Looking Out The Window: Penelope Marzec Talks About Her Latest Book Patriot's Courage, Book Two In Her Patriot's Series. Gives Away A PDF Copy.
A Warm Welcome to Penelope Marzec
Penelope will give away a PDF copy of Patriot's Courage. To enter to win leave a comment and an email address below.
Hi Penelope, first tell us a little about yourself.
I’m the wife of a retired electrical engineer who plays the accordion. There has always been plenty of music in our house. Our three grown daughters don’t live too far away so we see them often. I spent many years teaching first graders in public school, but I also taught pre-schoolers, which was delightful fun. I sang songs, read stories, painted pictures and played with clay. Some days proved to be a challenge, but most days were full of hugs and smiles. Seeing the children’s progress in learning filled me with joy. I knew I was making a difference. While there was a great deal of responsibility on my shoulders, I looked forward to the job. Now that I am retired from teaching I write, but I also paint and crochet. I’m always busy with an assortment of projects.
Lots of writers were avid readers as children. What about you? If so, what did you read?
When I was a child, my family owned a child’s encyclopedia set, which I loved and read over and over. As I grew older, I got a library card, which was a thrill. I read stories about children my own age at first and then dove into Nancy Drew’s mysteries. I loved Nancy Drew the best, but I read Trixie Belden, too.
Why do you write?
I write because I have stories to tell—lots of them. 😄 Characters pop into my mind and I have to give them a book—with a happy ending of course.
Of course, tell us about your latest book.
My latest release is Patriot’s Courage, which is open in Ohio Territory in 1794 at the Battle of the Fallen Timbers. It is the third book in my Patriots series and tells the story of Ryan McGowen. In retaliation for his brother's death, Ryan vows to kill every Indian in Ohio territory. When his captain assigns him to teach English to a woman found sobbing over a dead warrior, he resents the task. But the woman melts away his vengeance. He begins to understand the way to peace is through forgiveness. Then he learns the woman carries the child of her Indian husband in her womb.
Mà xkchulëns, a white woman adopted by the Lenape at the age of four, is confined at the fort and longs to return to her people. Though Ryan leads her to recall part of the faith her biological parents held dear, she struggles to understand it and the power of grace.
Can she rely on that grace in desperate times? And will faith protect her unborn child as well?
What inspired you to write this particular book?
When I wrote Patriot’s Heart, I intended to continue the story by giving other members of the McGowan family a book of their own. One of the facts that intrigued me were the promissory notes for one hundred acres of land given to the men who fought the War of Independence in the Continental Army. The second book in the series, Patriot’s Pride, centered around the inheritance the McGowens were to receive from their grandfather, but I still wanted to know if any member of the family would cash in one of the promissory notes. From the beginning of the series, I planned for the twins, Ryan and Lewis to leave New Jersey. I just couldn’t decide where they should go.
And then I was invited to a family reunion in Ohio. That’s all it took to start the gears whirring in my mind and I dove into the history of Ohio Territory and the Battle of the Fallen Timbers.
Neat. Thank you for sharing.
Buy Patriot's Courage on
Where do you get ideas for your books?
I find ideas everywhere. Many times, I am inspired when visiting a historical site or a scenic area. Sometimes a news article will inspire me. There are plots all over the place. I just have to find the time to write them.
How do you get to know your characters?
I usually start with the basics, like hair color, height, eye color and so forth, but soon my characters start telling me all I need to know about them. They simply walk into my life and direct me to write their story. It’s fun.
Do you have to juggle writing with a job, family responsibilities or other obligations? How do you balance it?
I got serious about trying to get a book published when my youngest daughter was four. That year, after being home for many years raising our daughters, I went back to teaching. Despite work and family responsibilities, I was determined to finish a book and find a publisher for it. The process took a great deal of juggling. I had to accept the fact that there were days when I could not write, but most times I might grab an hour of writing or sometimes two. Eventually, I found the best time of day for me to write was in the evening—after supper. That meant I rarely watched any television shows, but I didn’t mind. I was committed to my goal.
After I retired, I took care of my aging father for several years, but again evening turned out to be the best time for me to write. Writing is more fun than watching television anyhow.
Are you a plotter or a pantzer?
I’m a bit of both, but I lean more to the pantzer side. I start out with a brief outline of the plot, a timeline, which is more like a calendar of events, and my sketchy character details. However, everything is flexible and if a better idea strikes me while I’m writing I’ll use it.
What would you be doing if you weren’t writing?
Whenever I’m not writing I crochet or paint. I belong to a prayer shawl ministry and an art society—in addition to my writers’ groups. I’m always busy doing something. I’m rather fond of trying new recipes, too.
What is the coolest, wackiest, most risk-taking thing you’ve ever done?
Writing a book is undoubtedly the coolest, wackiest, and most risk-taking thing I’ve ever done. I loved writing from an early age, but I’ve never been a gambler. However, writing a book and expecting to become published was quite a gamble. At least in the days before self-publishing became easy. Despite the odds of getting my book on an editor’s desk, I longed to be a published author. So, I wrote one book, then another book, and then another. I didn’t stop. I collected plenty of rejections, but eventually I succeeded. Yet, there was no guarantee that I would succeed. There was a risk, but I was willing to take it.
BIO:
Penelope Marzec grew up along the Jersey shore. She started reading romances at a young age and fell hopelessly in love with happy endings. Two of her inspirational romances won EPIC’s eBook Award and another was a finalist in that contest. Her paranormal, Irons in the Fire, was a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award. Visit her Website for more information.
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