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.

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

Interview

If you could give advice to a newbie writer, what would it be?

Remember your why! It’s easy to get discouraged by the myriad steps to publication, so keep your focus on why you write and who you write for. 

What is the easiest part of your writing process?

The brainstorming! I get excited with the potential in a blank page and being able to shape a new character and plot. At the very first stage of outlining, there are so many open doors that it takes shape relatively easily. 

Do your books revolve around certain themes?

I like to include adventure in all my writing projects to encourage readers to try new things, and to say yes to adventures with God. Also central to my writing projects is dependence on God since that is central to life. I wouldn’t want to write a book that doesn’t point readers to God. 

What are you currently working on?

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).

When you aren’t writing, what do you enjoy doing?