Today I welcome author Penny Estelle to answer my five quick questions and tell us about her latest release, Hannah Bride of Iowa. Plus, Penny is offering one lucky commenter a free copy of her book! Welcome, Penny.
Someone just gave you the best compliment ever. What was it?
Another author once put in a blog post that she tries to use my writing technique because I always start each of my stories with something that will grab the reader’s attention immediately. “Wham, Penny Estelle’s readers are hooked right from the get-go.” I thought that was so nice – and something I’ll never forget!
You have no choice but to live your life from now on as one of your characters. Which character is it and why?
I’m going to go with Andy Thompson in Hike Up Devil’s Mountain. What can I say – He’s magic! I was going to go with my heroine in Revenge, the Cowboy Way. She’s beautiful, wild, has an unbelievably sexy husband with a huge ranch in Texas. But it’s in the mid 1800s. Come on, no air conditioning…..
Ugh, no a/c. We wonder now how they did it!
You can never write another work of fiction. What will you do instead?
If I were rich, I would be a professional gambler. I suck at it, hence the rich part. I like those casinos!
You get a month off from your regular personal life and writing routine. You can spend it doing which of the following? Feel free to elaborate.
Reading
Traveling -Again, money permitting, I would travel. I love going places. Small towns, huge metropolises, parks….anywhere.
Cooking
Sleeping
Other (fill in the blank)
You get one do-over from your life so far. What is it?
We built our retirement home in a very rural area and we live off the grid. It’s about 1,600 sq ft. One big great room with kitchen and dining room combined and one BIG bedroom. I would have made it two bedrooms. That, seriously is all I’ve got. My life has been pretty great!
Optional: Name one person who has either influenced you the most or you learned the most from and why.
Hands down – my mom. Everything good in me came from her – from being a good person to work ethic. She is my biggest fan and I can go to her (and visa versa) for anything!
You are so lucky to have such a great mom.
***
About Penny Estelle’s book:
Hannah Brown, a mail order bride, is everything Samuel Morrison wants in a wife and more — or so he thinks. Hannah brings with her a secret that, if revealed, could destroy the life she has come to cherish with Samuel and his daughter.
An Excerpt from Penny Estelle’s Hannah Bride of Iowa:
The man who greeted her was fairly short in stature with gray sideburns and an upper lip and chin covered with stubble. He wore a dirty floppy-brimmed hat and his body was lean and muscular for an older man. His arms and face were dark and leathery from the sun. His clothes looked clean, though they were ripped in a few areas, but the distasteful smell that so many men had, was absent from this man.
“Howdy. What can I do for you, ma’am?’
Maddie jumped down from the wagon and approached the man. “Mr.?”
“Slim.”
“Mr. Slim, I…”
“No Mr., just Slim.”
“Slim, I need to get a train ticket to Pennsylvania. The ticket was more than I had anticipated. I find I must sell my mule and wagon.”
The man stepped to one side looking passed her at the rickety wagon and old white mule. “Can’t use ‘em.” He turned to walk back into the livery, dismissing her.
“Sir, please!” She ran in front of him, blocking his way. “I have no family left and no place to turn. I’m supposed to go stay with cousins I’ve never met and I can’t even get there.” Tears welled up in her eyes and her lower lip quivered. Maddie swallowed a lump of emotion so she could speak. “Sal is all I have left in this world. I can’t just leave her uncared for.”
Surprise, or maybe fear, registered on the old man’s face. He held up his hands and took a step backwards. “Now, little lady, there ain’t no need to take on so. You need to calm yourself right down. Thing is I just ain’t got no money for that old bag of bones.”
Tears slipped from her eyes, making dirty paths down her cheeks from the dust of the night’s ride to Jamestown. She didn’t care. “Mr. …I mean, Slim, you don’t have to pay me. Sal doesn’t have much time left on this earth and she doesn’t eat much. She wouldn’t be any bother at all.” The last few words were muttered as a fresh wave of tears fell.
***
Buy Penny Estelle’s book Hannah Bride of Iowa here:
http://www.amazon.com/Hannah-Bride-Iowa-American-Order-ebook/dp/B017HLRB5Q
I would love to offer one commenter a digital copy of my story, Hannah: Bride of Iowa. Please be sure to leave your email address in the comments.
A little bit about Penny in her own words:
I write for all ages, from the early reader to adults. My books range from pictures books for the little ones, to fantasy, time-travel adventures for ages 9 to 13. I also write adult stories, including a family drama and contemporary, paranormal and historical westerns romances, under P. A. Estelle.
I was a school secretary for 21 years. My husband and I moved to our retirement home in Kingman, AZ, on very rural 54 acres, living on solar and wind only.
More about my books can be found in the following links:
http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82
www.pinterest.com/pennyestelle
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estelle – Goodreads
http://www.twitter.com/pennystales
I have a newsletter that goes out for new releases or sales. If you would like to be notified, please sign up @ http://eepurl.com/388Xr
Thanks again, Penny Estelle for sharing with us!
Barbara Meyers - Author 
Barb, thanks for being such a gracious hostess! I appreciate you letting me barge in today!
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Fun questions. You are so lucky to have a great mom. I hope when my girls are grown, they can say something similar.
Also, I think you should just add a 2nd bedroom. Piece of cake, right?😉
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That’s my thinking too April. But my hubby built this entire house
out of block and he’s just too old (or so he tries to run the BS by me) LOL Thanks so much for stopping. Where’s your email address for the drawing????
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Penny, thanks for being here. I love your cover, btw. Hannah’s story sounds like a great read.
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