Things to be Thankful For – Thankful Author Tena Stetler
What am I thankful for? This year has been a year of discovery for me and I am thankful. I’ve discovered that watching the news is not necessarily a good thing. Terrorists, bombs, wild fires, floods, hurricanes (3 back to back) Whew!
I’m thankful, of course, for the roof over my head, food in my cupboards as well as family and friends. That goes without saying, but I’ll put it out there anyway!
Recently I rented a booth at the Body, Mind & Spirit Expo (metaphysical fair) in Colorado Springs to expand my readership. With this came the opportunity to give a forty-five minute lecture. I chose to talk about why the world needs romance and why I write it. It had been decades since I stood up in front of an audience and spoke. I’m thankful I made it through the speech mostly unscathed.
I’m also thankful I reached a lot of readers that were interested in my genre of books and I was the only author at the Expo. How cool is that? Witches, Demons, Shapeshifters, Angels and Vampires were right up their alley. The people attending the expo ranged from teens to elderly, all genders. In the three day expo, I’d broadened my audience exponentially and had a wonderful time to boot. I will be returning next year!
I’m extremely thankful to be living my dream. A dream made possible by my supportive, extraordinary husband of many moons, and The Wild Rose Press, my amazing publisher. My editor, well, let’s just say…she rocks! I’m thankful for the helpful, supportive authors of The Wild Rose Press! They are always willing to pick you up when you’re down and do the happy dance over your successes. Bless the hearts of my wonderful readers, I am so thankful for them!
Finally, a day never passes without my thanks to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces whose dedication keeps our great nation free. (Comes from living in a military town all my life & marrying a soldier.) We are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may not agree with me, but that’s what is great about this nation. You don’t have to. I’m entitled to my own opinion, as are you. I can write books on any topic I choose without fear of a midnight knock on my door or being carted away. Unless of course our characters come to life, then we are all in trouble. ROFLOL
While I have a lot more to be thankful for, those are the biggies. I wish you all love, laughter, romance and a Happy Thanksgiving!
Little About A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance, Release date November 29, 2017
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 unravelling secrets and returning the magic? And even more importantly, will their love survive the trip?
A Peek Between the Pages of A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance – A different vampire tale.
The sun slid behind the mountains, 
setting the azure sky ablaze in hues of red, orange, yellow, and pink. Then red shifted to purple and dusk faded to darkness as he jogged toward the trails. She stood leaning against the rock where he had started his run last night. He’d tried to convince himself to stay away, but in the end, the urge was too strong.
In a whisper of movement, he was at her side with his hand on the rock just above her shoulder. “Waiting for someone? Brandy, is it?” The scent of warm, perfumed female skin wafted over him as he leaned into her.
“It took you long enough, Mr. Talltree.” Her full lips formed a slight pout as she lifted her chin and tilted her face up to meet his. “Nice to see you again.”
There was no hesitation or apprehension in her lovely features as he moved closer, placing his other hand next to her left shoulder, effectively pinning her against the rock. He wanted to wrap his arms around her lithe, warm body and brush his lips over her sexy pout. But he thought better of it, not wanting to scare her off…not yet.
“Yes, it is.” He let his gaze wander leisurely up and down her luscious body. “Didn’t your mother warn you about the dangers of stalking a stranger at night in the park alone?”
Available at
Amazon Amazon UK , Amazon AU, itunes and Barnes & Noble.
Release date November 29, 2017! Just in time for Christmas. Reserve your copy today!
Bio:
Tena Stetler is a paranormal romance and cozy mystery author with an over-active imagination. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, Tena sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of paranormal creatures telling her their tales. Colorado is her home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-year-old box turtle.
Any winter evening, you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them.
Contact Information:
One last think I am Thankful for, Everyone that has enjoyed my blogs this year and hope you’ll continue into the new year!!! Have a Happy Thanks Giving!! Eat lots of turkey and pumpkin pie then take a walk around your neighborhood.
**This post was originally part of Angela Hayes’ Thankful Author Series. If you’d like to read more of the fun and interesting Thankful Author’s Series click on the link.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged family, Friends, Military, Romance, Thankful, Thanksgiving, writing by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview with C.L. Wilson Author of The Sea King
Give a warm welcome to C.L. Clark, author of The Sea King, book two of the Weather Mages of Mystral
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron, a Bat Wing Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out about C.L. Wilson and The Sea King.
Tell us what inspired this particular story?
I actually had no idea I was going to write THE SEA KING until I got to the end of THE WINTER KING (the first Weathermages of Mystral book) and met Dilys Merimydion. He just showed up and leapt off the pages, demanding his own story. Then he worked out an agreement with Khamsin, helping her defeat the Ice King in exchange for her welcoming him and his men to Wintercraig to court potential wives.
When I was first sitting down to write his book, I thought Autumn was going to be his bride, but as I started brainstorming the plot and the characters, I realized I was wrong. Summer, who I thought was a sweet, gentle little doormat, took one look at Dilys and said, “um, no. He’s mine.”
Do you see yourself in your characters?
Actually, I don’t. My characters are their own people. What I do do is work hard to understand them, to understand how they feel and how/why they react to certain people and situations. (If I don’t understand it, I can’t write it.) While I’m writing a character’s story, I’m taking the same journey they are, being just as surprised as they are, feeling just as emotional as they do. I cannot plot what obstacles they are going to encounter, and I can’t determine how they’re emotionally going to react to something until it’s upon them, and even then, how they react is based on everything that’s come before, so I can’t do too much writing out of sequence without a ton of revisions.
Basically, my characters let me step outside of myself and be someone else for a while. I imagine it’s pretty similar to how method actors feel when they’re deep in a role.
Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?
My ideas come from all over the place. I was driving down the road a couple of weeks ago, listening to Hell on Heels, and got a story idea. Sometimes I dream about stories (but that’s usually only about something I’m currently writing). In that case, yes, I have to get up and write it down else I might forget it. Sometimes I’ll read a book, and the feeling a particular scene or character gives me makes me sit up and take notice. Then I play around with that feeling in my head, looking for ways to explore that feeling in my own way.
Most of the time, I’ll have some half-baked kernel of an idea, then I call up my brainstorming buddies, the Starfish Club, and they help me turn my half-baked ideas into something more viable. Lord love ‘em.
Why do you write what you write? Contemporary, paranormal, suspense, etc.
I write epic fantasy romance. Well, that’s primarily what I publish. I have WIPs and unpublished/unfinished manuscripts in contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal/futuristic romance. I usually write romance of some kind, and I generally prefer to write stories that have some sort of magic or supernatural element in them. The romance is because I love the emotional connection and all the excitement, passion, and drama of finding and falling in love. The fantasy/paranormal is because I love world-building, love figuring out “if people could do this (insert magical/preternatural ability) how would they use it? How would that ability change who they are/what they’re like/how they behave?” Hey, if I’m going to play make-believe and tell a story, why not go all out and just have fun with all manner of imagination?
Lanier and Lake Allatoona. When she wasn’t waterskiing and camping on family vacations, you could usually find her with a book in one hand and a sketch pad in the other—either reading, writing stories, or drawing.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged C.L. Wilson, Paranormal, Romance, The Sea King, Weather Mages of Mystral by Tena Stetler with 1 comment.
Barbra E. Ross, Author of A Mortal Indiscretion
Give a warm welcome to Barbra E. Ross, author of A Mortal Indiscretion – A Justin and Ambra Series – book one!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron. Take your choice of a bat wing Chocolate Chip or Pumpkin, or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Barbara E. Ross and her A Mortal Indiscretion – The Justin and Ambra Series, book one. Be sure to read to the bottom and enter the rafflecopter giveaway!
Everything unravels in Justin’s world. Although Ambra is a vampire, she is the vulnerable one of the two characters, providing a refreshing twist on standard tales. She is not waiting for her prince to come save her on his white horse. She simply desires love, to feel human love again and will do anything to protect the love of Justin.
When Justin discovers the truth about who and what she is, will he still love her? Will he still want her? Find out, as their hearts collide in this epic tale of love.
A peek between the pages of A Mortal Indiscretion – The Justin and Ambra Series
“Why did you not give her a chance? Then maybe you would be…”
“She isn’t you. No one makes me feel like you do. No one,” I said and she looked over at me.
“You still believe that? After all I have put you through? After all I have done?”
“Yes. I believe it. I know it.”
“But you must realize, that I am not what you thought I was. Don’t you?”
“Yes. I know that.”
“But, I do not understand. Does it not upset you?” she asked.
“Yes. It upsets me. But you owe me the truth, and you are going to tell me the truth now, right? No more lies?”
“Yes Justin. And then, maybe you will go running to that girl. Maybe you should go after her right now. There may still be a chance.”
“No. I don’t run away. That is your thing.”
She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, naked. She turned her back to me. I looked at her back, so sexy. Shoulders strong and defined. She had her arms across her chest. She knew I was going to ask the questions. I think she was mentally preparing herself for the blows.
“Go ahead Justin. Ask.”
“First of all… You’re not gonna tell me that you have to work in the morning, are you? Because I ain’t falling for that shit anymore,” I said. It just slipped out of my mouth. Like I didn’t have a filter between my brain in my mouth.
“No. I suppose you would not.” She turned to look at me.
“And you are staying here with me, right? I am going to have the pleasure of your company during the day? Right?” I pressed, as I felt my anger rising.
“Yes, I will stay. But I cannot go out with you during the day. You will have to keep the shades drawn. It is just not that simple to explain.” She kept her head down as she spoke these words.
“Fine. I can handle that. Tell me, what exactly would happen if I did open the shades Ambra?”
“I would burn up and die,” she stated, flatly.
“What are you Ambra? Are you ready to tell me to my face now?” I was insistent. “Because I really need to know.”
“I am…” She started and then, she became silent again.
“Say it, dammit! I want to hear you say it to me,” I was really getting pissed.
“I am a monster,” she whispered.
“What? What kind of monster? You tell me God dammit!” I yelled.
“A vampire,” she said it so quietly, keeping her back to me.
“You turn around and say it to my face. You have kept this from me for so long. I want you to look me in the eye! I deserve it!” I grabbed her shoulders as I yelled at her. She turned to me, tears flowing down her cheeks.
“Justin, I am a vampire.”
It was spooktacular having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with A Mortal Indiscretion – The Justin and Ambra Series, book one. Happy Halloween!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Mortal Indescretion, Barbar E. Ross, Paranormal, Romance, romantic suspense, The Justin and Ambra Series, Vampire by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
At Last in Laguna by Claire Marti
Give a warm welcome to Claire Marti, author of At Last in Laguna! Just released October 18, 2017. I see you brought a guest with you.
Yes, I’ve brought Brandt Dempsey from At Last in Laguna.
Wonderful! Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron, a Bat Wing Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Brandt Dempseey and At Last in Laguna. But first Claire, tell us about writing At Last in Laguna. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?
Actually, this story, my second novel, almost wrote itself. Alyssa and Brandt were percolating under the surface all through Second Chance in Laguna, so I was eager and ready to write their story. I had strong visions of both of them, but they surprised me a few times too. I’d call myself half-plotter/ half-pantster. I need to have a story arc with the major turning points, which can be fluid. I start with the characters. I know the lessons I want each character to learn and how they’ll need to grow in order to earn their happily ever after.
Okay then, lets find out about what makes Brandt tick.
What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you?
I’m very private about my past, but I’m working on making peace with it, so I’ll share with you. Most people don’t know, but my parents were abusive addicts and my early childhood was brutally tough. When they died, I ended up on the streets and in the foster care system. Luckily, I met my “Uncle John,” a Good Samaritan who helped me get off the street and into school. His kindness and generosity are why I’m here today.
What do you most value?
Loyalty. I don’t have a family, except for the few close friends and Uncle John so, I’ll fiercely protect them and stay true to them no matter what.
What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with?
I’ll be honest, I never pictured myself in a long-term relationship. I’ve purposefully kept my dating life on the casual level because I’m not marriage material. If I could describe the perfect woman, she’d be intelligent, funny-as-hell, and gorgeous inside and out. Okay, I just described my best friend’s little sister, Alyssa. She’s the marrying type.
What do you consider most important in life?
Making a mark by helping others have a chance at a better life. My new center, Tearmann House, means safe haven in Gaelic. It’s going to be a place where abused women and children who aren’t receiving the assistance they need from the system can find refuge.
What is your biggest secret?
At Nick and Sophie’s wedding, Alyssa took me aside, kissed me, and suggested we have an affair while her brother heads off to his honeymoon. She shocked me and now I can’t fight these feelings she’s unleashed. Nick can’t find out: he asked me to act like a surrogate big brother while he’s gone.
Oh, boy I’d say you’re in deep dodo, Brandt.
How about a little about At Last in Laguna!
Alyssa Morgan has secretly been in love with her older brother Nick’s best friend, Brandt Dempsey, since she was an awkward, lonely teenager. When she catches the bouquet at Nick’s wedding, she throws caution to the wind and propositions Brandt to a two-week fling. He’s tried to ignore how Alyssa has blossomed into a strong, talented, gorgeous woman because as his best friend’s baby sister, she’s off limits.
After they share a mind-blowing kiss, Brandt struggles to fight their undeniable chemistry. His tragic childhood scarred him, but he pushes it deep inside, only allowing the world to see a wealthy, carefree entrepreneur. Forced to work together on Brandt’s latest charitable venture, Brandt and Alyssa’s passion cannot be denied. Alyssa knows he’s the one. Can she convince him they belong together?
A sneak peek between the pages of At Last in Laguna.
What was his deal this morning?
She’d give him the cold shoulder if it killed her.
And it just might.
He’d rejected her, so why was he opening doors, hovering, and acting like a pest? Practically breathing down her neck. She could swear he’d sniffed her. Sniffed her. He couldn’t conceal his awareness. If he were so attracted to her, he would’ve agreed to her proposition, right? Since he’d shot her down in flames, he could at least have the decency to ignore her today. Rude, infuriating man.
Inhaling a deep cleansing breath, she forced herself to concentrate on the center. Sunlight streamed through the abundance of windows and along with the high ceilings imparted a feeling of freedom and space, perfect for the planned occupants. Because they’d decided to wait to obtain her input for the more specific room layout, the building’s interior remained a shell. She’d add to her brother’s amazing design and ensure Tearmann House’s beauty and serenity.
Serenity. What a concept. Ha.
You can find At Last in Laguna at:
Amazon, The WIld Rose Press, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and ibooks.
About the Author:
Claire Marti started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.
Finally, Claire followed her heart and now focuses on two of her true passions: writing romance and teaching yoga. At Last in Laguna is the second book in her Finding Forever in Laguna series from The Wild Rose Press.
More about Claire:
Website: www.clairemarti.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaireMartiAuthor/
Twitter: @clairepmarti
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8203678.Claire_Marti
It was wonderful having you both with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Congratulations and good luck with your new release At Last in Laguna!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged At Last in Laguna, Claire Marti, Contemporary, Romance, Wedding by Tena Stetler with 18 comments.
