Tena StetlerAuthor of Paranormal Romance/Suspense & Cozy Mysteries With Magic Spark!

What defines you as an author? As a person? Are they one in the same?

Oh man that’s a deep question, and as I look over the list of questions ahead of me, I’m tempted to stay safe, but then again, when has safe ever been the right choice?

I am defined by what I do, in all aspects of my life. As we all are. No one really sees the whole. They see the bits and pieces of our lives that intersect with theirs.

I am a mom. I’m a wife. I’m a daughter. I’m a sister. I’m a writer. I’m Katie.

As an author, I am more interested in people knowing about my work than knowing about me. That’s another thing. I’m shy… and an introvert. Double whammy there. Some authors are born marketers, able to speak to people about anything and everything without the slightest of hesitations. I, on the other hand, hope my story is what people are attracted too, and fall in love with. Because that, at least to me, is so much more interesting than the person who wrote it. If they love my writing then they will want more, and that is how I want to be seen, as the author who writes awesome work.

However, in this industry I can’t use the “shy” excuse. So I’ve worked really hard to overcome that aspect of myself so I can reach readers and talk to them about awesome fantasy worlds.

Why get into this business if I am not really comfortable in the public eye? Because I have to write. It is my escape. I feel a piece of me is missing when I go for long stretches without writing. And when my fingers hit the keys and the words start flowing I find my Zen moment. Once a story is written it can’t go back into the drawer or be locked away forever. It needs to be read. There’s no question about it, writing is in my blood. I’m always working, creating, and dreaming up new ideas. And again, I want that to be what defines me in reader’s eyes. I want to be the author who they know they can rely on for plenty of entertaining stories.

What inspired A Taste of Your Own Magic?

The Agents of ASSET series began with a small kernel of inspiration at Phoenix Comic Con (now Phoenix Fan Fusion) I was a guest in 2016 and scheduled for 3 panels a day. It was truly a trial by fire as I had never spoken on so many stages in a single event.

Sitting and listening to panels is always fun, but actually being up on stage and answering questions was a whole new world of awesome. Talk about an insane amount of knowledge and creativity. I was fangirling as I sat next to greats like VE Schwab, Weston Ochse, Brian McClellan, Yvonne Navarro, LJ Hachmeister, etc..

One panel in particular that really sparked the Agents of ASSET series was the Gods and Mythology panel. I remember going into it feeling as if I were the least prepared to speak. I used Greek mythology for the basis of my vampires in my first series, the Immortalis, but beyond that I had not spent much time with the various pantheons.

Being on that panel and participating in the extremely lively discussions with the other authors was pure inspiration. The audience asked so many great questions on: world building, magical rules, gods (little g vs. big G), etc… I was so inspired by that one panel I had the initial mythology for the Mother, Father, and the Great tree outlined before the weekend was over.

Once I knew where the mythology was heading, my main character Sage appeared. The journey to realize her magical heritage gave me the perfect way to reveal this mythology and set the stage for all the crazy that follows.

What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?

No secret. No magic. Just good old fashion, “Butt in chair and write,” advice.

Ready for it?

ALLOW YOURSELF TO WRITE BAD!

When working through a block, you have to turn the filter off and force yourself to sit down at the desk.

No editing, no criticism, and no ideas off the table.

Let the words flow, no matter how crazy they are. It doesn’t always mean tons of words will come, however, you can’t revise what is not written, so allow yourself to write whatever comes to mind. Take a path you would normally not, and see where the story goes. If it works, great. If not, at least you exercised your creative muscles.

Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?

I’m not the only writer in my family. My older sister is also an author. She writes Middle Grade fantasy, and she’s pretty freaking awesome. I like to joke that I want to be like her when I grow up. Truth is, no matter how old I get, I’m never growing up. Not as long as I can escape into fantasy worlds.

Being one of the authors in my family is equal parts good and bad. There is a sense of competition there. You know how sibling rivalry works. Of course, we both admire each other’s work, and though we are both authors, our genres and audiences are a bit different. Our experiences are equally different. She is the traditionally published author whereas I am the indie. We walk on two sides of the same road, so we each bring new aspects of the publishing process to the table. It makes for interesting discussions at times.

When I chose to bite the bullet and get my first book out there, back in 2010, everyone in the family was so supportive. Eight years and 20 books later, they are still proud, but I think after a while you become so defined by what you do, they don’t celebrate it as much. My family still get signed first-run copies as Christmas presents though. Talk about the ultimate handmade gift!

Do you see yourself in your characters?

Every character an author writes will have pieces of them inside, but when I look to craft my main characters, I write them with the attributes I wish I had.

Remember I said I’m shy and introverted. Sage Cynwrig is anything but. She has no problem with people or the public. She is excited rather than apprehensive as she meets new people and magical creatures. Even in the way she handles the bombshell of a reveal that she has inherited a magical gift, rather than having a potential panic attack, as I might, she laughs thinking she is being pranked. She embodies the traits I aspire to, and maybe someday I will be more like her.

Everything You Know about Magic is Wrong!

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KatieSalidas