A Very Warm Welcome Back to my Friend, Penny Zellar!

Penny's offering to give her latest release to someone who leaves his/her email address and comment!

Tell us about your latest release. The cover looks fantastic!

Thank you, Carole. It is an honor to be a guest on your blog. I am thrilled about the release of Kaydie, the second book in my Montana Skies Series.

Here is a short blurb:

Haunted by her painful marriage, Kaydie Worthington Kraemer is determined never to fall in love again, and it will take the grace of God to change her mind—the same grace that works in the heart of ranch hand Jonah Dickenson, a confirmed bachelor who has unhealed wounds of his own to overcome.

What was the hardest part to write?

I would have to say that the hardest part to write was the ending. I didn’t want it to be over!

We all have choices of items that help us write. What’s yours? Can you give the readers a glimpse into your writing space?

I am fortunate to have a nice-sized office. I have a desk that is lined with my children’s photos and artwork. I also have an exercise bike for when I need a break and a cozy fireplace for when I sit and have my quiet time with the Lord.

However, we won’t talk about the closet, which is lined with shelves and filing cabinets full of a lot of paperwork that needs a good going-through!

If you had to choose one person to go with you for encouragement to a secluded cabin, who would that be?

I would pick my husband, Lon, and my two daughters.

What are you working on now?

I just finished the third book in the series, Hailee, which is scheduled for release in September. I'm also working on a second historical romance series that takes place in the Post-Civil War Era. I recently finished book one in the series and have started writing book two.

Every day before I write, I re-devote my writing to the Lord and ask that He would guide me in typing each and every word so that, as a completed book, it would glorify and honor Him.

What is one of the happiest moments of your life or an accomplishment that you’re especially proud of?

The happiest moments in my life were marrying my husband, Lon, and, years later, the births of my children.

A more recent event, for which I am praising God, is the spiritual growth of my children. I pray daily that they continue on this course and grow to be Godly women, which is such a challenge in today’s world. (I am terrified of the teen years, LOL!) Every time I hear my ten-year-old daughter sing in church or hear my youngest daughter talk of her ministry, I am humbled how God uses us, no matter what our age, or our stage, in life.

How do you choose names for your characters? Do you do a lot of research on them?

I pick what I feel are masculine names for my male characters, and I especially like Bible names. For female characters, I pick names that I really like that I might have named my children, had I had a dozen more daughters. Smile. This is a bit funny, but when I choose lead female names, I always like to make sure they mesh well with the lead male character’s name and that it is a good combination with the male character’s last name, just in case they get married and live happily ever after. *grins*

Can you tell us some of your favorite books or characters that you cherish?

As a child, I was a little bookworm and loved reading Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew. I still have some of those books and my girls are reading them now, which is exciting to see. As an adult, my favorite book is the Bible, and is the one book I wouldn’t want to be without. I also have a sizeable collection of Christian fiction from some of my favorite authors and also some devotional books and Bible studies.

Any fun things about yourself that the readers might enjoy knowing?

When I was a teenager, I performed on stage in several lip sync contests, most of the time at the local mall. Those days were such fun days and often included my sister, brother, and cousins as part of the act.

Just this week, I dug out the old videotape (Videotape?! Yikes, I’m dating myself here!) and played it for my daughters. My youngest, who is eight, told me, “Mom, you had such a pretty voice. You sounded like a real singer!” I laughed at her comment because for one, I can’t carry a tune, and for two, it was the real singer signing and I was only lip syncing!

Is there one piece of advice that’s been especially valuable to you?

I am a Beth Moore fan and have led several women’s Bible studies using her materials. I recall one time she mentioned that “No amount of success in ministry will make up for failure at home.” What a wonderful and valuable piece of advice!

Please share information where readers can check out and buy your books:

Kaydie is available everywhere books are sold, including Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Kaydie-Montana-Skies-Penny-Zeller/dp/1603742174/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Also, Cindy Sproles produced a fantastic book trailer for Kaydie, which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwihs6rsqDk

Where can fans find you on the internet?

I love to connect with my readers at my website www.pennyzeller.com,

my blog http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/

on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pennyzeller

on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts

Thank you again, Carole, for allowing me to be your guest. I appreciate your encouragement and support of fellow writers!

And, thank you, Penny, for visiting. I've loved having you!
Don't forget your comments, readers, for a chance to win Penny's latest book!
Blessings