Author Interview

Interview with Carmen Peone

We’re talking today to award-winning author Carmen Peone, past President of Women Writing the West about her newly released book: Lillian’s Legacy – the third book in the Gardner Sibling Trilogy. 

Welcome, Carmen! Thanks for visiting today. Let’s start off with an easy question. I understand you and your husband, Joe, have four adult sons and nine grandchildren, is that correct?

A: “We actually have another grandchild on the way. Number ten will be here in December. We have four girls right now and five boys, but number ten is a boy so the boys will outnumber the girls. They all live close. Some on the reservation and the others on the Washington coast.”

Your web site says you have a degree in “Abnormal Psychology.” Is that a real thing?

A: “Yes, that’s real. I always joke. I say I have a BS in Abnormal Psychology, I put that out there whenever I do a workshop or presentation and just pause. People either get it or don’t—you know? That degree actually allowed me to work within the school system. I got an emergency substitute teaching certificate. I’ve taught every grade and every subject on the reservation, as a sub. Including: Special Ed and Head Start. Then I coordinated the after-school program for several years.”

Indian Reservation? Are you talking about Colville Indian Reservation? Was it a culture shock when you moved there?

A: “It definitely was a culture shock. The reservation is located in northeast Washington. It’s the Colville Confederated Tribes of Indians. My grandmother lived up the river from the reservation, in Kettle Falls. I spent a lot of summers with her while growing up. I would hear about the Indians down on the reservation but we never went there. Then I met my husband in college and after I graduated, we moved to the reservation. And now, I’m living where my grandmother, who was a nurse and worked for the doctor who delivered many babies here, as did my (nurse) mother. So it’s like this complete circle—I’m living on the reservation.”

You said you fell in love with the reservation, the people, their heritage, and their culture. You wanted to write about it. Was there a specific thing that influenced you most?

A: “Just working with tribal elder Marguerite Ensminger and learning the Arrow Lakes (or Sinyekst, Sinixt is the contemporary spelling) language. I worked with her for three years.”

Your web site said you teach archery. How did you get started?

A: “It started with our after-school program. We got a lot of federal money for our small reservation school. We were able to build a climbing wall and start National Archery in the School Program-NASP. I got certified to teach archery the same time as the PE teacher, who is the head coach of the program. I usually take the kids to nationals but this year I got really sick and had to resign. As I wrote my resignation letters, tears were flowing. Unfortunately, I just pick up everything at the school and get really sick a lot. I knew if I continued to teach then I couldn’t write more books and it would also hurt my time with my grandkids. And they are my life!”

What are your writing goals? Is there another genre you have considered writing? Sci-fi, memoir, or romance?

A: “Funny you should ask. During my Women Writing the West presidency, we had hard issues come up. I thought the time would fly by but after the 2018 conference, our accountant announced she was going to retire…I spent most of my time dealing with the transition of finding a new accountant. But that winter, Jerry Jenkins offered this on-line novel writing workshop and I took it because I wanted to make the switch from young adult to Christian romantic suspense. That book will also be set on the reservation, it’s actually out right now with a publisher for consideration.”

Will you tell us a little bit about Lillian’s Legacy without giving too much away?

A: “Sure. I’ve had amazing reception about this book. I knew I wanted to do something different. I didn’t want my next book to be about girls and horses—like in my other books. However, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do or what I wanted the book to be about. Then at a ladies Bible study at my house, after mentioning that, someone suggested the book should include medicine and we all looked at Dr. Maria Trevino, another lady there. So Dr. Trevino agreed to assist me. I did research about women in medicine and Dr. Trevino read the manuscript when it was completed and gave me feedback.

Lillian’s Legacy is about a young teen, Lillian Gardner, who in 1875 feels displaced by her family, and like a shadow under her famous horse-riding older sister, Hannah. Things get worse when Hannah insists her wedding be held on Lillian’s 16^th birthday and Lillian feels like she’s just another shadow. Not even important. So that day, an older Welsh healer happens to be traveling north and stops by the ranch for a drink and rest. While there, the healer discovers Lillian’s interest in healing which came from her mother, Elizabeth, who was very knowledgeable of local plants and herbs. The Welsh healer, Dr. Maddox, askes Lillian to tag along on her journey. Throughout the journey, Lillian proves her value and discovers her legacy. 

A lot of my books have the names of my children and grandchildren. For Lillian’s Legacy I wanted to use my family name: Maddox. Lillian discovers she likes medicine and she decides what her true legacy will be. There is a lot of information in the book about plants and herbs and their benefits and healing properties. I had fibromyalgia and it got really bad in my late 20’s. I went through the whole medical thing before finding what actually healed me. I have no trace of fibromyalgia now after working with a naturopathic doctor. So that’s my interest in it. A long time ago my grandmother who lived up at Kettle Falls gave me a book that’s no longer in print, written by a local a Native Americans on the reservation. That sparked my interest.”

What do you hope people will come away with after reading Lillian’s Legacy?

A: “Just that there’s hope. For all my books the theme is hope. I started a Cowgirls for Hope retreat with my friend. I’ve written a song you can find on YouTube, “Legacy Worth Living,” and I wrote that song on the piano and then my best friend who’s a singer/songwriter transferred it to guitar. She performed it for my book launch. There is hope in the world. Especially during the pandemic, where fears are running rampant, there is hope in God and His love for us. In every single one of my books, it’s just the same. There is hope. Your dreams can come true. If you work hard and trust God, it will happen.”

Thank you for visiting, Carmen. Congratulations on your new book Lillian’s Legacy.

For more information about Carmen and her other books: Girl Warrior, True to Heart Trilogy, and her Curriculum—Young Adult Workbook Series, check out her web site at https://carmenpeone.com/about/ Catch up with her on social media at:

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CarmenEPeone/ 

Twitter at https://twitter.com/carmenpeone 

Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jcpeone/ 

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Carmen-Peone/

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-peone