Friday the 13 & a #99cent sale
Friday, January 13th makes a few people shiver in their boots. I’m not one of those, I long ago embraced Friday the thirteenth, and all things thirteen probably because it wasn’t done in my household. My mom was the queen of superstitious. She avoided walking under ladders, tossed salt over her shoulder when she spilled some, never broke a mirror to my recollection, and would walk or drive blocks out of her way to avoid allowing a black cat to cross her path. Until that fateful day I brought home the cutest solid black kitten with the bluest eyes. Named him Panther after my high school mascot. He blessed us with his presence for twenty-two years. I miss that cat!
FYI – For those of you with inquiring minds, The irrational fear of the number thirteen has been given a scientific name: “triskaidekaphobia”; and on analogy to this the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia, from the Greek words Paraskeví (Παρασκευή, meaning “Friday”), and dekatreís (δεκατρείς, meaning “thirteen”). Yeah I more than you wanted to know. LOL
To celebrate, Friday the 13th An Angel’s Wylder Assignment is on sale for 99 cents. You can’t beat that with a witch’s hat or an angel’s halo. Talk about good luck! LOL
After you chase a black cat that cut in front of you under the ladder and avoid the shards of glass from a shattered mirror you dropped, leave your ordinary world behind. Change your luck and be swept away into a magical, romantic fantasy adventure with an angle and a shapeshifter you’ll never want to leave. You don’t even have to leave your house, download your copy today.
A little about An Angel’s Wylder Assignment:
Warrior Angel Killian Dugan’s annual trip to the family castle in Scotland is shattered by the arrival of Legion Commander North. Killian’s skills are needed for an urgent time travel assignment. A rogue demon has escaped back in time. He must discover the why and where and stop the demon before it can damage the past and change the future.
Killian’s girlfriend Chinoah Grace, a Native American shapeshifter is included in the mission which takes them to the wild west town of Wylder, Wyoming in the year 1878. She will have her hands full fitting in and making friends.
Nothing is as it seems. They encounter visions, spirit quests, and a mysterious shaman. On top of it all, blending in as a blacksmith is more physically difficult than he imagined. But not as challenging as keeping his hands off his undercover wife. Will they complete their assignment or run out of time?
Sneak peek between the pages of An Angels Wylder Assignement:
Inside the family castle in Scotland, Killian put aside his warrior angel duties and relaxed in front of a roaring fire with Chinoah, a Native American wolf shifter.
He idly swirled wine in a cut crystal glass, watching the flames glint off the burgundy liquid. It was his duty to take care of the property while his cousin, Tavish, and his family were on holiday before the highland’s harsh winter weather set in.
This year he’d be staying through the holidays, though Chinoah didn’t know it yet.
Who says a battle-ready warrior angel couldn’t handle both duty and family. Bollocks to that. His best friend, Caden, did it. Well, kinda. Legion Commander Nathanial North balanced both just fine.
He slipped an arm around Chinoah. She cuddled into him as he pulled the patchwork quilt Jalen, Tavish’s wife, had made and given them to celebrate their hard-won relationship status of dating. One step at a time, Chinoah had requested.
The brass door knocker echoed through the castle announcing visitors.
With a raised brow, he peered at Chinoah. “Expecting guests, are we?”
“Not as far as I know.” She got to her feet and padded across the stone floor.
“Wait.” Grumbling, he pushed up from the cozy warm couch, slipped his socked feet back into his boots, and clomped toward her. “Best let me answer the door since we don’t know who’s waiting on the other side.”
She slowed her pace to allow him to catch up with her. “This castle is huge. By the time we get to the door, the visitors may be gone.” She giggled.
“Way to keep in shape.” Chuckling, he kissed her. “Apparently, my cousin made the original great hall into their family living space.”
“God help us if we’re in the bed-chamber when someone comes calling.” She snickered. “We’d have to sprint down the balcony hallway, across the split staircase, and through the great hall. By then, the visitors would have decided no one was home.”
