Today I’d like to welcome author Penelope Powell to share about her new release, A Furrow So Deep. Penelope is a southern girl at heart, who loves green rolling hills, wind chimes that tinkle on warm summer nights, and her momma’s fried pies. She’s been luckier than most. She’s enjoyed a life surrounded by family, friends, and a faith that has taught her to discern her worth in a Righteous Saviour.

Having travelled and lived in many places, she has been fortunate enough to meet people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, which has given her a broader perspective that occasionally splashes onto the pages of her novels.

Welcome, Penelope!

I have to ask: what is a fried pie? (I apologise if this is obvious to any southerners. My excuse is that I’m from New Zealand, and my experience of the South is limited to Florida.)

You’d start with something like an uncooked round pie crust 6-8” then add cooked fruit (similar to preserves) usually peaches or apricots. Fold in half- a half moon in shape then fry until golden brown.

We’ll start off with some quick questions so we get to know you a little better.

What’s your favourite fruit?

Mangoes and Muscadines (a grape variety)

Which is your favourite season?

Autumn—the cool crisp weather and colourful leaves.

And you call it autumn, like I do 🙂

You say you’ve travelled a lot. How many states have you visited? How many countries? Which is your favourite?

I’ve lived in Tennessee (the setting of this book), Florida, Virginia, Kansas, North Carolina, and Texas, and visited more than twenty other states.

I’ve also lived in Mexico, Germany, and Belgium, and visited at least 17 other countries across Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. I had a short visit to Venice and would relish the opportunity to go back.

I thought I’d travelled a lot, but I’ve only lived in three counties! Yes, Venice is wonderful. Although not with small children.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

I have several that are meaningful; for encouragement, peace of mind, trials. But, if I had to pick it would be Acts 17:26-27 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

What’s something funny or quirky that not many people know about you?

I move the furniture in my living areas fairly often. My husband tells me he afraid to come home in the dark for fear of tripping over something.

Now, let’s talk about your book, A Furrow So Deep. Here’s the description off the back cover:

After thirteen long years, Karen Braden returns home to inherit her grandmother’s bed and breakfast, hoping it will provide the kind of future she wants for herself and her daughter. There’s only one problem—she’ll have to face the past and the one man she’s never stopped loving: Dean Anderson.

In the years following Karen’s hasty and unexplained departure, Dean built a portfolio of auto dealerships, yet he remains unfulfilled. When he sees Karen again, his hurt resurfaces, clashing with the love he’s always had for her. Determined to find out why she left him all those years ago, Dean discovers there’s more at stake than just getting answers.

As the truth begins to unravel, Dean and Karen must decide if they can forgive past transgressions and trust God to help them forge a future, better than either could ever anticipate.

A Furrow So Deep is contemporary Christian romance, my favourite genre and one of the most popular. What makes A Furrow So Deep unique?

Men who’ve read my work tell me they can easily identify with the male perspective I present. A Furrow So Deep poses questions about sex, responsibility, and the importance of fathers mostly from the male perspective. It also explores the struggle of forgiveness from both the Christian and non-Christian viewpoint.

What inspired the plot?

Initially a dream with some life experience added in.

Who is your favourite character in this book, and why?

Emily—she’s the daughter of Karen, the female lead character. You don’t know her thoughts, but she is expressive enough you know what she’s feeling and you empathize.

I sometimes see publishers and authors describe their books as Southern fiction. For someone whose sole experience of the South is Disney World and the Kennedy Space Centre, what is Southern fiction? Does A Furrow So Deep fit this description?

LOL those places are in the South, but not Southern.

That’s what I’d thought!

Being Southern is more of a cultural mind-set. Hospitality is a way of life, polite manners are expected, patriotism is passionate, and the food is usually fried 🙂 Like those pies I mention.

What idea would you like readers to take away after reading A Furrow So Deep?

God is a God of second chances.

What do you find is the easiest part of the writing and publishing process? What’s the hardest?

I don’t find any of it particularly easy. LOL Though maybe writing the first draft is the easiest and most enjoyable.

What impact does your faith have on your writing?

Absolutely everything.

What’s your favourite fiction genre, and why?

Cozy Mysteries because they usually have romance, mystery and humor.

What book (or books) are you currently reading?

One of the books I’m reading (because I read a few at the same time-moods and all that) is The Illusionist’s Apprentice by Kristy Cambron.

Loved that book!

What, in your opinion, are five must-read books for fans of contemporary Christian romance fiction? (Not including A Furrow So Deep. We’ll take that as a given.)

Water from my Heart and The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin
The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter
The Camdyn Series by Christina Coryell
Worst Detective Ever books by Christy Barritt

I haven’t read Water From My Heart, but The Mountain Between Us was great. I’m looking forward to the movie!

Finally …

Where can we find A Furrow So Deep online?

Anaiah Press | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Goodreads

Where can we find you online?

Website | Amazon | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter 

Thank you, Penelope! It’s been great to meet you, and learn more about A Furrow So Deep.
Thank you for the great interview!

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Readers, what question would you like to ask Penelope? Let us know in the comments! Meanwhile, you can read the introduction to A Furrow So Deep below: