Authors' Secrets Blog Archives - Page 15 of 219

Nov 12th Meringue Snowflake Magic – Sunday Snippet

This week’s Sunday Snippet is celebrating the holidays with a feel good read, MERINGUE SNOWFLAKE MAGIC, from the Christmas Cookie Series. #mystery #fantasy #romance. Join the #holiday #fantasy#adventure, download a copy or two today! Makes a great holiday gift. The people of Raven’s Hollow and Blaze have secrets of their own, will she discover them before it’s too late?

A little about Meringue Snowflake Magic:

After being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Wynter Dahl finds herself with a new name and new home. Whisked into the Witness Protection program she finds herself in the Podunk town of Raven’s Hollow, Colorado. She has more than one secret to keep and is not sure who she can trust, though the deputy sheriff is hard to resist.

Braydon “Blaze” Nightwing, owns Dragon Fire Pizza and takes his job as deputy sheriff seriously. He means to protect his town and its residents, including the mysterious newcomer. He rescues her after a tumble and finds himself in over his head. He senses she’s more than she seems but so is he.

When her cover is blown and her life is in danger it will take the whole town to save her and their annual holiday festival and cookie contest. What is Christmas without a little magic?

A new peek between the pages of Meringue Snowflake Magic:

The sun was warm through her large side window as she stood sipping her tea and admiring the newly fallen snow sparkling like iridescent glitter over the ground. Glancing at her bag, where she’d secreted her cell phone and battery inside the lining when her handler requested she turn it over she sighed. Never take for granted what you have, for it can be gone in the blinke of an eye.

Setting her tea mug down, she picked up the bag and unzipped it, released the cell from its hiding place, installed the battery, and paused before powering it up. Her handler’s last words flowed through her mind. Whether or not your phone actually is missing, remember you can be tracked if you try to use it. A mistake that could end your life. These people are not playing around. She shoved the phone back in its hiding place and turned her attention back to the window.

Several children were running up and down the hill diagonally across the street with old-fashioned wooden and newer sleds that looked like strips of brightly colored plastic. They flew down the hill at break-neck speed. She took another sip of tea, choked, and spit it all over the window, blinds, and herself.

Did that little girl just unfurl iridescent blue wings and hover above the others throwing snowballs? She blinked, rubbed her eyes, and stared at the scene outside. Sure enough, there were now three children hovering in the air waging war with snowballs on the others sliding down the slope. One had fallen off a sled and transformed into a furry wolf rolling down the hill. What kind of a place is this?

Suddenly the doorbell rang. She bobbled her mug spilling more tea on the light gray carpet in front of the window. Geez, what now? On her way to the door, she tore off a couple of paper towels and dropped them on the stain. Pausing to look through the peephole, she hissed out a breath and yanked open the door. The child with wings, pointed ears, and fur was temporarily forgotten.

Deputy Blaze Nightwing stood on her porch.

About the Author:

Tena Stetler is an internationally best-selling author of award winning paranormal tales. Some call her crazy others creative. She deals with the voices in her head by writing them down and creating a fantasy world and characters you won’t soon forget. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure, magic, and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.

Colorado is home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a fifty-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors.

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Website: https://www.tenastetler.com

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Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here. Please check back next week for another Sunday Snippet!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Colorado, Meringue Snowflake Magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Sunday Snippet, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Nov 5th A Witch’s Holiday Wedding Sunday Snippet

Happy Holidays! The Sunday Snippet this week is A Witch’s Holiday Wedding . As you know, each week I’ll spotlight one of my books, tell you what’s unique about it, and highlight an excerpt. Join me for this #fun #adventure into the paranormal realm. A Witch’s Holiday Wedding is the best-seller, and is part of the award-winning A WITCH’S JOURNEY SERIES. A small town paranormal romance/mystery.

You can have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider, and coffee. Choose your pot; they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip, or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Let’s see what A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING has in store for us. An exciting, fun, holiday tale about a couple torn in too many directions, with a covert military mission thrown in, will Pepper and Lathen make it to the alter?

Lets see what A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING is all about?

Elemental witch, Pepper McKay and former Navy SEAL, Lathen Quartz have built Lobster Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on enchanted McKay land. During a romantic interlude on Halloween night, Pepper happily agrees to become Lathen’s wife. What better day than Winter Solstice for their wedding in a town that loves celebrations and Christmas. However, planning a wedding and operating their wildlife center takes a toll on both Pepper and Lathen.

When the couple takes a much-needed break for Thanksgiving with family in Colorado, a Maine snowstorm fills the center with injured wildlife. Lathen finds himself drawn into a covert military mission, while trying to deal with issues concerning friends and family. Pepper wants to cancel the wedding. Is she having second thoughts? Will the nosy McKay ghosts, Lathen’s werewolf pack, Pepper’s parents, and her best friend help or hinder the wedding and holiday plans?

Universal Buy Link books2read.com/u/4DE0jr

A sneak peek between the pages of A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING:

After she set her glass down, Lathen brushed a couple strands of hair out of her eyes and searched her face. “Are you all right?”