“Which could have been Tavish’s plan.” He smiled at the thought. “Besides, I didn’t hear you complain last evening when you thundered through the castle for a couple of hours on four paws.”
“That was different. My wolf needed the exercise, and you didn’t want me to go outside.” Her lips formed a pout that he found irresistible.
“Didn’t want to spring you from a trap.” He turned his attention out the window where the snow swirled in the howling wind. “Besides, who in bloody hell would be calling at this time of night and in this weather?”
She raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Only one group of individuals I know.”
“Oh, no. I’m on leave. They didn’t know where I was going. Besides, they wouldn’t expect me to be here.” The ancient wooden door groaned then made a squeeing sound when Killian yanked it open. “What in tarnation are you doing here?”
Enjoy your Friday the Thirteenth under the waning worm moon! May the luck of the Irish be with you!!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged An Angel's Wylder Assignment, Friday the 13, Historical, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Tena Stetler, Urban Fantasy, Western, Witches by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
Meringue Snowflake Magic- Sunday Snippet
This week we take a look at new release, MERINGUE SNOWFLAKE MAGIC, from the Christmas Cookie Series. #mystery #fantasy #romance. Join the #holiday #fantasy#adventure, download a copy or two today! Makes a great holiday gift. The people of Raven’s Hollow and Blaze have secrets of their own, will she discover them before it’s too late?
A little about Meringue Snowflake Magic:
After being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Wynter Dahl finds herself with a new name and new home. Whisked into the Witness Protection program she finds herself in the Podunk town of Raven’s Hollow, Colorado. She has more than one secret to keep and is not sure who she can trust, though the deputy sheriff is hard to resist.
Braydon “Blaze” Nightwing, owns Dragon Fire Pizza and takes his job as deputy sheriff seriously. He means to protect his town and its residents, including the mysterious newcomer. He rescues her after a tumble and finds himself in over his head. He senses she’s more than she seems but so is he.
When her cover is blown and her life is in danger it will take the whole town to save her and their annual holiday festival and cookie contest. What is Christmas without a little magic?
A new peek between the pages of Meringue Snowflake Magic:
After toting the last cardboard box into her new cottage in Raven’s Hollow, Colorado, she kicked the door shut with her foot and collapsed into the purple recliner. She’d bought the chair along with its matching sofa at a thrift store before falling off the grid. Both pieces of furniture were in perfect shape. She pushed the button, and the footrest came up. She sighed. Guess the color was off-putting to some. Resting her head against the soft back pillow, she glanced reassuringly at the 9mm pistol she’d taped under the coffee table next to the chair and closed her eyes for only a moment.
An insistent pounding startled her out of an impromptu nap. She kicked the footrest down and bounded out of the chair. Who the hell is at my door? A door belonging to her that no one should know existed. Silently padding to the door, she grabbed the weapon and stared out the peephole. You got to be kidding! She rubbed her eyes, peeked again, snapped the tape from under the table, and then tucked the gun in her waistband.
A large woman in a floral dress holding a basket stood on her porch. The woman peered over wire-rim spectacles at the door. Her dark hair wound up in a towering bun on top of her head. Glancing to the right, then to the left, she paused for a moment to glare at the pickup truck parked in the driveway, then pounded once more.
“Wynter Dahl, you in there?” The woman scooched to the left and peeked in the large bay window, and pressed her nose against the pane steaming the glass.
About the Author:
Tena Stetler is an internationally best-selling author of award winning paranormal tales. Some call her crazy others creative. She deals with the voices in her head by writing them down and creating a fantasy world and characters you won’t soon forget. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure, magic, and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.
Colorado is home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a fifty-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors.
Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here. Please check back next week for another Sunday Snippet!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Christmas, fantasy, Holiday, magic, Meringue Snowflake Magic, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Charm Me Again – Sunday Snippets
Welcome to Sunday Snippets. Each week I’ll spot light one of my books, tell you what’s special about it, and highlight an excerpt. Join me each week for this fun adventure. This week its the award winning Charm Me Again sequel to Charm Me a fun and flirty Valentine tale. Charm Me again is a bit darker. Two families long divided brought together through an adventure of a lifetime. Breaking the curse is only the first step to forever.
