Pegg Thomas Author interview

2023 Selah Award - “Abigail’s Peace” is a finalist

2022 Selah Award - won with “Sarah’s Choice” and

2nd place with “Maggie’s

Strength”

Tell about yourself, family, pets, favorite foods, hobbies, where you grew up, etc., and 1-3 things about yourself that have nothing to do with writing.

Thanks for having me on your blog today. I’m always happy to meet new readers on blogs like yours. Here’s a bit about me: I live on a hobby farm in Northern Michigan with my husband of *mumble* years, a few chickens, and our spoiled rotten dog, Murphy. My hobbies include gardening and spinning yarn on my antique spinning wheels.

What genre(s) do you write?

I write historical romance and historical fiction. My main characters are all fictional. I weave their story through real historical events and they often interact with real historical characters. I like to write a series about a period of history and examine different points of view through the different novels, but always strive to keep the history and the characters as authentic to the period as possible.

Are you Indy, traditionally published, or both?

Both.

What are you working on now?

My current series is A More Perfect Union. The stories center on Civil War ex-cavalrymen who struggle to rebuild their lives after the war, and the women who help them succeed. In Emerald Fields, both hero and heroine are from the North. In Cobalt Skies, the hero is from the North and the heroine is from the South. And in Silver Prairies, both hero and heroine are from the South.

Do you read outside of your genre? If so, what other genres do you like to read?

History is my thing, but I also read non-fiction—usually about history or historical figures—and occasionally I pick up a good fantasy novel just for fun.

Did the first book you wrote get published? How long were you writing before you were published?

No. And it never will. For one thing, the first novel I wrote was women’s fiction—a genre I don’t even read! I’m not sure why I did that, but it proved to me that I could do it, so it wasn’t a total waste. I started seriously writing in 2009, and I signed my first contract in 2016. 

When you are writing, do you like complete silence, or do you like to listen to music? If so, what kind of music do you like? What are your favorite writing snacks?

I like nature’s sounds while I write. I can hear the chickens clucking, the horses snorting, or the dog dreaming near my feet. That’s my music. And I’m not a snacker while writing.

Which do you prefer, writing or editing? Why?

I prefer editing. Writing is the hard work—pounding out the words. Editing is finessing the words into a dance the reader can sway along with.

At what time of the day do you do most of your writing?

I’m a morning person. Maybe it’s the farmer in me.

Do you read your reviews? How do you process negative reviews?

Every. Single. One. A reader took the time to write that review when there were a thousand other things they could have spent their time on. I ask my readers for reviews, so I feel like I owe it to them to read what they wrote. Negative reviews are part of the process. I read them even closer than the good reviews and try to see my book through the reviewer’s eyes. Just because it’s negative doesn’t mean the reviewer isn’t right!

How do you come up with character names for your stories?

Because I write historical, I want to get names that are accurate to the time and place. My favorite method is to find the closest national census to the birthdates of the characters. Then I pick and choose first and last names that I like to create my characters’ names. How important was professional editing to your book’s development?

CRITICAL. I worked for 3.5 years as the managing editor for Smitten Historical Romance, and I’m currently a freelance content/substantive editor. I know a bit about editing. And I know that I can’t put out a quality product without it. Even editors need editors. I also hire a proofreader to go over my stories before they see print.

How much research is involved in writing a historical novel?

History has been a passion of mine for most of my life, so in a very real way, I’ve been researching my books for years. But even so, I generally read several resource books on the time period and/or around the historical event of the story before I start writing.

What does writing success look like to you?

Success is putting out top-quality books that people want to read. When I stepped into self-publishing after 6 traditionally published books, it was a step of faith. My first series, Forts of Refuge, has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. All three books, Sarah’s Choice, Maggie’s Strength, and Abigail’s Peace are Selah Award Finalists. Sarah’s Choice won in 2022 and Maggie’s Strength was 2 nd place. I’ll find out later this year how Abigail’s Peace will do, but even being a finalist is a real honor. If people want to connect with me, the easiest way is to subscribe to my monthly newsletter:

https://www.subscribepage.com/PeggThomas which includes writing updates, my spinning wheel and fiber arts adventures, and more fun stuff.

You can find out more about Pegg here:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15649848.Pegg_Thomas

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Pegg-Thomas/author/B01M8KLB3Y

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pegg.thomas.author

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pegg_thomas/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PThomas_Author

During the explosive year of 1763, only three Colonial forts withstood the coordinated onslaught of Pontiac's Rebellion. Fort Pitt, Fort Detroit, and Fort Niagara stood strong. Forts of Refuge tells the tales of three women, one connected to each fort, who also survived against the odds, and the men who shared in their trials and triumphs.