Hi everyone! I’m Elizabeth John, an author of contemporary romances and cozy, romantic suspense novels. An avid reader since I was a child, my love for good stories led me to create my own. A year ago, I retired from being an elementary school teacher. Now, I have the pleasure of writing full-time!
A bit about my background—I graduated from college with a degree in economics and worked in the banking industry for several years. After my children were born and I went part-time, I started drafting novels. My fiction writing took a backseat because opportunities arose to publish nonfiction articles for newspapers and local magazines. A couple of years later, I landed a position as a writer for The State of New Jersey.
I enjoyed all these writing prospects but had little time to produce fiction pieces. Things continued that way for a few years until my career path took another turn. I got Master’s Degree in Education and started teaching. Going back to school, teaching little ones, and taking care of my family and home was a lot to manage, so I stopped writing. But not for long! Once I settled into my teaching position, I finished another novel. Judging Joey was my first published book.
Do you love animals? I do, and currently, I have five pets. All my fur babies were rescued. Max is a Maltese mix and Bailey, a mini-poodle. Both are senior dogs. Cori, a schnauzer terrier mix, and Mo, a beagle, were my son’s dogs, and are now mine. My daughter could no longer keep Maggie, her orange, domestic shorthair cat, so Maggie came to live with me too. These animals sure keep me busy!
Mornings are when I’m most creative, so I write first thing. I also do the business side of publishing early in the day before dealing with other commitments. All my stories involve families, small towns, secrets, and romance. My suspense stories have both mystery and romance. I’m in the process of finishing the third book in The Becker Sisters Bridal Series. The working title is Forever Bury Your Heart. After that book is done, I’m going to move onto a new series. I’ll be announcing more about that in my newsletter.
Someone asked me recently if I have writing quirks. When I write, I need complete silence. With all the animals in the house, quiet isn’t always possible, but I work better under those conditions. Hydration is important, so I keep a glass of water, tea, or coffee on my desk. I used to light a special candle to set my writing mood, but Maggie is like a trapeze artist. I can’t have open flames with a cat jumping around!
I was also asked if I have favorite tropes. Second chances and reunion stories are my favorite. The book I’m penning now includes the fake dating trope. I haven’t written forced proximity yet, but that would be great for one of my suspense books.
Besides writing full-time, I now fill my days with activities and classes I hadn’t had time for before. Some of the fun things I’ve taken up this year are tap dancing, line dancing, knitting, crocheting, golf, and learning French! Friends of mine keep encouraging me to play pickleball. I might just add that to my schedule!
Author Biography:
Elizabeth John writes tender romances with a touch of intrigue. Recently retired from teaching elementary school, she now lives her dream of creating stories full-time. A huge animal lover, she resides in her New Jersey home with four rescue dogs, who all have their own quirky personalities, and one very tolerant rescue cat. Her furry friends sure keep her busy! In her spare time, she enjoys knitting and crocheting, researching her family’s ancestry, gardening, or relaxing at the beach with her nose in a good book. She is a member of New Jersey Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America, Liberty States Fiction Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Elizabeth loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website:
Social Media Links:
Website: www.ElizabethJohn.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elizabethjohnauthor
Twitter: @elizabethjohn34
Instagram: @elizabethjohnauthor
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/c-8pKH
Title: Forever Hold Your Piece
Author: Elizabeth John
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Book Blurb:
Lily Becker believes the worst day of her life was when her fiancé stood her up at the altar. That is, until she stumbles upon his dead body in her family’s bridal shop. The shop becomes a crime scene, her business expansion plans tank, and brides demand back their deposits. Confused, scared, and certain that she is being watched, Lily struggles to keep her business and her life afloat.
PI Jake Ward, hired to find a priceless stolen painting, tracks the thief’s location to Lily’s small coastal town. As part of his cover, he leases the vacant bait and tackle shop next door to hers, unaware that she and her sisters had planned to rent the place.
The Chief of Police worries that someone close to Lily murdered her ex and he fears for her safety. The chief, a surrogate father to Lily, asks Jake to act as her bodyguard. Jake agrees and pretends to work on his business but never leaves her side. Although annoyed that Jake interfered with her family’s business plan, she admits that Jake makes her feel protected.
Jake and Lily can’t deny their attraction to one another. Lily decides to trust again as their relationship grows serious. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they are perfect for each other. Guilt eats at Jake’s conscience since he must lie about his true identity. Can he solve his case before he’s free to tell Lily the truth and she learns of his deception?
Excerpt:
For the first time in her life, Lily Becker got exactly what she had always wanted. Solitude. And she couldn’t believe how much she hated what she had coveted.
Cold morning sea air whipped against her body as she closed the door on the empty home she shared with her two sisters.
She shivered away her regrets.
“Be careful what you wish for,” she muttered to her trusted companion, Leo, a Maltese terrier mix, always glued to her side. “Don’t worry boy, I know you miss them too, but Rose and Chrissy will be back from Italy in a couple of weeks.”
