Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 50 novels, including her Rocky Mountain Courage Series and Uncommon Justice Series. Her books have sold nearly 1.5 million copies. She is a Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award 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.
In this interview, Elizabeth talks with us about her new Missing in Alaska Series book number one, Cold Light of Day.
FF: Please provide a brief summary of your novel Cold Light of Day.
Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job in a small town nestled in a fjord in southeast Alaska. She’s drawn to Grier Brenner, an outsider who seems to show up right when she needs him, but she doesn’t know if she can trust him. Still, she doesn’t know if she can trust her own police department, so when a crime wave hits the town, she trusts Grier to have her back. Grier has secrets that he hopes won’t end up hurting the police chief he’s falling for, but it’s too late for him to leave town. Autumn slowly learns the truth about Grier’s identity, and they must save each other from the forces gathering against them.
FF: Cold Light of Day is the first book in the Missing in Alaska Series. How many books will be part of this series?
I’m currently contracted to write three books. In addition, I’ve written a prequel novella called Dawn’s Hidden Threat that will introduce readers to the characters and setting of Cold Light of Day.
FF: What is the connecting element between all the books in the Missing in Alaska Series?
The stories are based on characters who live in the small fictional town of Shadow Gap set in the stunning Alaska Panhandle. The characters are dynamic, adding to an already colorful setting.
FF: Your male protagonist, Grier Brenner, is a newcomer to Alaska. Without giving away any spoilers, can you tell us about his past and what drew him to Alaska?
He’s the outsider who came to Alaska to join in a salmon fishing contest and, like so many others, ended up falling love with the setting—and in his case, maybe a certain police chief. So he decided to stay. At least that’s the story he uses. I can’t say more about his past without spoiling the story, but let’s just say readers will enjoy the surprises they find after unwrapping the package.
FF: Your main characters must learn to rely on each other in order to survive. Are there other underlying themes in your book?
As with all my stories, I start out writing with only a blurb to go from and I allow the story world to expand organically and the characters to inform me what happens next. I’m often surprised at the many themes that arise. In Cold Light of Day, Autumn needs closure over the death of her mother and to forgive herself. She also believes that she must walk justly and deliver justice. Grier’s aunt raised him to always do the right thing, so even though he’s come to Alaska to hide, he becomes a hero and draws attention to himself. Other themes include the truth that God has a purpose for your life, and He has placed you where you are for His reasons. No matter how hard things get, both characters have to dig deep and find the strength and courage (mettle) to see their way through.
FF: Are there characters in Cold Light of Day that will make appearances in the rest of the series?
I plan to include as many characters as possible in all the three books. Readers are introduced to bush pilot Carrie James, who’s the main character in book 2, which I’m currently writing. The hero in book 2 is Trevor West from Critical Alliance (Rocky Mountain Courage Series book 3). Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long will be the main hero in book 3, and we’ll meet a brand-new character for his romantic interest.
FF: What do you hope readers will gain from reading Cold Light of Day?
As always, I hope readers enjoy a great story and that when it’s done, they continue to think about the characters for days to come as well as the above-mentioned themes that are timeless truths from Scripture.
FF: What kind of research was required for writing Cold Light of Day?
Every book I write seems to require significant research. Fortunately, I had already written a six-book series set in this region of Alaska, so I was able to use that research and add to it. I had a lot of fun as I revisited the region to add even more details to the setting and as I dug deep to create my unique and interesting villains. I also spent a lot of time reading about law enforcement in Alaska’s small towns, as well as how communities are structured. Alaska has boroughs rather than counties and therefore no sheriffs. The Alaska State Troopers serve the areas outside of the police department boundaries, and small villages can also have VPSO—Village Public Safety Officers. I could keep going. I spent a lot of time looking into international crime as well.
FF: What drew you to Alaska as a setting for this series?
I love to set most of my novels in stunning locations, especially mountains. I love that Alaska is vast and much of it is wilderness. As mentioned earlier, I had already written a six-book series set in Alaska and had been thinking about writing additional books. I was researching podcasts for Deadly Target (Rocky Mountain Courage Series book 2) when I came across a podcast about people who had gone missing in Alaska. In that moment, I knew exactly the new series I would write, and I quickly emailed my editor to get her thoughts—she was on board. It’s always an exciting moment when an author is inspired to write a story or series and just knows it’s the way to go.
FF: What do you love most about writing Romantic Suspense?
I love everything about the genre, but I believe what I love most is figuring out what the twists will be. I’m often surprised at the turns my stories take, but that’s good. It means readers will be surprised too.
Cold Light of Day
Missing in Alaska Series #1
Elizabeth Goddard
Revell
Genres: Mystery/Suspense, Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 7, 2023
ISBN-10: 0800742044
ISBN-13: 978-0800742041
Book Summary:
After a string of crimes, Chief Autumn Long’s already tenuous grasp on her job is threatened. Now, she has a wounded officer, a string of murders, and an attack on her father to deal with. Someone is terrorizing her small town of Shadow Gap, Alaska.
Grier Brenner is a newcomer to Shadow Gap. He came to Alaska for the same reason so many others do—to disappear. But his skills are too necessary for Autumn to allow him to hide. Despite his status as an outsider, Grier might be the only person who can help her solve the case. But Grier’s presence in her life may also be a deadly trap for them both.
As the stakes rise and the danger increases, Autumn and Grier must rely on each other to extinguish the deadly threats.
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