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Jun 10th Favorite Poems, Short Stories, or Novellas #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge

Welcome to #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge 6-10-20 – Favorite poems, short stories, or novellas. Wow this one is easy. so many to choose from. Please have a seat, grab an iced tea or lemonade out of the cooler. Be sure and try a chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie. Lets get started with Favorite poems, short stories, or novellas.

This weeks topic is another another slam dunk. First let me say up front, I’m not really a poem or short story type of gal. Novellas, I can get into.

Novellas – Deerbourne Inn Series is a great small town series written by multiple authors at The Wild Rose Press. There are a number of them and each unique but set in the small town of Willow Springs, Vermont. Whether you love to read Contemporary Romance, Mystery, Time Travel, Historical, Thriller, or SyFy, You can’t go wrong with these novellas.

I would be amiss if I didn’t mention my novella it’s part of the Deerbourne Inn Series. Mystic Maples. I had a blast writing this book. A bit of time-travel, mystery, and magic is the small town of Willow Springs makes for a fun romantic adventure and an escape for the reader. A captivating furbaby by the name of Rag-A-Muffin steals the story. Earth/Fire witch, Mercy’s insatiable curiosity finds her trespassing under a full moon on enchanted land. The owner discovers her and sparks fly, both figuratively and physically. If you look close at the cover, you’ll see that Mercy has one blue and one green eye, just like my character. Sil, the hero is absolutely swoon-worthy, don’t you think? Silvanus is not without his secrets. His gypsy/fae blood has always been a thorn in his side. But when Mercy discovers his secrets, his well-ordered life unravels and they’re catapulted into the past to right a wrong. What fun!!

Novellas – One Scoop or Two Series – Another summer series written by multiple authors at The Wild Rose Press. Summer fun, ice cream and delectable tales written in a variety of genres. A few of my favorites are:

Devil’s Food Ripple with a Cherry on Top -Fenady Clark’s dream of owning an ice cream parlor has inspired her through some of life’s hardest challenges. Just when the grand opening’s within reach, that wicked rogue, Sebastian Bane, opens shop and starts serving Fenady’s designer flavors, all renamed. She suspects he’s using black magic to poach her recipes, and if she weren’t a good witch instead of a bad witch, she’d whip up a spell and retaliate.
Sebastian’s come all the way from England to establish his family’s business near Salem. He can’t explain how he and the lovely Fenady keep creating the same ice cream confections, unless it’s enchantment, or fate. Is there room in town for both their dreams? And what will it take to convince an angry white witch she needs him in her life?

Vanilla with a Twist – Tandy Blakemore spends her days running her New England ice cream parlor, single-parenting her teenage son, and trying to keep her head above financial water.
Engineer Deacon Withers is on an enforced vacation in the tiny seaside town of Beacher’s Cove. Overworked, stressed, and lonely, he walks into Tandy’s shop for a midday ice cream cone and gets embroiled in helping her fix a broken piece of equipment. Can the budding friendship that follows lead to something everlasting?

Root Brew Float – Josephine Brevil has lived hundreds of years haunted by the horrors she experienced during the Salem Witch Trials. She takes great care to hide her powers, though serving a Root Brew Float laced with a magic potion now and again never hurt anybody. The Order sends her to Massachusetts to deal with a paranormal threat, and she meets the young and handsome widower, Clarence Watts. However, being with him comes with a choice. How can she choose between the man she loves and the magic she holds dear?

One Scoop or Two is a new series and new novellas are being added each week. Now to be fair, I’ve read all of the ones released, yet. But I am working on them. Pssst… I have a novella in this series too, but it’s still in edits. So watch for Chocolate Raspberry Magic coming by end of summer, fingers crossed.

**This may not count as poems, but I just remembered the Dr. Seuss books of my youth. I loved those books and their rhymes, didn’t you?

So there you have it, favorite poems, short stories, or novellas. Do you have favorite poems, short stories, or novellas? I’d love to hear from you. Please list them in the comments below.

