About the Book

Book: Off the Itinerary: The Search and Rescue Files

Author: M. Liz Boyle

Genre: Christian YA

Release Date: May, 2025

Marlee and Marshall are now students at the Professional Outdoor Guides School where Sawyer just graduated. Meanwhile, Lydie is busy training a search-and-rescue dog. In this special edition with seven search-and-rescue stories, the Off the Itinerary characters face new adventures (and misadventures). Adrenaline is high as Marlee faces her fears in a cave rescue, a helicopter evacuation, a swift water rescue, and more! Will Marlee trust that her misadventures are part of a greater plan? If you loved Avalanche, Chased, and Ablaze, you won’t want to miss this collection of short stories.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Liz is the author of the Off the Itinerary series, the wife of a professional tree climber, and the homeschooling mom of three energetic and laundry-producing children. Liz once spent a summer in Colorado teaching rock climbing, which she believes was a fantastic way to make money and memories. She resides with her family in Wisconsin, where they enjoy hiking and rock climbing. Liz and her husband have also backpacked in Colorado and the Grand Canyon, which have provided inspiration for her writing. She makes adventurous stories to encourage others to find adventures and expand their comfort zones (though admittedly, she still needs lots of practice expanding her own comfort zone).

More from M. Liz

When I published my third book, Ablaze, I was confident that the Off the Itinerary series was complete. Marlee had a solid character arc, she’d endured three natural disasters, and I wanted to finish the series on a good note. A number of devoted readers reached out, asking if I would please write another. I was reluctant for a while, but eventually (thanks to the excitement of my readers), I began brainstorming this special edition. Rather than another full-length novel, I chose to compile seven short stories focusing on Marlee’s involvement with search and rescue missions. I’m eager for my readers to spend bonus time with the Stanley girls and Miles boys. Some things never change, like Marlee’s high odds of finding misadventure and her need to overcome fear with the support of God, her family, and friends. Other things have changed for the better, like Lydie introducing a dog to the adventures. One thing is certain: Marlee must learn that God’s itinerary is better than hers.

Interview with Liz

How do you create your main characters?

Several years ago I learned from Abbie Emmons to craft characters with a desire, a fear, and a misbelief. The fear and misbelief prevent the character from achieving the desire, and with that template, the framework for a character is built! This practice helps me craft characters.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love reading aloud to my kids and rock climbing with my husband and kids.

Do you base your characters on real people?

Not exactly, but I have joked that anything my friends say or do may be used in a book! When I’m in a public setting, especially a busy place like an airport or beach, I like to people-watch and casually eavesdrop (not in a weird nosy way, though!). Hearing different phrases that older people or younger people or athletic people or artsy people use helps me refine my characters’ dialogue. 

Have you experienced writer’s block, and how do you handle it?

For me, doing something active outside and sleeping are the best cures for writer’s block. Moving in fresh air recharges my creativity, and I’ve also been amazed to experience how my brain sorts through a writing problem while I sleep.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I remember being very surprised by how nice authors are. I thought it would be scary to contact an author and unlikely that I would hear back, but I’ve had more authors than I can count (even some famous ones!) happily answer questions, collaborate with me on a blog post, etc.

Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

I have a few more YA books in progress. One is about a treasure diver and the main character, a 19-year-old girl, learns what real treasure is. I hope to release it in late fall or early 2026. My other project is Wannabe Lifeguard On Duty, which is a novel about a no-nonsense lifeguard, a wannabe lifeguard who is learning to cope with guilt, a dog named Play Dough (or Plato, depending on who you ask!), and a quirky sister who hosts pottery festivals. With a boss full of sage advice and a Super Soaker in Mama S’s kitchen, my hope is that this dual point-of-view book will inspire readers to trust God and develop their talents. I’m waiting to release this story until its sequel is closer to finished (and right now it’s about halfway through the first draft).

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 30

Texas Book-aholic, August 31

Simple Harvest Reads, September 1 (Author Interview)

Madi’s Musings, September 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 3

Artistic Nobody, September 4 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 5

Guild Master, September 6 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 7

Fiction Book Lover, September 8 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, September 8

Holly’s Book Corner, September 9

Stories By Gina, September 10 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, September 10

Lights in a Dark World, September 11

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, September 12 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, M. Liz is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54288