Please welcome Tonya Penrose to my blog. Good morning, Tonya, and welcome. Shall we sit and have a chat? Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

Greetings to all of Mary’s blog friends. Don’t we adore her and her books? She’s one of the most incredible women I’ve met in many moons. When she asked if I’d like to visit with you all, I jumped at the chance. So, I’m Tonya Penrose. I write fiction and non-fiction stories. And I confess this is my pen name. I’m excited to get to the questions. So, without further ado….

Awe, Tonya, thank you. You are so sweet and incredible yourself!

Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

Here’s some comic relief to get things started. So, let’s time travel back to when I was six years old and learning to write. I made my first book out of construction paper. Judging by my parent’s expressions, I realized my illustrating skills were MIA, but I could string a few words together to make a story that brought laughs. I kept at it, too.

As for when I got the nudge to write my first publishable book, that happened a few years ago. ASIDE: I’d been writing short pieces up until then.  It’s funny… now that I reflect, but the day it happened I didn’t think so.

I had submitted a 1,000-word fiction piece for my writer’s group to critique before I sent it off. When it came my turn, they all refused to give me a lick of feedback on Old Mountain Cassie. Why? They said the character was so engaging they declared she must become a book. They teamed up and said I was doing an injustice to Cassie to confine her to 1,000 words. I sat shocked and frustrated at this uncharacteristic behavior. Two of them were editors. Despite my protests that I didn’t write books, they kept after me for months. One afternoon I succumbed to their hounding and sat in my writing chair to see if Cassie had more to say. 120,000 words later, she hushed. And I held my first novel that eventually had to become 90,000 words. Don’t tell Cassie’s loyal followers, but lately she’s been chatty. 😊  

How difficult was it writing your first book?

The story of Old Mountain Cassie flowed from day one and captured my heart. I had no idea where the story was going, but I kept showing up to find out. I fell in love with the characters and the enchanted town of Divine. As for Old Mountain Cassie, her teachings are a part of my life now.

Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?

Hmm. I have stories circling me like planes wanting to land, so I don’t want to give up because of a shortage of inventory. The thought has entered my mind of late because of how publishing has changed and the impact of the virus on marketing books. I’m looking for a home for my multi-genre novel, CHARM, and that’s proving a challenge. I’m also persnickety about a publisher’s family tree.

It’s the marketing and promoting hardship now that poses that question of do I want to give up? Then, a reader will write a review or reach out to me asking when to expect the next Shell Isle Mystery, or sequel to Cassie or A Secret Gift? I’m putty in my readers hands. 😊

Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

First my disclaimer, so as not to offend. 😊 They aren’t in order of importance. My daughter, husband, and writing friends. They all contribute something unique in support to my writing path.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you for being my reader and liking the stories. I like you all right back. Now here comes the beg. If you want more of my books, please write reviews and tell five friends about the novels. Treat my books like a chain letter. Don’t be shy sharing.

What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?

Best selling author, Robert Morgan, told me not to sit in front of a blank screen too long. Take the day off. He’s a smarty. If my muses don’t show up for work, there’s no point in me hanging around.

What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

Since I write multi-genre, I cast a wide net for readers. Old Mountain Cassie: The Three Lessons sweeps across inspiration, magical realism, mystery, romance, and of course humor is sprinkled liberally through all my books.

A Secret Gift is a rom/com.

And Baubles to Die For, and Red, White, and Boom are cozy mysteries.

My fifth novel, Charm has all the above and a sampling of science fiction. It’s a complex, but compelling story with a strong message pertinent to life today.

Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?

I envision my book covers as I’m penning the novels. I work with the publisher’s designers to bring that concept to life. I love each of my covers and hope the readers feel a connection to them. They’ve been a true labor of love.

What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?

As I shared earlier, I’ve recently completed Charm. I’d love to share a brief tease.

“A few unexplainable facts have left botanist ABBY DRAKE dazed and confused: why she can’t account for three lost hours, why a road detour she was traveling changed into a closed loop around a Georgia mountain town called Charm, why she can’t find the place on her map and a route home, and why too handsome, MAYOR NASH WALKER, has appeared offering an introduction to Charm’s curious enchantments.

Nash’s words hold Abby captive on a park bench. She’s stuck in Charm. Needing to discover why and agreeing to complete a series of lessons taught by sage, GITA GREENLEAF, helps chart Abby’s course. Humorous encounters follow Abby. She tries to adapt to living in an enchanted village, where money isn’t needed, but acceptance of the impossible is required. She comes to recognize the unique beauty of living a charmed life. Unable to resist her growing attraction to Nash, causes Abby to question returning home, assuming the portal opens.

Now, if anyone here is an agent/publisher, feel free to come a callin’.”

Any last words before we wrap things up?

Yep, I offer my sincere gratitude to Mary for giving me the chance to hang out with her many friends and readers. I loved sharing a sampling of my writing journey and my books. I invite everyone to visit my website or Amazon and read the book blurbs. Maybe one will tickle your fancy and come home with you. If you like the book, tell others. Remember the chain letter. And do keep my thanks.

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About Tonya Penrose

As an author, Tonya’s moved by the effect humor and inspiration-driven narratives can have on readers. She is enthusiastic about crafting stories with beguiling characters, adding dashes of snappy humor, and engaging dialogue that leaves her fingerprint on each page.

When Tonya relocated to the mountains, she found fresh writing ideas waiting. From her favorite porch chair gazing at a tranquil lake, the nudge to scribe her first novel, “Old Mountain Cassie: The Three Lessons” came calling.

And from her beach chair, the idea for the new cozy series, Shell Isle Mysteries presented. “Baubles to Die For” and “Red, White, and Boom” is the second novel in the series. “A Secret Gift” is a romantic romp that promises smiles, sighs, and secrets. Tonya confesses new respect for a chair’s ability to motivate writers.

Her fiction and non-fiction stories are published in numerous anthologies, e-magazines, local press, and literary magazines. She’s listed in the Poets and Writers Directory. She chooses to write multi-genre fiction under the pen name Tonya Penrose.

From Amazon: As the curtain goes up on a Broadway show, you kind of expect the lead actress to be there. When Juliet vanishes just hours before opening night, a note in her dressing room leads everyone at Broadway’s Carson Theater to believe she has fled the theater with stage fright. Everyone except twelve year old Danni, the daughter of the stage manager, who suspects something more sinister – a kidnapping. When her mom refuses to believe her, Danni teams up with the son of the new technical director – a shy, gadget-loving kid named Hugo – to uncover the truth. Can they find Juliet before the curtain rises?
ROMEO AND… WHERE’S JULIET? is a fast-paced and fun Broadway adventure.

My Review: This is a great story for middle grade readers. Romeo and Juliet in a different twist. The main protagonist takes you on an kidnapping adventure and a tour of a Broadway play and theater. As the story unfolds, the readers learns of the terminology used in this kind of production work. Adding in a kidnapping of the star of the show and things become serious. Two kids finally figure out the culprit and the end comes together brilliantly. Five stars.

Enjoy today’s selections and may you have a wonderful day! All art pieces can be found here.

Thank you for viewing my art selections for today. As always, all works can be found here.

“When Angels Fly” by S. Jackson (pen name) aka Mary L. Schmidt is a memoir of truths. Truths from the age of five years up living with an abusive mother. My teenage years became more abusive, and I left home only to fall into a relationship with a man that turned out abusive. There is hope! Always hope! Even with child loss. When I hung up my nursing hat in 2012, I decided to dig out old journals so that I could place them into digital format for my living son, but an epic memoir came from that thought. My youngest son, Sammy, inspired me to write this book. He fought a hard cancer battle. My memoir is not a sad book, rather it is uplifting and helpful to people around the world as I have testaments to that fact.

I wrote this book with passion and the understanding that my story would open a can of worms. It is true, I struggled and did have a tragic life, but so much good came from that. The good is my focus. To understand the good, one must know my truth. Suffering women and victimized children are scarred for life. The pain, hopelessness, and agonies with each bone and muscle screamed inside my head. But there is a clear reminder that there is a way out, there are good people in this world, and there is life after darkness. My faith in humankind, family, and love are not lost, but I survived by keeping my last hope alive, a faith in God. It took me a long time to realize that I was worthy as a normal human being, to feel happy and raise my children in a peaceful and a safe home. It is not easy to break away from an abusive mother and husband and domestic violence. But it can be done! Help is out there! Please don’t despair. If this fits you or someone you know, then help is available. Try a search online for the closest place to help you and your children. Note: Men are also abused by their wives. Help is out there for them as well.

