A Magic Redemption Spooktacular by Tena Stetler
A Magic Redemption a Spooktacular Halloween read!
Most Haunted Cities in America
it’s autumn the cool fall days are perfect for a walk on America’s dark side. With the approach of Halloween, it’s natural for our thoughts to conjure up ghosts, goblins, and all things that go bump in the night. Bloody battles, shady shanghaiing practices, cities built over burial grounds, and natural disasters have left behind an unsettled past in towns throughout our country. What better place to start than….
Salem, MA
Salem is best known for the witch trials of 1692 where mass hysteria led to more than 200 people being accused of practicing witchcraft, and ultimately 20 innocent people were executed. The tragedy has led to Salem becoming synonymous with witches and the city has embraced their history by preserving artifacts in museums and offering tours to educate visitors. The Witch House, The Salem Witch Museum, The Bewitched Statue and Witch Trials Memorial to name a few. Yep, it’s on my bucket list to spend Halloween in Salem MA. How about you?
Baltimore
Several nation-shaping events have played out on Baltimore’s historic streets: the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Hundreds of years of lost lives and the spirits that remain make the Fells Point area popular among ghost trackers. Guided tours through the maritime neighborhood take you to taverns, shops, and restaurants where things go bump in the night.
Galveston, Texas
When the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 struck, some 8,000 lives were lost—about 6,200 more fatalities than in New Orleans’ devastating Hurricane Katrina. Galveston’s was the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, and ghost hunters say most of the town’s spirits linger in its storied harbor and Victorian mansions. If that doesn’t give you goosebump, I don’t know what will, unless of course it’s Marie Laveau, the voodoo queen. Which brings us to…
New Orleans
Not much, it seems, separates the living from the dead in New Orleans. Because the town is below sea level, tombs sit above ground in the 42 cemeteries within city limits. Ghosts from the War of 1812 still hang around the French Quarter. And visitors to the grave of a prominent 1800s voodoo queen continue to leave offerings and ask for help.
Gettysburg, Pa.
During the most tragic battle of the Civil War, about 51,000 soldiers were killed or injured in and around Gettysburg. There was so much spilled blood on the floors of churches and schools (used as makeshift hospitals) that drainage holes had to be drilled in the floors. Baltimore Street downtown and Hospital Road in the countryside are purported hotspots for spirits with unfinished business.
Savannah, Ga.
Savannah may look like a sweet Southern belle, but she keeps a dark secret. The city was built, literally, on its dead. Homes and buildings sit atop Native American burial grounds; roads cover forgotten cemeteries of slaves and colonialists. Over the years, bloody battles, massive fires, yellow-fever epidemics, and hurricanes have taken hundreds of lives, leaving behind unsettled spirits.
Chicago
It was here, on Valentine’s Day, 1929, that seven men were lined up against the wall of a garage at 2122 North Clark Street and gunned down by Al Capone and his Prohibition-era gangsters. Strange mists, screams, and machine gun sounds have all been experienced at the site; other local gangster hideaways and crime scenes are also said to be haunted.
Portland, Ore.
Beneath the cobblestoned streets of Portland’s Old Town lies the legend of the Shanghai Tunnels, passageways that swirl with dark tales and hauntings. As the story goes, men who came to Portland to work—sailors, loggers, cowboys, and others—were “shanghaied,” or kidnapped through trapdoors in saloons, smuggled through the tunnels to the waterfront, and sold to sea captains.
Athens, Ohio
This Ohio University town is home to the Athens Lunatic Asylum, a mental institution open from 1874 until 1993 and known for its lobotomy practices. Now a university-owned property called The Ridges, the building has its share of haunted stories, say many amateur researchers: disembodied screams, apparitions that walk the halls, and a ghostly bloodstain on the floor. Throughout campus there are several haunted dorms, sororities, and fraternities.
Washington, D.C.
It’s an election year, and some in D.C. will be watching for the demon black cat that is rumored to show up in the U.S. Capitol Building as an omen of national tragedy or change of office. Ghost trackers say it appeared just before President Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theatre (which has its own haunting stories). Abraham Lincoln, John and Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and Andrew Jackson are among the spirits that have been sighted in the White House.
Last but not least, I would be amiss if I didn’t mention Cripple Creek, Colorado. Mining District of Colorado is extremely rich in history and it is also touted to be one of the Most Haunted Places in the United States. On Highway 67, at the base of Pike’s Peak, southwest of Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek sits at an elevation of 9,500 feet. There are mine shafts, head frames, miner’s cabins long abandoned tumbling down. A lonely stone fireplace may be all that’s left of a miners home. Standing among the rubble might cause the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end. A brief visit to one of the abandoned cabins still standing, gives you a window into what it was like back in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. Can you imagine a more inviting place for ghost to spend Halloween?
A sneak peek between the pages of A Magic Redemption:
The road to her cottage took them by the pub. He didn’t want to spoil a great day by stopping by Shaughnessy’s. But he had a nagging feeling that was exactly what he was supposed to do. Prior experience taught him nothing but trouble would come if he ignored his gut. “Mind if we stop by the pub on the way home. Storm can stay in the truck for a few minutes. I want to make sure—”
“Everything is all right?”
“Of course it’s all right. I’ve taken time off before.” Gavin bristled. “I had a life before—” He stopped mid-sentence. No way was he going to spoil this day.
She shifted in her seat to face him. “Before what? Me? Before your sister married an assassin? Or Brandy became engaged to a vampire? Before your world came crashing down amid demons, vampires, witches, and world ending shit?” She paused, closed her eyes, and leaned her head against the seat again. “I didn’t mean that. I’ve been on edge since the dream—nightmare—premonition. Call it what you want. Today was a nice reprieve. But when we hit the edge of town—what’d you call ’em—” she tapped her temple. “My spidey senses went off.” She shivered.
imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the
chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends. After many years as a
paralegal, then an IT Manager, she decided to live out her dream of pursuing a
publishing career.
array of witches, shapeshifters, demons, faeries, and gryphons, with a Navy
SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical
kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel,
adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion
animals to round out the tales.
and a forty-five-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. During the winter 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. Visit Tena’s website at
tenastetler.com where you’ll find links to all of her books, blog and pictures
of recent travels and setting of her books.
Hope you enjoyed the Spooktacular Most Haunted Cities in America, along with a snippet of my book A Magic Redemption. Happy Halloween!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Magic Redemption, Halloween, Most Haunted Cities in America, Paranormal Romance/mysteries, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
Halloween Safety Pet Tips & Spooktacular 99¢ Sale
Welcome Readers! I have Halloweem Safety Pet Tips & a spooktacular 99¢ sale for you today. What better way to celebrate Halloween month than with vampire tale that isn’t your ordinary story. The e-book of A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance is on sale for only 99¢ for a limited time!
Since I’m a big animal person, I’ve also added a bit about keeping your pets safe on Halloween! A win, win right? Let start with Keeping your Pets Safe on Halloween.
It’s almost time for another spooktacular sequel in the annual Halloween tradition. A holiday beloved in countries around the world, appealing to people looking for fun and thrills– But for their pets…not so much! Halloween festivities can be stressful to say the least and down right hazardous at times. A few tips to keep everyone safe and enjoying the holiday!
- Treats – Chocolate is poisonous to both cats, dogs and parrots. The darker it is the more toxic is its. One ounce of dark chocolate can poison a 50-pound dog. Keep these treats out of your pets’ reach. Make sure everyone in your household understands, especially children, how crucial it is that human treats not be given to pets.
- Alarming sounds and sights – The constant doorbell, ringing, unfamiliar guest and little monsters running around is a recipe for disaster for your pets. They could try to escape or display unexpected aggression. Keep your pet sequestered in a section of the home where they can avoid this anxiety-causing activities. Provide food, favorite toys and check on them often.
- Don’t leave pets outside! Pets have been know to be abused or killed on Halloween night by cruel people. I owned a black cat for twenty-two years, he was the best cat ever. But we made sure to keep him inside several days before Halloween and several days after.
- Never take your dog trick or treating for all of the above reasons. Dogs can easily be spooked by all the Halloween hubbub. If they run away or bite someone it will end your evening of fun.
- Dangerous Decorations – Electrical cords and batteries used to operate the exciting Halloween decorations can be hazardous to your pets. Chewing on cords can cause electrocution, chewing on batteries can cause chemical burns, if swallowed can cause intestinal blockage. Artificial cobwebs look cool as heck, but they can also present a choking or entanglement hazard to curious pets.
Nightmarish Pet Costumes – Most pets are happiest in the skin they were born in. LOL Yet 
pet owners will dress their fur, scaled, or feathered babies up for Halloween. Don’t put your pet in a costume unless they are completely comfortable with it. I admit I dress up my dog and parrot for Halloween. I choose costumes they’re comfortable in, do not hinder movement, sight, hearing or ability to breathe, bark, scream, or meow.- Eerie Glow Items – Glow necklaces and Glow sticks can help keep people safe on Halloween, but pets not so much. They can cause gastrointestinal distress and chewed fragments can pose a choking hazard.
- One last thought – Opening the door repeatedly for trick-or-treaters creates the possibility of pets to slip outside. Collars and tags work if someone locates and collects your wayward pet. Make sure the information on the tags is up-to-date. Microchips offer permanent identification. Just make sure your information is correct with the company who supports your pet microchips.
Click on cover to read more or purchase!
Now a little about A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance.
A bit of background on writing A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance, finally in 2016, I thought Stefan’s time had come. But readers and even a reviewer or two assumed or asked whether Tristian’s Story would be next. I was dumbfounded. He was an assassin, for heaven’s sake. So I closed Vampire, Stefan’s file and wrote A Warlock’s Secrets. When I opened A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance file again and said, “Stefan it’s your turn.” He scoffed at me. But I charged forward. He’d grown and evolved from the Vampire Council’s Assassin in the two previous books in A Demon’s Witch Series, to a midnight DJ for a small radio station in Whitefish, Montana. Glacier National Park is where he met Brandy, a park ranger and a creature he never knew existed. The rest is history and A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance was born. A long time coming but I think Stefan and Brandy would agree, well worth the wait. I’m so proud that A VAMPIRE’S UNLIKELY ALLIANCE won Critters/Predators&Editors Readers Poll for Best Romance 2017 among other recent awards!
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?
Download a copy today. Leave your ordinary world behind and be swept into a magical, fantasy adventure that you won’t want to leave.
Available at: Amazon Amazon UK , Amazon AU, itunes, and Barnes & Noble
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.”
Pretending to pant, he shrugged, holding his palms up in surrender. “Just trying to get my run in before work. Stefan Talltree, at your service.” He stepped closer, leaned over in an exaggerated bow, and caught her hand, brushing his lips over the palm and wrist, inhaling her sweet scent. AB negative with a pulse of adrenaline. Perfect. Her pulse beat a tattoo against his lips. He backed away.
Her heart thundered as she drew her hand from his grasp. “The name’s Brandy. Pleased to meet you, Stefan.” Her smile reached up into her bright eyes as they swept over him with an appreciative glance, an experience he enjoyed.
Her voice had a hint of Irish lilt to it. He liked that too.
“Where do you work that requires you to report in at—” She glanced at her watch. “—midnight?”
Nostrils flaring, he paused. Blood? Not hers. The sound of Brandy’s voice brought his attention back to her and the situation at hand. “Oh, shit, I’ve gotta go!” He sprinted off, leaving her standing alone.
As he started down the trail, the tree branches swayed in the silvery moonlight, casting eerie shadows across the trail’s edge. The breeze brought with it the coppery scent of fresh blood mixed with sulfur. He turned for one last look at her as she wrinkled her nose before silently creeping into the wind, tracking the source of the stench.
Thanks for stopping by! Tell me what you think or if you have other pet tips in the comments. Pssst… I’m participating in a Halloween Facebook Party tomorrow. Fun, games, giveaways, and prizes all up for grabs. Please stop by for Spooktacular entertainment.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged 99cent sale, A Vampire's Unlikely Alliance, Halloween, Pets safety, Tena Stetler, Vampire by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
What is Your Superpower? #L&SR #WednesdayBlogChallenge 9-18-19
Welcome to #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge, What is Your Superpower? Mine would be the ability to spin a tale and sweep people out of their ordinary world into a magical, romantic, fantasy adventure. Sprinkled with a little determination to get the job done. Strange combination huh?
I’ve always been a very determined person. I like to make things happen and I want it to be right. That wasn’t always a popular concept in the male dominated world of law as a paralegal. But when you can’t tell the attorneys from the criminal, it’s time to leave. Then as an IT manger in an electronic contracting firm, well let’s just say fudging to make it look right wasn’t my strong suit.
Now, as an author of paranormal romance with a touch of mystery I strive to take my readers on a fantasy adventure they’ll never forget. Hopefully my stories will make then forget their stress and problems of the real word behind, if only for a few hours. I think I’ve found my niche.
Four years, ten books published with The Wild Rose Press and abundance of happy readers, I’m a thankful author! What will the future hold? Even my tale spinning and determination can’t control that. So… what is your superpower? I’d love to hear about your superpower in the comments.
Alas, I need to get back to my writing cave where deadlines loom, so let’s see what the other authors in this blog challenge claim as their Superpower. L&SR
Click on cover to read more or purchase.
Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here. Don’t miss my Autumn Sale! Another of my award winning books, AN ANGEL’S UNINTENTIONAL ENTANGLEMENT, on sale now for 99¢! Be swept away in a magical, romantic, fantasy adventure that you’ll never want to leave! download your copy today!
Teaser from An Angel’s Unintentional Entanglement – Where Warrior Angel, Caden goes, trouble follows until he discovers a badly beaten woman barely clinging to life. Unprepared for the entanglement she brings to his doorstep, will he move heaven and earth to save her?
During my walk, I discovered a couple of men searching the area where I found you. It sounded like they were involved with what happened to you. Feel up to looking at a couple of sketches to see if you recognize them?”
Her eyes rounded, and she drew her bottom lip though her teeth. “I don’t know,” she said wincing again, her voice trembling.
He considered her response for a moment. “Well, I’m afraid, you really don’t have a choice. Someone wants you dead and enlisted the help of the two men I saw to make sure the deed is done.”
Any color that had returned to Mystic’s face drained away.
Next week on the blog challenge Authors I Wish More People Knew About. LOL Do you have one? I’d love to hear from you.
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR #WednesdayBlogChallenge 9-18-19, An Angel's Unintentional Entanglement, determination, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Superpower, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 7 comments.
Celebrate Friday the 13th, a Full Moon & Fantastic 99¢ Sale!
Friday, September 13th will be extra spooky this week in the Pacific, Central and Mountain time zones . The date associated with bad luck and haunted houses coincides with the full harvest moon creating a perfect storm for the superstitious! I’m not one of those, I long ago embraced Friday the 13th, and all things thirteen probably because it wasn’t done in my household. My mom was the queen of superstitious. She avoided 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! LOL
Did you know that the full moon is called a harvest moon this time of year because the full moon is so bright the farmers can finish harvesting their crops by moonlight. Yep, so says the Farmer’s Almanac.
FYI – For you statistic types, The last time a full moon rose on Friday the 13th was October 13, 2000. The next time the spooky Friday the 13th falls under a full moon will be August 2049.
Click on cover to read more or purchase!
To celebrate, my Raven Award Finalist, AN ANGEL’S UNINTENTIONAL ENTANGLEMENT 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 angel you’ll never want to leave. You don’t even have to leave your house, download your copy today. http://a.co/agG8vn2
A little about the award winning novel. Where Warrior Angel, Caden goes, trouble follows until he discovers a badly beaten woman barely clinging to life. Unprepared for the entanglement she brings to his doorstep, will he move heaven and earth to save her?
Sneak peek between the pages of AN ANGEL’S UNINTENTIONAL ENTANGLEMENT:
Screams of terror accompanied by mournful howls pierced the crisp night air as Caden Silverwind settled into his chair in front of the crackling campfire. Shadows from the flames danced across the dark tree trunks, curling and twisting in mesmerizing shapes. Caden had heard it all before, but tonight the usual ceremonial chants ended with menacing growls then sudden eerie silence, rather than the quiet winding down of previous nights.
Maybe he should investigate the unearthly sounds that echoed against the canyon walls, but he just couldn’t. The last battle with dark demons had nearly destroyed his body and shattered his soul. Once shimmering marble-gray wings, now hung charcoal black with his muscles barely able to bring them forth from his back to brush the air without severe pain and fatigue.
Against the advice of his superiors, he chose an indefinite sabbatical in the Colorado Rockies. Their rugged strength and majestic beauty allowed him the serenity to pick up the pieces, face his own fears, and contemplate the future, if there was one.
Enjoy your Friday the Thirteenth under the full harvest moon. Won’t happen again until 2049!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged ANgel, Friday the 13th, Full Moon, Harvest Moon 99 cent sale, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
