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Sep 22nd Autumn Equinox Plus Hidden Gypsy Magic

The Fall Equinox (or Autumnal Equinox) marks the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, with equal day and night hours and a sunrise and sunset due east and west. The event has deep cultural significance, tied to harvests and festivals, and ancient sites like Chichén Itzá were built to track its celestial movements. It also triggers biological changes in animals and can cause satellite disruptions due to increased solar radiation.

Fun Facts:

The autumnal equinox marks the first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when Earth’s axis is not tilted toward or away from the sun, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths.

The exact date of the equinox can vary between Sept. 21 and Sept. 24 due to the Gregorian calendar’s approximation of the Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Cultural celebrations take place worldwide on the equinox. That day is also a key period for observing natural phenomena like the Northern Lights due to increased geomagnetic activity.

Americans typically refer to this time of year as “fall,” while the British use the word “autumn.” Both terms date back to the 16th century but before that it was called “harvest.

Fall was called “harvest” because of the “harvest moon” that occurs when the full moon is closest to the autumn equinox.

Looking for a fun fall read? Hidden Gypsy Magic is just the ticket.

I love all my books, but Hidden Gypsy Magic is one of my favorites. A house and cabin that clean and fix dinner. What more could you want? Maybe wildlife rescue? Magic? A handsome veterinarian? AND it’s available in audiobook! Yep this book has it all, including time-travel. So what are you waiting for? Grab a copy, and be swept into a fantasy you’ll never want to leave.

So lets take a peek into Hidden Gypsy Magic!

When a wildlife rehabilitor, and Brock a veterinarian, discover the consequences of awakening hidden gypsy magic.

The Salem Wildlife Sanctuary is Gwen Taylor’s life work. Her Irish Gypsy heritage provides a hidden talent she uses to help the creatures under her care. But even her magical skills can’t help new rescues in dire need of veterinary care.

The opportunity of signing on as the vet for Gwen’s sanctuary dropped into Brock Scutter’s lap after he expanded his practice to include wildlife. The personal attraction he and Gwen experience is undeniable the more their professional and personal lives collide.

Touring the only “non-haunted” house in Salem they both feel a spark of magic. A trip to his family’s cabin uncovers a heritage he didn’t know existed. If they want a future together, it means facing the consequences of awakening hidden Gypsy magic and a race against the clock to correct past wrongs.

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Autumn Equinox, Hidden Gypsy Magic, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, shifters, Tena Stetler, Time travel, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Aug 31st Fascinating Labor Day Fun Facts Plus A Sunday Snippet

Labor Day is celebrated across the United States, symbolizing the achievements of workers and the labor movement. However, despite its significance, many people may not be fully aware of its origins, traditions, and unique ways to celebrate. This article aims to uncover fun facts about Labor Day that can enrich your celebrations and increase your understanding of this important holiday.

What Is Labor Day and Why Is It Celebrated?

Labor Day, designated on the first Monday in September, honors the social and economic achievements of American workers. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. While many people view Labor Day primarily as a day to relax, BBQ with friends, or mark the end of summer, its true essence lies in recognizing the contributions of workers to society.

Quick Facts about Labor Day

1. Labor Day traces its roots back to the labor union movement in the 1880s, particularly due to the efforts of various labor organizers.

2. The first Labor Day parade took place in New York City on September 5, 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union.

3. Labor Day officially became a federal holiday in 1894 through the efforts of President Grover Cleveland.

4. While the U.S. celebrates Labor Day in September, many countries celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1.

5. Labor Day is one of the busiest days of the year for barbecues and retail sales, further intertwining fun with its historical significance.

6. Not to mention the last three day holiday of the summer for camping, which I am all about!!

And Speaking of hard working, let take a look at a hard working vampire in A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance:

Welcome to your Sunday Snippet featuring the award-winning A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance Not what you’ve come to expect from a Vampire Tale! Join Stefan and Brandy for an exciting romantic fantasy where magic may save the day. But will it be too late?

How A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance all began. You know my family loves to camp. Right? We have visited a great number of the State and National Parks. We’ll spend time in more this year. During a camping trip we stayed right smack dab in the middle of Glacier National Park. At night around the campfire under a full moon you could hear the wolves howl and the coyotes sing. I imagined a vampire running through the bush over the trails, but it couldn’t be an ordinary vampire. And who would he meet on the trails?

Stefan, a Native American vampire, was a character from my first book in A Demon’s Witch Series, A Demon’s Witch. It became a best seller five months after its release. For A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance, I wanted to write a different vampire tale, so rather than leave him as the Vampire Council’s assassin, I released him from service and he moved to Montana, took a job as the midnight DJ for a small radio station on the outskirts of Glacier National Park. Different huh? Research for this book was a trip to Glacier National Park and I drew upon my time as a DJ at a local classic rock station KKFM in Colorado Springs. Not to mention several virtual trips to the enchanting land down under, Australia.

Won’t you join Stefan and Brandy on an exciting romantic fantasy where vampires and gryphons, warlocks and demons, witches and faeries walk among us. Some creatures are willing to put aside their differences to work together for the good of man and magic kind, other’s will stand in the way.

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 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:

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.

Available at Amazon Amazon UK , Amazon AU, itunes, and Barnes & Noble.

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.

See you next week for another Sunday Snippet! Meanwhile, if you’re wanting another read, take a peek at my other magical books.

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Vampire's Unlikely Alliance, Fun Facts, Labor Day, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Sunday Snippet, Tena Stetler, Vampire, Witches by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.

Aug 24th Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic – Sunday Snippet Plus a Bit More

In celebration of the dog days of summer, this week’s Sunday Snippet is the award-winning Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic. Pssst… It’s on sale for .99 cents for a limited time. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate and enjoy the snippet from Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic. Second book in the Raven’s Hollow Series.

Spring has sprung in the Northern Hemisphere. This book will bring spring to your world. Take you traveling through time, and perhaps help you solve the mystery.

When I wrote this book, I was enamored with the town I created, Raven’s Hollow, for my book Meringue Snowflake Magic. Raven’s Hollow was a unique small town full of quirky characters you’ll come to love, like I did. Not to mention an adorable pup. What made it fun, was the townsfolk, could be your neighbors with a quite a twist, you’ll not soon forget. I hope you’ll enjoy this foray into fantasy which will sweep you out of your ordinary world for a few hours. And for only 99c cents!

First, let’s take a peek at what Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic is about.

Spring is in full bloom in Raven’s Hollow, a small town in the Colorado Rockies with a population of unique townspeople. Blaze, a dragon shifter, and Wynter, a witch, are neck-deep in wedding preparations, when Wynter’s mother, Jade, goes missing after opening her new antique store, and attending the Simon estate sale where she procured an ancient jelly bean machine. Frantic with worry, Blaze and Wynter track her last movements via the store’s ancient, grainy, security footage. What it reveals is nothing short of shocking. As deputy sheriff, it’s Blaze’s responsibility to find his soon-to-be mother-in-law. But at what cost?

Check out the series book trailer.

Book Trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdUGZl7qipE

A little about Meringue Snowflake Magic, set in the same town, Raven’s Hollow.

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.

A snippet from between the pages of Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic:

LoraLee waved from the front porch of her rescue. “Mandy said you’d be stopping in. What can I do for you?”

“Not sure. My house is too quiet. No one to greet me at the door last night. Uh—”

“Where’s Blaze? That man is always working.” LoraLee shook her head.

“It’s not that, he’s away on business, but—”

“I understand. Come on in, look around, see if one of my residents calls to you.” The woman motioned around back. “It’s so nice everyone is out in their runs today.” LoraLee let Wynter wander down the path between dog runs. “Rabbits, birds, reptiles are housed on the left at the end of the runs. Cat’s are in the enclosure with covered exercise areas on the right beyond the lilac bushes.”

“Thanks.” Wynter inhaled the sweet scent of Lilac as she ambled between the runs. Several dogs rushed to the gate, barking, and wagging their tails. Wynter talked to each one, hoping for a connection, then moved on. Almost at the end, she saw a chocolate colored, furry dog, with the saddest brown eyes she’d ever seen. The canine stretched out in a patch of sunlight a few feet from the animal’s gate. Peering at the sign on the gate, she knelt down. “What’s your story Cocoa? Why so sad? It’s a beautiful day.”

The dog raised its head, swiveled its ears forward and back, then stared into her eyes, and wagged its tail once almost hopefully, then got up stretched and wandered over to the gate.

Wynter turned to LoraLee as the woman came up to stand by her. “May I pet Cocoa?”

