Elizabeth Ludwig is our guest today.
She wrote a story called In Hot Water. It is one of six novellas in the story collection titled, “The Coffee Club Mysteries: 6 Whodunits Are Brewing in Small-Town Kansas.”
Today, Elizabeth is here to share the story behind her story.
Harper Daggett and her friends are more than ready for a bit of rest and relaxation after weeks of crime solving. So when Harper suggests a shopping trip through central Kansas, her friends agree it’s just the thing to take their minds off their troubles.
Harper is delighted to find an antique jade owl during their travels, but purchasing the item soon makes her a target.
Determined to figure out what makes the owl worth stealing, Harper is amazed to discover the item is not only precious, it’s priceless, and that means the person stalking her might do anything to get it.
With the cloud looming over them looking more and more sinister, Harper needs to figure out what clues her innocent looking owl holds before a danger closes in on her and those she loves.
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What inspired you to write this story?
I wish I could say I have everything figured out. I don’t. In fact, in my job as an administrative assistant in a public school, I see a lot of things I don’t understand—like kids whose parents have turned them out to be raised by siblings, aunts, cousins, or grandparents—basically anyone who will take them in. Or the opposite case, where children are pulled between parents engaged in a bitter tug-of-war. It saddens me every time I see it.
I guess that’s why I wanted my character, Harper Daggett, to be a public school teacher, and a good one. I wanted her to care for the students I could not, and to help at least one child in an impossible situation find a home where she would feel safe and loved. Of course, it also needed to be a mystery, so finding a way to tie those two things together was tricky. The answer came through one of my hobbies, shopping for antiques!
Every first Monday of each month, my husband and I like to travel to a nearby town to visit one of our area’s largest flea markets. It’s a pretty popular affair, with vendors traveling from all over the state to participate. In the summer months, the hot, humid weather can be miserable, but you will still find us there, lugging our little wheeled shopping buggy over the rocks and dirt paths, scrounging for hidden treasures. Some months, we go home empty-handed. Other times, there will be almost more than we can fit in our midsize SUV. Either way, we have fun, and it was on one of those fun trips that I stumbled upon a small glass owl.
He wasn’t extraordinary, or valuable. Likely, he was just a dime store castoff that someone had gotten rid of in order to make room for something fancier. But he was cute, and charming, and he had a small light inside that made his brown face look quirky when lit.
Suddenly, I knew what I would do with him. Despite my husband’s objections, I paid the vendor and carried him home to sit on my desk next to my computer. For the next several weeks, I stared at him, willing the words to come that would fill in this story. When I needed inspiration, I clicked on the light inside the owl and watched his little face glow. When I was stuck, or when the story came to a standstill, I picked up the owl and held him in my hands until ideas flooded my head.
Now, this certainly wasn’t the most conventional way to write a story. In fact, I’d never done it before, and I haven’t done it since. Still, I knew this quirky little guy would fit perfectly into the story I wanted to tell, and that he would be the key that would make all the jagged pieces come together. In the end, it worked out just so. Woodsy the jade owl was born, and he turned out to be not just the inspiration I needed, but the element that brought one little girl her happily ever after.
I couldn’t have asked for more.
Wow! What a story! Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth Ludwig is an accomplished author and speaker.
Besides writing, she enjoys skiing, cooking, and curling up with a good book.
Recently, she was awarded the HOLT Medallion for a book which combines two of those hobbies, A Tempting Taste of Mystery, part of the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries series from Guideposts.
Follow Elizabeth on social media: Website, Blog, Amazon, Facebook and Twitter
Elizabeth is giving away a copy of In Hot Water (and the entire story collection, “The Coffee Club Mysteries: 6 Whodunits Are Brewing in Small-Town Kansas”). Follow the directions below to enter.
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Mysteries are fun and she’s a new-to-me author.
I’m a huge fan of mysteries too. Started out reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys and graduated to Agatha Christie. 🙂
I am just starting to read cozy mysteries. I am in the middle of my first one and am enjoying it. So, I would like to continue with a few more cozy mysteries.
