Hi Penelope! Fallen Angel Reviews would like to welcome you and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to let us ask you a few questions.

First, can you give us a little background information about yourself?

My children tell me I don’t live in the real world. :^) I talk about the characters in my novels as if they were the people living next door. Sometimes this confuses my daughters.

However, because I grew up in a small bayside town where everyone knew everyone, and nobody had any secrets, I have a lot of stories to tell—but I really can differentiate between the ones that are real and the ones that are fiction. Honest.

When did you know that you were a writer and how long have you been writing?

I knew I was a writer at the age of nine. I wrote a paranormal romance, but few people have ever seen it—which is a good thing. I dabbled in writing afterwards, but I did not get serious about it until my youngest daughter turned four. Then I figured I better put some more effort into the task of getting published. From that point, it took me twelve years to get my first book published. During those twelve years, I had short stories published and some non-fiction articles, but with all the stories I had to tell, I did not intend to quit until I had a few books published.

You write a variety of genres. What are they and do you have a favorite?

I write contemporary romances--inspirational romances, paranormal romances, and short stories. In addition, my first novella—another paranormal romance--will be released in April. I do not have a favorite. I enjoy switching back and forth between the subgenres. It all depends on my mood.

Is there a genre you have not tried, but would love to if given a chance?

Yes, I would like to do a historical at some point. I have an idea, but I never seem to have the time. I have always enjoyed reading historicals and I do think it would be fun to try writing at least one. I like the Colonial era best—but I think the time around the First World War was a fascinating period of history as well.

Which genre is the most difficult for you to write?

The inspirationals are the toughest to write. There, a hard-hearted character must turn his or her life over to the Lord by the end of the book and realize their soul mate in the bargain. That’s a lot to ask, but I like a challenge.

What do your family and friends think about your books?

My family is proud of me. They were always cheering me on when I was getting rejections, and now that I’m published, they all have copies of my books. They are my biggest fans.

New Concepts Publishing just recently released your book, THE COMPANY YOU KEEP. Can you tell us a little about this story?

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP is the story of a tortured millionaire who will do anything to get what he wants—and he wants the Brant Farm. Jennifer Brant is not going to let her land go—she knows its horrible secret, a portal for dead souls guarded by a meddling ghost. What Jennifer does not realize is that someone else has discovered the secret, too, and that person is willing to kill to control the dark portal of death.

Congratulations also on being nominated as an EPPIE 2005 finalist for HEAVEN’S BLUE. Can you give us a little background and tell us how you came up with the story line?

HEAVEN'S BLUE won the EPPIE on March 12, 2005, at EPICon in Long Beach, California. Kathryn Struck, one of the editors at Awe-Struck E-Books, accepted the award for me. I got the phone call at one in the morning and I could not sleep the rest of the night! What a thrill!

The initial inspiration for the story came to me when my sister worked as a mosquito researcher. Setting the novel in a remote area lent itself to the addition of an abducted child in the plot. I felt compelled to work that idea into a book since I had a cousin who ran away and was never found. The book is dedicated to my lost cousin.

Describe your proudest writing moment. (first sale, first award, etc.)

My proudest writing moment came at my first book signing when my husband brought me roses. Afterwards, I dried the petals and saved them in a jar. Now and then I open the jar and sniff the faint scent of roses.

Can you tell us about some of your upcoming books?

New Concepts Publishing will release PRINCE OF THE MIST, my first novella, in April. It is a lighthearted paranormal and was so much fun to write! The hero in the story, Wildon, is a Sidhe prince who must save the Sifra—the fairy palace—from a nuclear power plant. To do that, he marries Tia—daughter of a powerful New York senator, in a Sidhe ceremony. The problem is that Tia is unconscious at the time of the wedding. When she comes to and discovers what has happened, the sparks start to fly.

In January of 2006, my next inspirational will be released by Awe-Struck E-Books. A RUSH OF LIGHT is the story of Nick, a burned out lawyer, now working at his uncle’s service station, and Callie, on leave from her job as a police officer, who has decided to reopen the Lone Swan Inn where her father was murdered years ago. Nick cannot stand cops, and Callie cannot stand lawyers, but when Nick’s uncle is shot outside the inn, the two join forces to try and discover who the gunman is. Their quest for an answer leads them to realize that faith and love are the only answer they really need.

One last question that I stole from a Fallen Angels Reviews Chatters Chat, if you were stranded on a deserted island, what three books would you want to have with you?

If I had a choice, I would like to have with me a Bible, a very large blank book, and a dictionary with a thesaurus included. Hopefully, I would also have a writing implement of some sort.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

I would like readers to know that I always have a contest set up at my website. Readers should stop by and see what I am giving away.

Please share your website with your fans.

My website is located at www.penelopemarzec.com

Thank you for allowing Fallen Angel Reviews to interview you and congratulations on your success!

Thank you so much. I had a great time answering the questions for this interview. I love Fallen Angel Reviews!

Interviewed by: Trang