Birthday Party Interview and Giveaway: Penny Zeller

Well, everyone, look who I got to come by on third day of my birthday party! None other than Penny Zeller! I’m so excited to welcome her. As you’ve seen from my reviews of “McKenzie” and “Hailee” this week, I really enjoyed both of those books. I also have a review of “Kaydie” on here. Since I’ve relished all three of those books in the Montana Skies series, I knew I had to have her come by again (yes, those of you who are extra alert may remember that she was here a few months ago…but I knew after reading “Hailee” that she had to come again. You can read that older interview here). Also, check out my first Cover Focus, in which I featured "Hailee." Click here!

Oh, and make sure you read the whole thing…there’s a giveaway at the end!

Without further ado, let’s begin!

Penny, I’m so glad you were able to come by!

It’s a pleasure to be here, Charity! Thank you so much for having me as your guest!

What gave you the idea, or inspired you to write specifically “Hailee,” and the whole Montana Skies series in general?

Hailee was inspired by a piece of mail I received regarding orphanages. I knew I wanted to write a story about a girl placed in an orphanage and how she came to find herself in that predicament. 

My Montana Skies Series actually came about in an interesting way. McKenzie (the first book) was inspired by a car accident my family and I were in a couple of years ago where I suffered neck and leg injuries. During that time period of seven months, I was also hit with back-to-back bacterial infections.  Because of the injuries and illness, I was pretty much homebound and my active athletic lifestyle suddenly became limited. I look back now and praise God that He gave me McKenzie, as well as two other manuscripts (another historical and a contemporary) I wrote in that seven month period of pain and illness.

God took what was a difficult time for me and turned it around to something positive that can be used for His Kingdom – taking the time to write the books that I had always wanted to write. He has since healed me and I pray daily that the path I have chosen in life will glorify Him. I think that’s why Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “’For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” is so close to my heart.

He has since healed me completely and has given me a powerful testimony to share with others.

Wow, that is quite the testimony! What’s your favorite part of “Hailee”?

I love Hailee’s story because it gives such a wonderful example of forgiveness and of second chances. It also reinforces the fact that God is with us always. I also love to infuse humor into my novels, so that, too, would be one of my favorite things about this story.

Here’s a tough questions…which of your three Montana Skies books is your personal favorite?

Wow! That is a great question, Charity! I don’t have a favorite of the three as I like each of them best for different reasons.  *grins*

A wonderful answer. J I would have trouble choosing a favorite too. What is the biggest thing you’d like a reader to take away from “Hailee”?

My passion is to write books that impact lives for Christ. Readers can expect to share in Hailee’s pain and sorrow, as well as the joy she experiences. They will watch as her faith wavers and her heart breaks at the losses she experiences in life. They will share with Nate as he struggles to release to the Lord burdens he was never meant to carry. My books are character-driven, and as such, throughout the book and with a variety of characters, readers will catch a glimpse of struggles with forgiveness, Salvation, rededication to Christ, and the hope of a new life.

If you could live in any time period, which time period would it be? 

I love this question! There are so many awesome things about the 1800s (the time period of my books) and even the turn of the century in the early 1900s. However, I think I would choose to live in the present because of the modern conveniences and all of the advances of modern medicine.  J

What three people, living or dead, would you love to have lunch with? They can be together at the same meal, or separate, according to whether you think they’d get along. J

I would love to have lunch with Jesus, of course. I would also enjoy having lunch with Helen Keller.  My great-grandma, who arrived on a boat from Sweden, would also be a very interesting person with whom I’d love to have lunch.

Yes, that great-grandma sounds like a very interesting person to meet! Is there a random fact about you that most people don’t know?

Hmmm. That’s a great question…I met my husband through a prank phone call I made when we were both teenagers. J I wrote a humorous post about it here: http://pennyzeller.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/do-you-have-any-grey-poupon-and-phone-pranks-part-2/

I’m definitely going to read that post. J What’s a book you recently enjoyed reading?

I recently started a Bible study on the book of Ecclesiastes written by author Stephanie Shott. Stephanie is an amazing author and I am learning so much!

Which of your bookcover is your favorite?

Wow! Another great question! I love all three covers, but I would have to say I might possibly like Hailee just a teeny weeny bit more.  By the way, I love the book trailer for Hailee, which was produced by Tinkertime Productions. It can be found at http://youtu.be/LEGoM43jtwA

You know I loved the cover for “Hailee.” J Thanks so much for coming, Penny! Where can fans find you on the internet?