I’m so glad, Lori! Cozies are different from books with a stronger suspense/thriller element. These books focus more on clues and solving “whodunit”.
So excited to see this book from Elizabeth and definitely interested in this collection.
Thanks, Barbie! This is my return to Barbour after several years away. Hopefully, it will be the first of many! 🙂
Thank you for the chance I loved reading Nancy Drew when I was younger!
A fellow sleuth!! I found an entire collection of Nancy Drew books at a bed & breakfast recently. Talk about a flashback to my childhood! <3
Love mysteries!
But you especially love MY mysteries, right old buddy, old pal?? 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
I love reading, one of my first reads growing up was Nancy Drew.
I think a lot of us grew up loving those books! I specifically remember staying up to read THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE by the light of my parents’ Christmas tree. 🙂
First the title brought me in – I adore coffee! 🙂 Then the stories intrigue me and I love these types of collections.
Oh, I’m so glad, Susan. The gals in The Coffee Club are so much fun. Just a bunch of good friends, going around solving mysteries. 🙂
In my story, they all go on a garage sale/antique shopping trip. Made me want to grab some of my girlfriends and hit the road!
I am so excited to read this!!! This is definitely my type of book as I love mysteries and true crime!!!
I do too, Amy! But my family hates watching them with because I usually can trace the clues pretty quickly. LOL! That’s why I love books and movies that surprise me. If I can’t figure out the ending BEFORE the ending, I love it.
I love mysteries and coffee!
Two of my favorite things!
I can’t wait to start reading The Coffee Club Mysteries next week on my cruise! Also the first chapter of When the Heart Sings is so touching. I can’t wait for its release to read the whole book.
Take a picture for me, please!! And if you’ll bring your book to church, I’ll sign it for you! 🙂
I love a good mystery book I get so excited when I read one
Don’t you just love getting lost in a good book? I used to read so much as a kid. I don’t have as much time to read for enjoyment anymore, but sometimes my husband treats me with a day spent reading…with no interruptions! LOL! What a treasure.
love to win it because it sounds interesting!
Thanks, Shelia! It sure was a lot of fun to write!
I love mysteries! Thank you for the chance to win.
My kinda gal!! 🙂 Thanks for entering, Trish. Good luck!
I love cozy mysteries and this book just warms my heart!
Me too, Michele! My favorite all time mystery (though not really a cozy) is AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie. What’s yours?
Wow I love your story and your experiences. I know how you mean about kids and parents. I can’t wait to start reading your books.
Thank you, Danielle!
I like mysteries like this, not so much on murders but I enjoy the relationship between the characters and the interesting plot and sounds like there is some humor involved, can’t wait to read it
You’re exactly right, Rose. I do try and inject a little humor into my stories. In fact, most of my characters have some kind of funny quirk that lands them into trouble!
I like that the author works in a school. I’m a teacher, too.
Bless you, Dianna!! I’ve been in public education for over 25 years. I started out directing a head start program and then went on to work in an elementary school, and then administration. What a blessing it has been working with children!!
A mystery in Kansas–an owl that is priceless, and now a woman is being followed…what makes this owl priceless?
Actually, Harper doesn’t know it’s priceless! She learns this as she uncovers clues…dun, dun, dun! 🙂
The Church Library Patrons Love Our Mystery Books and I Do Too.
If I win, This Book Will Be Given To The Library So That Others May Enjoy It.
I love this, Janet!! When a new book comes out, I always send two copies to my mom, one for her to keep, and one for her to donate to the library. 🙂
Dear Elizabeth,
Our church library is 75 years old and we have books for all ages.
We also have your books in the library.
Thank you for your response.
I love mysteries! And anything with the word coffee in it has to be wonderful!
Terri, you’re my kinda gal! 🙂
I love a good mystery and I’m sure this book will be a great read!
Thanks, friend! Sure do you miss you guys!
Why do I want to win this book? I want to win this book because it sounds like a delightful read to get me through this icy winter in the Midwest. Also, because I dearly love coffee.
Those are GOOD reasons. 🙂
I love reading mystery genre books and this would be perfect for winter reading.