Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling and Christy Award–winning author of more than sixty novels, including Cold Light of Day and Shadows at Dusk, as well as the Rocky Mountain Courage Series and Uncommon Justice Series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Carol Award and 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.
In this interview, Elizabeth talks with us about her latest book, Storm Warning, which is the first book in her new Hidden Bay Series.
FF: Can you please provide a brief summary of your novel Storm Warning?
Remi Grant is hiding at a storm-watching lodge on the beautiful Washington coast. When her memories from a forgotten few days start to return, she’s attacked. The danger she fled has found her. Former Army pilot Hawk Beckett is there to save her from certain death as they search for answers while they survive both a killer and a monster storm.
FF: What inspired you to set your novel in a storm-watching lodge on the Washington coast?
Nature and settings inspire me, and I’ve always wanted to set a series along Washington’s stunning rocky coast—part of a designated wilderness area. What better location than a storm-watching lodge? Adding the stormy aspect to the series ramps up the tension.
FF: How does Remi’s background as an Army photographer play into the story?
Remi’s military training and skills kick into action during a pivotal moment—one she has forgotten—that drives the story forward. Everything in the story comes down to this single moment in time that is only revealed once her memories return.
FF: Can you tell readers about the mysterious puzzle piece Remi receives and its significance to the plot?
The puzzle piece serves as a catalyst to hopefully trigger her memories before time runs out. Though she’s been hiding at the lodge, she doesn’t realize how close her enemies are to finding and silencing her.
FF: The book features two protagonists with military backgrounds. How did your research into military experiences inform their characterization?
It’s hard to imagine creating the best hero without including military training and experience. My husband, an Air Force veteran, comes from a line of military service. In fact, his uncle Dave Thatcher was one of the heroic Doolittle Raiders. That said, writing characters with military backgrounds is complex. Both Remi and Hawk are in their current situations due to their past experiences in the Army.
FF: Weather plays a crucial role in this story. How did you approach writing about the intense storm conditions?
I live in the Pacific Northwest, not far from the coast, and recently took a research trip along the Olympic Peninsula to see the gorgeous coastline as well as the rainforest. I also got inspired by looking at Pinterest for waves crashing on rocky beaches. Ha! Then I read everything I could about the past storms in the Pacific Northwest and also looked at the many storm-watching places along the coast. After that, I could feel myself in the storm and wrote about it.
FF: Without giving away any spoilers, can you hint at the nature of the “disturbing incident” Remi is trying to remember?
The incident involves multiple countries and national security. That could very well be a spoiler.
FF: How would you describe the dynamic between Remi and Hawk as they navigate both external dangers and their own past traumas?
Remi and Hawk are both strong, determined characters who have to learn to trust each other, even when they both hold so much back.
FF: This is the first book in your new Hidden Bay series. What can readers expect from the series as a whole?
An unputdownable action and adventure series set against a dramatic background as well as mystery and intrigue. I love to give readers a thrilling ride that includes unexpected twists and an unpredictable plot.
FF: The story blends elements of suspense, romance, and psychological thriller. How do you balance these different genres in your writing?
Oh, I just have fun! I just write by instinct and then make adjustments as needed.
FF: What’s next for you after the Hidden Bay Series?
I’m hoping to sell a brand-new proposal to my publisher soon. Stay tuned!
Storm Warning
Hidden Bay Series #1
Elizabeth Goddard
Revell
Genres: Mystery/Suspense, Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 18, 2025
ISBN-10: 0800746147
ISBN-13: 978-0800746148
Book Summary:
Haunted by a half-forgotten past, former Army photographer Remi Grant is now working at an isolated storm-watching lodge on Washington’s rugged coast. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she receives a mysterious puzzle piece that may unlock her suppressed memories.
As Remi grapples with her fragmented memories, she encounters Hawk Beckett, an enigmatic former military pilot seeking solitude after a catastrophic event in his own life. Their paths intertwine as they face the most ferocious storm to hit the coast in a decade, forcing them into a fight for survival.
But nature isn’t their only adversary. A sinister presence at the lodge is determined to keep Remi’s past buried, even if it means silencing her permanently.
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