“I’m tired, my wedding is in a couple weeks, I have ghosts fighting over who is going to do what. Guests that have no idea the place is haunted and… Your family and pack, my parents, Gwen… To top it all off, the head of my clan, who is a ghost, is sitting in front of me wanting to know who is coming to the wedding and whether the ghosts will be outed. How could I possibly be all right?”

“When you put it that way.” Lathen chuckled. “It sounds just a bit… I don’t know…crazy?” His right eyebrow winged up. She saw mischief sparkle in his eyes. “We could still elope,” he offered.

“No sir. Not after all the trouble—Not on me watch.” Aidan shook his head so vehemently his upper torso blurred.

Pepper smiled, glanced at Lathen. “What do you think—about twenty-five to fifty close friends and family at the ceremony?”

“I doubt the pack will be there, they’ll be more interested in the food and tall-tale telling at the reception. Not to mention questioning why the dinner wasn’t before the ceremony. So you are close on that count.” He snatched the wine glass from the table and took a gulp.

“The seating area should be at the end of the pond by the benches. Ashling mentioned purple rose bushes around the pond. Lathen and I are going to get the arbor first thing in the morning, weather permitting.”

Lathen’s stomach gurgled. “You know the timer for the meat pies went off a while ago.” He glanced toward the kitchen. “Want me to go get them?”

“Oh crap, I forgot. They’ll be ruined, all dried out.” She thought for a moment then waved her hand toward the kitchen. “They’ll be fine.”

“I’ve got what’s needed.” Aidan rose from the chair, lifted his hand in a wave and faded away, the mist crawling along the floor disappeared entirely.

“Never a dull moment around here.” Lathen took the tray of pies from Pepper and set it on the coffee table. The silverware clattered as he slipped the napkins out from under them, inhaling deeply. “I’m starved.”

“Marrying a McKay witch may be more than you bargained for,” she teased. “Too late to change your mind.”

“Don’t intend to.” He forked up a bite of meat pie, blew on it for a minute as the steam rose, and popped it in his mouth. “Mmmmm. Delicious! Life with a witch can be quite satisfying. If you know what I mean.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Thank you for stopping by next week we will return to Sunday Snippets. Please check back next week for another exciting adventure!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Witch's Holiday Wedding, A Witch's Journey, animal rescue, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Sunday Snippet, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Nov 2nd WINNER -NaNoWriMo 2023, A Tale of 50,000 words in 30 days

Along with millions of writers around the world, (okay maybe not millions, but close) I’m participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWrimo). It’s been a rough year, and I considered not attempting NaNoWriMo for the first time in thirteen years. However, out of the blue the other night a NaNoWriMo project came to mind. I will also be finishing up the second book in the Moutain Town Mystery Series. Yep, I got my work cut out of me this year. Yippee!! Check back and see how I am doing. I could use a cheering section. LOL

A challenge to write fifty-thousand words in thirty days. For weeks, our minds have worked out the logistics of the story, our fingers are twitching to tap that keyboard and kick off the race to our latest novel. The National Novel Writing Month challenge is a great confidence builder and something we writers look forward to November 1st every year.

I’m off to a good start with 51213 words under my belt as of 11-24-23. i made it! I won! Yippie!!

NaNoWriMo as it’s fondly referred to has become somewhat of a tradition for me starting in 2010. I’ve made my goal of at least 50,000 words every year since with the exception of 2013. That year I failed miserably at only 17000 words. My day job was a monster, the hours were long, and by the time I arrived home, I was the monster. Anyone know what I mean? But I digress, at 17,000 I still had a working story, plot and characters. Yeah! Finished it up in the months that followed, polished the manuscript and submitted it. Since that time, I left the monster of a day job and writing is now my full-time gig, and I love it. Last years NanoWriMo novel Security Force of Two released March 20, 2023, and is the 17th book release since my debut novel, A Demon’s Witch release in September of 2015.

Seventeen novels that NaNoWriMo helped me to create have been published by The Wild Rose Press. NaNo project for 2022, Security Force of Two was released March 20, 2023. Yippee! First book in my brand new Mountain Town Mystery Series.

My other two series A Demon’s Witch and A Witch’s Journey are shown below and available a Amazon and other online retailers. Download a copy today and join the magical, romantic fantasy adventure, you’ll never want to leave!

This year for NaNoWriMo I’m working on a new book Surf, Sand & Romance working title and editing the second cozy mystery in my Mountain Town Mysteries. The first book in this series, Security Force of Two released in 2023, to overwhelming success.

Along with the Romance Writers of America and Pikes Peak Writers group, who gave me the tools, NaNoWriMo gave me the confidence needed to stick my toe in the murky waters of the publishing industry. The 50,000 words, approximately 1,667 per day, usually is three-quarters of a pretty darn good novel. Each year I build on what I’ve learned throughout the year and use it to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge. The camaraderie among participants is phenomenal making the challenge a fun way to kick off the holidays!