Her sisters were her best friends, her partners in the family bridal shop, and they were rarely apart from one another. With them away on a business trip, being alone wasn’t peaceful.
Lily scooped up Leo and whispered against his soft ear. “You’re the only one I can admit this to, but I even miss Sam.”
Although true, her reprehensible, MIA ex-fiancé, wouldn’t dare show his face now, a year later, and she refused to waste another minute thinking about him, especially this morning.
Lily ran down the stairs and pressed the key alarm toward her van. The beep blasted through the silence of the early morning fog rolling off the ocean. Leo woofed at something next door.
She twisted her head and peeked over her shoulder, her heart pounded as she x-rayed the fog for anyone lurking, about to jump out at her. Don’t be a wimp. Like before. No one is going to be there.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon: Forever Hold Your Piece
Title Forever Keep Your Secret
Author Elizabeth John
Genre Romantic Suspense
Publisher Soul Mate Publishing
Book Blurb
A fatal car accident threatens to expose Rose Becker’s secret. Four years earlier, she promised her dying mother that she would keep her unplanned pregnancy and her son’s adoption a secret, even from her sisters. When her son’s adoptive parents perish in the car crash, Rose agonizes over her child’s future and yearns to get involved in his life. Fear consumes her when she learns he might be in danger.
Mark Winters believes the hit and run collision that caused the deaths of his brother and sister-in-law was no mistake. The police investigation turns up no witnesses and no suspects. When his nephew’s biological mother shows up demanding answers, he is confused about her motives. Does she really want what’s best for the child she gave up?
As they spend time together, searching for the truth about the accident, Rose develops feelings for him, and Mark finds himself falling in love with the beautiful bridal shop owner. But someone wants them to stop asking questions and attempts to kill them. When they become targets, they must not only protect Rose’s son, but each other.
Excerpt
She couldn’t be seen now, not after she had been invisible for four years. Rose slunk down in the driver’s seat of her black Toyota Solara and tipped the baseball cap down her forehead. Waited.
Rose licked her lips. She wasn’t prepared for a stakeout, no water, no snacks. Didn’t even know how to prepare for one. As usual, she didn’t think things through. Her vigil should have lasted only a few minutes, but she had already been watching the house in her car for two hours with no sign of him. She pressed her chapped lips together.
No. Leaving the cul-de-sac was not an option. She had to make sure he was okay. Was he crying somewhere in that pristine, five-bedroom red-brick house with the sparkling chandelier hanging in the front entry window? If so, who was comforting him?
What stranger hugged her child tight?
A middle-aged woman in leggings and a T-shirt walked a German shepherd past Rose’s car on the passenger side. The woman stared into the car as she passed on the sidewalk. Rose stared back. Fabulous. Just what she needed. A nosy neighbor to call the cops and report a suspicious person hanging about the street.
Maybe that would be a good thing. At least she’d get some answers instead of staring at an empty house. But then there’d be questions, and, under the terms of the contract, Rose must refrain from contact. That was the deal.
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Title Backstage Butter Brittle
Author Elizabeth John
Genre contemporary romance (novella)
Publisher The Wild Rose Press
Book Blurb
Her thirtieth birthday is Anna’s deadline to succeed as a theatrical performer…only six months away. A crucial audition in her hometown puts her into the path of her ex-boyfriend. After only a few minutes together, she realizes she’s missed James. More shocking is that she receives an invitation to help with his family’s summer camp theater program. Farmer James Tucker can’t believe the woman he once thought he’d marry is back in town, auditioning at the theater next to his ice cream parlor. He hopes for the impossible—that she’ll stay this time. But she wants bright lights, and he leads a simpler life. Can this reunion be their second chance at love?
Excerpt
The instant James Tucker heard the familiar voice vibrating through the thin walls, he recognized the angelic sound. Anna was here? Singing? He hurried to finish with a customer and raced past the party room and through an inconspicuous side door of the ice cream parlor to the adjoining building. What was happening?
He grabbed the drapery and jerked his head back. He soaked in a vision of the most beautiful woman in the world. His ears hadn’t deceived him, and neither had his eyes. Anna was here.
Her thick, red hair fell past her shoulders, styled a bit longer than when he had last seen her. Her toned body moved with the grace of an experienced dancer.
His pulse raced. Fond memories slammed into his mind. He stayed hidden and watched her performance.
The crowd burst into applause.
Riveted, he joined in.
Anna beamed with an upturned face and bubbly laugh, but then she frowned and shook her head.
He gritted his teeth, watching Anna’s reaction when she found out she’d auditioned for the ice cream parlor. An error had occurred, and his gut twisted. James slipped from the audition room, careful Anna couldn’t spot him. She had no idea he was part owner of the ice cream parlor. Already having had a bit of a shock, he wanted to give her a few minutes to collect herself. How would she react when she saw him?
The people cheering were right. She was magnificent. But he had known all along she was special.
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