Art In Life

I’m excited about today’s interview with novelist K. Dawn Byrd. K. Dawn’s latest book, Killing Time, releases this month.

**Welcome to The Literary Mama, K. Dawn. Tell us about your journey to publication.

I’ve always been an avid reader and decided it might be fun to try my hand at writing. I studied every book I could find on the craft and had been writing a little over a year when my first book was published by Desert Breeze Publishing, an ebook publisher. They’ve been so wonderful to work with that I’ve written four for them so far and will soon sign a contract for three more, a young adult mystery series.

**What is Killing Time about?

Here’s the cover blurb:

Mindy McLaurin, thinks it’s the end of the world when she’s incarcerated on trumped-up embezzlement charges. While in jail, she investigates the death of an inmate who allegedly died of an overdose. Mindy suspects foul play when her cellmate dies and she learns that both women had ingested the same drug. Mindy trusts no one, including Drew Stone, the handsome counselor she can’t stop thinking about. She faces many challenges, including constant interrogation by the Major and emotional abuse from the other inmates. Upon release, someone is stalking her and framing her for the murder. Can she prove to Counselor Stone that she’s innocent of all charges before she loses him forever?

 **Who are your favorite characters in Killing Time and why?

My favorite character is Mindy because she’s such a strong Christian woman, but not perfect. She was raised by her grandparents and her grandfather was a preacher. Even though she’s a Christian, she falls at times just like all of us. Her character is severely tested while she’s incarcerated and she doesn’t always make the right decisions, but she loves the Lord.  

**What do you hope readers walk away with knowing from Killing Time?

That God is with us no matter what. Being incarcerated and then stalked upon release was hard for Mindy, but God was there in the midst of it all. Sometimes, God allows us to go through the “storms” of life, but He’s there walking through them with us.

**What other new projects do you have in the future?*

This year, I’ll have two inspirational releases from Desert Breeze Publishing, a young adult romance in June, and an adult romance in October. For 2012, a series of young adult mysteries will release in January, June, and December.

**What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?

I used to ride a Harley Davidson, but gave it up to have more time for writing. My husband still has his, but I don’t ride on the back.

**How can readers get in touch with you?*

Links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geWeGQ6Ueu4 

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-178/K-Dawn-Byrd-Mistaken/Detail.bok 

www.kdawnbyrd.com 

www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com   

 *Thanks for stopping by today!*

I’m excited about today’s interview with novelist Cynthia Hickey. Cynthia’s latest book, Candy-Coated Secrets, released a few months ago.

**Welcome to The Literary Mama, Cynthia. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been making up stories since I was a child. It’s nice to have an outlet for the voices in my head. My husband and I are a typical yours, mine, and ours family, with a total of seven children and five grandchildren. Sure makes the holidays fun.

**Tell us about your journey to publication.

I feel like I’m still having to pay my dues. My first novel, Fudge-Laced Felonies, was entered into a contest, won first place, I acquired an agent, and received a contract, all within the matter of a few months. Then book two sold. I wrote the first book on a dare and still feel like I’m walking on clouds.

**What is Candy Coated Secrets about?

When a carnival train crashes in front of Summer Meadows’s house, she does what comes naturally—she acts without thinking and volunteers to lead an elephant to the fairground. The animal’s trainer follows close behind but disappears when they reach their destination. When Summer goes looking for the trainer, she finds something altogether different—a woman hanging dead in the shower of one of the trailers.

 **Who are your favorite characters in Candy Coated Secrets and why?

Easily Summer Meadows, the main character. She’s a sweet, slightly vain young woman with a heart of gold that gets her into more trouble than she can handle on her own.

**What do you hope readers walk away with knowing from Candy Coated Secrets?

To let go and let God. He can handle even the biggest things.

**What other new projects do you have in the future?

A have a contemporary novella releasing with Barbour in the Fall of 2012. I am also currently writing a contemporary and a historical romance.

 **What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?

I am extremely shy and terrified of crowds.

**How can readers get in touch with you?

I’m on Facebook and my website is www.cynthiahickey.com

*Thanks for stopping by today!

Thanks for having me. I had a blast!

I’m excited about today’s interview with novelist Raquel Byrnes. Raquel’s latest inspirational romance, Purple Knot, releases this month.