Alas, I must return to my writing cave where deadlines loom with edits on my upcoming release HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC, Chocolate Raspberry Magic, and on a new WIP sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series(very exciting and coming along very well) so let’s see what other authors list as their favorite poems, short stories, or novellas . L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

School’s nearly out. Looking an exciting read to whisk you away from your ordinary world into a magical, fantasy adventure in Ireland? Got just the thing. Mystic Maples. When Mercy discovers the truth, Silvanus’ well-ordered life unravels and they’re catapulted into the past to right a wrong.

A bit about Mystic Maples:

Earth/Fire witch Mercy Rose’s insatiable curiosity always gets her in trouble. After a break-in at her Colorado flower shop, and a court battle that comes to a screeching halt in her favor, she arrives at Deerbourne Inn for a much-needed getaway. Looking for peace and quiet, she finds just the opposite in a startling handsome but mysterious man and his dog.

Silvanus Forrest’s gypsy/fae heritage is a double-edged sword. The land he inherited from his parents is rumored to be enchanted. But when Mercy discovers the truth, his well-ordered life unravels, and they’re catapulted into the past to right a wrong. Along the way their lives intertwine, and they discover the true meaning of family and love. Will they change the past in time to save their future?

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Next week, June 17, can you believe it already? Anyway the topic is My life in Photos or Gifs. Oh boy is that’s a tough one.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR's #Wednesday's Blog Challenge, Deerbourne Inn Series, Favorite poems, Mystic Maples, On Scoop or Tow Series, or novellas, Paranormal Romance, short stories, Tena Stetler, Time Travle by Tena Stetler with 17 comments.

Jun 3rd #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge -Things I WIsh I Were Better At

Welcome to #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge 6-3-20, Things I WIsh I Were Better At. Wow this one is easy. so many to choose from. Please have a seat, grab an iced tea or lemonade out of the cooler. Be sure and try a chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie. Lets get started with Things I Wish I Were Better At.

Wow, after last week’s topic, this one is another slam dunk. LOL

Patience is not one of my virtues. I wish it was. My life would certainly be a lot smoother.

Painting – I’d love to be able to paint beautiful scenes of wildlife, beaches, mountains, ocean-front beach houses and mountain cabins. Alas, people don’t even recognize my stick figures. Sad. Huh? With a camera I can frame beautiful scenes and I’m thankful for being able to do at least that much. LOL

Talking in front of a group of people. Believe it or not, debate was something I was good at in high school. Unfortunately, speaking in front of a group is a talent that has to be practiced and honed. It’s not like riding a bike. I need more a lot more work in that area.

Keeping a clean house. I love a clean house, but I HATE to clean it.

Keeping my mouth shut and reading over and thinking before I send an email out. I tend to be a bit sharp tongued at times. WIth that, make sure I listen, really listen to what people are saying to me. Means reading between the lines sometimes. LOL

Being a Type A personality and an extravert I tend to be driven in my tasks/goals and don’t relax, take a break as much as I should. Trying to do better, but….

Promotions. For me, it’s like nailing jello to a moving target. Just about the time you think you’ve got a handle on it, poof, it all changes. Frustrating. Last year I ran lots of ads, test markets, various companies, and came up with a viable plan. It’s worked pretty well this year, but…things are changing again. People’s lives have been upended, everything costs more and wages have been lost or at risk. The upside is that families are spending more time together figuring out what’s more important and what comes next.

So there you have it, a few of the many Things I Wish I Were Better At. I’d love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts on things you wish you were better at. Please list them in the comments below.

Alas, I must return to my writing cave where deadlines loom with edits on my upcoming release HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC and on a new WIP sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series(very exciting and coming along very well) so let’s see what other authors list Things I WIsh I Were Better At. L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

School’s nearly out. Looking an exciting read to whisk you away from your ordinary world into a magical, fantasy adventure in Ireland? Got just the thing. A Magic Redemption. Synn has extraordinary magic and power. Could she really be descended from the elite Guardians Guild made up of magical creatures formed over a millennium ago?

