Today I’m pleased to welcome my friend, Penny Zeller. What a beautiful heart this lady has!
Welcome, Penny!
First, tell us a bit about yourself beyond who you are as a writer.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guest! I am honored to be here today. I am a Christ follower, wife, mom, author, and blogger. I work from home and am also involved in a variety of volunteer activities. I also lead a Christian writers group/Bible study. In my free time, I love spending time with my family and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading,gardening, and playing volleyball.
My favorite Bible verses are Psalm 91, Jeremiah 29:11, and Psalm 19:14. My favorite food is pizza, and I would love to someday travel to Prince Edward Island, Hilton Head Island, and Alaska. This year, my husband and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary (we married really young!) I met my husband through a prank phone call when we were teenagers. 🙂
Through a prank call? Okay. There’s a romance story just begging to be told! How did you become a Christian writer?
I was bitten by the writing bug at age seven when I began writing Bible stories in my own words. In fourth grade, I started to write fictional stories and “publish” them in homemade wallpaper-covered cardboard books. Throughout high school, I wrote stories with my friends as the main characters. 🙂
Years later, I decided to work from home so I could stay home with my infant daughter. I dedicated my writing to the Lord and began my career by writing articles for national and regional publications. A few years later, I began writing books.
I love the idea of writing Bible stories in your own words. How creative! So if you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?
While I have worked in a variety of professions in the past (a caseworker in the social services field, a retail clerk, legal assistant, bookkeeper, aerobics instructor, etc.) writing has always been my passion, so I can’t imagine myself doing anything else (besides, of course, being a wife and mom – my absolute favorite profession!) However, if I wasn’t a writer, I would like to be a television talk show host for a Christian TV show. I think that would be a lot of fun! 🙂
Most writers also like to read. What are some of your favorites?
Historical romance is my favorite genre to read. I do also enjoy reading other genres, such as nonfiction and contemporary Christian romance. I have read some awesome books lately, including My Heart Remembers by Kim Vogel Sawyer, Grow Old With Me by Melinda Evaul, and Cowboy by Staci Stallings. An excellent nonfiction book I am currently reading is the touching My Emily by Matt Patterson. I also am working on an excellent Bible study titled Ecclesiastes: Understanding What Matters Most by Stephanie Shott.
See. I just knew you would be a reader! Do you have a quote or saying that yo live by?
A quote I live by that I have written on the first page of my Bible is one I heard from author and speaker Beth Moore during one of the many times I have led women’s Bible studies. It states, “No amount of ministry will make up for failure at home.” It speaks to me deeply because, after my relationship with the Lord, I diligently strive to make my family my top priority.
Awesome advice. What are you working on now?
I am working on a historical romance series that takes place in the post Civil War era and am excited to see where God leads me with that project.
Fabulous! Tell us about your works out right now.
I am super excited that all three books in my Montana Skies Historical Romance series – McKenzie, Kaydie, and Hailee are all now available in Kindle format. I am also thrilled about the book trailers for Kaydie at
http://youtu.be/Vwihs6rsqDk and Hailee at
http://youtu.be/LEGoM43jtwA
On the blogging front, I have developed a routine on my blog, “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, & Author” to include movie reviews from a Christian worldview on Mondays, funny life happenings on Tuesdays, and author interviews/giveaways/guest posts with some of my favorite author friends on Thursdays. I also, on occasion, squeeze in my own family-related posts and devotionals.
Where can readers find you on the net?
I love to connect with readers on –
Thanks so much for stopping by, Penny! Now go write that story of how you met your husband! 😉
Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles. She is also the author of the blog “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com where she also provides weekly doses of humor, along with movie reviews from a Christian worldview, and interviews with some of her favorite author friends.
Penny is an active volunteer in her community, devoting 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.
Among other books, Penny is the author of McKenzie, Kaydie, and Hailee in her Montana Skies Historical Romance Series and 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference: Ideas and Activities for Serving Others.
When she’s not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, and playing volleyball.
Penny loves to hear from her readers at her website, www.pennyzeller.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks
Penny Zeller
/ March 9, 2012Thank you so much for having me as your guest! It has been an honor to be here.