Thanks for stopping by, and learning more about me! You all were right, Felicia Filly came and visited me in Virginia!
I have a winnerL
Well, howdy everyone! I’ve hit the road again, and you’ll never guess just where I am! Though, I hope that you will, since there’s a prize for one person who does! Are you ready for a little guessing? She showed me around her home, and boy, she sure does love books! I tried to count how many of these Nancy Drew books she has, but when I got to over 200, I had to stop. She whispered to me that she has even more in boxes, and she’s run out of room!
I thought it was just so sweet that even though she still has children at home, and they are 18 and 13, she keeps so many of their old pictures hanging up. Can you tell they are boys, by all of those superheroes?
I asked her what sorts of things that she liked to do. She told me that while they can’t vacation this year, she’s really hoping to go next year to her most favorite place, and then showed me this huge map of Disney World she has hanging in the hallway! I think I like the sounds of Frontierland! I’d fit right in, with my cowboy hat and boots!
This Filly then wanted to show me the view from her backyard. My goodness! Those Blue Ridge Mountains are something else, aren’t they? Those goats aren’t hers, but there’s a field that backs up to their subdivision, and a farmer who alternates between hay, goats, and cows. I’d say those are some real good neighbors!
It was time for me to skedaddle, but I asked this Filly to show me one of her favorite books she’d written, to give you one more clue. This is the one that she shared!
Well now, have you guessed who this Filly is? And where she might be living? Take a guess here, and I’ll be randomly choosing one person to give a $10 Amazon gift card to! That way you can do a little book shopping for yourself!
A Sneak Peek of What’s Next…
Howdy, y’all! Penny here. I am so honored to be a guest again on Petticoats & Pistols. This time, I’m giving a sneak peek into my upcoming Christian historical romance. A Heart’s Prayer is the second book in the Montana Hearts Series and takes place in the late 1800s in the Montana Territory. There are plans for six books total, and this one continues the heartwarming, faith-filled series that began with A Heart’s Hope. Enjoy the excerpt!
How had Darius found her?
His voice echoed through her mind. “I had you fooled, didn’t I? You’re a foolish woman, Kaydie. Ain’t no way I’m gonna die and let you go free! When you said ‘I do,’ it meant that you were bound to me forever.”
Kaydie flung her eyes open and jerked upright. She stared into the darkness. Shadows bounced off the walls, creating looming outlines. Sweat soaked Kaydie’s nightgown, and her heart pounded so loudly in her ears she could scarcely hear anything else. “No, he can’t be here.” Her words were more akin to gasps.
Had she thought she would be safe on the Sawyer Ranch? Safe with her sister, McKenzie, and McKenzie’s new husband, Noah? Safe, far, far away from the town in the Montana Territory where Darius had lost his life while robbing a bank?
Safe, or so it had seemed.
Kaydie’s legs shook, and for a minute, she was frozen in place. Finally, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. Grabbing the bedpost to steady herself, Kaydie paused momentarily. He wasn’t in the room, was he?
Lord, please, please don’t let him be here. Please let me be free of him.
A shiver trilled through her. Groping in the dark, she made her way to the window and shoved the curtains aside. She peered into the darkness, the moon and the stars illuminating the immediate area around the house. She pressed her face against the window and scanned the area once more just to be sure her eyes hadn’t deceived her.
A past that won’t let go, a heart that dares to hope. A Heart’s Prayer releases in November and reminds us that God is the Author of second chances. It can be read as a standalone but is better enjoyed after reading A Heart’s Hope. Go here to preorder your copy of A Heart’s Prayer at the special preorder price.
I’m giving one lucky winner an ebook copy of A Heart’s Hope. (Limited to U.S. residents only. The ebook will be ordered directly from Kindle and gifted to you with a redemption code).
To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment in answer to this question: Pretend you live in the late 1800s. Would you choose to reside in a small Wild West town or in a large, established city?
Thank you for joining me today.
As a special gift, be sure to snag An Unexpected Arrival, a Wyoming Sunrise novelette, for free by going here.
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith-filled happily ever afters. Her books feature tender romance, steady doses of humor, and memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page. She is a multi-published author of over three dozen books and is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. Penny resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers at her website at http://www.pennyzeller.com.
One More Day Left to Play Bingo
in celebration of FREEING MISS ABAGAIL!
We’re rounding up our Bingo clues in case you missed playing with us this past week.
Choose your answers, submit your entry for each clue, and you’ll still have a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!
Winner will be announced Monday in the Reader Group.
A delightful new addition from Lucy and Branch’s story in Book #1, For Liberty and Love.
Lucy’s little brother, Theo, has his own children’s rhyming book!
~~ #1 Bestseller ~~
Eight-year-old Theo Carlson thinks it is just another summer day in Philadelphia. He wakes with a stretch and a yawn, pulls on his stockings, buckles his shoes, and hurries off to finish his chores. There are vegetables to water, eggs to gather, and plenty of little wonders waiting to catch his attention along the way.
