New interview with children's author Nancy Pennick

I’m happy to have author Nancy Pennick back again. This time we’re talking about her juvenile/children’s book Basketball Jones.

Bio:

After a great career in teaching, Nancy found a second calling as a writer. Starting off as a young adult author, Nancy has expanded into children’s books and historical romance. Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, she currently resides in Mentor, OH. Ohio is her home, but she loves to travel the U.S. Nancy is married and has one son.

Nancy, welcome back to Reviews and Interviews. Please tell us about your newest release.

Basketball Jones a heartwarming story of a young boy whose love of basketball changes his life in ways he never expected. Through this journey he gets an unexpected surprise, the life he always wanted.

What inspired you to write this book?

As a teacher and a mom, I experienced a lot of interactions between children. Bullying has not gone away or improved since I was in school, but has reached greater heights in this day and age of social media.

As a family, we participated in city offered sports, and I watched as the kids grew older, the ones with talent were favored. The others got little playing time which wasn’t fair.

The story grew from those experiences. I wanted to write about a boy who thought he wasn’t good at sports, never got his turn to play and finally got his chance. It’s not an easy road for him, his bully from elementary school continues to taunt him in middle school. But Teddy does not easily give up.

Sports is part of the central theme, but not the main one. Girls and boys alike can identify with the characters in the story.

What’s the next writing project?

I am currently working on a historical romance series, The Clan MacLaren. The first book, My Highlander Husband, was published in January. The second book, Donnach’s Daughter, will be released in November.

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)

Getting to the end! Lol The biggest challenge is making sure to not be repetitive and keep the flow of the story moving. Did you ever read a book and say, “You said that already.” My personal challenge is descriptions-clothes, rooms, looks. I feel I always need to improve on that.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?

I did a lot of basketball research for Basketball Jones before I started writing. I didn’t want to get too technical and wanted the basics. For example- Practice drills for beginners. Teddy joins an after school intramural program where all are welcome. This isn’t a book about varsity sports. I stop in the middle of writing to research, too. Sometimes, an hour of research turns into one sentence in the story, but I want to be as accurate as I can.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.

I have a room off the kitchen that has been turned into office space. I shared the space with my son for years. Picture two computers desks, a printer stand and an ironing board in a bedroom-sized space! I like quiet when writing so it is a perfect place. I also have my favorite pictures hanging on the walls and characters on my desk – Tinkerbelle, Pooh and Jiminy Cricket Hallmark ornaments are small enough to place around it.

My son moved out of the room a few years ago which really helped free up space. I recently looked around and thought I should make this room my own. No matter if you write or read or craft, you deserve your own space. I am painting every mismatched piece of furniture white to make the room cohesive and more my own. Right now, it’s a work in progress.

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?

I love Diana Gabaldon and her Outlander series. And from my early years, I fell in love with the children’s author, Beverly Cleary. I read all her books then read them to my second and third graders. Her writing is timeless. Most of my favorites are children’s authors for various reasons. Roald Dahl – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an all-time favorite. The lessons in that book are priceless.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?

Whatever you chose to do in life, do not give up! That is the main focus of Basketball Jones. There was a saying on an old mug I wish I still had that said, “Don’t let the turkeys get you down.” I think that sums it up quite nicely.

Thank you for coming back to Reviews and Interviews!

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Book excerpt for YA historical romance Broken Dreams by Nancy Pennick

Today’s is a special book excerpt for the YA historical romance novel Broken Dreams by Nancy Pennick.

During her virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions, Nancy will be awarding a lucky winner with a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner’s choice). To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too.

Here’s a blurb about Broken Dreams:

Two friends...

Blood sisters till the end...

Until they're not.

One cold night in a boarding school dorm, two fourteen-year-old girls make a blood sister pact. Friends forever. As young schoolgirls, they're determined to find true love, learning the hits and misses along the way. As graduation nears, the girls have different outlooks for the future. Lucinda longs for adventure. Anna chooses city life and marriage. Finding their way back together, the girls head west for an experience of a lifetime until a handsome cowboy bursts into their lives, changing the course of their friendship forever.

Excerpt from Broken Dreams:

“It’s perfect.” Anna’s jaw dropped. “The whole outfit.” She pointed from the top of Lucinda’s head down to her cream Mary Jane shoes. “This is definitely the year we find you a boy.”

“Oh, no. I like to play the field.” Lucinda stuck out her tongue, looped her arm through Anna’s and marched her out the door.

“If I’m not mistaken, you had your eye on someone last year. Let’s make a blood sister pact for the year. You’re going to meet him, this mystery man. Remember, we promised to help each other make our dreams come true.” Anna wasn’t giving up. She knew Lucinda very well and wouldn’t be fooled by the distractions.

“And who is my mystery man?” Lucinda pretended she had no idea. She gave no clue to his identity last year, and Anna was determined to find out.

“Well, from what I gathered last year, his name might be Gerald?” Anna decided to test Lucinda and watch for a reaction. “Peter?” Her face remained blank. “Roy?” A slight twitch at the corners of Lucinda’s mouth gave her away. “It’s Roy. I knew we went to the library a lot more than necessary. He worked there shelving books, didn’t he?”