I love all my books, but Charm Me Again is one of my favorites. 
Can he break the age old curse to save her and their future, or will she be lost to him forever? AND it available in audiobook! Yep this book as it all. So lets take a peek into Charm Me Again!
For several months a Scottish Highland Ghost has haunted Daylan, in his personal life, his professional life and at his forge. Yet, being a talented warlock, he is no closer to discovering what the ghost wants or why he chose Daylan. A trip to his estranged sister’s home in Colorado may have unforeseen consequences especially when family history leads him to a shocking discovery.
As his attraction blooms for Josie, a yoga instructor in his sister’s studio, he realizes there may be more to Josie than he can imagine. When an ancient rogue Fae Warrior set on revenge kidnaps her in an attempt to claim her as his own, a devastating curse comes to light.
Daylan’s world spirals out of control as he searches for Josie. Can he break the age old curse to save her and their future, or will she be lost to him forever?
A peek between the pages of Charm Me Again.
She padded over to the window and opened it a crack. The fresh air on her skin was cool. It relieved the smothering feeling that came over her the minute Daylan left the room. Taking a cleansing breath, she braced her hands against the window frame and took another deep calming breath.
Moonlight flooded inside with a light breeze. There it was again, that pull. Something was drawing her outside. Warning bells went off inside her head. Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Despite her fear, the desire to go outside was overwhelming.
The security alarm started counting down and she quickly closed the window. Shit. No way out. Unless…There is was again, she had to get outside.
The powerful urge had her pickup her backpack, slip out the window, skitter cross the roof to the corner of the building and shimmy down. It was like she had no control over her own movements. Her brain screamed for control—to no avail then she was sprinting to her vehicle in the parking lot. Carefully she opened the door, climbed in, started the engine and slowly pulled out of the parking lot onto the street and floored it.
Suddenly a cold clammy hand closed around her throat. Nails dug into her neck. “Take a right here. Pull into the driveway and stop. Don’t turn around.”
Finally, self-preservation took over. Releasing the steering wheel, she clawed at the hand closing off her oxygen, and opened her mouth to scream. Nothing came out. Then everything when black.
Next week, stop in and find out what magical adventure I have in store for you.
Views: 146
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Charm Me Again, fantasy, ghosts, magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Tena Stetler, Time travel, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Spooktacular Haunting The Stanley Hotel & Black Monarch
One of the highest haunting in Colorado is the Stanley Hotel at an altitude of over 7, 500 feet. Bawawawa! You know the one that claims to be the inspiration for Stephen’s King’s The Shining (REDRUM – MURDER) . The Hotel was built in 1909 by Freelan and Flora Stanley of Stanley Steamer fortune. Originally, they came to Colorado in an attempt to alleviate the symptoms of Freelan’s tuberculosis. They fell in love with Colorado and purchased property and built a home. The Stanley was built as a summer resort for guests Freelan and Flora entertained during their extended vacations in Colorado.
It’s believed Flora haunts the hotel to this day, enjoying one of her favorite pastimes of playing the piano late at night when no one is around. Tales abound of visitors claiming sounds of revelry occurring in the empty ballroom. Room 217 is purported to be haunted by the ghost of a long-term housekeeper. If you gain her favor, she’ll help you unpack. If not…. Well…. It is the room allegedly occupied by Stephen King at one time. Inspiring The Shinning?
I don’t know about that, but the hair on the back of my neck stood up as I took photos of The Stanley Hotel outside in broad daylight.