Thank you so much for having me here, Charity! I love to connect with readers at –

My website: www.pennyzeller.com

My humor blog:  www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks

Back to me. J

Penny has graciously offered to giveaway a copy of Hailee to one lucky winner! Believe me, this is one of those books you want to win. J  You can enter whether or not you follow Austenitis. Mandatory entry: leave a comment telling me you want to be entered.

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

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

+1 entry for putting up the Birthday Party button.

+2 entries for emailing four friends! This is only for people who don’t have a blog. Make sure you include a link to this post in your email! And remember…I’m trusting you here.

+2 entries if you follow Austenitis!

+1 if you follow Penny Zeller’s blog, www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com

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! Also if you do, make sure you leave it like this: charityu.austenite[at]gmail[dot]com so that spammers can’t find you! I will also post the winner here. Please note that this giveaway ends on ­­­November 25, 2011. I’m sorry for my international readers, but this giveaway is USA only.

Now go! J

Hailee

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Romance, life

Series: Montana Skies

Number in series: 3rd

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: Around 300

Time period: 1800’s

Main characters: Hailee, Nate, McKenzie, Zach, Kaydie, Jonah, others

Exciting events: Several! J

Passage from book: You can go here to read more about it.

My overall opinion: It was awesome. J I think I liked it just a bit more than Kaydie. I love the way Penny writes, and some of her characters are hilarious! I loved Hailee herself, and the story was pretty great.

**The author sent me a free copy of this book in return for a review. I have reviewed this book honestly. I am receiving no other compensation for this review.**

P.S. I think Penny Zeller may the author I most want to meet. :) Also, if you click here, you can see my Cover Spotlight of Hailee.

McKenzie

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Life, romance, adventure

Series: Montana Skies series

Number in series: 1st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 314

Time period: 1800’s

Main characters: McKenzie, Nate

Exciting events: A mail-order bride (who doesn’t plan to stay married), a fight, an abusive husband…

My overall opinion: I really enjoyed this one! It might be my favorite from this series, but it’s a close tie. J Definitely one to re-read! I highly recommend it.

Announcing Cover Focus!

I decided that now, during the Ultimate Book Bash Week, would be the perfect time to announce my newest feature, Cover Focus. It is quite simple: I choose a book cover that I like, and place it in a post, give you a little book blurb, link to review if I've read it, and tell you what I love about it. :) Sound fun? Good!

For my first Cover Focus post (that being this), I chose Hailee, a book by Penny Zeller that is coming out on September 6, I believe. I'm in the middle of it right now, and it's one awesome book!

Book blurb from goodreads.com : For years, orphan Hailee Annigan was just a ragmuffin in the Cincinnati streets, stealing food to keep her two brothers fed. Her thievery landed her in a home for delinquent youngsters, where to her life was changed, thanks to her teachers. Now, nineteen-year-old Hailee excitedly heads to Montana to be a teacher, yet she's still plagued by her shameful past and the fear of never seeing her brothers again.
Based on his upbringing in high-society Boston, no one would have guessed that Maxwell Nathaniel Adams Jr. would attend seminary and become a church pastor in rugged Montana. Even now, Nate's parents refuse to put aside their own plans for his future and accept his calling.
When their paths converge, an immediate attraction draws Hailee and Nate together, even as the pressures and demands of others pull them apart. Can the unlikely pair come to terms with their pasts and face the future together?

Told you it was good. :)

What I love about the cover: Admit it, it's beautiful. The purple on the top half with the gold lettering is amazing. The girl model, aka Hailee, is exactly as she should look...or so I think from reading the book. I love how her hair isn't in focus, but the green eyes and face expression are. Then the horses, with mountains and prairie are also exactly what's described in the book. Or at least, exactly how I picture it. Don't you love it?

Incidentally, Hailee is the third book in Penny Zeller's Montana Skies trilogy.

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!

Kaydie

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Romance, life

Series: Montana Skies

Number in series: 2nd (McKenzie is the first one, and Hailee comes this fall)

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 318

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Kaydie, Jonah, Cedric, Bethany Ethel

Exciting events: A birth and more

My overall opinion: Penny's writing style was delightful and this book was very fun! I definitely recommend that all of you buy or at the very least, read a copy. :)