Local writer finds success with romance writing

When Adams Basin resident Rhonda Penders began her career as a freelance romance writer eight years ago, she never thought she would write a story that included the Pennsylvania groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil.

Penders has written a short story, "Phil Forecasts Love," which will be published in the February edition of "True Romance Magazine." In September when she submitted another story to her editor, Penders jokingly pitched the idea of a romance story set in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. "I finished a story for the December issue and as a joke I asked my editor, 'What type of story do you want next, a groundhog story?' She replied, 'Sure' and I started my research and writing about the town of Punxsutawney," Penders said.

"Phil Forecasts Love" is a realistic fiction story about a newspaper reporter who is sent to Punxsutawney, to cover Groundhog Day. On her trip there she gets caught in a blizzard and ends up on a farm owned by a man who is part of Punxsutawney Phil's Inner Circle. The Inner Circle is a group of men who are responsible for carrying on the annual Punxsutawney traditions of Groundhog Day. They are also responsible for taking care of Punxsutawney Phil. The reporter winds up falling in love with the farmer who rescued her during the snowstorm.

While Penders, who writes under the pseudonym Roni Adams, was doing research for this story, she made contact with members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Committee. When the story was finished, she sent it to the committee, and they in turn invited her to Punxsutawney to be a part of the 2006 Groundhog Day festivities. "I will be signing copies of "True Romance Magazine" on Groundhog Day (February 2) in the Punxsutawney community center after Phil's official prediction," said Penders. "I learned from a fellow writer that you have to do whatever you can do to promote your work. This is an opportunity for me to do something new with my writing, to expand into an area I haven't been before. I'm nervous, excited and very honored to be asked to be a part of this famous event."

Penders lives in Adams Basin with her husband, Scott, and three sons. "My family will travel with me to Pennsylvania to share in these festivities," said Penders. "This festival attracts close to 35,000 people from all over. The town of Punxsutawney is usually only 7,500 in population so you can imagine how crazy it gets for this festival. It's a huge deal down there and being asked to be a part of it is an honor," she said.

January 15, 2006