Five Steps to Getting Published

Today I'm a guest blogger at author Shirley Kiger Connolly's A Pen For Your Thoughts. If you're looking for the formula on how to become a published author, walk this way! It's there. In black and white. Just five, count 'em, 5 simple steps.

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Author Penny Zeller's Hailee

In the Piedmont Island Trilogy author spotlight today is Penny Zeller. Penny tells of being bitten with the writing bug at age seven when she began writing Bible stories in her own words! In fourth grade, she began to write fictional stories and “publishing” them in homemade wallpaper-covered cardboard books.

She writse a humor blog "A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author", is an active volunteer in her community, and devotes her time to assisting, encouraging, and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. When not dreaming up new characters for books, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and camping, hiking, canoeing, gardening, and playing volleyball. A very busy lady!

Let’s talk writing!

Anne - When did you first realize you were destined to write romance? 

Penny - Hello Anne! Thank you for graciously hosting me on your blog. It’s great to be here! I think I knew I was destined to write romance as early as the age of 10, when I made up this romantic suspense series. 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. We still laugh about those stories, and in hindsight, I wish I had written them down!

Anne - Tell us about your book. 

Penny - Hailee is the third book in my Montana Skies Historical Romance Series, which began with McKenzie and Kaydie.

Following is a short blurb -

For years, orphan Hailee Annigan was just a ragamuffin in the Cincinnati streets, stealing food to keep her two younger brothers fed. Her thievery landed her in a home for delinquent youngsters, where 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 Nate Adams 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?

I’m excited about the new trailer for Hailee, which was just produced and can be found at http://youtu.be/LEGoM43jtwA

 

Anne – I love the trailer! Kudos on such a great visual for your book. Is there a message in Hailee that  you want readers to grasp?

Penny - 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.

Anne - Any words of advice for struggling, unpublished writers?

Penny - God calls us all to do different things for His Kingdom. If He has called you to write, seek His guidance. Never give up, even when you feel like it or when someone has unkindly criticized you. Seek to please and honor Him in whatever  you write, whether it be for the secular or nonsecular market; whether it be fiction, nonfiction, poetry, song lyrics, or a screenplay. Find a mentor and be open to ideas and suggestions from one who’s “been there, done that.” One final note, join forces with other Christian writers. After all, we are all working for the same Boss. I give more tips for writers, including sticking with writing and how to prepare for a writer’s conference HERE.

Anne - Outside of writing, what accomplishment are you most proud?

Penny - I would have to say the accomplishments I am most proud of are my 19-year marriage to my wonderful husband, Lon. The other accomplishment I am most proud of is my two children. My oldest daughter, who is 11, spends a lot of time volunteering in Toddler Time at church. She also tutors younger children in their schoolwork. My youngest is the vice-president of a club that helps to support those misplaced by the earthquakes in Haiti. She also wants to be a missionary when she’s an adult.  I am praying that the Lord will continue to move both of my daughters’ hearts toward ministry.

Anne – Would you share an excerpt with us?

Penny – Certainly!

July 1893 • Cincinnati, Ohio

Hailee Annigan removed the discolored sheet of pa­per from the community board in the train depot. Time and weather had faded the poster, so the message was barely readable, but she had memorized the words:

Looking for Philip and Reuben Annigan.

If you have any information, kindly respond to:

Hailee Annigan c/o Dot Pangbourn’s Boardinghouse West Eberlee Street, Cincinnati, Ohio

She crumpled the paper in her hand and stuffed it into her purse. In its place, she posted the notice she’d written that morning, then stepped back to make sure it would be conspicuous to people pass­ing by or preparing to board a train.

Looking for Philip and Reuben Annigan.

If you have any information, kindly respond to: Hailee Annigan c/o Pine Haven School Pine Haven, Montana

For the past several years, she had replaced the posting every month, two times in order to alter the address where she could be located if someone knew of her brothers’ whereabouts.

Hailee swallowed hard to hold back her tears. She didn’t want to leave Cincinnati and diminish her chances of ever finding her younger brothers. However, she knew that a change in location would do her heart good, and that she was following God’s prompting to fulfill the dream she’d had in her heart since she was a young girl.

