Okay so it looks like I fell off the planet. Promise - I'm still here. The last four years have been ... hard. There's no other word for it. Everything is fine. I'm fine, but I've been the caregiver of my mom who has Dementia. Between her needs, work, etc I seem to have lost control of my time. I am still writing and am trying hard to get back to my blog.

In case you weren't aware Phaze and HSWF which where under the Mundania Umbrella have closed. I was smart enough to get my titles back before all this happened. I'm happy to say the three books I sold to HSWF have been picked up by Melange Books and are available through their Satin Books imprint. I have even sold a new title to them called Magical Quest due out in 2022

I have also been lucky enough to find a publisher for my Vespian Way series. I'm now with Blushing Books under the name of Bethany Drake. I have five titles out with them right now and am close to submitting two more. There's Desire's Destiny, Desire's Duty and Desire's Promise. Then there is two in my werewolf series, Tears of the Queen and Legend of the Tears. I have just finished the rough draft of the third book in the series and have plans for a fourth one the moment I submit it.

I'll probably still be sporadic here on the blog. Unless I win the lottery and can hire someone to help me I can't avoid it, but know I'm still here still working hard in the background and am hoping to do better at keeping my blog alive.

Barb:)



Saturday, April 23, 2016

Welcome my Latest Guest Penny Estelle! @Pennystales #interview

I want to welcome Penny Estelle.  First I’d love you to introduce yourself.

Good morning, Barbara, and thanks so much for allowing me to barge onto your blog!  My name is Penny Estelle and I write in many genres.  I started out writing for the middle grade kiddos.  I have 8 books out that include fantasies, time travel adventures, and a puppy love contemporary.

I then decided to give writing for the older crowd a shot.  Under P. A. Estelle, I have a family drama, 6 historical western romances, 4 contemporary romances, and a paranormal romance.

My latest attempt were picture books for the beginning reader.  Fox Tots picked up both of my picture books, and I’m waiting on a third to be illustrated.

Tell us about your latest release.

Years ago, and I’m talking forty years, I wrote the great American novel (at least I thought it was!)  It took me five years to finish on my electric Brothers typewriter.  I sent out several queries and was politely told, thanks, but no thanks.  I put it in my closet and it sat there for forty years.  Once I got a few things published, I decided to take it out and have a look.  IT WAS HORRIBLE WRITING!  I took it out and rewrote the whole thing.  Revenge, the Cowboy Way was picked up by Rooster & Pig Publishing.  It’s been out for several years. 

Now to your question – My latest release is Gabe, The Thornton Trilogy.  Gabe is the number one son of the couple in Revenge, the Cowboy Way.  Two more stories will be coming out later this year – Colt, The Thornton Trilogy, Book 2, and Rebecca, The Thornton Trilogy, Book 3.

Now I have a few questions for you – I have found readers do like to know fun things about us writers.

1.) Who is your favorite villain – it can be from a book (even one of yours), movie or TV show. And why?

Supernatural – Crowley (the devil)

2.) Who is your favorite character out of your books? Why? 

UGH…..That is a hard question!  If I have to pick one I would probably go with Joanna Thornton in Revenge, the Cowboy Way.  She’s put in some horrible situations and she does what has to be done.  She’s spunky and loving and takes the bull by the horn and runs with it!

3.) What do genre do you write? What made you pick that one?

As I said earlier, I write in many genres.  I am mainly writing now in the historical western romance genre.  It’s a popular genre with many people and it’s a great escape for me!

4.) What are you working on now?

Jesse’s Heartbreak, Book 3 of the Jesse Series.

5.) What got you to start writing?

I worked as a school secretary for 21 years.  It was a K-8 school and I heard every excuse from the kids when they were sent to the principal.  I thought it would be great to write about these kids.  All my kid stories have plenty of action and sarcasm. 

6.) Where do you get your ideas from?

I get asked that a lot.  It was easy coming up with MG stories as I have seven grandkids.  I watched my grandson play with a flying dragon.  It was a perfect ending for Hike Up Devil’s Mountain – all I needed was a beginning and a middle!  LOL  

I have 5 stories in The Wickware Sagas.  Kids go back in time and meet legends of the past.  One day I asked my 5th grade granddaughter and her friends if they knew who William Tell was – and they didn’t.  WHAT???  Billy Cooper’s Awesome Nightmare was conceived.  He goes back and meets William Tell.

As far as my adult stories….I have nuttin’ to share.  They just come to me.

7.) What would people who read your work be surprised to find out about you?

Most of my stories need to have a lot of research done.  I do that research because I want it historically correct.  Between you, me and your readers – history and I were never friends.  I wanted no part of it in any grade!  Now I love it!

8.) Do you have any special talents?

Absolutely none!!!  I used to be on a variety TV show with my sister where we danced and did gymnastics.  That was 100 years ago!

9.) What was the one piece of advice you received when you were an aspiring author that has stuck with you? Why?

Don’t write to make money.  Write because it’s something you enjoy.  So true! So true!

10.) If you could talk to any famous figure (present, past or fictional) who would it be and what would you talk about?

John Wayne – He’s always been my man and he could give me tons of info on my western genre!

11.) What song would you say describes your life?

“Friends In Low Places” by Garth Brooks

12.) If you could come back as any animal – what would it be?

An eagle






Blurb:

Gabe Thornton inherits the Double Bar Ranch from good friend and neighbor Bill (Pappy) Thomas, but there are conditions.   Last Will and Testament states five hundred acres have been set aside for his only niece, or interested heirs.  The property must be lived on for a year or said acreage will revert back to Gabe.

Molly Blackburn shows up in Bastrop, Texas, to claim the land her great uncle has left her.  Though she knows nothing about cattle ranching, she has no other choice when her father passes away.

Gabe is sure she won’t last a month and he tells her so, but greenhorn or not, she swears she will be there till the bitter end, no matter what! 

Will she give up her land or will she find more than just a cattle ranch in Bastrop?


Excerpt:

“I happen to also own a hand gun but..well I didn’t think to purchase bullets for it.”
“Perfect!” Gabe said, shaking his head.  “There’s also wood to be cut and hay and water to be hauled, plus a million other things.”  He laid the gun against the wall, opening the door.  “You won’t last the week and if you had half a brain you’d know it!”
“Get out of my house,” she hollered.  He walked out into the cold morning, but she was right on his heels, taking his coat off.  “Wait!”  He turned and she threw his coat in his face.  “Thank you for the use of your coat, but I’ll thank you to stay off my property!”
Gabe advanced a step her way, but a discreet cough stopped him.  There were his mother and sister, sitting on their horses.  He swung up on his horse, staring at his new neighbor.  “See if you can’t talk some sense into her!” he ground out before riding away.

For more information about me and my stories check out the following links:

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3 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for having me today, Barbara. I love your blog!

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  2. There are some interesting questions here. I enjoyed the post. And Gabe sounds like a book I'd enjoy. Going to check it out.

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  3. Thanks Penny - glad you like the blog and I loved your answers to my questions!

    Barb:)

    ReplyDelete