“You got me!” Lucinda held her hands up in defeat. “It’s hard to meet boys when we’re at one school and they’re at another, even though we’re all on one campus. A girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do. Remember that, Anna. It’s our blood sister saying like a secret handshake.”

Author Bio and Links:

Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Nancy currently resides in Mentor, Ohio with her husband and son, plus a delightfully entertaining lovebird. Her writing is influenced by all the years of working with young people as a teacher and raising her own son. When not writing, Nancy loves to travel with her husband and enjoys a good cup of tea. Broken Dreams is a standalone companion piece to her young adult Waiting for Dusk series.

Publisher - Fire and Ice

Social links:

Twitter | Facebook Fan page | Blog | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Links to other books:

Waiting for Dusk | Call of the Canyon | Stealing Time

Please enjoy a FREE short story:

Taking Chances: A Waiting for Dusk Story

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Interview with YA fantasy romance author Nancy Pennick

Nancy Pennick is here today! I'm chatting with her about her new YA fantasy romance (with time travel elements) novel, Waiting for Dusk: Book One of Waiting for Dusk Series (Young Adult Novel).

Nancy will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card and a PDF or mobi copy of Waiting for Dusk to a randomly drawn winner during the tour. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Nancy currently resides in Mentor, Ohio with her husband and their college-age son, plus a delightfully entertaining lovebird. Her writing is influenced by all the years of working with young people as a teacher and raising her own son. When not writing, Nancyloves to travel with her husband and enjoys a good cup of tea. Waiting for Dusk is the first in her three book series. Call of the Canyon and Stealing Time continue the story of Kate and Drew.

Welcome, Nancy. Please tell us about your current release.

Katie Roberts is a sixteen year-old-girl in this book…a little bored, somewhat naïve and needing to find herself. After reading a book her mom gives her, a dream transports her back in time. She ends up having a great summer. If she could choose, she’d live in 1927 instead of her present world. Suddenly her book goes missing and her world crashes around her. How does she return to the past without the book? Katie has come to realize the book has something to do with these dreams…or are they dreams after all?

What inspired you to write this book?

Visiting National Parks became a recent passion. My husband and I had just returned from the Grand Canyon. A PBS series about National Parks was going to air and we decided to watch. My mind drifted to another place. I began thinking about the recent park visit, the history I just watched and how fun it might be to have a young girl move between the past and present. I had no intention of writing a novel. So it literally happened overnight.

Excerpt from Waiting for Dusk:

“Drew!” Katie felt butterflies in her stomach.

He held out his hand. “Come on. I won’t let you fall.”

She slowly stepped onto the rock, and inched towards him. Her heart pounded but she felt safe. He put both arms around her, holding her tight as they both faced the canyon.

“There is nothing like it, is there?” He whispered softly in her ear.

Katie could have stayed like that for the rest of the day, but knew she had to get back to work. The magic had to end. “I have to go.”

“Yes, I know.”

They stepped back a few feet until they were on what Katie thought was more solid ground. She knew the rock was just an extension of the land but it felt as if she was miles from El Tovar. She turned to run back to the hotel, then stopped.

“Drew, I…” She looked into his eyes, his sparkling emerald eyes. Her heart flipped. “I hope to see you later.”

“You will. You definitely will. Tomorrow is Saturday.”

Katie ran up to the brush next to the hotel, grabbed the pails and headed to the back of El Tovar. Saturday couldn’t come soon enough. For now, she needed to finish her shift and then head to the boardinghouse and go to sleep. She knew the only way to get back here was through her dreams. How confident am I? Will I be able to return? I’ll just have to believe, like in all good fairytales.

What exciting story are you working on next?

Broken Dreams. It’s a historical romance novel and a prequel to the Waiting for Dusk series. Many readers love the character Anna in the series. I decided to write about her earlier years, her friendship with Lucinda and their falling out. It follows the girls from Chicago to the Grand Canyon. They meet and fall for the same cowboy and that’s when the trouble begins!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I always wrote, even as a child. I’d journal and write short stories. I really didn’t think of it as being a writer. When my first book was published and I held it in my hands, I started to believe.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

Since I am retired from teaching, I have time to write so I guess I can call it my full-time job! Besides writing, there are other things I like to do and things I don’t…like housework. Time has to be set aside for promotion and writing my blog, also. I like to write in the morning and then take a break. Mornings always seem peaceful to me. I make a cup of tea or an iced latte and take it to the computer.  Late afternoon is another good time. I’ve had time to think about the characters and plot—where everyone is heading or changes that need to be made. I spend that time rereading what I wrote and editing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Silence. I like to write in total silence. I know some authors like to have music playing, but I do my best thinking when it’s quiet.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher. Never changed my mind from third grade on. I was totally in love with my third grade teacher and wanted to be like her.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I would like to say, if you got this far, thank you for reading this! I appreciate it. Readers are special people. No matter how you read novels…on your Kindle, paperback in hand, on your phone or iPad…keep on reading. There are so many great books out there. They can take you wherever you want to go without leaving the comforts of home.

Social links:

Twitter | Facebook Fan page | Blog | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | LinkedIn

Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Publisher: Fire & Ice | Smashwords

Thanks, Nancy!

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