Elizabeth Goddard
9 min read ⭑
“I’ve realized that the act of creating something that others can enjoy is fulfilling. I find it fascinating to watch the dough rise over time, and, in a way, I feel like I’ve just created something from nothing, which is like what I do when I write a novel.”
Ever since she was a little girl, Elizabeth Goddard had a strong desire to write, but it wasn’t until she was an adult with three small children at home that she began writing her first novel for publication. Since then, she’s written more than 60 novels (mostly romantic suspense) and has earned the title of “bestselling and award-winning author.” With every book she writes, her goal is not simply to entertain people — but to help them draw closer to Jesus, her first love.
In this interview, Elizabeth is getting honest about how far she’s willing to drive to get Tex-Mex, her newest culinary obsession, her strategy for conquering fear and the spiritual habits that recharge her creativity and strengthen her faith.
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
My hometown in Texas is about 2,300 miles from where I landed in Washington. I haven’t lived in Washington long enough to truly call anything about the state “home,” especially since I can’t get my favorite go-to meal without driving five and a half hours to Spokane — all the way across the state — to On the Border, a popular Tex-Mex restaurant chain. Other than this one restaurant, I can’t find a place in the Pacific Northwest to eat my favorite kind of food.
Living in East Texas for the first half of my adult life, my go-to place to eat for birthdays, anniversaries and any occasion or excuse I could find was Mercado’s in Tyler, Texas. They had the best fajitas, and I can’t find anything that compares so far away from the border, except, of course, in Spokane. I’ve yet to drive the distance, though.
But I’ve learned to cope by making my own salsa. I can make a mean plate of “super” nachos, which is probably the only dish I do well. My nachos are layered with refried beans, cheese, tomatoes, onions and lots of pickled jalapeños, which we buy by the gallon! I make my own guacamole to go on top and often add fajita chicken or ground beef. Still, I’d much prefer having the option of getting my favorite food somewhere besides my own kitchen because I don’t enjoy cooking.
That said, I recently went to Michigan for my oldest son’s wedding, and guess what? They have an On the Border restaurant in Grand Rapids. I convinced my husband we should make the two-hour drive to eat Tex-Mex — just this once.
After all, this is a special occasion!
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QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
Lately, I’ve taken up learning how to make sourdough bread. This was something I put off for years because it seemed so complicated. After all, you have to “feed” the sourdough starter. Like I need another mouth to feed in this family of four humans, two dogs and one parrot. I spent hours watching YouTube videos about the sourdough basics and realized that every single baker has a different method — so that means pretty much anything goes. Of course, the starter must be fed, but it didn’t have to be fed twice a day. I could leave it in the fridge and feed it once a week when I decided to bake bread.
I have discovered that I enjoy the feel of the dough in my hands. I’ve realized that the act of creating something that others can enjoy is fulfilling. I find it fascinating to watch the dough rise over time, and, in a way, I feel like I’ve just created something from nothing, which is like what I do when I write a novel.
For thousands of years, long before commercialized yeast, this process of fermentation (sourdough starter) has been used to create bread. Nothing more than flour and water is combined, and then nature takes over, inviting natural leavening agents — wild yeast and good bacteria — to join in the fun.
In this creative process, I’m drawn back to the truth that God has given us everything we need in his creation.
I’m reminded of that every time I go for a walk in the gorgeous woods near my home in the Pacific Northwest or on a rocky beach only an hour away. I love nature and love to hike in the rain forest and simply stare at the breathtaking view of mountains, including Mt. Rainier, an “active” volcano. While spending time in nature isn’t such a quirky proclivity, for me, it’s a constant reminder of his magnificent creation, and I find myself simply in awe of it all.
No matter the activity or my pursuits, I see God’s hand in everything. He’s everywhere.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and, in this thing, together. So what’s your kryptonite, and how do you hide it?
My kryptonite is fear. Fear of the future. Fear of failing. Fear of not being enough. Fear of missing out. Fear in multiple layers. I could keep going. I don’t do a good job of hiding it. Not sure that I have even tried. For me, fear shows up in many ways, but mostly in anxiety. Even as a young child, I suffered from weird stress dreams — feeling weighed down and overwhelmed. I only recently recognized those dreams for what they were — anxiety. I had nothing to feel anxious about then, but I certainly do now as an adult. I find this “kryptonite” debilitating and paralyzing at times.
