A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance – Cover Reveal
I’m so excited to reveal the cover for author Tena Stetler’s A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance, third book in the Demon’s Witch Series. Isn’t it just fantastic? Yes, I know Amazon beat me to it. Darn it!
A little about A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance:
Stefan is a Native American vampire, former assassin for the Vampire Council. In a twist of fate, he now DJ’s the midnight shift for a small radio station in Whitefish, Montana, on the edge of Glacier National Park where his secret is safe until…
Born in Ireland, Brandy now works as a park ranger and trail guide in the park. During a full moon, Stefan and Brandy’s paths cross in a near physical collision on a trail. Their attraction is immediate and undeniable, almost as if fate demanded it.
Their union was foretold long ago in Irish folk tales where vampires and gryphons, warlocks and demons, witches and faeries must work together for the good of man and magic kind. Is a trip to Ireland the key to unraveling secrets and returning the magic? And even more importantly, will their love survive the trip?
Available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Release date November 29, 2017! Just in time for Christmas. Reserve your copy today!
. Yippee!
A sneak peek between the pages of A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance.
It was nearly midnight when he cut across the Sun Road to another trailhead, so intent on his goal that he nearly collided with an attractive young woman. He skidded to a stop, spraying gravel, rocks, and small twigs down the road in front of him. A pinecone dislodged and bounced along the road past her. Tall and slender, she had miles of fiery-red hair that hung down her back in a cascade of curls. Intense emerald eyes stared back at him as he attempted to regain his composure, not to mention balance. What the hell was she doing here at this time of night?
“Whoa.” She stepped lightly to the side to avoid the flying debris. “You really should watch where you’re going, especially at that speed.” Her voice scolded, but the smile on her lips teased. “Someone could get hurt.”
Thanks for stopping by to share my excitement for the cover to A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance! Please make Authors’ Secrets a regular stop for award winning, best selling authors! Don’t forget there’s only 74 days left for Christmas shopping!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Vampire's Unlikely Alliance, Christmas, fantasy, Halloween, Holidays, Ireland, magic, Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, Vampire, Witches by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
Christmas & Holiday Traditions
Fun things about Christmas is traditions. Take for instance, the Land Down Under, because, well, someday I want to visit there, just
probably not at Christmas. The English and Irish predominately settled Australia so it stands to reason their traditions reflect those countries. Aussie’s decorate their homes with ferns, palm leaves and evergreens along with blooming flowers of Christmas Bush and Christmas Bell Flower. It’s summer time in December down under, when most of the United States is looking forward to big flakes and blankets of snow for a white Christmas. Carols by Candlelight is one of the popular events in Australia. People come together under the stars at night to light candles and sing Christmas carols. Seems to me, it’s not far from our own tradition of Christmas carolers. I just can’t imagine Christmas without snow, that’s why I live in Colorado.
Because I am of Swedish descent, let’s take a peek at Christmas traditions in Sweden where in December the days are quite short, the nights 
long and the ground is usually snow-covered. The Christmas season begins at church on the first Sunday of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Children use an Advent calendar to keep track of the first day of December until Christmas, just like some of ours do. Each morning, they open a flap in the calendar’s Christmas scene to see the charming picture behind it. This year, I have a modern Advent calendar on my computer and enjoy a surprise behind each door daily.
My husband is part Native American. The European settlers had a large influence on Native American culture. The Winter Solstice has always been a reverent time for Native people all over the world during the Christmas season. It’s a time to offer gratitude, honor family and ancestors, and follow a ritual observance of beliefs. A few days before Solstice, members of various tribes create prayer sticks to honor an ancestor or native deity. They plant the sticks during a ceremony on the Solstice.
For many Native Americans, continuing cultural and historical integrity is extremely importance. Without this focus, the “old ways” would become only a memory. Therefore, many tribal members choose to combine European Christmas traditions like holiday trees and mangers with native customs including dances to honor Indian heritage as well as Christian beliefs.
As for my family’s traditions: The weekend after Thanksgiving, we put up the Christmas tree and decorations inside and out. Weather permitting. Trust me, climbing around on a wet, icy roof is not a smart idea. Our tree is not real but it looks great complete with pine cones and needles. We have artificial because I’m allergic. <sigh>
We pack everyone, pets included, in the SUV and drive around enjoying the Christmas light displays with mugs of hot cocoa in hand. Watching Christmas 
movies throughout 
December is tradition but so is making candy such as Divinity, Fantasy Fudge and Beaver Dams. What are Beaver Dams, you ask. Well, take a package of butterscotch chips, melt them in a double boiler, stir in half-package of crispy Chow Mein Noodles and one-half can of cocktail peanuts. Spoon the concoction by tablespoon full onto foil and let set. They look like beaver dams hence the name. YUMMY.
