Giveaway and Author Interview: McKenzie and Kaydie

Welcome to Writing for Christ, Penny Zeller, it is great to have you here!

Thank you so much for interviewing me on your blog, Casey.  It’s great to be here!

Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?

What a fun question to answer! *grins* Let’s see, I think one of the most interesting things would be how I met my husband, Lon, of 18 years. I met him through a prank phone call when my sister, cousin, and I found his football picture in the newspaper and decided to call him one day. I thought he was just the cutest! (He went to a neighboring school and was a state champion football player, while I was a cheerleader at my school). We met in person for the first time the following week at the local gas station where I told him my real name. (Having an overactive imagination allowed me to come up with just the perfect name when I prank phone-called him). Lon rode up on his motorcycle and I drove up in my old-fashioned high school clunker. Our eyes met…and the rest, as they say, is history!

What surprised you the most about being a published author?

That the hardest work comes after the book is published! J

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

Historical romance is my favorite genre to write, followed by contemporary romance. In third place would be nonfiction. As for reading, I would have to say my favorite is historical romance. There’s something neat about being able to pick up this genre and escape into a simpler time.

When you aren’t writing or interacting with fans, what do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy spending time with my family and camping, hiking, canoeing, gardening, and playing volleyball.

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?

I     never realized it before I began writing, but being an author is a fulltime career. I have to be intentional about setting aside time and setting goals or my writing can easily take a backseat to the other “necessary” daily chores of being a wife, mother, and volunteer. Because I work from a home office, I have to be intentional also about allowing the answering machine to “field” calls and be realistic about time management. Effective prioritizing has been a huge learning experience for me!

What do you enjoy most about being a published author?

There are many exciting things about being a published author, such as, receiving a copy of my manuscript in “book form” for the first time or receiving a kind email from a reader. However, the thing I have enjoyed the most is the opportunity it has given me to share Christ with others. Being able to talk about my career has opened the door to sharing the Gospel in countless ways.

What do you like readers to take away from your books?

Writing is my ministry and I hope my readers will get from McKenzie -and all of my books -the power of God’s love, redemption, hope, and forgiveness.  I want them to catch a glimpse inside my characters’ lives and see that God can and does change hearts.

Places for readers to learn more about you? 

I love to hear from my readers and can be found on the web at www.pennyzeller.com (website)

www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com (my blog – a Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts (Facebook)

http://twitter.com/pennyzeller (Twitter)

Thank you for being with us today! Thank you again, Casey, for having me here and for being such an encouragement and a blessing to authors everywhere! We appreciate you!

Okay readers, here is your chance to enter to win Penny's book. Here is how this will work: one winner will receive one of the books. The winner of Kaydie will not get their book April as it has not yet released. Please make note of this.

Please leave an email address. If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win!

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

And a NEW one:
~"Like" Penny's page on Facebook.

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on January 28th.