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

I think the secret is to keep writing. If you’re stalled writing your novel, write something shorter, like a novella or short story. Or if that’s too much, a blog post, or even a journal entry. Maybe try writing in a different genre, not necessarily for publication, but simply for fun. I believe the secret is to not quit writing entirely because that breaks the habit and makes it much harder to pick it up again. And do whatever you can to bring back the fun and excitement of writing again.

Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?

That’s a little like asking who’s my favorite child! I love all my characters; when you spend so much time with them, they become dear to you. I admire both Lauren and Cole from CHILD OF MINE for their perseverance in never giving up on love. But I do have some favorites from other books as well. I don’t write Alpha heroes often, but oddly, two of my all-time favorite heroes are take-charge, stubborn Alphas. Cameron Hainstock in SECRETS AND SOLACE, book 2 in my Love at Solace Lake series, is a man who’s had his share of set-backs and heartaches. He’s been let down by love before and he’s wary. He can be gruff and blunt and distrusting. But he also has a huge capacity to love. He adores his five-year-old daughter Tessa and is a wonderful, loving father to her. He’s a loyal, protective (some would say over protective) brother to his siblings. And he’s stronger than he believes. Even though he’s struggled with alcohol in the past, and he’s worried he’ll fail again, love will give him strength.

My other favorite hero (also an Alpha) is Zane Martin in A LONG WAY FROM EDEN. Zane is also one of those (over) protective types. He’s been a single father for years, and when his eighteen-year-old daughter Erin becomes pregnant, he insists that she and her twenty-year-old boyfriend marry. He never knew his father and he doesn’t want that for his grandchild. But despite being stubborn and proud, he’s a tender father and grandfather, and a wonderful son. Zane looks after the people he loves, sometimes even when they don’t want him to. But even when he makes mistakes, he does it out of love.

What inspired you to write? and How long have you been writing?

I’ll answer these two questions together. I was inspired to write by reading romance novels and thinking “I could do that.” Ha! Little did I know! I’ve been attempting to write since the early 1990s. I say ‘attempting’ because those first efforts weren’t ready for publication. I discovered I had a lot to learn. I got really serious about learning my craft and writing for publication in the mid 2000s, and my first novel, HER BEST MAN, was published in 2007. Apparently, I needed a long apprenticeship!

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 didn’t tell anyone I was writing for a long time, not even my husband. For a while I only wrote when he was at work. I think I felt like everyone would say “Who do you think you are, thinking you can write a book?” When I finally did tell my husband, he was like “Great.” It wasn’t the big deal I’d made it out in my head! I talk more about my writing now, but usually only if someone else brings it up first. My fondest wish is to make enough money with my writing to treat my husband to a few luxuries. As he says, he would love to be a “kept man”. And I would dearly love to keep him! He’s been patient and supportive for a very long time and deserves to be treated.