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 I’ve recently met a new author to me and thought I’d introduce her to all of you as well. Say hello to writer Peggy Chambers. Peggy’s got a new release out and she “stopped by”the other day to be grilled by yours truly. Sit back and find out more about this lovely author.

Peggy Chambers: The Writer

1. What drives you to write? I began to write when my parents became ill. It was a way to get thoughts and feelings down on paper. Now, I feel compelled to write to get the stories out of my head and on paper. I think I’ll write until I can no longer hold a pencil or open a lap top.
2. What genre(s) of Romance do you write, and why? I write romantic suspense. I am not attracted to romance only books. I need an underlying mystery or suspense to hold my attention.
3. What genre(s) of Romance do you read, and why? I read romantic suspense and historical romance (Outlander series). I need an underlying mystery or suspense to hold my attention. I am a former romantic – and then life got in the way.
4. What’s your writing schedule? Do you write every day? I normally write every day. Some days I write longer than others. I find that if I can carve out about 4 hours and close myself off from the world, I accomplish more. Short snippets of time are better for editing than creating the original story.
5. Give us a glimpse of the surroundings where you write. Separate room? In the kitchen? At the dining room table?

I inherited the old recliner that belonged to my father-in-law. It is well-worn burgundy leather that still smells like him when it warms up. It is cozy and comfy and it sits in the spare bedroom with my grandmother’s antique bedroom set. I sit with my laptop in my lap and fall into a different world. Recently I received a rare gift from an immensely talented artist, Pauline Jones. Pauline and I worked together. She loved my books and one day we traded our art. Her beautiful picture now hangs above my father-in-law’s recliner as a muse over my shoulder as I write.

I find this mostly unused bedroom suits me well. Here I am surrounded by my past, my family, and my friends. My mother-in-law’s roll-top desk holds the computer when it is charging, the small table that my father loved to eat ice cream on as a child is in the corner. I have a bench and quilt rack that I created when I took some woodworking classes, and of course, there is a bookcase for my grandson’s books when he was young.

6. Are you the kind of writer who needs total quiet to compose, or are you able to filter out the typical sounds of the day and use your tunnel vision? I need quiet to compose – I need to immerse myself in my characters and their lives.
7. Do you listen to music while you write, and if so, what kind? If not, why not? Sometimes, but only instrumentals, no lyrics. They mess with my creative side.   I try to sing along. I love classical music.
8. How did you come up with the plotline/idea for your current WIP? I took three short stories with strong characters and put them together. The hardest part was trying to decide what their purpose was – what did they need to accomplish together. I finally found that thing and the WIP is coming together even though slowly.

9.Which comes first for you – character or plot? And why? I think my characters play the main part. Strong characters make a strong plot.

10. What 3 words describe you, the writer? Creative, driven, conflicted. (I’m conflicted because I write more than one genre)

Peggy, The Person

1. Tell us one unusual thing about yourself – not related to writing! I once ate Wart Hog pizza for lunch on an African safari.
2. Who was your first love and what age were you? My husband, we were high school sweethearts.
3. If you could relive one day, which one would it be? Think GROUNDHOG DAY, the movie for this one – you’ll have to live it over and over and…. A day spent with my children when they were young and the fun we had as a family playing with the dog or on vacation.
4. Do you like a guy in boxers, briefs, or commando? Briefs.
5. If you had to give up one necessary-can’t-live-without-it beauty item, what would it be? Hairspray.
6. What three words describe you, the person? Kind, worker, organized
7. If you could sing a song with Jimmy Fallon, what would it be? You are the Sunshine of my Life
8. If you could hang out with any literary character from any book penned at any timeline, who would it by, why, and what would you do together? Claire Frazer

I love the Actor’s Studio show on Bravo, so this is my version of it:

1. Favorite sound laughing
2. Least favorite sound Nails on a blackboard
3. Best song every written Halleluiah by Leonard Cohen
4. Worst song ever written Grandma got Run Over by a Reindeer by Randy Brooks
5. Favorite actor and actress Harrison Ford and Charlize Theron
6. Who would you want to be for 1 day and why? (It can be anyone living or dead) Stephen King to see what goes on in his head.
7. What turns you on? kindness
8. What turns you off? anger
9. Give me the worst 5 words ever heard on a first date (here’s mine: “Is that your real hair?”) My mother has that same bikini. (sorry, that’s 6)
10. What’s your version of a perfect day? A road trip and picnic

Blurb:

Fourteen years ago, Ethan met Glome, the Viking ghost, and the fairies at the cottage where his father was studying the Heavener Runestone. Now Ethan was back and news traveled fast in the forest. Currently working on his Ph.D. in Archeology, Ethan soon found the forest much as he left it when he was young. Only he had changed.

While making s’mores with Glome and the energetic fairies, Ethan learned that the Vinland Maps lay hidden in a nearby cave. They were drawn by Vikings who traveled to North America long before Columbus. Every self-respecting archeologist had read about the maps in college. And he wanted them.

Warned by Trondelag, the dragon, not to go up against Loki and the draugrs for a piece of paper to make him famous, Ethan decided to go anyway. And then there was Mac – his doppelganger from when he was young. Would he be able to protect her? With his magic sword and friends to back him up, how could he lose?

Once again Ethan revisits the runestone only to face challenges and find adventure, danger, surprises, and an epic battle.

Excerpt:

The dragon’s scaly head broke the surface of the pond and burst into the ebony sky like a missile, sending cattails and sleepy dragonflies spewing from both sides of the pond. Her long neck was quickly followed by a massive body that glowed a blood red on the underside. Free from the confines of the pond and finally airborne, the front legs unfolded releasing her magnificent crimson wings edged in shining gold. She flapped once, sending the trees bending to her glory and flames belched from her mighty jaws illuminating the moonlit night. Then, pointing her nose toward the cave the draugrs guarded, she flapped once again and rocketed through the night sky like a giant ruby ready to explode.

Fafnir sat on his bat watching the spectacle, then followed at a safe distance to avoid the prop wash created by her wings and magnificent tail. The cave, a half-day’s hike from the cottage on foot, was a mere three flaps of the monstrous wings – and all eyes looked up – marveling at her arrival.

Buy Links:

Amazon

A little about Peggy Chambers

Peggy Chambers calls Enid, Oklahoma home. She has been writing for several years and is an award-winning, published author, always working on another. There aren’t enough hours in the day. She has two children, five grandchildren, and lives with her husband and dog. She adores travel and the great outdoors, even if it is just taking the dog for a walk and once ate warthog pizza for lunch when she followed her husband across deepest, darkest Africa. She even climbed the pyramids at Chichen Itza.

She attended Phillips University, the University of Central Oklahoma and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.   She is a member of the Enid Writers’ Club, Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc., and Oklahoma Women Bloggers. There is always another story weaving itself around in her brain trying to come out.

Connect with Peggy here:

website // FaceBook // Twitter // Instagram