Tomorrow, Hailee would begin her journey of nearly two thousand miles to a place she’d never been, where she had accepted a job as the school­teacher. Yes, such a drastic change would help her to leave the past behind and start life anew.

She turned and trudged the short distance from the train depot to Austin Street. Her feet ached from all the walking she’d done in the past few hours, re­placing each of the seven postings in varied locations around the city. Now, she had one more place to vis­it—one more person to see—before leaving Ohio…

Excerpt from pages five and six of Hailee by Penny Zeller, © 2011, with permission of the publisher, Whitaker House.

Anne – I’m sure I’m not the only reader wanting more! Where can readers purchase a copy?

Penny - Hailee can be purchased at your favorite bookstore or at online retailers, such as Amazon.

Anne - Where can readers find you on the web?

Penny - I love to connect with my readers at my website, blog, on Twitter, and on Facebook where I post updates about new books, giveaways, events, and Just-for-Fun Fridays.

Anne – Thank you so much for visiting with me on Piedmont Island, Penny!

FYI - leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Hailee. Winner will be announced later this week.

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Back to the Books Giveaway Hop Winner

Thank you to everyone who dropped by during the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop. It's an honor to have so many new and exciting Fun, Fantastic Friends and Followers!

The winner of an e-copy of

DEFENDING GLORY

first book of the

Piedmont Island Trilogy series is:

Andrea.

Congratulations!

If you did not win, please download a free novel sampler www.bit.ly/jQaGu9 that includes the first few chapters of Defending Glory. Enjoy, and happy reading! 

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Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my blog. I'm thrilled to take part in the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop. I’m #67 on the blog hop list.

Thanks to I Am A Reader, Not a Writer for organizing this event. It’s a great way to connect with other readers, authors and bloggers, and win some super giveaways.

My giveaway? An e-copy of

Defending Glory

first book of the Piedmont Island Trilogy.

Suffering from survivor’s guilt and unable to resume his career with the FBI, Mac McKeown moves to northern Minnesota to start over as a general contractor and forget that fateful day that changed everything. When he discovers the body of his nemesis on Glory Palmer’s property, along with a warning for her to leave while she still can and abandon her dream of building a Christian retreat, Mac realizes his past has come back to haunt him and an innocent woman’s life is in grave danger. He vows to keep her safe during construction of the retreat... but how will he protect his heart?

"Ms. Albert has captured the essence of inspirational romantic suspence. With plot twists and characters one can relate to, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel that kept me guessing till the end. I plan to read more from this great writer." ~ Amazon reviewer

"The only question you will have at the end is...when will her next novel come out? Definitely a keeper on my bookshelf." ~ Amazon reviewer

To enter your name in the giveaway draw:

(1) follow my blog,

For an additional chance to win:

(2) "like" my Facebook Fan Page - HERE.

I’ll announce the winner September 11.

Enjoy the rest of the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop, and happy reading!

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Say Goodbye to Yesterday by Shirley Kiger Connolly

My guest today is a very special lady. A teacher, speaker, wife, mom, and grandmother, Shirley Kiger Connolly writes both historical fiction romances laced with nuggets of inspiration for the growing believer and searching nonbeliever, and lighthearted devotional books of reflection. Shirley, an English and Journalism Major at college, is a graduate of Institute of Children's Literature and member of ACFW, FHL, and several RWAs. She and her husband presently live on the Southern Coast of Oregon. Thanks so much for dropping by today, Shirley.

Let's talk writing!

Anne - Tell us about your latest release.

Shirley - The title to this book, which is the first in my new DECISIONS series, is SAY GOODBYE TO YESTERDAY. Here is one of my blurbs, which I hope will entice you a little.

An unwed mother with a questionable past heads west to find the father of her daughters only to discover she is about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

Scorned with disgrace, Annabelle Jordan and her daughters are no longer welcome in her reverend uncle's community. In need of a fresh touch of grace, Annabelle's in no mood to seek mercy yet. Not after carrying on a continual affair with a young military officer long enough to produce two daughters before finally sending him away.

Now without a home, Annabelle's convinced her answer is to find her officer again and force that marriage he pledged but never kept. Who else would show interest in a soiled, aging woman over thirty with two growing children?

