New York City Archives - Tena Stetler

Sep 11th Where Were You on September 11, 2001

NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: (FILE PHOTO) A fiery blasts rocks the south tower of the World Trade Center as the hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the building September 11, 2001 in New York City. Almost two years after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, the New York Port Authority is releasing transcripts on August 28, 2003 of emergency calls made from inside the twin towers. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

That’s a day that is burned in my memory for all time. I was no where closed to ground zero in New York. In fact I was 1, 775 miles away in Colorado. But the sights and sounds broadcast on the television of the planes crashing into the twin towers, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field, were still life changing. Launching America into a new consciousness, the threat of global terrorism was front and center.

I had just started a new job, I was getting ready for work when I stopped to check my email before shutting the computer down at approximately 8:00 a.m. , MDT. A friend’s email popped up with urgent on it then an IM. The message said “Turn on your television before you head to work. It’s awful, we’ve been attacked.”

I tagged him back “What? I gotta go.” But upon his insistence, I headed down stairs flipped on the television. To my horror I saw the video of the fiery blasts that rocked the World Trade Center after being hit by two planes. I’m not sure how long I stood there watching the events as they unfolded that morning. That particular scene was burned into my memory. For the first time in history, the FAA grounded all flights over or bound for United States air space. It was an eerie sound… or no sound I guess. Where I live air traffic from local airports and the numerous air force bases jets are an everyday occurrence. But the dead silence was unnerving.

Anyway, I finally tore myself from the television, got in my SUV and drove to work. There I found my boss and a few co-workers glued to the computer screens and MSNBC where World Trade Center’s North Tower collapse 102 minutes after being struck by Flight 11 was being aired. Continuous news coverage and updates at ground zero. Not much work got done that morning. I think we were all shell shocked. How could this happen? Within a couple of hours, the business owner called and told us all to go home.

Coverage continued all day and at 8:30 p.m., President Bush addressed the nation, calling the attacks “evil, despicable acts of terror” and declaring that American, it’s friends and allies would “stand together to win the war against terrorism.”

From that day forward, there was a new normal. It couldn’t happen to the United States, but it had. We’d been attacked on our on soil… so many American lives lost on that one day, through the actions of a few. A day millions will never forget.

So where were you the morning of 9/11/2001?

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged 2001, New York, New York City, September 11, Twin Towers by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.

Sep 11th September 11, 2001, A Day that Everything Changed

NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: . (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Twenty years ago, a fiery blasts rocked the south tower of the World Trade Center as the hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashed into the building September 11, 2001 in New York City. Today, one day away from the anniversary of that horrible day I sat at my computer and debated whether or not to write about it. Funny how a great many things fade from memory as the years go by. However, this event is etched in my memory as clearly today, as it was twenty years ago. I hope you don’t mind my sharing with you my thoughts and feelings on that horrible day.

I was sitting at my computer at home paying a few bills before I headed off to work at a new job and career. I’d left my paralegal job and began a new less stressful job at an electronic contracting firm. A friend’s husband, Nigel, called me and asked what was I doing. I told him. There was silence on the other end. I quickly asked if something had happened to Patti, he said um no, but I better turn on the TV before I left for work. I said okay and we hung up. Yes, it was a strange conversation.

Rather than turn on the TV, I searched the computer for the days events. I was dumbfounded when I saw the images flashing across the screen! My first thought was this wasn’t possible, not on the United States soil. This cant be happening. I closed my eyes then opened them again hoping….I don’t know what. But it was real. Then I continued to search the internet and finally turned on the TV. Reality began to sink in. Not only had we been attacked, panic rose up inside me, then turned to fear and finally anger. How could they. How could we let them. (I know irrational thought.) Next desire for retaliation. My heart was pounding out of my chest and as I write this the feeling washes over me again. So many lives lost over the last twenty years beginning with this horrific event. Yet, what have we learned? Not going there, here. Anyway, I headed off to work. We watched the events unfold on computers the first half of the day, then the boss sent us home, with pay. That’s one first day on the job I will never forget.

My thoughts, prayers, and thanks go out to the first responders at the scene on that fateful day and their families. Nothing had prepared them or us for this. Yet, they had a job to do and did it heroically. God bless them all. When I sat down here, I didn’t know what I was going to write, but the words tumbled out and somehow this has been therapeutic for me as I end my thoughts. For some reason this year the memories hit me the hardest. I can only hope that September 11th passes with profound remembrances and that’s all. NO violence. If you care to share your thoughts in the comments about where you were, how you felt, or your memories. I would be honored. God Bless America!

