Interview and Giveaway with Penny Zeller!

Yes, my readers, another interview and giveaway! I'm so excited to be introducing you all to Penny Zeller, one of my new favorite authors. I reviewed her book, Kaydie, a few months ago. :) So, without further waiting, let's begin! Let's start with a short bio.

Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles in national and regional publications. She is also the author of the humor blog “A Day inthe Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” (http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/). She is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women’s prayer group. Penny devotes her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word that God has given her to glorify Him and to benefit His kingdom. Kaydie follows McKenzie in Montana Skies, her first series with Whitaker House. When she’s not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, and playing volleyball. She and her husband, Lon, reside in Wyoming with their two children. Penny loves to hear from her readers at her Website, http://www.pennyzeller.com/.

Thank you for having me as a guest on your blog, Charity. It is great to be here!

It's a delight to have you, Penny! So your most recent release is a historical fiction romance, titled Kaydie. Do you write novels exclusively?

No, I have also written two nonfiction books and a children’s picture book. However, historical romance is my favorite genre to write. :)

And definitely one of my favorites to read! Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Prioritizing! I think this is one of the biggest challenges of being a writer, especially since I work from home. I have posted my writing hours on my office door, not so much for visitors, but for myself. It reminds me that if I don’t set time aside for my writing, it will be spent doing a host of other “necessary” things.
I have to be deliberate about putting aside time for my writing. I work while my children are in school and then quit for the day when they come home. My husband and my children are my main ministry, so they are most important. I also do a lot of volunteer work, including assisting at my children’s school and leading a Bible Study for writers. In order to keep my priorities in perspective, which is so important, I spend a lot of time in prayer seeking God’s guidance in using my time wisely.

Kaydie was released just this month and is Book 2 in your Montana Skies Series. Can you please give us a brief synopsis?

I am thrilled about the release of Kaydie. A short synopsis is as follows:

Since the death of her abusive husband, Kaydie Kraemer’s life has been easier, but
she’s wary of men and builds a wall of protection around her, staying with her sister
McKenzie as she awaits the birth of her baby. Haunted by her painful marriage, Kaydie
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.

The book trailer for Kaydie can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwihs6rsqDk .

You love to dot your novels with humor. Lucille, one of the secondary characters in the book and one of my favorite characters, brings several laughs throughout the chapters. Tell us a little about her.

I absolutely love writing about Lucille Granger! Her character remains in all three books in the series and she lends so much humor. She owns the Granger Mercantile with her husband, Fred. She is the town busybody and tends to be a gossip, but she has a good heart. Her main goal in life is to arrange marriages for the eligible bachelors of Pine Haven, beginning with Zach in the first book. She started her business, Lucille’s Love Connections, and carries on the tradition with Jonah in the second book and Nate in the third.

Speaking of humor, what is something funny or absentminded that you did lately (that you’d care to admit!)?

Just recently I sent an email to myself on accident. I didn’t realize that and wondered why the person I thought I had sent it to hadn’t responded. After several days, I checked my “sent” box and sure enough, I’d sent it to myself! I told a friend of mine and she mentioned that that was an honest mistake and nothing to worry about, as long as I didn’t reply to myself! :)

That is funny! Who are some women in history that you greatly admire?

I greatly admire Esther from the Bible and Helen Keller.

Speaking of people in the Bible, if you could meet one person from the Bible, who would it be? (besides Jesus, of course)

Wow, I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one person! There are so many amazing people in the Bible. I would have to say there would be a three-way tie between Esther, Daniel, and John the Baptist. All exhibited such courage in the face of adversity, and I love how God brought them through that adversity. What testimonies and what inspirations to us all!

Where can readers purchase a copy of Kaydie?

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

What’s up next for your readers?

I just finished the third and final 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.

We look forward to the opportunity afforded us to possibly win a copy of your new book. If you were to meet a reader or fan face to face, what might you chat about?

When I meet a reader or fan face to face, I love to chat with her about what she envisions herself doing for God’s Kingdom and how can I pray and encourage her in that pursuit. If she is pursuing her dream as a writer, I tell her that one of the most important things to remember in being a writer is that if God has called her to do it, He will guide her every step of the way. In November of 2000, I gave my writing to the Lord. I quit my fulltime job with a social services governmental agency so I could stay home with my infant daughter. That was the start of my career, beginning with writing magazine articles. I would advise her to give her writing to the Lord and to not give up! I speak from experience when I say that when He closes one door, He opens another (much better) one.

So true! Where can fans find you on the internet?

I love to connect with my readers at my website http://www.pennyzeller.com/, my blog http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pennyzeller, and
on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts

Parting comments? I would like to again thank you, Charity, for having me here, and also thank my readers for their support and encouragement. I couldn’t do it without you!

Thanks SO much for coming, Penny! It was really fun to interview you.

And it's me from here on. :)

I enjoyed that so much...okay, moving on to the giveaway! First...please excuse crazy spacing. :P It doesn't always copy real nicely.

Penny is giving away one copy of her newest release, Kaydie! If you live in the United States, you can win a paperback signed copy. However, if you live outside the States, Penny is willing give you a digital copy of Kaydie! So you can enter, whether or not you live in the U.S. :)

Mandatory entry: You MUST be a follower of Austenitis. But please...don't start following just so you can enter. Look around, see my reviews, and only follow if you're going to keep following. Comment and tell me you follow.

You can get extra entries in this giveaway! Do one or all of the below. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry! So if you blog, leave three comments saying you did! You only have to leave the link in one, though. Each comment = one entry!

+3 entries for blogging about this giveaway! Leave a link so I can check it out!

+1 entry for following Penny's blog! Link to that above.

+1 entry for subscribing to Penny's blog!

+1 entry for liking Penny's Facebook page!

+1 entry for putting the Austenitis button on your blog!

+1 entry if you have Photographer at Heart’s button your blog.

+1 entry for following The Birthday Blog.

Okay. Just read this, then you can start leaving comments! J You may leave your email address if you like. It’s not required. If you do, I will email you if you win! I will also post the winner here. Please note that this giveaway ends on ­­­July 27. So make sure you enter by then! Now comment!