Welcome, Penny Ehrenkranz

Thank you so much for being here, Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz,

1: What genre do you write?

I actually enjoy writing in lots of different genres. I write picture books and paranormal mysteries for kids. I write fantasy, soft science fiction and romance for adults. I also write non-fiction articles on writing, parenting, and teen self-help.



2: How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I was a child, although I wasn’t published until 1993. Since then, my work has appeared in about two hundred magazines and on-line and I’ve published two eBooks, an illustrated chapbook, a middle grade novel, and my stories have appeared in several anthologies.



3: What do you like the most and least about writing?

I enjoy the actually crafting of the story the best. It’s fun to come up with an idea, create the characters, and make trouble for them. What I like least is the marketing and promotion once the book has been published.



4: What do you for fun and relaxation when not writing?

I enjoy gardening, both flowers and vegetables; spending time with my family and grandchildren; reading; and doing craft projects, especially crochet.



5: Which authors do you like to read?

My current favorites are Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, and Devon Monk.



6: What’s the one thing you’d most like people to know about you?

That’s an interesting question and I’m not sure what to answer. I guess foremost, I’m a mom, a grandmother, and a wife. My family is very important to me and they always come first.



7: Tell me about your current novel, where I can find it?

My current release, Love Delivery, is from MuseItUp Publishing.


The direct buy link is:
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=115&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=57&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Love Delivery is a story about two very normal people struggling to find happiness despite the hard-knocks life has thrown their way. Just as they feel they’ve found something special in each other, an evil ex-wife, an adorable child, and custody battles intrude on the path toward love.


Here’s a short excerpt:
Ann pushed open the door, and the bell jingled like an added alarm to wake her up. Sometimes she wondered how she could function this early in the morning, but a job was a job. At least waitressing in a donut shop was honest. Maybe someday she’d go back to finish college and do something rewarding with her life. Then again, maybe the man of her dreams would walk through the door this morning and sweep her off her feet. The closest thing to a dream man in her life was Tom, the delivery guy, looking like God’s gift to women. She sighed. It didn’t seem fair. He would never find her appealing with the figure she inherited from her mother. The only attractive thing she could find when she looked in a mirror was her startling green eyes.



8: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

I always tell them not to give up. Everyone, even the greats, are rejected at some point or another. Perseverance and professionalism will get an aspiring author an eventual publishing contract. Taking classes, whether online or at a community college, is always a good idea.



9: Do you base your characters on real-life people?

My characters tend to be a composite of people I know, people I’ve watched but don’t know, and those I imagine would fit the part I’ve created. Inevitably, a bit of myself or another family member might creep into the character as well.



10: How did you come up with the idea for this book?

I wanted to write a romance with characters who were blue-collar, middle-class, normal working people. I wanted people who have struggled and had obstacles to overcome before they even met. I wanted them to have to work for the relationship. The main character works in a donut shop as a manager and I took this from my first job as a teenager. The cats the male lead speaks of are my own cats and their funny little habits are true.



11: What are you currently working on?

I have a couple of ideas for stories and I’ve written down pieces for all of them. One is the next in the series of my middle-grade paranormal mysteries. Another is a YA novel about a young witch. I also have a couple of adult fantasies, both novelettes, which I’m finalizing.



12. Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

In addition to my writing, I am also an editor at MuseItUP Publishing, Damnation books, and an acquisitions editor for 4RV Publishing. I teach a writing class at my local grade school and love working with the kids. Several of them have asked if they can be characters in my next MG novel.



13. Where can we find you? Website? Blog?

My website is: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com/

My blog is:
http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/

My Facebook page is:
http://www.facebook.com/penny.ehrenkranz

My Twitter is:
http://twitter.com/pennyehrenkranz

My author page at MuseItUp Publishing is:

https://museituppublishing.com/musepub/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=82