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged 2001, New York City, September 11, Twin Towers by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Jun 20th Interview Charlotte O’Shay Author of Their No Strings Affair

Give a warm welcome to Charlotte O’Shay, author of Their No Strings Affair released May 29, 2019

Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Charlotte and Their No Strings Affair!

What is the theme of this book?

The theme of this book and this series in fact is finding your home in another person.

This is a question or a theme in all of my books. Where do I belong? With whom do I belong? What was I put on this earth to do?

The answer is my characters belong with each other. Jake and Honey find home in each other. The story is about how they figured that out.

If this book is part of a series, how does this book and this cover fit in? This is the final book in the City of Dreams series. Each story is about people with big dreams who come to NYC because like the song says, if you can make it here, you’ll make it anywhere. There’s lots of angst, steamy scenes and black moments before the final chapters in the books.

We catch up with the characters from the other two books, Sabrina and Vlad, Lacey and Connor which was fun for me because we leave them all so happy with life.

All of the books can be read as standalones though and all of them take place in or around NYC, my hometown.

I love the cover. My idea for the cover was to show all of the possibility that exists when you first move to the big city for a job. The cover has a vintage feel because moving to a new place to pursue a career is an age old story.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books?

Great question. Most of all I want to entertain people, give them a little escape from whatever is going on in their lives. I also want them to believe in love and believe good people exist. But a reader will see that to earn a happy ending you must go through challenges that will test your character. My characters all go through tough times which makes their happily evers after even sweeter.

Do you find it easier to write from the male or female point of view?

I try to make my characters rounded enough so their conflicts, issues and motives are human rather than gender related. I have four daughters who are all very different so that supports my theory of universal rather than gender-based conflicts. I also have four brothers, four brothers in law, and four sons in law. So I’m around a lot of testosterone too. I listen. I observe.

It’s fun to turn old-school gender roles on their head if it makes sense in the story, a woman CEO, a man as a stay at home parent. But what I try to do is create male and female characters who fit like puzzle pieces, each one having strengths or traits the other needs in his/her life even though at first they may not see it that way and the inevitable clashes occur. Their careers are usually extensions of their personalities.

In my new release, Jake needs order, rules and control. He needs to make others feel safe. He’s an ex-SEAL and a security expert. He hides his tragic past behind perfect grooming and a smile.

Honey is a creative and a nurturer with a genius IQ. She sports piercings, purple hair and has zero clothing sense.

Speed Round 2

Favorite Book of all time

Of all time is a long time but so far, Angela’s Ashes

Where do you relax to read?

In a cozy chair in our living room but if the book is really good, I will stand at the kitchen counter and read when I should be cooking.

What sound drives you right up the wall?

A mosquito heading my way in the middle of the night.

What sound relaxes you?

My dog snoring at my feet.

Favorite Drink

Coffee (since I was three years old…no wonder I’m so short)

Walking in the sand, shoes or barefoot?

In the northeast, barefoot. Down south, I need something on my feet.

Favorite Pet

Dog, hands down though I’ve met some charming horses and precious cats

Snow- love or hate?

I love to hate snow in winter. But I could never live someplace where it never snowed.

Painting my nails is like nailing jello to the wall. I can’t do it at all and when the salon does it, I wreck them the same day. Just once I’d like to have nice nails…is that too much to ask?
Rock and Roll, Country, Jazz or Classical?

I like it all. I also like Celtic music and Russian and Spanish guitar. But I will say classic rock wins. The heroine in my latest story loves it because her mom does.

Calendar or not? Paper? Electronic?

I have a paper agenda book. And another paper calendar. Some things go in my phone but I like to see the list and cross stuff off it.

Favorite place to write?

Desk, kitchen counter, dining table-I have written on Amtrak with ear pods in. But never in a coffee shop. Too distracting.

What is your decadent indulgence?

Scones, brioche, bread of any kind (with butter or olive oil)

You just won $1000. And you have to spend it in 24 hours. What do you do?

First instinct, take my family out to a fabulous dinner. I might not be able to organize it in 24 hours since some live in different states. Another idea: I would spend some of it on books…and with the rest, treat my husband to a romantic seaside weekend at an inn on the coast.

