery emerges. Like clock- work, a group of four women come into the shop every Monday to consign their weekly garage-sale and estate-scavenging finds. But when only three of them show up one week, it soon becomes apparent that something sinister is afoot for the missing woman.
Meanwhile, Mary can’t quite figure out a man who has come to Bird-in-Hand. While the charming, attractive man seems friendly enough, and maybe even interested in Mary, there’s just something about him that puts her on the defensive.
Is Mary just being overly cautious, or is there good reason for her wariness?
Comments 25
Wow!! That was an interesting interview! Elizabeth Ludwig is awesome and I relate to her in her fears of rejection, not being enough. It’s a common fear. I think we can only overcome it by trusting all our fears to the Lord, and giving it to them abandoning even the outcome, good or not so good. He’s the Only one who can turn our miseries or failures into something positive and of self growth. Sometimes it’s like that: painful things can make us warriors and they can also make us more understanding and patient of others problems and pains. I loved your Christmas gifts tradition! It’s beautiful!! Thank you for sharing!!
That is so true, Paty. God really does teach us and refine us in the pain-filled times. Unfortunately, it’s hard to see that when the battle is raging all around. That’s why I sign my books the way I do, because I want to REMEMBER what God had done. It’s the remembering what God has led us through that allows us to trust in where He will lead.
Elizabeth Ludwig is a new author to me. I really enjoyed this interview, and can identify with the fear of rejection and not being enough. I would love to read this book.
Hi, Linda! I’m so glad you stopped by. Thank you so much for reading, and good luck in the drawing!
I love garage sales and flea markets and antique shops. This book looks very good!
A gal after my own heart! I can spend hours browsing through flea markets and antique shops. There so much history!
Author
Congratulations, Paula! You’re the randomly selected winner of Elizabeth Ludwig’s Garage Sale Secret! I’ll contact you via email with more details. Thanks for joining the conversation, and merry Christmas!
Thank you so very much for sharing. Merry Christmas blessings!
Thank you, Lelia! Many blessings to you as well. Are you all ready for Christmas?
Thanks so much for sharing, Elizabeth. Your Christmas decorations sound fabulous! All I really want for Christmas this year is a place to call home. we moved from Minnesota at the beginning of November and have yet to quit the motel lifestyle. We were accepted and then unacceptable at the first place we applied for. The second one scammed us out of about $3000 which we will likely never see again. Once again we are applying and I must admit, I am hanging onto God’s promises or I would be in a total state of fear! Pray with us that we will be ‘home’ for Christmas!
Oh, Betti, I’m so very sorry. Yes, I will be praying in agreement with you for a home for Christmas!
Lord, I know you hold our lives in Your loving and gentle hands. Continue to offer strength and comfort to Betti as she waits upon You. And while she waits, show her how much You love her, Lord. We all need to be reminded of that sometimes. Show her in obvious ways that she is not forgotten, but that You are preparing a very special place for her and her family. And make this time in the motel a time of growing together, of loving on one another, and treasuring the everyday things we sometimes take for granted. We love You, Lord! Thank You for always caring about the intricate details of our lives! In Jesus’s name we pray.
Thank you for sharing this interview with Elizabeth. I found it fascinating to get a peek inside her heart. Having my daddy just transition to heaven has made the Christmas decorating a little less this year and find myself tearing up at the slightest things but our God is sufficient when we go through trials. Merry Christmas blessings.
Oh, Lelia, I’m so sorry. Loss is so hard, but especially around this time of year. I attended a funeral of a friend this morning, and my heart aches to think of the people who will be sad this Christmas season, missing someone dear. My experience is different. My son was born in December, but passed away in April. For me, December is hard because I think of his coming, and not his passing. Thank goodness we have a loving Healer for a Father! He truly has wiped away all my tears and given me hope for the future. I will be praying you receive the same comfort, dearest one!
This sounds like a delightful book to read. I’ll be adding this author to my reading list of newer books to read.
Aww, thank you, Stephanie! Glad you stopped by. Good luck in the contest!
Elizabeth Ludwig is new to me. That’s OK. I like trying new authors at least once. Elizabeth, you sound like an author I’d like.
I liked reading about you and Christmas. Paperback/Hardbacks are my favorite.
I really want to win the contest. Hope I win.
Thank you, Crystal! I’m so glad you stopped by. Wishing you many Christmas blessings. And good luck in the contest!
I enjoyed “meeting” Elizabeth! Christmas is a hard time of year with family gatherings that are usually filled with “drama”, I also miss my Daddy, who moved to Heaven seven years ago. His birthday is December 26th.
I totally agree, Caryl. I have four sisters, and there is always some sort of drama going on around Christmas. One year, I gave everyone tissues for Christmas with a snowman on the front that said, “It’s not Christmas until someone has a meltdown.” LOL! Fortunately, we always try to work through our problems with grace. That’s not always the case, but at least we try!
I’m very sorry to hear about your father’s passing. I pray that this year, you’ll be filled with the hope and joy of one day celebrating Christmas with him in heaven!
I live in South Africa, a beautiful country, but also one that can be quite dangerous in places and sometimes scary. Quite a few years ago we were in a remote area and our car was surrounded by armed men with AK47’s and axes. I prayed quietly and the leader of the group opened the way and let us go. At our scariest moment God rescued us. I love the song Fear is a Liar, also No Longer Slaves.
The tradition of opening one gift a day before Christmas & celebrating the giver is such a lovely idea. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, what a powerful testimony, Denise. Praise God for his watchcare over you! Fear is a Liar has been such a blessing to me over the last few months. Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord uses music to remind us of His love and faithfulness?? Merry Christmas, Denise!
Thank you. Yes, we serve an awesome God. Blessings this Christmas, Denise.
Thanks so much fir the lovely and thought-provoking interview. Christmas is difficult for me this year, I lost my last remaining Grandparent, my Grandmother, last year on the 19th of December. Your encouraging interview, and the struggles of the author, help remind me that my Father Gods shoulders are big enough to carry.me, thanks so much for that word-picture, I really needed that. Merry Christmas!
I’m so glad my words encouraged you, Amyjo. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Grandparents are so special! Now that I am one, I try hard to be a loving, guiding influence to my grandchildren.
I pray that you will use that heartache to bring hope to others. More than anything, I think that’s God’s will for us, to comfort as we have been comforted. Many Christmas blessings to you!
These are great verses!