Of course, that was before Major Carlton Radcliffe entered her life. How was Annabelle to know she would fall for someone beyond her reach, not only loyal to the faith she's been fleeing, but also pledged to a wife and family of his own?

Anne - It certainly does! What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Shirley - Getting through the first five chapters.  I keep fixing and fixing and fixing, so it hinders my creativity to keep going. I have this thing about trying to make something perfect before I even get it down. I am the forever do it over lady, I guess.

Anne - What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself from writing?

Shirley - How much I still don't know. Although I've known since I was eight years old that I wanted to be a writer, I wasted lots of years NOT writing the stories of my heart. Now that I'm old, and not quite gray (that's the blessing of being a redhead, I guess), I get tired too easily, and can't seem to accomplish as much as I would like in the time that I have to accomplish it. (Does that make sense?)

Anne - Absolutely. I find I can waste hours online...and elsewhere! Outside of writing, what accomplishment are you most proud?

Shirley - Probably raising my children, and watching how they grew up and kept the values they were taught. That and teaching myself to play guitar, then write songs the Lord gave me. Also when I had the joy of putting together a small music group a few years back, where two other women and I sang harmony and shared our songs of the Lord with others. Being able to lead women in large study groups and seminars over the years is a blessed accomplishment to me. Anything I've done that has been of benefit to others in some way, whether by promoting or helping other authors, or helping women I meet be strengthened their faith by something I've shared or written. All these are blessings to me.

Anne - Quick. Your five favorites – author, actor, movie, song, quote.

Shirley - Author: TOO MANY TO NAME!

Actor: The James Stewart kind from the thirties through fifties and the Clark Gable kind from back then. The Bette Davis kind, and Olivia DeHavilland style. (I'm an old movie buff.) Newer? Tom Hanks kind of guys, or Mel Gibson types. For the ladies? Meg Ryan style.

Movie: All the classics from the forties. The newer ones? BRAVEHEART, GLADIATORS, or lighthearted SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE kind.

SONG: Classics are my favorite. Love Mozart pieces.

Quote: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me… Just one of many.

(That's a hard question, Anne!)

Anne - LOL. You answered it perfectly! Would you provide an excerpt from Say Goodbye to Yesterday?

Shirley - Here you go:

At that very moment, she sensed a compelling, potent magnetism unlike anything she'd experienced, as if the major had always been a part of her, as if God had fused the two of them together like an intangible bond. But would God have a hand in doing such a thing between two people like the major and her?

He pulled away then reached gently for her again. His fingers came around to push a stray tendril of hair away from her cheek.

After the warm and sweet, lingering kiss that followed, Annabelle blinked her eyes,
catching sight of the ring on the major's left hand. She instantly withdrew herself, lowering her chin. "I shouldn't be allowing any of this. It's wrong. I'm sorry."

How could she have forgotten that ring and what Cousin Philip had told her? How could she have been so thoughtless? Not only was this man of strong faith, he had a wife of his own.

"I -- I...please forgive me." Annabelle's heart fell into her stomach.

"No, Annabelle," Carlton said, trying to clasp her hands into his again. "It was my doing. I didn't mean to invade your space. My intentions were--"

"You didn't invade my space. I invaded yours. I caused you to--" She studied the ring he wore with more interest, feeling her cheeks flush hotter. "And you a married man."

"Me, married?" Carlton gave her a bewildered gaze then caught sight of his ring. "Oh, that. Let me explain."

Anne - Ach! You're leaving us hanging like that?! Say Goodbye to Yesterday is a book I need to read! Where can readers reach you online?

Shirley - At my website, or my blog or my publisher's site or my author page at Facebook.

Say Goodbye to Yesterday is available at all online stores, and at Desert Breeze Publishing and also at Christian Book Distributors.

Watch for my Book Release celebration over at my Facebook Author Page!

Anne - Thank you for dropping by, Shirley. As always, it's been a pleasure!

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Anne K. Albert Free First Chapters

Download a FREE novel sampler from Vanilla Heart Publishing.

It includes Defending Glory, book one of the Piedmont Island Trilogy series, and Frank, Incense and Muriel, first of the Muriel Reeves Mysteries.

To download your FREE copy, click here. Happy reading!

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