Q. Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you been writing? What genre do you write?
A. My husband and I have loved going to Yellowstone since we graduated from high school. One summer, I went on a girls-only trip with a good friend, who was also my boss at the time. I came home from that trip with a story in my head. It stayed with me for over a year until I finally started writing it down. That’s how my first book, Yellowstone Heart Song, was born. I found someone to critique the story, and she urged me to pursue publication, which I balked at until I had three more books written. I was writing for my own personal enjoyment, not to publish, but I’m glad I finally took her advice. It’s led me to an entirely new career path.
Q. Where do you get your inspiration from?
A. My inspiration comes mostly from nature and the beautiful places in Yellowstone and the Tetons. It’s where most of my books are set.
Q. Where/When do you do the most of your writing?
A. I’ve been lucky enough to become a full-time writer about a year ago, and so I can write pretty much throughout the day. I prefer the quiet hours in the morning and early afternoon when my kids are in school.
Q. What do you think has been your biggest accomplishment?
A. My biggest accomplishment as a writer has been simply getting that first book published, and then kept going from there. A huge person accomplishment for me came last summer when I finally hiked to the top of Mount Washburn in Yellowstone (a climb up to 10,000 feet), something I had been avoiding to do in all the years I’ve been to Yellowstone.
Q. What series/book did you write that has the biggest following.
A. Definitely the Yellowstone Romance Series. I still shake my head in disbelief that I have so many wonderful fans who love this series.
Q. Who has influenced your writing the most?
A. I think my editor has been the one with the biggest influence on my writer. She’s always challenging me out of my comfort zone with my writing. Once, she challenged me to make a bad character likeable. That turned into an entire book of its own, and although I wrote it kicking and screaming, it became a fan favorite.
Q. Do you have a favorite author?
A. One of my favorite historical western authors is Dorothy Garlock. I read her books long before I started writing.
Q. Is there anything that you find particularly challenging in your writing?
A. Writing dialogue has always been a challenge for me. I’m a very quiet and shy person, so talking to people presents a challenge for me, and I find the same is true when I write. At least I can think about the dialogue a lot longer when I write, than when I have to come up with things to say real quick in a real conversation.
Q. Are the experiences of your characters based on any of your own or people that you know?
A. My characters experience a lot of adventures in the wilderness, and for the most part, they are made up. I have used a few personal experiences and from friends (with permission) in a few books.
Q. Do you have any advice for other authors?
A. Keep writing!
Q. Is there a particular niche or direction you would like to expand your writing portfolio into?
A. I hope to write more historical westerns without time travel, and would like to dabble in some contemporary romances.
Q. Describe your latest WIP I’m working on three books at the moment.
A. One is the seventh book in the Yellowstone Series, and it is such a challenge to write, because it builds on everything that I’ve already written. Since it’s a time travel, keeping the chronological timeline correct has been tricky, and keeping all the facts about previous characters straight. As one of the characters said in a previous book “What we think we know may be completely different” really comes into play in this book, and I hope my readers will be pleasantly surprised.
The other two books I’m working on are strictly western historicals. One is the fourth book in my Blemished Brides Series (this series is about heroines who aren’t your typical gorgeous romance heroine, but they still capture the love and attention of the hero).
Finally, I started a book in a brand new series. I was going to wait until the new Yellowstone book was done, but the muse was calling, so I had to get it started as it wasn’t leaving me alone.
Q. How can readers reach you?
I can always be reached via my email address: ynpdreamer@gmail.com
My website is www.peggylhenderson.com
I love interacting with readers on Facebook
My mailing list
I can be found at these online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes