1–What is the title of your latest release?
2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
After a hurricane destroys the town landmark, Kelsey Ahern sets out to save her beloved community theater—and her job. But as she draws her friend Levi Ross into her plans for a benefit show, she discovers there’s more to him than she expected and God’s plans for their future are so much more important than their pasts.
3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Prince Edward Island, Canada, is my favorite place in the world. The tiny village of Victoria by the Sea on the south shore is perfectly picturesque and filled with wonderful characters. It’s the ideal setting for this series.
4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Yes! Kelsey Ahern and I would chat musical theater for hours. And I’m sure she would sing along to musical soundtracks with me. She reminds me a lot of my nieces, who are some of my favorite people on the planet. And I’d love to hang out with Levi Ross—but I think it would be a very one-sided conversation.
5–What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Kelsey is creative, kind, and insists on making up for her mistakes. Levi is solid, introverted, and can fix just about anything.
6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Writing this book helped me re-learn the importance of words. What we say has the power to speak life or death—to uplift or destroy. And I always want to speak life.
7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I do a little bit of editing as I go along. Then, I do major edits after I’ve finished the first draft to make sure that everything makes sense.
8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I’m not hard to please. Generally anything sweet or fried. 🙂 But lately, I’ve been enjoying sweet potato fries. Yum!
9–Describe your writing space/office!
Sometimes my writing space looks like a Panera booth across the table from a writer friend. Sometimes it’s a spot on my recliner couch, feet up and diet Dr. Pepper within reach. Every now and then it’s a hotel room where I lock myself away until I reach my goal. Mostly, I write wherever, whenever I can. Thank goodness for laptops that fit in my purse and go wherever I do.
10–Who is an author you admire?
So many of them! The writing community is an incredible group of talented men and women, and I’ve found them to be supportive and inspiring along my writing journey. One author that always makes me want to keep improving my writing craft is Charles Martin. His books are stunning, and his research is impeccable. And every time I hear an interview with him, I’m so encouraged by his character and integrity.
11–Is there a book that changed your life?
Besides the Bible or my first novel, The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn? I read the Appomattox Saga by Gilbert Morris in junior high, and it inspired me to be a writer. Those books made me want to tell my own stories. I’ve never been the same.
12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
I’ve gotten many “calls” over the years. More than 20 books in, and every one has had its own story for which I’m grateful. But maybe more memorable than the yeses have been the nos. Every publisher I’ve written novels for has rejected me first. I could have let myself give up on that book or stopped writing altogether. But writing has taught me persistence and forced me to keep learning and growing. The “calls” are special moments, and they’re most rewarding after hard rejections.
13–What’s your favorite genre to read?
Victorian romance hits all the right notes for me.
14–What’s your favorite movie?
It depends on the day. I love so many great stories, well told. On any given day it might be The Princess Bride, Miracle, Anne of Green Gables, or Disney’s animated Beauty and the Beast.
15–What is your favorite season?
Fall! I love the crisp air and relief from the summer heat in Phoenix.
16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I haven’t gotten to celebrate my birthday in years! At least not on my birthday. I was born at the end of July, and I’ve had book deadlines on August 1st for the last 7 years. So I’m usually so busy finishing up my book that I don’t even let my family visit or take me out for a meal. For my 40th birthday, I did do something special—I rented out my local ice rink and took my whole family skating. We had a blast! But I’m delighted that I don’t have an August 1st deadline again in the foreseeable future, so I’ll have to figure out how to celebrate this year.
17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
Recent? I tend to be behind on everything. But one of my favorite podcasts that I try to keep up with is a pop culture one called The Popcast with Knox and Jamie. The hosts are a hoot and keep me up to date on all the pop culture news I’ve missed.
18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Growing up in Arizona on the border, authentic Mexican food is definitely a favorite. Carne asada makes my heart happy.
19–What do you do when you have free time?
Writing is usually what I do when I’m not working my day job. But when I’m not working and writing, I enjoy ice skating. And I love seeing movies at the theater. A special treat is getting to see off Broadway shows when they come through Phoenix.
20–What can readers expect from you next?
I’m so excited to return to Prince Edward Island with a Christmas novel set at the Red Door Inn, set to release in the fall of 2024. It’ll feature some new characters and some favorites from the Prince Edward Island Dreams series—plus a misguided matchmaker and plenty of mistletoe!
SUMMER IN THE SPOTLIGHT by Liz Johnson
A hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but she’s determined to save her community
Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it’s not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there’s more to the quiet man than meets the eye.
For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can’t seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in town to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up–or lose the heart of the woman he longs for.
Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.
Women’s Fiction Contemporary [Revell, On Sale: August 8, 2023, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780800737399 / eISBN: 9781493441341]
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About Liz Johnson
By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager. She makes time to write late at night–that’s when she thinks best anyway. Liz is the author of more than a dozen novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She’s a Christy Award finalist and a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she enjoys exploring local music, theater, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters.
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