Guide to categories: Author Interview – an interview with an author, if there is no review from me, I have not read the book and cannot speak to its appropriateness for a school library

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About the Book

Book: A Penny Saved

Authors: Terri Gillespie & Cynthia L. Simmons

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy & Mystery

Release Date: May 27, 2023

A Move, A Mess, A Mystery

Mason’s world turns upside down when he, his little sister, Olivia, and their mother move into their grandfather’s house.

Mason misses his cool friends. Unfortunately, R.B., the weird kid down the street, thinks he’s Mason’s new best friend.

Mason’s grandfather, a retired professor, stays in his office filled with musty, dusty books. Never realizing there’s a magical treasure hidden in plain sight. An 1860 Indian Head penny, named Penny, who is alive!

When Penny goes missing, Mason helps his grandfather look for her.

Will Mason find Penny and learn her secret?

Click here to get your copy!

About Terri Gillespie

Terri Gillespie is a multi-award award-winning author and speaker and YouTube personality. Terri lives with her hubby outside Atlanta. They have one adult daughter, who lives in Chicago with her husband and son. Terri was one of the managing editors of the bestselling Tree of Life Version of the Holy Scriptures.

More from Terri Gillespie

My grandson, DJ, loves to read, but there is a lack of inspirational and clean books with Black protagonists. DJ loves fantasy and mysteries, and as his safta (grandmother), I wanted a book that gives even more, a sense of legacy with a theme of looking past the exterior to the value underneath.

When the strange, awkward R.B. offers to pray for Mason’s grandfather and then brings over his granny’s tuna casserole, Mason is touched and wonders if he has misjudged R.B.

After tasting this recipe, would you change your mind?

Widow Savier’s (R.B.’s granny) Tuna Casserole

2 (5 oz.) cans chunky-type tuna in water (drain well)

1 cup frozen peas

1⁄2 cup milk

3⁄4 cup butter-Ritz-like crackers, crushed or crushed potato chips (R.B. prefers the chips)

4 oz. (about 2-1⁄2 cups) thick egg noodles

1 can (10.75 oz.) cream of mushroom soup

1⁄4 tsp. garlic powder

Bit of butter (it is the south after all)

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Cook noodles according to package instructions, adding peas during the last 2 minutes of cooking; drain in strainer.
• While noodles are cooking, in a separate bowl, mix together soup, milk and garlic powder.
• Stir in the noodles and peas, then add the tuna.
• Transfer to a 1-1⁄2 quart lightly buttered casserole.
• Bake 15 minutes; top with cracker crumbs OR CHIPS. Continue baking 5 – 10 minutes or until heated through.

Serves 4, so Widow Savier doubles the recipe for Mason’s family so they have leftovers.

Author Interview with Terri Gillespie

When did you first know you wanted to be an author? 

I was around five or six. My grandmother was my best friend and a spellbinding storyteller. I remember while my brothers played outside, I sat on the porch swing with Grandma as she spun tales that sixty-five years later, I still remember.

Somehow, she could see the writer in me. Which was discerning because I had challenges with reading that took decades to overcome. 

The definitive moment for me was when Grandma set an ancient Royal typewriter atop a rickety metal table, with a small stack of paper and said, “Write.” My first “publication” on that old typewriter was Jilly the Teddy Bear (1959). That sparked the fire to write and the hope that maybe I could see a real book with my name—not one bound with tape. 

Although I have written a women’s devotional (2008), it is stories I’m most drawn to. Those stories Grandma told me changed my life. How wonderful if I can do the same for readers—especially young people.

What historical figure do you admire and why?

Golda Meir, the first and only female prime minister of Israel. The woman would meet with heads of state in her kitchen and mop the floor while they discussed critical matters of state. I mean, who wouldn’t admire her!

My first trip to Israel we visited Mt. Herzl Cemetery where she’s buried. I was able to place a rock on her headstone. I still get goosebumps thinking about it.

Who did you have in mind as you wrote the book?

My grandson. DJ wasn’t much of a reader in elementary school. I wanted him to love reading and went on a search to find inspirational books with strong Black male characters. Rashad Jennings wrote a series called the Coin Slot Chronicles that sparked a love of reading for DJ. 

My co-writer, Cynthia’s granddaughter is bi-racial. The cover illustration is inspired by our grandchildren.

A Penny Saved’s protagonist, Mason will have a variety of friends from different backgrounds, but we wanted young people like our grandchildren to see characters that look like them. 

Which character did you enjoy writing most?

Have to say, I loved writing the awkward ginger, R.B. The first time I “heard” his voice, he said, “Ronald Bilius is the name, but my friends call me R.B.” He was a hoot to write, but he also has depth especially as the series progresses.

What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?

Cynthia and I are working on book two of the Penny series, working title A Penny for your Dreams. Book one is Mason, Olivia, R.B. and Miss Penny’s origin story. In the second book we will have two distinct timelines—contemporary and historical. Penny learns she can time travel and take the Adeleke children with her. There will be mysteries in both timelines and lessons that will impact Mason and Olivia in lifechanging ways.

As a former K-12 school librarian I have to ask – what is your favorite children’s book?

As I mentioned earlier, I had a reading disability, and my parents didn’t read to us as children. I was in junior high school when my younger sisters were born so my first foray into children’s books was the Golden Books with them. My favorite was The Poky Little Puppy which I read repeatedly to them until they asked me to stop. I was in my twenties when I read Nancy Drew mystery books, and began the classics in my forties.

By the way, today I read around sixty books a year.

What advice would you give to a child or teen who wants to be a writer?

Writers write. Even though I struggled with reading, I did keep a diary. Writing a little every day develops the discipline you’ll need when you write for publication. 

Read. Read the classics even though you are most likely only interested in writing fantasy and/or science fiction. Think of it as building strong roots so that your writing will have depth and eloquence.

Observe. Be observant of people and events around you. Many stories are born with a single sentence or action. Some of my best scenes are unexpected moments with strangers that fascinate me.

What If. To grow a story from the idea, ask yourself, “What if . . .” What if the old beat-up penny that has been in your family for over one hundred years, is alive and knows your family’s history? What if twin toddlers separated by a troubled mother are reunited twenty years later?

Learn. Be teachable and learn from successful authors and editors. No matter how many books you publish, there’s always more to learn.

Writing for publication is the most wonderful and challenging job. The only way one can fail is to give up. If you have a passion to write, no one could stop you anyway.

Terri, thank you so much for joining us today. It is encouraging to learn about a writer who has a reading challenge. My readers and I always enjoy learning more about authors.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 16

Stories By Gina, November 17 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 19 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 20

Vicky Sluiter, November 21 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 22

A Reader’s Brain, November 23 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 24

Blogging With Carol, November 25

Blossoms and Blessings, November 26 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, November 26

For Him and My Family, November 27

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 28 (Author Interview)

Little Homeschool on the prairie, November 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terri is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, signed copy of A Penny Saved, and A Penny Saved Mug!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28eed/a-penny-saved-celebration-tour-giveaway

Views expressed in this interview/guest post do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog host.

Read more author interview posts.