TIDE AND TEMPEST - Elizabeth Ludwig - One Free Book

Readers, Elizabeth is another Texas author. We’ve been friends a long time. We’ve been on writing retreats together. I love her heart for the Lord, and I love her writing, and this series are three of her best books. I think you will, too.

Welcome back, Elizabeth. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I got saved when I was twenty-one. My husband and I had only been married for a couple of years, but we’d dated all through high school, and I knew that we differed on exactly what it meant to be saved. You see, I had been raised as a Catholic, and my husband was a Pentecostal.

One day, my sister approached me about some of the conversations my husband and I had been having regarding faith. She explained that salvation wasn’t about denomination, it was about surrendering my heart and life to God, and about acknowledging my need for a Savior. Though I pretended to understand, deep down, I was hiding a secret. I was holding back—afraid to commit everything to a God I didn’t really know.

About a year after this, my husband and I suffered the loss of our second child, our son, Seth, at three months of age. With the agony and grief arose questions regarding faith. Commitment. Trust.

Though I had managed to fool myself for several years, the time had finally come when God demanded an answer from me regarding my salvation. Would I trust Him with my most precious possessions? Would I commit myself to Him no matter where He led, even if it was through the Valley? Did I believe that even in the midst of suffering and fear, He was able to direct my path and protect me from evil?

I believe that when I finally answered yes to these questions, God truly became my Lord and Savior. I still remember letting go of the struggle—it was like a conscious movement, an opening of my hands. I let go of doubt, indecision, and fear, and I gained grace. I gained God.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Only four? Oh my…

I’d say it would have to be Michelle Griep, Janelle Mowery, Kellie Coates Gilbert, and Candice (Speare) Prentice. Each one of these ladies has been such an encouragement to me over the years. They love to laugh, they love the Lord, and I know they would be a whole lot of fun.

Yes, they would. I know all of them, and two of them are dear friends. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

Oh yes, I do! I love to talk to community organizations, writers groups, and book clubs. In just the past year, I’ve visited with over thirty local groups and taught several workshops. But it’s not always just about my writing. I’ve been invited to speak at several women’s ministry events, which is always fun because I get to combine two of my favorite things—writing and Jesus. J

For anyone who is interested in booking me for their event, I have a partial list of topics on my website at www.elizabethludwig.com.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

LOL! This just between you and me, right? ;-)

My husband and I were at a basketball tournament once, and during half-time, I decided to get up to use the restroom. Bathrooms were across the gym, so I left and came back a short while later. As I’m walking across the floor, I see my husband frantically waving at me and pointing at something behind his back. After several seconds, I realized that he was pointing at me, so I start checking my shoes, my zipper…nothing.

Have you ever walked out of a bathroom with toilet paper stuck to your shoe?

Yeah, well…mine wasn’t stuck to my shoe. It was a piece of toilet paper about 10 inches long, and it was coming out the top of my pants, and flapping along like a flag behind me. The second I saw it, I tore it off and threw it on the floor, where it lay like a badge of shame until the game workers came out and swept it away.

Been there, done that, and it’s embarrassing. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I always like to encourage people to follow their dreams, so when a person says that to me, I give them my card and tell them to contact me so that I can put them in touch with some literary organizations that can help. It’s not much, but it gives them a place to start if they’re really serious about pursuing a career in writing.

Tell us about the featured book.

I am so excited for the release of Tide and Tempest! Originally, I had intended for the EDGE OF FREEDOM to be a two book series, so this was the only story that wasn’t planned. It has turned out to be my favorite. I love, love, love this 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.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Sure! Here you go.

“Captain Morgan? Sir?”

Keondric Morgan glared over his shoulder at the deckhand waving furiously at him from the bow of the Caitriona Marie. He slowed his steps, halting the rhythmic cadence of his feet against the gangplank. “What now, Donal?”

His fingers beat with irritation against the pouch strapped to his side. He had somewhere to be, and if he had to mind every move his crewmen made, he’d never get there.

“The doctor, sir.” Donal shifted from foot to foot and tugged at the collar of his shirt.

Blowing an impatient blast from his lips, Morgan lifted his cap, dragged his fingers through his hair then gestured for him to continue. “Well? Go on, man, what about him?”

“What. . .uh. . .” Knuckles white as he gripped the rail, he glanced over his shoulder and back then cupped a hand to his mouth and leaned out over the water. “What should we do with him, sir?”

“He’s dead, Donal,” Morgan shouted back, raising his voice to be heard above the flocks of seagulls arguing overhead. “What do you think we should do with him? Contact his next of kin and see about getting him buried!”

Sighing, Donal grumbled, “’Twould have been easier if the man had died at sea.”

A lull in the noise clamoring from the vessels along the dock carried his words to Morgan’s ears. He paused mid-turn and narrowed his eyes. “What was that?”

Donal’s chin lowered. “Nothing, sir.”

“Good. See to it, then.” Jamming his hands into his pockets, Morgan hunched his shoulders, spun on his heel, and stormed down the gangplank. The doctor’s death disturbed him, but not nearly so as much as did his dying words.

“I did it, Morgan. God help me, I took the money.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’ve made quite a home for myself on the web. Here is a list of places where people can find me:

www.elizabethludwig.com

www.theborrowedbook.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/theborrowedbook

https://www.facebook.com/elizabethludwig102

I hope you’ll stop by. I’d love to have you visit!

Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Tide and Tempest - Christianbook.com
Tide and Tempest (Edge of Freedom) - Amazon
Tide and Tempest (Edge of Freedom Book #3) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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