But before long, Theo realizes this is no ordinary day.
Crowds begin gathering near the Pennsylvania State House. Bells ring through the city, excitement fills the cobblestone streets, and everyone seems to be waiting for something important to happen. Walking with his mother and his older sister, Lucy, Theo follows the sound of the bells and the joyful stir of the crowd. With a wooden bandalore toy in his pocket, a lost puppy in his arms, and a heart full of questions, Theo finds himself standing in the middle of a moment that will change America forever.
Available in various formats on AMAZON
Book #3 in the Petticoats and Patriots Series
Coming Tuesday!
Join us Tuesday in the Reader Group on Facebook as we play a new Bingo game to celebrate!
You could win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.
Don’t forget to check out our Series Page to see all the books, too!
Thank you for coming, Janice! We love your blogs and look forward to them.
Now for the Drawing…………
One commenter will get a Kindle copy of Ava!
And the winner is…………….
RHONDA PIERCE
Congratulations, Rhonda! Now watch for Miss Janice’s email!
Hope on the Nevada Horizon
Some stories arrive in a writer’s mind like a whisper, and others settle in and refuse to leave until they’re written. The Disabled Daughters trilogy belongs to that second category. These three sisters—Ava, Jo, and Chloe Walsh—have lived with me for years, waiting patiently (and sometimes not so patiently) for their turn on the page. I knew their stories would require tenderness, honesty, and a deep respect for the challenges women faced in the nineteenth century, especially women whose bodies didn’t fit society’s expectations.
The Walsh sisters’ journey begins with heartbreak. A devastating carriage accident claims their mother’s life and leaves each daughter with a lasting injury. Ava suffers from a damaged back that often leaves her bedridden. Jo walks with a permanent limp after her leg shattered in multiple places. Chloe’s right hand is weak and unusable. These injuries shape their lives, but they do not define their worth—something each sister must learn in her own time.
Their father, already weakened by an unexplained condition after the accident, fears he won’t live long enough to see his daughters settled. When the doctor urges him to prepare for the end, he makes a bold and loving decision: he’ll take his girls west to Nevada, where his sister and her husband run a ranch. He believes the wide open frontier may offer opportunities the East never could—fresh starts, new friendships, and perhaps even husbands who can see past the sisters’ limitations to the strength beneath. Each book follows one sister as she faces her fears, her hopes, and the unexpected ways God works in her life.
Ava
Ava is the eldest, the steady one, the daughter who tries hardest to hide her pain. Her injured back has stolen much of her confidence, and she’s convinced no man would willingly choose a wife who cannot always stand on her own two feet. Nevada challenges her in ways she never imagined, but it also offers something she never expected—hope.
Jo
Jo’s story is one of patience, courage, and learning to trust God’s timing. With Ava married and her father’s health failing, Jo knows she must consider marriage next. But she refuses to settle for convenience. Her journey is quieter, but no less brave, as she seeks a love that honors both her heart and her faith.
Chloe
Chloe is the spirited youngest sister, determined to secure a comfortable life, even if comfort and happiness aren’t the same thing. She believes she knows exactly what she wants, but God has a way of redirecting steps. Her story is full of surprises, growth, and a love she never saw coming.
The trilogy releases quickly—Ava came out in June, Jo will be released July 3, and Chloe on August 4, so readers won’t have to wait long between books. They will be available for Kindle, KU, print, and Audible. Ava is available now and Jo and Chloe are on preorder. Each novel stands alone, but together they form a portrait of resilience, family devotion, and the quiet strength of women who refuse to give up.
Tell me why you like a series or standalone books best to be entered in a drawing for a Kindle copy of Ava.
About the Author:
Literature has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was reading by age five, writing stories by third grade, and publishing poetry by the eighth. During my years as a teacher, I wrote magazine articles—short pieces that fit into a busy classroom schedule—but my dream was always to write a historical novel.
That dream finally took root when I became my mother’s caregiver. I see it as God bringing good from a bad situation, the way He promises. I wrote my first novel, published it, and discovered I never wanted to stop. Soon, I’ll have more than a hundred published books, and I’m still as excited about storytelling as ever.
Every novel I write has a complete, satisfying ending. If you enjoy reading series in order, you’ll get the richest experience following the regular series chronologically. But no matter where you begin, each book offers a full story on its own. Readers often tell me they can’t put them down, and I hope you’ll feel the same.
All of my profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children, so every book you read helps make a difference in lives.
Good news! Penny Zeller will return Monday, June 29, 2026 for a second time this month! Yee-Haw!
When she was here on June 12, the website was having a lot of issues. We’re thrilled to have her back!
She’s giving away an ebook copy of A Heart’s Hope!!
Please come and support her. Leave a comment on her post Monday to get in the drawing!
Welcome back, Penny!