Welcome to The Literary Mama, Raquel. Tell us a little about yourself.

Thank you, I’m so happy to come and visit. Well, I am a homeschool mom of six so I am pretty much up to my elbows in spelling tests and crafts. I have a super hubby and I love to write inspirational romance.

**What is Purple Knot about?

Purple Knot is about Reyna Cruz, a private detective that goes back to Seattle in order to investigate her best friend’s mysterious death. In returning, she is forced to team up with her ex-fiancé, James Corbeau. As their romance relights, so do the memories of what tore them apart. Reyna and James must decide if their love can survive the secrets Reyna’s investigation reveals.

**What do you hope readers walk away with knowing from Purple Knot?

That we have a God of second chances and grace. You do not have to be perfect to have a relationship with Him. He hurts with us, loves us, and longs for us to walk with Him despite mistakes we’ve made in the past.

**Tell us about your journey to publication.

I’ve been writing for over a decade. I’ve taken classes, gone to conferences, and really tried to hone my craft. I signed with an agent a year and a half ago, and signed a three-book deal with White Rose in January.  I am amazed at the Lord’s generosity to me.

**What other new projects do you have in the future?*

The other two books in the Shades of Hope series, Ruby Dawn and Bayou Blue, release later this year and in 2012. Right now I am writing another series centered around the mysterious Noble Island.

**Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Still homeschooling, my youngest will be twelve and just entering Jr. High, and writing.

**How can readers get in touch with you?

Through my website, www.raquelbyrnes.com – or on Twitter @raquelbyrnes I love to connect with other readers and writers!

**Thanks for stopping by today!

It’s been a pleasure! I had a lot of fun, thank you!

I’m excited about today’s interview with Michelle Sutton. Michelle’s novel, Their Separate Ways, is available now in e-book format and will be released in paperback in July.

Welcome to The Literary Mama, Michelle. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a forty something mother with two sons in college and a husband of almost twenty one years. I live in Arizona and have since 1991. Before that I lived in NY. I have three wonderful publishers and have been fortunate to be able to write straight from my heart without the stories getting sliced and edited to death. I write for the Lord and to minister to others through stories with real life themes intended to help heal the reader’s heart through spiritual insight and a redemptive message.

**Tell us about your journey to publication.

I went to my first writer’s conference in 2004 mainly to meet Francine Rivers. I was very inspired by the conference and everything she said about how the Lord led her to writing Christian fiction. I met my agent Tamela Hancock Murray at that first writer’s conference and ended up signing with her in 2005. Since then I have sold about a dozen novels with more contracts on the way.

  **What is Their Separate Ways about?

It’s the sequel to Never Without Hope, which I call my “adultery” story. So many books portray the man as the cheater. I wanted to do something different and show what it would look like from a woman’s perspective if her husband had been neglecting her physically and emotionally, thus leaving her wide open to temptation. The first novel shows how she got into the affair and how her life imploded as a result. The book Their Separate Ways chronicles her journey and the journey of the man she had an affair with the year after their relationship ended. I wanted to show how two different couples deal with the fallout. One couple knows the Lord and the other does not. Here is the back cover blurb…

Forgiveness is a beautiful thing when you experience it in marriage… But what if you don’t? 

What happened in the hearts of Tony Perotta and Hope Williams after the affair was exposed and they went their separate ways? Did they ever struggle with memories from their past relationship, or with wishing things would have turned out differently? Was trust ever restored in their homes after their lives crashed and burned around them? Did they ever heal enough to enjoy their marriages as before, or were they even worse off after their sin was revealed? 

Their Separate Ways continues the saga the year after the exposure of Tony and Hope’s extramarital affair. It’s an honest and close-up look at the inner working of each of their hearts as they reflect on the painful memories resulting from that devastating choice. Experience with them the vast difference between couples who know true forgiveness and hope and those who don’t.

 **Who are your favorite characters in Their Separate Ways and why?

Probably Tony. I love writing about messed up men who are prone to sin and who struggle with doing the right thing (in the flesh) and failing miserably because they don’t ask God for help. Tony is one complex man who deceives himself like so many people tend to do.