Wish me luck! Keep checking back for updates on my progress this year. Will I make the 50,000 words? Only time will tell, but you can bet I’ll do my best! I know you’ll be cheering me on! If you have a chance, I’d love you to leave me comments of encouragement.

Have a fun and safe Thanksgiving! Eat lots of turkey and enjoy family and friends. After all that’s what its all about!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Demon's Witch Series, A Witch's Jounry Series, Mountain Town MysterySeries, NaNoWriMo, Security Force of Two, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.

Oct 29th Security Force of Two – Sunday Snippet

Welcome back to Sunday Snippet! This week we take a look at the Halloween party hosted by the town of Aspen Ridge, Colorado in Security Force of Two, a paranormal mystery with a touch of romance. Makes a great Halloween read! Take a peek, you’ll be glad you did! What’s Security Force of Two all about? I’m glad you asked.

A former CIA agent and a Special Forces vet return to their small hometown only to discover a murder complicates their lives.

Miacoh Zane, a Special Forces veteran, returns to Aspen Ridge, Colorado a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains, to settle his beloved grandmother’s estate. But the town holds painful memories and family secrets he wants to leave behind for good.

Candle Bearclaw, a gifted computer analyst/programmer with talents she’s buried when recruited out of college by the CIA. After fifteen years, she abruptly resigns her position with the agency. She returns to her sleepy hometown only to discover her childhood crush has also returned and a violent crime has been committed.

Due to their covert operations experience, Candle and Miacoh are thrown together to assist Homeland Security, FBI, and her father, former chief of police, with a murder investigation. As they search for the perpetrators, will their secrets be revealed as the investigation takes an unusual twist that could blow the case wide open.

Buy Links: Amazon Barns&Nobel ibooks Kobo

Book Trailer

Sneak peek between the pages of Security Force of Two:

“Now, what was that all about?” she wondered out loud. First, the man is all irate, then he… and they say women are moody. Candle finished installing the batteries in the little candle lights, made sure they worked, and finally put each one in a pumpkin. Someone turned off the overhead lights. The lit pumpkins transformed the darkness into a magic Halloween kingdom. The crystal skull’s green glow added an eerie feeling to the room. Candle checked the skull’s light and timer. She held the remote that controlled all the candle lights, turning them off and on several times to make sure everything worked correctly. Satisfied, she handed the remote to Gabby.

Brushing the cobwebs and dust out of her hair, Candle peered at Gabby. “If you’re finished with me, I gotta go home, and let the puppy out, exercise her, then get ready for the Halloween Ball tonight. You know, I am kind of excited about it. Over the years, I may have forgotten how to have fun.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” A giggle bubbled up through Gabby’s throat. “Now get out of here. See ya tonight.”

Arriving at the cabin, Candle unlocked the door only to be greeted by a wiggling, whining ball of tawny fur. “How did you get out again?” Looking around the room, she saw the baby gate formerly wedged in the doorway between the kitchen and living area now chewed on one side, allowing it to fall over. Candle shook her head, watched the bright-eyed, happy to see her, and swept Terra up into her arms, cuddling her close. No use scolding her now. The deed was done. Crossing to the back door, Candle surveyed the area for any other damage and found none.

Terra made a mad dash out her dog door for the far corner of the yard, did her business, and stared at Candle. Her duties done, she raced around the yard, waiting for Candle to join her. Then Terra nipped at Candle’s pant legs and ran away again. She would surely be glad when this puppy phase was over. All her pants had tiny holes all around the bottom from puppy teeth. Terra grabbed a ball, squeaking it as she raced around the yard, finally bringing it to Candle to throw. After several minutes of playing ball with the pup, Candle returned to the house to don her costume and get ready to go.

An hour and a half later, Terrabyte rushed into the house and skidded to a stop barking furiously two feet from where Candle stood dressed in her costume. “Hey, it’s just me,” Candle laughed as the puppy stood there, head cocked to one side. She scooped the pup up and held her. “See, it’s just me.” Candle said soothingly. “Don’t you like my costume?” She chuckled again and put Terra in her crate with food, water, and the treasured bully stick. This time made sure the lock was engaged properly and left the radio low.

Candle arrived at the ball a few minutes early, but it looked like the whole town was in attendance. Fog floated across the floor. Shadows from the lit pumpkins danced on the walls and ceiling as she made her way to where Gabby was standing with her family. “Very nice, Gabby. You did a great job with the decorations. Your costume isn’t bad either. You’re the good witch in the Wizard of Oz?”

Gabby nodded, dressed in a golden ball gown with glitter in her hair and a crystal wand in her hand. “Thank you. Candle, I’d like you to meet my husband, Ben.”

“Oh, let me guess, you’re the Wizard of Oz, right?”

“Yes, Gabby’s interpretation.” Ben laughed, striking a pose in a dark emerald green suit with sequined lapels and a light green shirt with a black tie.

Thanks for stopping by for a peek at Sunday Snippet Security Force of Two! Hope you’ll check the novel out. See you next week for another segement of Sunday Snippets!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Mountain Town Mystery Series, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Security Force of Two, Sunday Snippet, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.