Elizabeth Ludwig – Real Life Romantic Interview – Part 1 of 2

Shannon here: Cozy Mystery author, Elizabeth Ludwig shares a glimpse into her real life romance. Comment on any post dated July 18 – 20 for a chance to win a copy of her book, Died in the Wool. Deadline: July 27, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Elizabeth:

      1.    What’s the most romantic present your spouse ever bought for you?
Ah…I have a wonderful story about that which I’d like to share with you.
My husband is the sweetest, most romantic guy I know—but he most definitely does NOT look the part. He’s big, German, and he rides a Harley. Added to that, he likes to dress the part so, yeah. . .scary dude.
Anyway, one Christmas, long before I sold my first book, he handed me a present and said, “This one’s for you.”
Inside was a brand-spanking new laptop. Top of the line. I mean, NICE. Plus, he’d opened a wireless internet account for me so that all I had to do was turn the computer on and bingo, I was on the web. I couldn’t believe it. We truly didn’t have the money to spend on a new computer, so with tears in my eyes, I asked him why he did it.
“You’re gonna need it,” he said, “when you sell your first book.”
Just like that. Not IF you sell a book—when. And right then, I just knew I couldn’t give up trying, if only for his sake alone.
     2.    Do you and your spouse have a favorite romantic vacation destination?
I have always found that the best vacations are the ones we DON’T plan. Take my last vacation, for example. I’d won a free trip to Las Vegas, but since my husband and I really didn’t have any desire to spend a lot of time there, we decided to simply make it a road trip and eventually end up in Nevada. Along the way, we traveled through California and little-known ghost town named Calico. Literally, it was just some place we passed on the road and decided to visit. I’m so glad we did! That little mining town became the setting for Love Finds You in Calico, California, which released from Summerside Press in 2010.
      3.    What simple gesture does your spouse do that melts you every time?
 LOL! You’re not going to believe this but. . .it’s when my husband holds my hand. We’ve been married twenty-three years, yet every time his fingers brush mine, I just melt!
     4.    How soon after meeting your spouse did you know he/she was the one?
 Honestly, we didn’t date long before I knew we’d one day wind up married—three months, I think, before we started talking about how we’d like to spend the rest of our lives. Not exactly “love at first sight” I guess, but close.
     5.    Who is most romantic, you or your spouse?
I wish I could say me. After all, I’m the romance writer, right? But if I’m truthful, I’d have to say it’s my husband. He always gives me a kiss when he walks in or out of the door, reaches for my hand whenever we’re watching a movie, and texts me love notes whenever I’m at work. Now, how romantic is that??
About Elizabeth: Elizabeth Ludwig is an award winning author whose work has been featured on Novel Journey, the Christian Authors Network, and The Christian Pulse. Her first novel, Where the Truth Lies, which she co-authored with Janelle Mowery, earned her the 2008 IWA Writer of the Year honors. This book was followed in 2009 by “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” part of a Christmas anthology collection called Christmas Homecoming, also from Barbour Publishing.
In 2010, her first full-length historical novel Love Finds You in Calico, California earned Four Stars from the Romantic Times. Books two and three of Elizabeth’s mystery series, Died in the Wool, and Inn Plain Sight, respectively, are slated for release in 2011 from Barbour Publishing.
Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, and often attends conferences and seminars, where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Her popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book, enjoyed a wide readership in its first year, with more than 14,000 visitors in 2010. Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in the great state of Texas. To learn more about her work, visit her at www.elizabethludwig.com and www.theborrowedbook.blogspot.com
About the book: Hone your investigative skills with Died in the Wool, a mystery filled with humor, suspense, and romance. Monah Trenary is battling for city funds for her beloved library. When a rival for the much-needed monies winds up dead, Monah is considered one of the prime suspects. When a second corpse weighs in, police detective Mike Brockman discovers that, according to the evidence, Monah and monkshood are a lethal combination. Can Monah and proven sleuth Casey Alexander find the real killer before this librarian is booked for murder?
Come back July 20th for Elizabeth’s characters’ romantic interview.