Penny Zeller's "Hailee (Book #3 in the Montana Skies Historical Romance Series)

Title: Hailee (Book #3 in my Montana Skies Historical Romance Series, which follows McKenzie and Kaydie).

1) How did this story come to you?
I knew beforehand that I would be writing a third book in this series. Hailee Annigan’s character 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.

I introduced my main male character, Nate Adams, in the second novel in my series, Kaydie, and was excited to expound on his character and follow his struggles in answering God’s calling on his life.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Hailee is the final book in my Montana Skies Series. Nate is McKenzie and Kaydie’s nephew (their sister, Peyton’s son). I was excited to conclude my three-book series with a final glimpse into the lives of those who call Pine Haven, Montana, home.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Hmmm, let’s see… well, I met my husband through a prank phone call (yep, it’s true & I even wrote a blog post about it titled “Why Prank Phone Calls are Beneficial”); I threw up while dissecting a worm in junior high science class (yuck! And you guessed right, I still think worms are gross!), and the most current thing is that I am an edge-of-the-seat writer and don’t use an outline. Yep, it’s true. But don’t tell anyone.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Next on the agenda is my historical romance series set in the post-Civil War era. I recently completed the first draft of the first book and am hard at work on the second.

5) Parting comments?
I am excited to announce that the book trailer for Hailee was recently produced by Tinkertime Productions and can be seen at http://youtu.be/LEGoM43jtwA. I love the music that producer Cindy Sproles chose and I would love to hear what you think about it too!

I also wanted to say thank you to my readers for their support and encouragement. I couldn’t embark on this writing journey without you!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love hearing from my readers via –
* My website: http://www.pennyzeller.com/
* My humor blog: http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/
* My FB page www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks (Come join in the conversation of just-for-fun Fridays, where I ask a question and we all chit-chat about it)
* On Twitter: http://twitter.com/pennyzeller

Thank you again, Dawn, for having me as your guest. It was an honor to be here!

Penny Zeller's "Kaydie"

We're happy to have Penny Zeller with us today talking about her book, Kaydie. To learn more about Penny and her book, read on!

Title: Kaydie
Publisher: Whitaker House

Cover blurb: For the first time in years, Kaydie Worthington Kraemer can breathe easily. Although she is still haunted by memories of her abusive husband, Darius, she takes comfort in knowing the man is dead. Staying with her sister McKenzie and brother–in–law, Zach Sawyer, at their ranch, Kaydie is still wary of men, especially now that she has another life inside of her to protect. As she looks forward to her baby's birth, she builds a protective wall around herself that won't be easy to tear down.
Ranch hand Jonah Dickenson views his boss, Zach, like a brother. He does not, however, envy Zach's new role as a husband. Deserted by his mother at a young age and forever despised and rejected by his own 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.
When Cedric Van Aulst, an old friend of Kaydie's, comes to town, an unforeseen prospect of marriage arises. Cedric is someone Kaydie trusts. Will she settle for a safe union with him, or can she trust God to guard her heart and her life in the arms of Jonah?

1) How did this story come to you?
We were on vacation in my hometown of Gooding, Idaho, when God began to give me the idea for Kaydie’s story. I couldn’t wait to return home and begin writing it!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
When Whitaker House accepted McKenzie (the first book in my Montana Skies Series), they also contracted me to write two more books in the series. I was ecstatic because I really wanted to be able to tell Kaydie’s story.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Hmmm, let’s see – three things. Well, first, right out of a romance novel, I met my husband of 18 years through a prank phone call while we were in high school (he was a football player from a school 20 minutes from mine and I was a cheerleader). The rest, as they say, is history. Secondly, I am allergic to multiple foods, including coffee , which I used to love to drink! Thirdly, 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.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
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.

5) Parting comments?
I would like to thank you, Dawn, for having me here, and also thank my readers for their support and encouragement. I couldn’t do it without you! Secondly, I would like to let everyone know that from April 1 – May 15 is my official blog tour for Kaydie. I will have all the details on giveaways (including a chance to win Hailee, the third book in the series) on my FB author page, so be sure to stop by.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love to connect with my readers at my website http://www.pennyzeller.com/, my blog at 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

Penny Zeller's "McKenzie"

We're happy to have Penny Zeller with us today talking about her book, McKenzie. To learn more about Penny and her book, read on!

Title: McKenzie.
Publisher: Whitaker House

Cover blurb: Desperation to rescue her younger sister from an abusive husband prompts McKenzie Worthington to run away from her stately Boston home as a mail-order bride for a rancher in the rugged Montana Territory.
Desperation also prompted Zachary Sawyer to post the ad for a bride, and he eagerly awaits the woman God has chosen for his wife.
When they meet, McKenzie tries to keep her distance, but she can't help feeling attracted to Zach and his selfless ways. What will become of her plan to annul the marriage when she finds her sister?

1) How did this story come to you?
My family and I were in a car accident a couple 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.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
After I wrote the book and after much prayer, I sent the proposal to Whitaker House. They responded and asked to see the entire manuscript. McKenzie was accepted and released in September 2010. It is the first in my Montana Skies Historical Romance series.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Hmmm, let’s see – three things. Well, first, right out of a romance novel, I met my husband of 18 years through a prank phone call while we were in high school (he was a football player from a school 20 minutes from mine and I was a cheerleader). The rest, as they say, is history. Secondly, and quite humorous, I might add, I had two imaginary friends as a young child. They were two gray-haired grandpas (the ones from Sesame Street). I imagined they lived at the end of my street. And finally, some may find it interesting that I never do outlines for my novels. I dream up the entire book in my head as if I were watching a movie then write it down scene by scene. My husband and kids always tease me and ask if I’ve “watched” any movies lately *grins.*

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Book two of my Montana Skies Historical Romance Series is scheduled for release in April 2011. The book is titled Kaydie and is a touching story of God’s provision. (The full description of Kaydie can be seen at http://www.whitakerhouse.com/DeskTop.aspx?page=ProductInfo&item=431956)
I am currently working on Book Three in my Montana Skies Series, which will take fans of the series into the lives of more Pine Haven characters and a glimpse at the main character’s chance for love in an unexpected place. In addition, I just completed the first book in a new historical romance series that takes place in the Civil War era.

5) Parting comments?
I would like to say a special thank you to Dawn for having me here. I’d also like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. May the Lord bless you with His love and faithfulness in 2011 and beyond.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love to connect with my readers at my website http://www.pennyzeller.com/, 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