Where Are the Heart-Felt Words?
I’m a writer. That’s what I do, I write. I’ve spun tales since I was old enough to read and put Crayola to paper. With my vivid over active imagination, I’m never at
a loss for a magical story. The tricky part is keeping it interesting and flowing from beginning to end. Over the past couple of months, there’s been family crisis in my world requiring trips to California. See https://www.tenastetler.com/death-clean-warning/
While I’d never had real life disrupt my writing, it did this time – big time. The words didn’t come as easily. Now this wasn’t “writer’s block”, the ideas were still there, but the continuity was not — making my current work in progress difficult to finish.
I barely made my weekly word count, but my heart just wasn’t in the words. Self-doubt danced around the edges of my mind. Was it the recent chaos in my life or was the well running dry?
The family drama has settled down, the loose ends are still running amuck, but we’ll get them tamed. The coughing crud I brought back with me from California is getting better. I’m getting rested up and feeling more me. Scary thought, huh? Wow what a difference that makes.
Literature Symbol. Old inkstand near scroll on canvas background
Yesterday the words were back in abundance. Yippee! My story is back on track and racing toward the finish line. I’ll make that dead line. I hope.
I put these words to paper—Or I guess actually it’s to screen so others will know there is always a light at the end of that dark tunnel. Sometimes you just have to wait for the ray of light, but it’s there lurking. That’s tough for me
as I’m the impatient sort. Well, it’s time to delve back into my next book in the awarding winning Demon’s Witch Series before the characters take off in the wrong direction…again. Have a delightful and productive week.
Next week we’ll discuss — not sure yet but it will be fascinating, I guarantee it! Until then, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do… that leaves a plethora of things open for discovery. <outrageous grin>
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged author, Demon's Witch Series, magic, Romance, writing by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Elves Christmas Celebration in the Red Barn
Welcome to the Highway Cafe Christmas Blog Tour. Come celebrate each day from December 4-8, visit new blogs along the tour for fun, prizes, recipes, and holiday tales.
It’s rumored that Santa has given the elves a night off before the big day to reward their hard work. To verify these speculations we scramble up the ladder outside the big red barn, climb into the hay loft to peer down. Sure enough the elves have gathered to party the night away beneath the white snowflake lights that cast a magical aura over the celebration.
We spy Twinkle Bright elf settled in a chair, her feet tucked in fuzzy red otter slippers propped on a large hay bale. She’s dressed in red jeans and green Christmas sweater with the words “Santa’s Team” 
emblazoned across the front. Her hands are wrapped around a large mug of steaming hot chocolate (her own secret recipe), overflowing with whipped cream and marshmallows as she sings Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer at the top of her lungs. Several elves are dancing around the huge Christmas tree which is decorated with strings of popcorn and cranberries. Bubble lights bubble merrily beside the twinkling lights and shiny baubles on the tree. Brightly colored packages, tied with ribbons and bows are stacked under the evergreen.
Just as Twinkle Bright set her mug on the floor, another elf rushes over and grabs her hand and tugs her to her feet.
“Lets dance.”
The plate with a piece of Fantasy Fudge flys off Twinkle Bright’s lap and crashes to the floor. “Look what you’ve done,” she squeals.
“Sorry.” The elf waves his hand in the direction of the mess, the dish repairs itself, the fudge returns to the plate and hovers in the air in front of Twinkle Bright’s face. “Okay the five second rule applies.” A wide grin spread across his face.
“Not even.” Twinkle Bright narrowed her eyes at him. “New piece of fudge (her famous recipe) on a clean plate.” She snapped her fingers.
“Yeah, yeah… after the dance.” He spun her onto the dance area the reflection from the white snowflake lights shimmer in her copper hair. Her red/green elf hat with twinkling multicolored lights sprinkled on it, bells on the tip flew across the room and smacked Goth Elf in the face. Strains of the Jingle Bell Rock shook the barn. After the dance, Twinkle Bright retrieved her hat as her elfin partner brought over two pieces of Fantasy Fudge on a festive holiday plate. She bit into a piece and closed her eyes. “Hmmmmm.”
“This is a great reward for a job well done.” Her elfin friend commented.
Twinkle Bright nodded in agreement. “Best job in the world.”
Recipe for Fantasy Fudge.
3 cups white sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add all ingredients to list
Directions
- Grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- Mix sugar, margarine, and evaporated milk in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Bring mixture to a full boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and thoroughly combined. Beat in marshmallow creme, add nuts if you like, and vanilla extract. Pour fudge mixture into the prepared pan and let cool before cutting into squares.
Leave a comment here, like my author facebook page and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $10.00 Amazon gift card, to be awarded at the end of the tour., December 11th. If you’re a fan of paranormal romance, sign up for my quarterly newsletter.
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Click on the cover to read more or buy.
Just in time for Christmas: A VAMPIRE’S UNLIKELY ALLIANCE–Not what you’ve come to expect from a Vampire Tale! Exciting romantic fantasy where vampires and gryphons, warlocks and demons, witches and faeries work together for the survival of man and magic kind alike. But will their intervention be too late? Just in time for Christmas.
A little more 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 unravelling secrets and returning the magic? And even more importantly, will their love survive the trip?
Available at: Amazon Amazon UK , Amazon AU, itunes, The Wild Rose Press and Barnes & Noble.
For more fun Christmas tales, recipes and giveaways follow the rest of the tour listed below:
December 4
Holland Rae – https://hollandrae.com/
Susanne Matthews – https://mhsusannematthews.wordpress.com/
Sorchia DuBois – www.sorchiadubois.com
Mariah Lynne –
December 5
Tena Stetler – https://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/
Maureen Bonatch – http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/
Peggy Jaeger – https://peggyjaeger.com/
Barbara Burke – https://barbaraburkeauthor.wordpress.com/
December 6
Kelly Kalmanson – http://kkweil.blogspot.com
M.S. Spencer – http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com
Hywela Lyn – www.hywelalyn.blogspot.com
Reggi Allder – https://reggiallder.blogspot.com/
December 7
Denyse Bridger – http://www.fantasypages.ca
Clair de Lune – https://clairdelunebooks.co.uk/
Karen Blake-Hall – https://kaydenclaremont.wordpress.com/
Casi McLean – http://casimclean.com/a-christmas-to-remember/
December 8
Darlene Fredette – http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com
Daryl Devore – http://daryldevore.blogspot.ca
Gini Rifkin – http://ginirifkin.blogspot.com
Linda Carroll-Bradd – http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged A Vampire's Unlikely Alliance, Christmas, Elves, Highway Cafe Blog Hop, Highway Cafe Christmas Tour 2017, magic, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Twinkle Bright by Tena Stetler with 23 comments.
Halloween -Witch’s Eternal by Bri Clark
Give a warm welcome to Bri Clark, author of Witch’s Eternal, soon to release on October 31, 2017! Be sure to read to the end and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron, a bat wing Chocolate Chip or Pumpkin, or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate. Let’s find out a little about
Three Halloween Points to Consider from a Psychic Medium
There’s a tingle in the air when leaves are changing, even electricity. This transition of the seasons is energetic and has a grand effect on people. For example, the pumpkin spice craze. That’s not just marketing that’s energy. Believe me I should know.
Hi, my name is Bri Clark, I’m an author, marketer and a psychic medium. And you are one of the first people to hear me say that in a written public forum. My deepest gratitude goes to you for taking the time to read these words. With that said, I’m going to share with you some things about spirits, Halloween, and energy that you may not have put together.
- Like Begets Like: When we start getting toward Halloween then you start seeing an increase of shows and media around the paranormal. Usually it’s the scary that sells the best. You don’t have to be afraid of spirits. But if you are and you surround yourself with that feeling by continuing to entertain the fear it’s just going to get worse. You are going to attract what you fill you time seeking. Call it entertainment or not it’s the law of attraction in play.
- There are ghosts everywhere. You can’t escape them. They are at the gas station, the Walmart, the field outback and even in the latest sky scraper. Are they strong enough or even motivated enough to haunt? It depends. But usually not. As someone who is a medium I can turn up and down my ability to see and hear them. You may be saying what does that have to do with me? It has everything to do with you. If you feel your space invaded by energy you don’t want tell it to go! Say it with gusto and passion. It’s your home. Take it back! It’s that easy. You can add ceremony or sage or whatever you want but the two main ingredients is you and your conviction. So take your space back.
- Harvest a new energy. Far before the time of Trick or Treating and The Blair Witch fall was about the harvest. Bringing in the crops, preparing for winter, and celebrating all the fruits of the labor from the summer. Instead of nurturing a time of scares and fear how about nurturing the feeling of the harvest. Research the history of autumn. Look up old folk lore and traditions and start to create your own. Believe me you’ll feel amazing and others will feel better from your example too. You may already have some in place.
Speaking of new traditions perhaps you’ll want to start a new book. I have one I could suggest, Witch’s Eternal. It’s an amazing story of love, pain, magic, community, family and rising to one’s potential.
A Peek between the pages of WItch’s Eternal!
Lucien heard the intake of her breath, and then the soft pads of her steps approach him. He’d not wanted to ask for help but desperately needed it. The wound in his arm shifted between extreme pain to numbness. Both were equally bad and drained his energy. He knew exactly where she had hid. If the pain wasn’t so bad, he would’ve smiled. He was impressed with her stealth. Attempting a deep breath, he looked up to see what quality of wench lived among these woods. She would have to be single—most likely homely at best. No husband would live here much less allow his wife to wander these woods alone. She would become enchanted with him. Mortal women always did and it ended with their broken hearts—which is why he avoided mortals entirely.
An eternal, especially a clan leader, could not connect themselves romantically to a lesser being. To ensure the continuation of the species of purebloods it was why eternals only procreate with eternal. This fact reminded him of Alastair’s betrayal, adding to his pain.
He reluctantly raised his eyes to inspect her. His breath caught. Thick raven dark locks framed an ivory face with flame red lips, while empathetic emerald eyes surveyed his condition. Wearing a white peasant’s dress, she appeared ethereal moving toward him through the mist. His breath came out in a rush, and his pulse seemed to scream within his skull. Without a word she positioned herself under his bad shoulder and bore his weight. He was astonished a body so small could hold him up. Silently she guided him along. He asked her no questions putting all his energy into moving. The pain was good though. It meant the liquid silver hadn’t been released encasing him in a frozen prison.
The scent of plants he hadn’t encountered in years quickly assaulted his nose. Then the source came into view—a small cottage surrounded by herbs. That’s when it all came into perspective. The woman was a witch, and one of the ancient arts. He stiffened with the realization. She looked up at him with luminous green eyes framed by thick lashes with nothing but concern. He considered he might be wrong. His internal alarm had not sounded. Nevertheless, he’d seen ghastly things done by witches and their herbs, especially the three-prominent species framing her stoop. The pain of the silver arrowhead imbedded in his stiffened muscles and screamed in protest and all his previous thought became a blur.
I want to thank my host,Tena of Authors’ Secrets for having me today. If you want to connect with me further my social media links and website links are below.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Witch’s Eternal!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged ghosts, Halloween, magic, Paranormal, Romance, Witches by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
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.