What traditions does your family observe on Christmas Eve and Day? Or during the month of December? I look forward to hearing from you.
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Posted in Holidays, My Say What Blog and tagged Christmas, Christmas Lights, Holidays, homemade candy, Traditions by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
Finding the Holiday Joy
Over the years, joy of the holiday season seems to be fading. Each year it seems harder and harder to get excited about putting up the brightly colored Christmas decorations inside and out. In search of the joy, I joined holiday blog hops, took the elf name of Twinkle Bright to participate in holiday events. Results, only a slight bump in the holiday joy meter. Huh.
Shopping, now that’s a real experience these days. Black Friday deals most of November, then the real Black Friday, Cyber Monday, harried shoppers looking for the elusive super 
bargain. It’s nuts. I shop most of year for just the right gifts, so my shopping is nearly done by the above events. One thing missing from these shopping experiences is the Christmas Cheer. Yes, I know the reason for the season, but it’s lost among the boxes, bows, and lack of goodwill toward anyone. Not to mention, the change in greeting of Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for fear of offending someone. Call me a rebel, but I still sing out Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
My hubby and I dared a visit to a big box retailer on Sunday after Black Friday. We talked with an employee there. His description, including entertaining animated gestures was blood bath, enormous crowd, grabbing, pushing, climbing over others, and shoving to get just the right popular computer watch (he worked in electronics). He buried his head in his hands on the counter at times during the discussion. We couldn’t help but laughed at his antics. Encouraged, he look up and grinned. At which time I dared to ask, “Do you have any of those second series watches left?” Wide eyed he laughed hysterically and shuffled to a locked glass case. He stared down at the one lonely box and pointed. “That’s it.” Just so happened the watch was a rose gold cased sport with a pink sand band. “Exactly what we are looking for,” I squealed. No waiting in line, no blood spilled, and the look on the clerk’s face was priceless. “Really?” He grinned wide and handed the box to us. “Fate,” he said, “Enjoy.” As we paid for our treasure, we chimed, “Merry Christmas.”
The fun of the holidays began to build with the first spark of goodwill. December 4th-17th, I am participating in Joy of the Season Blog Hop and December 5-7th Highway Café Christmas Blog Tour with prizes, giveaways, fun and games. You don’t want to miss out!
My contribution to holiday joy, A Witch’s Holiday Wedding, preorder today and it’s will be on your ipad or kindle on December 9th. A heartwarming tale of romance, family, wildlife rescue and friends with Christmas cheer and surprises.
A little about A Witch’s Holiday Wedding:
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?
Sunday, December 4th the Blog Hop Fun begins with a trip to the North Pole, elves and all.<grin> Then December 8th an update on my search for holiday joy! If that isn’t enough, we’ll explore Christmas traditions the third week of December. What restores your holiday joy?
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Posted in Holidays, My Say What Blog and tagged black friday, Christmas, Cyber Monday, Happy New Year, Holidays, Merry Christmas, Paranormal Romance, Romance, shopping by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Camping is Over the Holidays Are Here – No Place to Hide
Camping season is over, the fifth wheel is all sung in its storage space under it’s cover until next summer. Well, really early spring, I hope, weather permitting.
The holidays are careening towards us, with Thanksgiving just passed with Christmas on its bumper only a few weeks away. I did survive Gray Thursday, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but barely. Yes, my Christmas shopping is all done, no thanks to the aforementioned shopping days. 
Rather than brave the crowds, I hid in my house under mounds of Christmas decorations, deciding which ones went up first, the outside or the inside. And did all the lights still work? I stood knee deep in strands of lights and threw up my hands. Decided the weather was much too nice, grabbed my husband, dog and parrot and went for a glorious walk. To my chagrin, the elves didn’t put up the decorations, so we did it ourselves.
With the decorating chore behind us, we can concentrate on enjoying the holidays with friends and family, then try to relax. Okay, only kidding about the relaxing. Still Christmas light looking and cooking to do, a group Christmas letter to write to be included in Christmas Cards that will delight.
To everyone who read my blog this year, Thank You! I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very prosperous New Year! Join me next year for more camping adventures and a new experience as I scamper through the path of traditional publishing. My first book, a paranormal romance, is due out in 2015. I will keep you apprised of my progress and a more definite release date. BE SAFE AND ENJOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! I look forward to hearing from you next year!
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Posted in My Say What Blog, Uncategorized, What If... and tagged Adventures, Book, camping, Holidays, Paranormal, Publishing, Romance by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