Yesterday, thanks to the The Gazette and photographer, Parker Seibold, I learned of the newest haunted building in the Rocky Mountains, The Black Monarch
Hotel, 301 Victor Ave, Victor, CO., at an altitude of 9,708 feet. In the late 1800’s the Victorian building now known as The Black Monarch, was the Monarch – “the finest gentlemen’s club west of the Mississippi ” according to the new owner Adam Zimmerli. Now thanks to Adam, it pays tribute to it’s former life and legend of haunting with bone-chilling decor and seven spooky-themed rooms. Check it out at The Black Monarch Hotel website.
Want to know more about haunting places in Colorado? Click on the link.
Speaking of haunting!
Did you know, most present day Halloween traditions are traceable to the ancient Celtic day of the dead? Halloween consists of mysterious customs, but each has a history, or at least a story behind it.
Take wearing costumes, and roaming from door to door demanding treats. This behavior can be traced to the Celtic period and the first few centuries of the Christian era, when it was thought that the souls of the dead were out and about, along with fairies, witches, and demons. Offerings of food and drink were left out to placate them. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing like these creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This is where the practice of trick-or-treating began. To this day, vampires, witches, ghosts, and skeletons are among the favorite costumes.
Our Halloween also retains activities from the original harvest holiday of Samhain, such as bobbing for apples and carving vegetables, (pumpkins) as well as the fruits, nuts, and spices for cider associated with the day. Although at my house, hot chocolate is pretty popular, since Halloween almost guarantees the first snow of the year.
Looking for a fun haunting Halloween Read? A Witch’s Journey is full of meddling ghosts, shapeshifters, sexy witches, ruggedly-handsome Navy Seals. An exciting story of redemption, wildlife rescue and Halloween festivals. http://amzn.com/B01F0LRJ7U
What’s A Witch’s Journey about, you ask:
Pepper McKay comes from a long line of powerful witches. Unfortunately, magic brings her nothing but trouble. She learned the love of wildlife rescue and rehab from her Aunt Ashling. After graduating from college, Pepper works for Salem Wildlife Sanctuary and lives from paycheck to paycheck until she inherits the McKay property in Lobster Cove. With the family land and resources, she dares to dream of starting her own wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.
Lathen Quartz, a former Navy SEAL turned handyman maintains the enchanted McKay property for the McKay estate. But someone is trying to steal the McKay magic. Lathen offers to help Pepper achieve her life-long dream of building a wildlife center. During the long hours spent together on the project, their mutual attraction can’t be denied. But each harbors a deep, dark secret. Will they overcome their demons and give love a chance?
A peek between the haunting pages of A Witch’s Journey:
The waves on the pond slapped noisily against the rocky shore as the mist crawling along the ground and settling over the pond took shape. Out of the fog rose a woman dressed in a simple long indigo skirt and peasant blouse under a firm white bodice. Holding her arm was a man who wore knee-length black breeches with a long dark vest over his peasant shirt. They glided across the pond and stepped onto the shore. An audible gasp came from the ghosts, and they moved closer.
Lathen, Pepper, and her parents sat silent, eyes wide in disbelief.
“Good evening, McKay clan.” The man offered a pleasant smile and said in a deep voice reminiscent of Duncan’s, “Allow me to introduce my wife, Dusty McKay.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her forward. “I am Aidan Duncan McKay. We have taken advantage of this night to set the record straight. ’Tis true, as a young girl Dusty ran away in early 1693, after being found not guilty of witchcraft. Because in fact she was a witch, like her mother, who wasn’t so lucky and died at the hands of the Puritans. I had arrived in America from Ireland, with no family or friends. I met her shortly thereafter, we fell in love, and I asked her to be my wife. We were wed a fortnight later and drifted from place to place in what was then Massachusetts and settled in what is now Maine on this land. It looked different in my time.”
Well, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to don my vampire costume, custom fitted fangs and pull up a stool in the shadows. With a candy bowl beside me, I sneakily turn on the fog machine. Out of the mist, I’ll greet the little trick or treaters or scare the bejeebers out of the older ones with bats hanging over head and screeching on my command. Won’t you join me? Happy Halloween!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Witch's Journey, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, Urban Fantasy, wildlife rescue, Witches by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
