Lunch with Elizabeth

Elizabeth who? Ludwig, of course, though I call her Lisa...but I already had a Lunch With Lisa post. So allow me to more formally introduce one of my critique buddies who came to visit me this weekend, Elizabeth Ludwig. She's got a fan-freaking-tastic trilogy in the works (the Edge of Freedom series), and the first book just came out in October. NO SAFE HARBOR is historical romantic suspense at its finest. Stay tuned for a blurb at the end of this post.

As we chatted over tacos yesterday, I asked her to impart some writerly advice to wannabe authors. First off, she recommends you take the time to learn the craft. Find out what the rules are and follow them. How do you find out? Read craft books. Attend writer workshops. Go to conferences. Or even network with more seasoned authors.

Secondly, she recommends you also take the time to learn and apply yourself in the social media arena. Her top 4 picks are:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Goodreads

Yes, it will cut into your writing time. The trick is to be disciplined. Don't get sucked into those sites for hours on end. Set a timer if you have to.

And be sure to check out No Safe Harbor. Here's a blurb:

Lured by a handful of scribbled words across a faded letter, Cara Hamilton sets off from 1896 Ireland on a quest to find the brother she'd thought dead. Her search lands her in America, amidst a houseful of strangers and one man who claims to be a friend--Rourke Walsh.

Despite her brother's warning, Cara decides to trust Rourke and reveals the truth about her purpose in America. But he is not who he claims to be, and as rumors begin to circulate about an underground group of dangerous revolutionaries, Cara's desperation grows. Her questions lead her ever closer to her brother, but they also bring her closer to destruction as Rourke's true intentions come to light.

Honestly, Lisa is one of my favorite authors, so if you like historicals, be sure to pick this one up. And don't forget to check out Lisa's blog: THE BORROWED BOOK