Plotter or Pantser?

Definitely a combination. I need an outline, and I need to know who my characters are inside out, then I begin writing.

Introvert or extrovert?

Introvert

Flight or Fight

If my family needed me I would fight my strong instinct to flee (if that makes any sense).

Favorite Monster

Cookie Monster

Magic or Not?

Yes, magic! We all have a little magic in us.

I couldn’t agree more. Now tell me a little about Their No Strings Affair! (Love that title)

Honey packs everything she owns and heads to NYC to jumpstart her art career. Her cheating boyfriend is history, and she finally acknowledges the truth of her mother’s mantra: Careers are forever and happily ever after isn’t in their DNA.

All she needs is a job and a place to live. What she doesn’t need is a taciturn, sexy, ballbuster but she’s woman enough to know the difference between need and want. Isn’t she?

Jake’s childhood was marred by tragedy and his future hijacked to a promise born of guilt. His failure drove him to a career as a SEAL and a security expert.
But it’s not enough. Now he’ll give up his freedom in reparation for the life he lost. Honey may be the last sweet stop on the road to a joyless future. If it’s what they both want, where’s the harm in a no-strings affair?

Buy links for Their No-Strings Affair

Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon AU Nook IBooks Google play Kobo

A peek between the pages of Their No String Affair.

He tossed his shirt on the chair, then froze when he heard the faint sound over the white noise of the hotel’s piped-in music. A slight rustle through the thick wood of the bathroom door. He pushed back a step toward the armoire to get into position, then in one fluid motion, grasped and cocked the pistol he slid from the holster strapped to his right ankle.

The door opened as he leveled the gun, chest high at the opening.

Her mouth gaped, and a wild shriek issued in the short seconds it took him to uncock the pistol, push it into his waist, take one long stride to reach her, and shove his hand over her open mouth.

“What the hell?” Her muffled words tickled the palm of his hand, and heat flooded his chest as electricity ran in a hotwire from his hand to the tease of her soft lips against his skin.

Jake, pull your shit together!

“Damn right, what the hell! What the hell are you doing here?”

She was slippery as an eel as she jerked back and forth to get out from under the arm pressed across her chest from shoulder to shoulder and the hand covering her mouth. She wasn’t at all concerned he had a gun or with his superior strength, he could do serious damage to her without breaking a sweat.

Or maybe she was well aware what froze him in a cold sweat was the shock of seeing a fantasy come to life. There was nothing imaginary about the round little ass pressed against his body and the precarious state of the towel that was about to slide off her. She squirmed, and a torrent of curses flew out of her mouth against his hand. Yeah, she was in a temper all right, but so was he. Because this person, this woman, who had trouble written all over her, was back again. Somehow, angry and aroused as he was, somewhere deep in his gut, he knew. The rest of his life would be divided into the time before he met her and the time since.

“Stop. Right now. I have a weapon.” He put his lips a breath away from the delicate shell of her ear. Kept his voice low but didn’t disguise the snarl in it. “If I take my hand off your mouth, you shut up. I ask the questions and you answer. Got it?”

The spiky roadrunner head bobbed up and down. “Okay.” He lifted his hand slowly.
She stepped away from him, and right away her hands jumped up to tighten the towel around her body. She jerked her chin up, keeping silent as instructed, but her lips pressed into a determined line, and her dark chocolate eyes sparked outrage.

By now he didn’t even find it weird the emotion showing strongest in her eyes was indignation. Nor did he wonder his strongest desire was not to find out how or why she’d gotten in here. Nope. His hands itched to remove that towel. His jaw tightened, and the rest of his body hardened into painful readiness. He forced out a harsh breath, unclenched his fists. Searched for logic.

About the Author of Their No Strings Affair:

Author Charlotte O’Shay was born in New York City into big family and then married into another big family.

Negotiating skills honed at the dinner table led her to a career in the law.

But after four beautiful children joined the crowded family tree, Charlotte traded her legal career to write about happily ever afters in the City of Dreams.

Charlotte loves to challenge her heroines and heroes with a crisis and watch them figure out who they are while they fall in love.

Social Media Links:

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It was a blast having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Their No Strings Affair!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Charlotte O'Shay, Contemporary Romance, New York City, Their No Strings Affair by Tena Stetler with 17 comments.