But in a wicked plot twist, fear serves me well when writing suspense novels. I’m a natural at coming up with the worst-case scenarios in everyday life. They just pop right into my head with no effort at all. What does take effort, though, is for me to face my fears head-on and continue moving forward with life, one step at a time. I’ve heard it said that fear and hope are two sides of the same coin. I believe that’s true because I counter my fears with determination and my strong faith in God. He opens all the doors for me. All I have to do is walk over the kryptonite and through those doors.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
I had to write many books before I figured out my specific niche and where I truly belonged as a writer. I landed on writing what I love to read, and in my case, my romantic suspense stories are almost always going to be set in stunning locations.
It’s all about the presentation. The right backdrop for a novel can increase the immersive experience and enjoyment, the tension and intrigue. I love building those action-adventure scenes so that nature becomes a character as well. My current “Hidden Bay” series is set on the stormy, rocky Washington coast, which totally deserves a series. Am I right? I’ve longed to write stories set on the windy, rainy coast and let readers be captivated by the scenery, fighting the cold chill of dread while waiting for the unexpected. I love big, unforeseen twists. If I had to say I was obsessed with anything, it would be figuring out the big reveal in my current story.
I’ve completed all three books in the “Hidden Bay” series and am starting on a new series called “Mercy Ridge” set in the Northern Cascades. In all of this, I hope to portray God’s creation.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it's God when it happens?
Oh, this one’s easy. Every book I turn in on time, I know it only happened with God’s help. But let me back up. I unearth a story as I write and get to know the characters and their spiritual journeys. Those spiritual nuggets and themes grow organically. They just show up out of nowhere, and I see God’s handiwork because I couldn’t have come up with them on my own.
Then there is the matter of me being so very behind on my book while facing a looming deadline. I often ask for prayer from friends and my church because I have no idea how I’ll get it done, and then when I do, that seems like a miracle to me.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?
We really have no excuse, do we? I mean, we have every Bible and resource at our fingertips, either to view online, order online or pick up at the local Christian bookstore. And we can listen to praise and worship of our choice at any time. For me, finding myself in his presence has always been about music — worship or contemporary Christian music. Through those, I can feel his presence, his anointing. In addition to that, I listen to Bible reading plans or Bible studies from the YouVersion app, and I really enjoy listening to Brian Hardin read daily through the Bible every year — fresh, every day — on Daily Audio Bible. I listen while I’m doing other things.
I struggle to set aside long periods of quiet meditation. Since I pray continually all day, he’s with me all day, and if there is a “quiet time,” it’s often spontaneous. I’ll sit down for a moment and catch my breath, and he shows up and fills me with awe.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Looking backward, considering the full sweep of your unique faith journey and all you encountered along the way, what resources stand out to you? What changed reality and your heart?
I’m blessed to have a son in Bible college who connects me to all kinds of fascinating resources I never would have found on my own. He listens to podcasts by various theologians or watches them on YouTube, including debates of opposing views.
Lately, we’ve been listening to audiobooks of the writings of the Early Church Fathers, those who lived during the first five centuries of the church — you know, Polycarp, Athanasius, Ignatius and many more. They’re created by Theoria Audiobooks, which can be found on multiple podcast platforms. Listening to these writings that shaped the foundations and doctrines of the church has given me a deeper understanding on so many levels. I realize how vital it is to know and understand church history, especially during this time when people want to change the meaning of Scripture to fit the current culture or their personal emotional needs.
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
I love how God gives me a dream and then fulfills it. Like this whole writing gig. I dreamed of writing my entire life, but I’m not sure I ever believed the dream would come true in such a big way. So I think God wants me to dream big. You ask a great question — what’s beginning to stir? — and I’m not really sure. I just know that God has planted me in this beautiful place where I love to write books, and beyond writing more books, I’m not entirely sure what more I’ll do. But I’m always praying for God to direct my path and open the doors.
Whatever doors he opens, I’ll walk through.
As to what you can expect from me, I’m currently writing a brand-new series called “Mercy Ridge,” which is set in the beautiful Northern Cascades. I’m also praying for direction in creating a new proposal. What next, God?
The phrase “fear not” appears over 300 times in the Bible across over 100 verses. Why does God tell us so frequently not to fear? Could it be that it’s because fear is our natural response to the broken world we live in — and to the brokenness in ourselves? And because fear, when left unchecked, can quickly become, as Elizabeth described it, “debilitating and paralyzing.”
When our feet are frozen with terror, we can’t move forward in the good things God has called us to, with him. Today, consider inviting the Holy Spirit to address those fears that are holding you back and “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7, ESV).
Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling and Christy Award-winning author of more than 60 novels, including the Missing in Alaska, Rocky Mountain Courage and Uncommon Justice series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Carol Award winner, a two-time Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book and serving with her husband in ministry.
