Author Interview (and a Giveaway!): Penny Zeller & Forgotten Memories

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Forgotten Memories by Penny Zeller, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I’m so glad that Penny is on the blog today to chat about her new book!

FORGOTTEN MEMORIES by Penny Zeller
SERIES: Wyoming Sunrise #1
GENRE: Christian Historical Romance
PUBLISHER: Maplebrook Publishing
RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2022
PAGES: 329

Some memories are best forgotten…

The Wyoming Territory is rife with lawlessness and disorder, something Annie Ledbetter and her parents discover when their wagon train is robbed. Seven years later, Annie settles into her lifelong dream as a teacher in the small town of Willow Falls. When she meets handsome rancher Caleb Eliason through a humorous misunderstanding, she is quickly drawn to his kind heart and charming smile.

Former outlaw Caleb Eliason embraces his chance at a fresh start. Gone are the days of robbing stagecoaches and wagon trains. When he falls in love with the new Willow Falls teacher, he doesn’t realize they’ve met before—under much different circumstances. When his past comes to light, will it put the growing love between them at risk?

Can forgiveness and redemption heal two broken hearts or will the past keep them from sharing a future?

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Hi Penny! Welcome to the blog!

Penny: Definitely, absolutely, positively, unquestionably, without exception, summer! I love that we have all four seasons where I live, but I would change up the ratio a bit. More summer and less winter (we have long winters here).

Carrie: it sounds like you and I need to trade locales – I would love a long winter & Georgia barely has a winter at all lol

Penny: Hallmark Channel. As a die-hard romantic, I love clean chick-flicks and romantic suspense movies.

Carrie: I love their romantic suspense/mystery movies too 🙂

Penny: Music. I have lengthy Christian music playlists on my phone (along with a few favorite secular hits from the 80s and 90s). Music motivates me and I love to exercise to it.

Carrie: music is my go-to as well!

Penny: Mountains. I am blessed to live a half-hour from the mountains where I join my family for a multitude of outdoor adventures. Being in God’s Creation amongst the pines, wildflowers, and streams is one of my favorite places to be. Yes, I do like the ocean, but nothing beats the mountains.

Carrie: amen to that! the mountains are my happy place.

Q: Around here I like to say that reading is my superpower. If YOU had a superpower, what would it be?

Penny: I would love to have a little built-in switch I could turn on at will to become invisible.

Carrie: that would be a very interesting superpower to have!

Q: Who is your favorite book character from childhood?

Penny: When I was ten, my Aunt Kerry passed her entire collection of Trixie Belden books to me. I instantly fell in love with the series and read them over and over again. Trixie, of course, was my favorite character.

Carrie: i LOVED Trixie Belden too!

Q: Writing spaces are as diverse as authors and books. Where is your favorite space to write?

Penny: Several years ago, my husband remodeled a spare bedroom in our house into a home office for me. He is a regular MacGyver/Tim the Tool Man Taylor when it comes to building and fixing things, and his gift of the office has been such a blessing. Everything I need is in close proximity: my computers and other office equipment, reference books, pleasure books, an elliptical, stationary bike, and all of my exercise equipment, a fireplace, and a comfortable rolling chair. We’ve contemplated moving over the years, but I’m not sure I could leave my office behind.

Carrie: that is definitely good motivation not to move! Sounds like a wonderful place to write ♥

Q: Did you have the whole plot outlined before you started writing Forgotten Memories, or did you let the characters dictate what came next?

Penny: I had to laugh when I read this question about having the whole plot outlined. I am a pantster who flies by the seat of her pants, although I do have every intention of being organized and focused. 😊

I am almost 100% visual, so I “watch” the scenes play out in my head, and not always in order. I type up the scenes as they occur. If I’m somewhere where my computer is not nearby, I will write notes about the next scene playing out in my mind. Characters do take on a life of their own and sometimes leave me behind if I’m not paying attention.

When I have appointments, I take my trusty old clipboard with a stack of looseleaf notebook paper and handwrite scenes. An interesting tidbit: I wrote 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference: Ideas and Activities for Serving Others (one of my two nonfiction titles) in its entirety while my daughters were in swimming lessons. I sat on the edge of the pool while watching them and handwriting the book.

Carrie: that’s so fun! I love that they leave you behind if you’re not paying attention haha

Q: What do you most want readers to take away from Forgotten Memories?

Penny: This is such a great question. For me, writing is a calling and a ministry. I write character-driven novels with faith-filled elements and tender romance. I also include plentiful humor (I, myself, love to laugh!) and memorable characters.

Forgotten Memories is no exception when it comes to faith and abundant humor. The thing I want readers to take away from it is that we truly are new creations in Christ when we put our faith and trust in Him, just as my main character, Caleb Eliason, discovers. (And a warning: do have a box of Kleenex nearby toward the end of the book).

Carrie: I adore humor & romance in books but I also enjoy a good book-induced cry every once in a while too 😉

Thank you so much for taking time to talk with me! 🙂 Before we say goodbye for today, tell us what‘s coming up next for you.

Penny: I have several irons in the fire. My agent has been prompting me to venture into the world of romantic suspense. I just finished writing a manuscript in that genre, so I’m excited to see if that’s where God would lead me.

I also just started writing Book 2 in the Wyoming Sunrise Series. A little hint: the main male character is a sibling to one of the main characters in Forgotten Memories.

Thank you for having me as your guest!

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of numerous inspirational books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, biking, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website.

Connect with Penny by visiting pennyzeller.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Forgotten Memories and a $25 Amazon gift card.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 30, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 6, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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This giveaway is hosted by JustRead Tours, not RimSP
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

What about you? What makes you want to read Forgotten Memories by Penny Zeller?