A peek between the pages:

Time seemed to go on forever as she slowed and walked backward for a while, her foot steps in the sand filling with water as she traveled along the shoreline, as if nature erased her intrusion. She turned around and continued her trek. Unaware of how long or how far she’d walked, the sudden outline of a figure, cloaked in the fog, jogging toward her caused panic to set in. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest, she swallowed hard, adrenalin pumping through her veins as flight or fight response kicked in. Digging her good foot into the sand she prepared to attempt a sprint…to where. Where the hell am I? A quick glance around, she spied a light from a familiar building far off on the bluffs as the figure burst from the fog. A tall, wide-shouldered male with long muscular legs came closer. She froze.

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Next week, June 10, can you believe it already? Anyway the topic is Favorite poems, short stories, or novellas. Oh boy is that going to be a long list. How about you?

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR's #Wednesday's Blog Challenge, A Magic Redemption, magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with 16 comments.

May 25th Memorial Day, Has the Meaning and History Gotten Lost?

Memorial Day isn’t just the first three-day weekend of the camping season. Historically, Memorial Day is the U.S. federal holiday dedicated to the remembrance of those brave men and women who gave their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

We celebrate Memorial Day yearly on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day and created after the American Civil War to remember the Confederate and Union soldiers who died in that war.

On May 5, 1868, three years after the Civil War ended, the head of the Grand Army of the Republic established Decoration Day to honor the war dead and decorate their graves with flowers. May 30^th was the date chosen by Major General John A Logan, possibly because by then blooming flowers should be available all over the country. Across the Potomac River from Washington D.C., Arlington National Cemetery was the site of the first large observance in 1868.

I find it interesting that according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs the crowd attending the first Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery was about the same size as those that attend today, about 5,000.

After World War I, Memorial Day expanded to honor the men and women who died in all American wars. Memorial Day, often still called Decoration Day, became a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1971 and moved to the last Monday in May.

On Memorial Day, small flags are placed on each grave in Arlington National Cemetery, a tradition that many national cemeteries around the county observe today. In fact, the flag custom has grown to include many families that decorate the graves of loved ones as well.

To make sure that we never forget America’s fallen heroes, U.S. Congress passed in December of 2000, and the president signed into law, “The National Moment of Remembrance Act”. On Memorial Day, at 3:00 p.m., all American’s are encouraged to pause for a minute of silence, wherever they are to honor and remember those fallen heroes that made the greatest sacrifice for our freedom.

No matter how bleak things look, I still believe we live in the greatest nation in the world. If you don’t feel the same, maybe you should reconsider your locale. I can say that because I live in the greatest nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Happy Memorial Day!

Posted in My Say What Blog by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

May 20th #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge- How I’d fare in a Zombie Apocalypse.

Welcome to #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge 5-20-20, How I’d fare in a Zombie Apocalypse. Please have a seat, grab an iced tea or lemonade out of the cooler. Be sure and grab a chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie. Lets get started with How I’d fare in a Zombie Apocalypse.

Wow, I’ve got nothing. Racked my brain for a day and one-half, then….

Well, there’d have to be several things fall into place for me to survive but if they did, my survival rate could be pretty good. FIrst of all I have guns and know how to shoot them. So on our way to safety, I’d blast the zombies’ heads off, killing them.

