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Saturday, July 25, 2015

The Great American Novel – Rejected and Dejected!

By Penny Estelle (Guest Blogger)

Good morning, Lisabet and all your visitors. I have a book out titled Revenge, The Cowboy Way. It’s a steamy novel that I wrote forty years ago.

I was never a reader as a child or a teen. Seems I always had better things to do. But at nineteen years of age I had my first child. When you are up 24/7 (at least that was what it seemed like) I decided to buy a book. This was the first novel I had EVER read. I picked up Rosemary Rogers’ Sweet Savage Love. I was hooked and to this day she is still one of my favorite authors.

After finishing the book I thought to myself, “I can do this! How hard can it be?” So I got out my electric typewriter and started the Great American Novel. Five years later I typed THE END. I sent out a few queries, dreaming of all the money that would soon be coming in, and I got replies that said, Thanks but no thanks. Rejected and dejected I boxed up my story and put it in my closet where it has lived for forty-some years.

I didn’t write another word until my mid fifties. As I worked in an elementary school I tried my hand at stories for the middle grade kiddos. I was lucky enough to be offered contracts on my first six stories.

It was then I decided to write a romance for adults. After having two romances picked up by different publishers, I brought my Great American Novel out of the closet. When I read it through my first thought was, “What horrific writing!”

I rewrote, edited, and shortened my story by hundreds of words. I was thrilled when Rooster and Pig Publishing sent me a contract.

Revenge, The Cowboy Way by Penny Estelle

Blurb

When Brian Thornton is taken by surprise at gunpoint, while in the bed of a beautiful, wealthy woman, he swears his revenge. But when he learns his humiliation was at the hands of a young woman and a boy, his vengeance knows no bounds.

Joanna Simmons finds herself snatched out of her home and taken to Thornton's ship. Against her will, she travels to Texas, and then by wagon train to Bastrop, Brian's home town. Joanna finds acceptance and genuine friendship with the people of the town, down to Brian's sister, but the emotional war that wages between Brian and Joanna, keeps any kind of happiness at bay.

Revenge, the Cowboy Way, is the story of hate, love and revenge. The question is whose revenge is it?

A teaser...

Brian took a long drag off of his cigarette before flicking it in the fire. “You have quite a decision to make, Jo.” He got up and spread out his bedroll, then took hers and put it on top of his as a cover. 

“Before you start taking pot shots at me, you might think about what you’ll do out here by yourself.” He undid his holster and laid it down, then slowly shucked his pants and climbed between the two bedrolls. He stretched, putting his hands behind him to cradle his head, and shut his eyes.

You said there were no Indians this far south.” She was fuming at his relaxed demeanor. He wasn’t showing any kind of fear at all.

He didn’t move. “Do you think Indians are the only danger out here? There are men out here who would sell their souls to come across a woman like you, all alone and unprotected.”

She could feel her hopes floating away, like the smoke from the fire disappearing up into the night sky. She threw the derringer at him. “I really hate you.” Joanna sniffed. She took off her shoes and then the pants Andy had given her and climbed into their bedroll, turning her back to him.

He took the gun and lobbed it next to his. “I want you to keep the derringer. Keep it on you at all times.” He gathered her tightly against his chest, and, to her surprise, that was all he did. 

Buy Links 




Rooster and Pig Publishing -


Leave me a comment with your email and you could win a free copy of my "Great American Novel"!



Penny Estelle is a best selling writer for all ages, from the early reader to adults. Her books range from pictures books for the little ones, to fantasy and time-travel adventures for ages 9 to 13. She also, under P. A. Estelle, has written adult stories including a family drama and contemporary, paranormal and historical westerns romances.

Penny was a school secretary for 21 years. She and her husband moved to their retirement home in Kingman, AZ, on very rural 54 acres, living on solar and wind only.
Penny and her books can be found in the following links:


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8 comments:

Lisabet Sarai said...

Welcome to Beyond Romance, Penny. This is a great tale of perseverance rewarded.

I wish you great luck with the book.

Penny's Tales said...

Thanks so much Lisabet. Beyond Romance is a great site.

Unknown said...

That's so encouraging! I'm so happy you kept it and rewrote it. Many great books were thrown away, I'm sure, because of rejections.

Penny's Tales said...

Thanks Cindy....And I only got 2 before packing it up! I'm so much more thick skinned now! LOL

Colleen C. said...

Thank you for sharing about your book! I am glad you were able to finally share it with readers! greenshamrock at cox dot net

Penny's Tales said...

Thanks Colleen for taking a look. Your name is in the hat!!!

Unknown said...

Inspiring, it is so good to know that dreams never have to die, they just may need to be edited and are able to live on.

Thanks for being an inspiration, reminding us that if we want it we can achieve it...even if it takes 40 plus years.

Best wishes with all of your books.

Penny's Tales said...

Hey, thanks Midge for stopping by. Appreciate it very much!

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