Wounds may heal, but the aching scars are constant reminders of everyday pain, every minute of struggle and the irreplaceable loss of two of my children. Child loss is the King of Loss, and only one who has lost a child can relate to a mother who has kissed her baby goodbye for the last time. Photographs included in my memoir bear testament to my truths, prove my words are true, and prove the love that can exist despite how one grows up. Life does not happen in a vacuum. You can have a significant event in your life – a wedding, a birth, a serious injury/illness or – regrettably – a death – but that doesn’t mean the rest of your life is put on hold so you can either bask in or contend with that event, uninterrupted. Grappling with the devastating diagnosis and treatment of Sam’s cancer – from “big ticket items” like a previous tragic loss of a baby, to the somewhat less “dramatic”, but still significant challenges, like a long commute to the hospital where my son required very lengthy stays (translating to, among other problems and complications, prolonged absences from my other son). One has to remember that when they see someone struggling to come to terms with a [negative] life event, when maybe they shared a similar event of their own or know someone else who has and seemed to recover “faster” or “easier”, that there are many “side” circumstances that translate to significantly different experiences. If you lose a child but you have a supportive family helping you through it, that’s an ENTIRELY different situation than losing a child and having family member(s) sabotaging and knocking you down at every opportunity. If you lose a child under such extreme circumstances, you can’t judge YOURSELF against others who also suffered a tragic loss but had the love and support I didn’t have.

Life lessons abound in my story, and one of the important ones not written about above is to be there for your sick child. Be an advocate for your child. Nursing units are busy. Things happen. If your child receives their IV antibiotic an hour late, don’t complain, but if pain medicine is more than 30 minutes late, call the nurse. If you child has the wrong medicine or chemo hanging and running into your child, then STOP and get nurse ASAP. Be involved in your child’s care. Take notes and keep track of what your child receives. Read literature and handouts. Talk with other parents on the unit. But don’t pick on each (wrong) as you will only alienate the nursing and medical staff and they won’t want to take care of your child. Be a true advocate for your child. Shower with love and hugs as you may not have another chance. I openly give my children, and Sammy with cancer, a final, beautiful gift in sharing him with the world his story of incredible grit, wisdom beyond his years, and beautiful soul. Stop your busy lives for a moment and take a close look at your blessings. Stretch out your hand to the helpless, sick, and needy, wipe away the tears of a crying child or just hug the person next to you (when Covid-19 is over). Kindness matters and support encourages. A little sign of love will not go unnoticed. Stand up for the voiceless, and do not be afraid to be a voice for victims. A huge thanks to “Authors Lounge” for inviting me to share a piece of my soul.

BIO: Mary L Schmidt aka S. Jackson is a retired registered nurse, winner of the coveted Leora Stroup award in Nursing for academic excellence and community involvement, as well as graduating with high honors and inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She has written 30 plus books and has been included in five anthologies. Many of her books have won international medals and awards. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She is a member of the Catholic Church, has taught kindergarten Catechism; she has worked in various capacities for The American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Cub and Boy Scouts, (son, Gene, is an Eagle Scout), and sponsored trips for high school music children. She loves all forms of art but mostly focuses on the visual arts; amateur photography, traditional, and graphic art as her health allows. Together with her husband, Michael, they like to fish, read, play poker, travel adventures, and time with their grandchildren, Austin, and Emma. 

Blog: whenangelsfly.net        Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLSchmidt

When Angels Fly on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/When-Angels-Fly-S-Jackson-ebook/dp/B07V6VNJVW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=when+angels+fly+s+jackson&qid=1563073539&s=gateway&sr=8-1

My Review: Yes. This book is the Boom! A great mystery and suspense wrapped up in an idyllic island setting. All the drama, the suspects, who had motive, and more. I wasn’t sure who killed Jake but when I read the word “foxglove” I knew who killed Bert. As a nurse, foxglove is medicinal heart medication, when use appropriately and checking the patient’s heart rate before giving a tablet. It’s also poisonous in larger amounts. Toss in a bit of narcissistic behavior from one or two characters and mental illness in another and the drama ensues. Five stars for this book!

Thank you for looking at my art pieces for today. As always, they can be found in my online art gallery here.