I live in a densely populated area, very little safety there. But I would boobie trap the heck out of the house as an early warning system. I’m smart and cunning, so may be able to outsmart the the not so smart zombies. But…my best resource is…

Assuming that there are no cases of zombie infection in the Cheyenne Mountain Complex home to the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Only a short road trip away from my home. And that myself and family got access to it. We could wait out the Zombie Apocalypse. No way could Zombies penetrate the complex built under 2,000 feet of granite on five acres, and

Fifteen three-story buildings are protected inside the mountain from movement from an earthquake or the bunker is built to deflect a 30 megaton nuclear explosion as close at 1.2 miles. A system of giant springs that the buildings sit on and flexible pipe connectors to limit the operational effect of movement. A total of more than 1,000 springs are designed to prevent any of the 15 buildings from shifting more than 1 inch. Within the mountain tunnels are sets of 25-ton blast doors. No chance of zombies making it though those suckers.

Inside this bunker are living quarters, medical facility, store, cafeteria and fitness centers. The complex has its own power plant, heating and cooling system and water supply., It’s ensured that there is a 99.999% degree of reliability of its electricity, water, air conditioning, power and other support systems. A miniture city inside the mountain.

The threats, in descending order of likelihood, that the complex are prepared for are “medical emergencies, natural disasters, civil disorder, a conventional attack, an electromagnetic pulse attack, a cyber or information attack, chemical or biological or radiological attack, an improvised nuclear attack, a limited nuclear attack, [and] a general nuclear attack. I’m adding Zombie Apocalypse. Depending of course how long it takes the Zombies to die off due to lack of food.

FYI, yes, I’ve been inside the Cheyenne Mountain Complex and found it awe inspiring.

So there you have it, How I’d fare in a Zombie Apocalypse. I’d love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts on how’d you fare in a Zombie Apocalypse in the comments below.

Alas, I must return to my writing cave where deadlines loom with edits on my upcoming release HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC and on a new WIP (very exciting and coming along very well) so let’s see what other authors list as their reasons. L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

Now lets take a moment to talk about Summer and camping. Set in the Colorado Rockies, AN ANGEL’S UNINTENTIONAL ENTANGLEMENT, Fourth book in A Demon’s Witch Series, is on SALE for 99 cents, for a limited time. Download your copy today and join the magical, fantasy adventure!

The story came about one summer when hubby and I were driving over Independence Pass. It’s one of our favorite drives in Colorado. A beautiful drive if you don’t mind the shear drop-offs. Abandoned cabins (dating back to 1880-1890) dot the landscape near the top of Independence Pass at over 12,000 feet in elevation. As I rounded the back of one of those cabins a complete scene unfolded among the spectacular views. I rushed to the truck and jotted down an outline and An Angel’s Unintentional Entanglement was born.

Caden had a story to tell, and insisted it be told before I finished up the series. The heroine in this story is Mystic Rayne. At the time I was writing this our beloved canine companion passed over the rainbow bridge. We were devastated. As the circle of life continued, a new puppy arrived and we named her Mystic Reign, after my character. Do you believe in fate? Well coincidently the release date for An Angel’s Unintentional Entanglement is August 6, 2018, which happens to be our dog, Mystic’s birthday.

A little about AN ANGEL’S UNINTENTIONAL ENTANGLEMENT:

Fallen warrior angel, Caden Silverwind, lives alone in Colorado’s rugged Rockies, healing from physical wounds as well as the mental anguish suffered during battles with dark demons. Then he finds a woman barely clinging to life after a horrendous beating. He is not prepared for the entanglement she brings to his life, nor the feelings she awakens in him.

Bureau of Indian Affairs Agent, Mystic Rayne’s personal dilemma and assignment nearly gets her killed. Divine intervention is a complication she never expected and her growing attraction to Caden is undeniable. Can she trust him with her secret?

Their quest to uncover her attacker takes them from the pristine mountains in Colorado to the wilds of Wyoming. Along the way, they find answers which may place them in more danger. Determined to solve the mystery, they must also navigate their feelings and fears to find love and unite heaven and earth.

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Next week, May 13, A Villain that I wish could be redeemed and why. A tough one. Do you have a villain that you wish could be redeemed and why?

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR's #Wednesday's Blog Challenge 5-20-20, An Angel's Unintentional Entanglement, How I'd fare in a Zombie Apocalypse, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 21 comments.