My husband and I recently returned from a two-week trip to Alaska and had a truly wonderful time. The many stunning sights didn’t disappoint, as you can imagine. We took several wildlife tours, spotting whales at sea and moose, caribou, dall sheep, and eagles on land. We soaked up as much history and culture as we could, along with plenty of excellent food that had us both returning home a few pounds heavier than when we left.
One thing we got a particular kick out of hearing about from tour guides and even locals was some of the more colorful tall tales and mythological legends particular to the area. I thought it might be fun to share a few with you here today.
Did you know that Alaska has its own version of Bigfoot and Sasquatch? It’s called the Alaskan Hairy Man. Much like their lower forty-eight cousins, these creatures roam the woods and mountain regions– which is literally freezing in the winter – are very elusive, stand considerably taller than a man, and emit odd, unsettling sounds. Stories of this creature are rooted in both Indigenous folklore and modern Alaskan cryptozoology (I had to look up this last word, it means the search for and study of unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by mainstream science). This creature is “supposedly” the reason the Nantiinaq fishing village of Port Chatham on the Kenai Peninsula was abandoned in the 1950s. They are also associated with the Alaskan Triangle, an area much like the Bermuda Triangle where there have been numerous unexplained disappearances and strange events.
There is another notorious creature by the name of Qalupalik that lives in the water and wears a traditional parka or amauti. It’s known for snatching children who wander away from their parents, then tucks them under the parka hood and carries them under the ice, never to be seen again. Yikes! I wonder if this tale wasn’t invented to purposely scare youngsters into behaving, kind of like the old European fairy tales such as Hanzel and Gretel.
One of the lesser known and malevolent mythological animals that also has its origins in Indigenous traditions across northern regions including Canada is called the Keelut. This oily, hairless, black animal resembles a dog and is reputed to travel between physical and spiritual worlds. Like the Alaskan Hairy Man and Qalupalik, the Keelut is solitary and stalks those who wander away from the beaten path. It is also said to be a symbol representing the harshness and perils of the northern wilderness, which sounds a whole lot better than harming people.
Well, if I scared you, I surely didn’t mean to. These mythical creatures and the stories of their unnerving habits are fascinating. I suppose they’re the result of early man or the first white explorers attempting to explain things that made no sense. I can certainly understand that in a place such as Alaska. If ever I visited somewhere filled with beauty and mystery and that defied logic it was there.
How about you? Have you ever visited our northern most state and if yes, what stood out to you the most?
Our next guest is Janice Cole Hopkins and she’ll be right here in Wildflower Junction on Friday, June 26, 2026!
Have you heard about her new Disabled Sisters series? Miss Janice will tell us all about that and introduce us to the three sisters. This series sounds like a humdinger!
She’s also giving away Ava, Book #1 to one commenter on her Friday post! Yee-Haw!
Please help us welcome her back and stay and chat a while. It’ll be fun.
Petticoats & Pistols is where everything’s at. Always something new popping up.
Jackson Sundown was born in 1863 in Montana. His given name was Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn, meaning Blanket of the Sun, and he was the only Native American to win the All Around title at the famous Pendleton Roundup. He won it at the age of 52.
Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn was born into the Wallowa Band of Nez Perce, led by Chief Joseph. At the age of 14 he was involved in the Nez Perce War of 1877. He managed to escape the calvary into Canada during the Nez Perce Retreat and then, according to legend, joined Sitting Bull in his Canadian Camp for two years along with other survivors of the Battle of Little Big Horn.
In 1879, Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn moved from Canada to Washington State, and then to the Flathead Reservation in Montana, where he became known as Jackson Sundown. He married there and had two children. In 1910, he returned to the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho, married again (I couldn’t find what happened to his first wife), and settled on his new wife’s ranch near Lapwai.
Jackson was a skilled horseman and made his living breeding, raising, training and selling horses. He bolstered his income by entering rodeos, often winning the all-around purse for having the highest scores in every event. Jackson won so often that other competitors would withdraw from events in which he was entered. Spectators loved him not only because of his talent, but also his striking presence. He wore colorful shirts, wooly chaps and would tie his braids under his chin when he rode rough stock.
In 1915, Jackson came in third at the Pendleton Roundup. He retired then at the age of 51. His body had taken a beating from rodeoing for so long and he was done. But the next year he was at the Roundup and an artist, who was sculpting him, encouraged him to enter again, offering to pay the entry fee. Jackson accepted.
He drew a very rough horse and his ride was legendary. The horse, Angel, bucked so hard that Jackson removed his hat and fanned the horse to “cool it off”. Jackson won the Roundup and retired once more, this time as a hero, the first and only Native American to win the title. He died seven years later at the age of sixty from pneumonia. His memorial in Idaho reads:
Jackson Sundown
Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn
Nez Perce Born in Montana 1863
Died at Jacques Spur, December 18,1923
At the age of 60 years
He is still celebrated at the Pow Wow held at the Pendleton Roundup every year.
Sarah Lamb. Seems we share both a view and a love for the Blue Ridge Mountains. We also have similar collections of the old Nancy Drew books, although it sounds like she has more than I do.