**What do you hope readers walk away with knowing from Their Separate Ways?

I want my readers to see how having faith in God and a relationship with Jesus really does make a difference in the healing process, but it doesn’t make it without pain or consequences. I want the reader to also see that no matter how badly people want to change in the flesh, without faith it’s an uphill battle that most people can’t successfully fight.

**Where do you see youself in five years?

I’ll still be writing. Hopefully I will be making better money as a writer’s life is no way to get rich. But even if I never make more than a few thousand dollars a year, the fact that I’ve reached anyone’s heart at all keeps me going. I hope to continue to sell novels to publishers and increase my circle of readers and my ability to read people who need to read the types of stories I write.

**What other new projects do you have in the future?*

I have several different stand-alone titles and a series that I will be contracting soon. But if I tell you who they are with or what they are about before I sign the contracts, I’ll have to kill you. So mums the word.

(Preslaysa here: Mum, it is!!!)

**What is your favorite bible verse?

Easy question. Romans 8:11-13. I often sign my books with these verses below my name.

*How can readers get in touch with you?

I’m a lot of places. I run a sight called Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers. It’s a number of places. Just google the phrase and you’ll see it everywhere. I also have a number of blogs and my own personal website (that has a tab for each of my blogs) www.michellesutton.net

*Thanks for stopping by today!

Contest Alert!! Ruth is giving away a copy of her debut novel: The Promise of an Angel (A Heaven On Earth Novel)

Leave a comment in this blog post with your email in this format: yourname(at)youremail(dot)com for a chance to win! Winner announced on June 30th.

Welcome to The Literary Mama, Ruth. Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in Florida with my husband and our three children. We have two dogs, Zyvox, a silver Weimaranier, and Lady Bird, a Jack Russell who adopted us. We also have four water turtles who hang out in a 128 gal fish tank.

**Tell us about your journey to publication.

After entering a young authors writing contest in grade school, I was hooked on storytelling. However, I pushed those dreams aside to pursue a degree in Pharmacy. Several years later, I took the Jerry B. Jenkins writing course and rediscovered my dream of writing a novel. Meanwhile, I completed my first manuscript. But, then I read the book, The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes by Jack M. Bickham, and I realized my book had 35 of those mistakes.

I tossed the manuscript in the bottom of my closet (still there) and I enrolled in a Master’s of Theology program, assuming God wanted me to write non-fiction, and I needed a firmer foundation. (Looking back, I was running away from writing another novel.) Four months from completing the Master’s degree, and after writing twelve-page research papers for each class, I felt God calling me to write another book. Eight weeks later, at graduation time, I had another novel written and this one passed the Bickham rules for avoiding fiction mistakes. Next, I found an agent who represented Christian romance authors, sent her a query letter and the manuscript, and later signed a contract. 

In developing the story, The Promise of an Angel (A Heaven On Earth Novel), I wanted to start the book with what had sparked my interest with the Amish, a barn raising. While I attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, I met several Amish families in the nearby settlement. I’ll never forget the day I skipped classes to watch a barn raising.

**What is The Promise of an Angel (A Heaven On Earth Novel) about?

Interrupting the ordered routine of the Mecosta County Amish settlement, an angelic visitor awakens Judith to a new faith.

All Judith Fischer has ever wanted is to marry within her community and raise a family of her own. She longs for the day when her parents will allow Levi Plank to officially court her.

But on the day Judith suspects Levi will ask her parent’s permission, her younger brother Samuel has an accident under her charge. Rushing to Samuel’s aid, Judith spies a strange man helping him; a man she later believes was an angel.

When she shares her conviction with her family and close friends, she is shocked to find that no one believes her, including Levi. In the days following the accident, the angel visits Judith with information that may guide her down the path of faith, should she choose to follow. 

As her community slowly distances themselves, only one person is willing to stand up for her – the bishop’s son, Andrew Lapp. But can he convince the settlement to listen to her? With a show of faith that flies in the face of her conservative upbringing, can Judith hold strong to the promise that there are even greater things in store for those who believe?

 **Who are your favorite characters in The Promise of an Angel (A Heaven On Earth Novel) and why?

My favorite characters are Judith for her unwavering faith, and Andrew for his devotion to God and to Judith.  

*What do you hope readers walk away with knowing from The Promise of an Angel (A Heaven On Earth Novel)?

As people read The Promise of an Angel (A Heaven On Earth Novel), I pray their faith is inspired and they are determined to stand even if it means standing alone.

*What other new projects do you have in the future?*

Currently, I’m working on the second book in the Heaven on Earth series, Brush by Angels Wings, which will be out April 2012.   

*What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?

I work full time as a pharmacist and I answer as many pharmacy/drug related questions as I do writing questions. Often, I get questions from writers who need help creating a medical scene or who ask for assistance with developing treatments for adverse drug reactions. 

*How can readers get in touch with you?*

I love interacting with readers through my website www.ruthreid.com or on face book at Author Ruth Reid.

*Thanks for stopping by today!*

I had a great time talking with you, thanks for inviting me!

I’m excited about our interview today with novelist Lorna Seilstad. Lorna writes historical romance and her latest novel, A Great Catch, the second in the Lake Manawa Summers series, releases this month.

Welcome to The Literary Mama, Lorna. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve called Iowa home her whole life. I received her B.S. in education from Lubbock Christian University. After my first child was born, I quit teaching and became a professional wiper. I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby’s bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote. Today, I write historical fiction with a generous dash of humor, and lives in Iowa with her husband and three children–ages 19, 17, and 12.

I grew up attending antique auctions with her parents, and from that, grew a love for history. The love of Oreos is all my own.

When I’m not writing or chauffeuring her kids around, I teach Bible classes, working with my 4-H club, or bake cookies.

*Tell us about your writing journey.

In 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade, I had the same teacher for English. Every Friday, we had a creative writing assignment. For example, we might come to school and find footprints taped to the walls and ceiling and we were supposed to write about how they got there. I loved it.

After my first child was born, I decided I wanted to stop teaching and stay home. I did daycare for teachers, but I needed something. I went back to my first writing love of fiction

In 2000, I started writing fan fiction online. I wrote at a site called romancefanfiction.net. There were a lot of wonderful writers there, and it was a wonderful place to learn and find my voice. I started working toward publication in 2007.

I went to my first ACFW conference in 2008. There, I met Andrea Doering from Revell in one of editor interviews. My first contract, for the three books in the Lake Manawa Summers Series, came from that interview.

*What is A Great Catch about?

She wants to change the world.

He wants to change her mind.

It’s the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When Emily Graham’s meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.

Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and a pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.

When their worlds collide, neither Emily nor Carter could have guessed what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?

 *How did you come up with the concept for A Great Catch and the Lake Manawa Summers series?

When the resort park at Lake Manawa closed, my grandfather purchased one of the bath houses there for $300. He moved it to a lot on what had once been the Midway and made it into a house. That is the home where my dad lived as a boy. He told me stories about the area, and after I did a some research, I knew I had to write a story there.

*How much research do you undertake while writing historical fiction?

It takes a lot of research. I don’t just want to get the facts right, I want to get the feel of the times right. I read a lot of newspapers of that day besides doing the other research. I love research, though. It’s like a treasure hunt.

*Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hmmm. I see myself still writing, but I hope I have my office fixed up by then. My office is in the basement and it’s really cold in the winter. I have to wear gloves without fingertips.

*What other new projects do you have in the future?

Right now, I’m finishing up the third book in the series. It’s about Lilly and a roller coaster designer. I have another book series in the proposal stage.

*What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?

I can tell time without wearing a watch. It’s a strange ability, but I never wear a watch and I almost always know the time within about five minutes. I didn’t tell my kids that I could do this for a long time, but they know now, so they like to test me at random times.

*How can readers get in touch with you?

I love to hear from readers. I can be contacted through my website www.lornaseilstad.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Contest Alert!! Jill is giving away a copy of From Darkness Won! To enter, leave a comment here with your email in this format: yourname(at)youremail(dot)com Winner announced on June 11th!

And now, the interview…

I’m excited about our interview today with novelist Jill Williamson. Jill is a 2010 Christy award winning writer for visionary fiction. Her latest book From Darkness Won, the third book in the Blood of Kings trilogy, released last month with Marcher Lord Press.  

*Welcome to The Literary Mama, Jill. Tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Alaska with no electricity. Thankfully it was the land of the midnight sun. In the summer I could stay up late and read by the daylight that wouldn’t go away. But in the winter there was nothing better to do than daydream I was somewhere—or someone—else. I think both these hobbies set me up to be a writer.

 *What is From Darkness Won about?

Achan steps into his role as Crown Prince and prepares for war. But war against whom? Could Esek still be alive? Has Lord Nathak taken Esek’s place? Or is the mysterious Hadad the true enemy Achan must confront?

Vrell has her own agenda of serving Prince Oren as a healer, but when she is stormed and lost to the Veil, Achan does all he can to bring her back. His conversations with her are strange, though, as if she has no memory of who he is.

In a land consumed by Darkness, the fate of Er’Rets hangs in the balance as Achan endeavors to take the throne and end the reign of Darkness.

 

*How did you come up with the concept for From Darkness Won and the Blood of Kings trilogy?

I was walking with my son one day in Burbank, California, and we came upon a burned-down house. I stopped to look at it and noticed a tree in the front yard. The part of the tree that hung over the fence and above the street was leafy green, rocking and rustling in the wind. But the branches of the tree near the house were charred and stiff.

I stared at that tree for a long time, then took off for home, pushing that stroller at top speed. I went straight to the computer, opened Adobe Photoshop, and made the image of the tree that is the header on my author website. I couldn’t wait to write a story about this tree—about a land that was half-cursed in darkness.

(Preslaysa here: Intruiging!! What a powerful imagination!)

 * What are your favorite books? Who are your favorite authors?

I have too many favorites to single one out. Author-wise, in no particular order, I love Jane Austen, Ted Dekker, Lisa Samson, Robert Liparulo, Caroline Keene, C.S. Lewis, Frank Peretti, Jenny B. Jones, Rick Riordan, Brandilyn Collins, J.R.R. Tolkien, Suzanne Collins, Michael Crichton, Cathy Gohlke, Anthony Horowitz, Caroline Cooney, John Grisham, Megan Whalen Turner, Melody Carlson, Nicolas Sparks, J.K. Rowling, Francine Rivers, Randy Ingermanson. The list goes on and on. I enjoy stories that make me laugh, cry, or stay up all night because I can’t put the thing down.

 *What led you to become a writer?

I wanted to speak to teens. I discovered that sometimes, people hire speakers based on articles written by the speaker. So I looked into writing articles. Then the new Harry Potter book came out, and a new barrage of debates within the church community flared up as to whether or not the books were bad for Christians to read. The debate inspired me to write my own teen novel that all Christians would love. Yes, I was a bit naive. I have since learned that no one likes every book. But that’s how I got started. I was inspired to try and write blockbuster-style stories for teens that glorified God.

When a writer’s conference came to town, I signed up right away. I couldn’t believe how much I had to learn. When I got home, I did everything that the conference speakers had recommended. Being teachable has really helped me, I think.

 *What is your favorite bible verse and why?

I can’t pick just one! But here is one that is really important to me. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

 *What other new projects do you have in the future?

My next novel, called Replication, will release from Zonderkidz in January of 2012. It’s a young adult story about a girl who discovers her biologist father is covering up multiple secrets—all of which are named Jason.

I’m also working on a new weekly podcast through my blog in which I’ll be reading By Darkness Hid, the first book in the Blood of Kings trilogy to listeners. People will be able to subscribe in iTunes until they download the entire novel—free. Check my website for more information. This is coming in June 2011.

 *What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?

I once started my own wedding gown business called Lugano. My first dream in life was to be a fashion designer. Once I became fed up working in the industry, and before I started writing, I designed a line of nine better wedding gowns and went to the Chicago Bridal Market as a vendor. It was a tremendous amount of work, especially considering I hate to sew.

*How can readers get in touch with you?

Readers can email me through my website: www.jillwilliamson.com

 Thanks for stopping by today!

Thanks for having me!

You can order From Darkness Won at Marcher Lord Press or on Amazon. And if you prefer the Kindle version, click here. For the Nook version, click here.

Contest Alert!! Penny is giving away a copy of her novel: Kaydie. Leave a comment on this blog post with your email address to enter. Winner announced on May 30th.

I’m excited about our interview today with novelist Penny Zeller. Penny writes inspirational historical romance and her latest book Kaydie, the second in the Montana Skies series, releases this month.

*Welcome to The Literary Mama Penny. Tell us a little about yourself. It is an honor to be here, Preslaysa! Here is a bit about me in third person (to borrow your words)

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 in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” (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, www.pennyzeller.com.

*As a wife, mom and author, how do you balance it all?

Actually, Preslaysa, I’m still working on figuring that out *grins* But really, I think prioritizing is one of the biggest challenges of being a writer, especially since I work from home and have a family. 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 the most important. I also do a lot of volunteer work. In order to keep my priorities in perspective, which is critical, I spend a lot of time in prayer seeking God’s guidance in using my time wisely.  

*What is Kaydie about?

I am thrilled about the release of Kaydie. Here is a short blurb –

 Kaydie is haunted by memories of her abusive husband. As she awaits her baby’s birth, she builds a protective wall around herself.

Deserted by his mother at a young age and despised by his father, Jonah has few close relationships. But there’s something about Kaydie that draws him to her and makes him question his decision to remain a bachelor.

Will Kaydie and Jonah trust God to guard their hearts in the arms of each other?

*How did you come up with the concept for Kaydie? 

When Whitaker House contracted me for a three-book series, I was thrilled to be able to tell Kaydie’s story, as it is such a touching story of hope, love, and dependence on God.

It always amazes me how God inspires and uses us to write about things that can touch the life of another. I once worked as a caseworker in a branch of social services. While I didn’t deal directly with victims of violence, I did see the end result of it in many of my cases.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.” I am thankful that more awareness has been brought to this atrocity and I wanted to give hope to any woman in an abusive marriage. God does care and He is there to be a refuge – an ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

In the 1800s, there was nowhere for a woman to go if she found herself in an abusive marriage. Her choices were limited. The story of Kaydie takes place in 1882. While Kaydie felt so alone and helpless at times while being married to an abusive man, she sought the Lord through prayer. Though she didn’t yet have a personal relationship with Him, she did know that God would hear those prayers and that He would help her. God is not unaware of what goes on in the world He created and His heart breaks at the painful experiences His children go through at the hands of another. In Psalm 139 we are told “before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” God knew Kaydie’s choice in a husband had led her to a life of manipulation and abuse, and He loved her, cared for her, and protected her and her unborn child.

I also wanted to show throughout the pages of Kaydie that wounds from an abusive marriage do not heal overnight and there is no “quick fix.” Such painful scars from the physical, emotional, and mental turmoil take time to overcome. But with God’s unconditional love and help, revealed through the people He placed in Kaydie’s path, she would ultimately find peace and healing.

I would also like to mention, that while the subject of domestic violence is a difficult one, the story of Kaydie does not include any graphic descriptions and can be enjoyed by adults and teens alike.

*How much research do you undertake while writing historical fiction?

I love the mid-to-late-1800s, so I actually enjoy research. I spend a lot of time researching books and also online. As a visual person, it really helps me to have a picture of the setting, the house, and other items, such as the tin cookie cutters Kaydie used to make gingerbread cookies in the book.

*How did you know you were called to write?

I have had a love for writing since I was in second grade and rewrote Bible stories in my own little second grade commentary.J Throughout my school years, I would write stories and “publish” numerous stories in homemade cardboard books. In high school, I wrote stories where my friends were the main characters.

Fast forward several years to November of 2000 when I surrendered 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. Writing is my ministry and my passion and I pray I will glorify Him with each word I write.

*What is your favorite bible verse?

I have so many favorite Bible verses, but if I had to narrow it down, I would say it’s a tie between Psalm 19:14 and Psalm 91.

*What other new projects do you have in the future?

 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.

*What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?

Hmmm, let’s see…when I was 10, I made up this romantic suspense series in my mind where the main character was the handsome and fictional police officer, Josh McClain. Everyday, my younger sister and cousin would excitedly ask me what was going on in Josh’s life (and in the life of the main female character) and what crimes Josh had solved.

I loved telling them my sister and cousin stories about Josh McClain that I had made up in my mind from the night before (usually when I should have been sleeping!) and leaving them at a cliffhanger until I could make up some more details the following night.

*How can readers get in touch with you?

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

my blog 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

Thanks for stopping by today! Thank you again, Preslaysa, for graciously allowing me to be your guest!

You can order Kaydie at (links to be inserted) everywhere books are sold, including Amazon and CBD.