“Oh sure. I wondered if you two might connect. Cocoa lost her owner to a heart attack a few weeks ago. Hasn’t had much of an appetite or interest in life since. She’s five years old, and spent all of those years the center of the old woman’s life. So sad.” LoraLee brightened. “This is the most interest she’s shown in anything since she’s been here.”

Reaching her hand through the fence, Wynter rubbed under the dog’s muzzle, side of the head, and ear. Cocoa closed her eyes then licked Wynter’s hand with a dark purple tongue. The dog’s tail curled over her back for a beat, then drooped down again.. “Can I take her for a walk around the compound?”

“Of course. I’ll get her leash and harness.” LoraLee rushed to the administration building and returned quickly.

“How about going for a walk, girl?” She stood, opened the gate hesitatingly, and knelt in front of the dog blocking the exit.

Smiling, LoraLee opened the gate wider, sidestepped Wynter, and slid the harness over Cocoa’s head and snapped the leash on the harness. “Off you two go.”

The dog’s tail curled over her back again and the Cocoa trotted beside Wynter. Cocoa turned her head occasionally to gaze at her possible rescuer. At least Wynter got that vibe.

Leading the canine over to a big shade tree, Wynter stopped, eased down on the grass and rubbed the dog under the chin. “Well, what do you think, girl? Would you like to come home with me?” She rubbed Cocoa’s ears. “I have a dragon shifter for a fiancé, but you’ll get along fine, I’m sure. He’s a good guy. A little opinionated and pushy, but…” She shrugged feeling the dog’s sadness, now overshadowed with hope, Wynter made her decision.

Buy Links:

Barnes& Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ravens-hollow-spring-magic-tena-stetler/1143427010?ean=2940160979014

Ibooks – https://books.apple.com/us/book/ravens-hollow-spring-magic/id6448729654

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ravens-Hollow-Spring-Magic-Things-ebook/dp/B0C43XYQ5P

Thanks for joining me for the Sunday Snippet. I hope you enjoyed a little peek into Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic. Grab a copy while it’s on sale for 99 cents! See you next week for another exciting Sunday Snippet!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged fantasy, ghosts, magic, Meringue Snowflake Magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Raven's Hollow Spring Magic, Tena Stetler, Time travel, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Aug 17th Charm Me Again – Sunday Snippet & a Little More

Welcome to Sunday Snippets. This week its the award-winning Charm Me Again sequel to Charm Me a fun and flirty tale. Join me each week for a fun adventure.

Charm Me Again is a bit darker than Charm Me. Two families long divided brought together through an adventure of a lifetime. Breaking the curse is only the first step to forever.

How about a little about the writing this book. Since I am a panster, my characters seem to hijack the story at every turn. Just about the time I think I have the reigns of the story—off they go in another direction. It’s frustrating at times, but I so enjoy the experience never knowing what will happen for sure. I seem to write chapters out of order, scenes out of order but in the end, everything seems to fall into place. So far. LOL

Take for instance in CHARM ME AGAIN, I had no idea how Daylan was going to make amends with his sister after their horrendous falling out. But as I listened to him tell his story, involvement with the Scottish ghost and his regrets thing begin to fall into place. Yet when he was told Josie was off limits…well…he couldn’t help himself and chaos reigned. Then along comes Josie, a yoga instructor in Summer’s studio, an innocent with a stalker problem. She was so much more than she seemed at first glance. I had trouble keeping up with her transformation. When I just about thought I had things in hand, I discovered that Josie came from a prestigious family of lawyers and her free spirit got her tossed out of the family.

I hope I’ve given you enough for you to want to take a peek at the book. I know you are going to love it. Especially if paranormal romance sprinkled with mystery is your thing. Living in fantasy is mine, the real world scares me to death. LOL

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 swallowed hard and blinked.

Out of the mist, in full Scottish regalia, a ghost stood, his transparent red and green belted plaid blowing in the breeze.

She shook her head, closed her eyes, scrubbed her hands over her eyes, and blinked them open. “What the hell?” burst from her lips before she could control herself. “It’s some kind of bad dream. Right?” She rubbed her eyes again opening only one this time. “Shit, you’re all still here.” She dropped her arms to her sides and glared at Daylan then Summer. “Someone better tell me what’s going on—right now.” Her hands fisted and unfisted at her sides.

Daylan returned her scathing look. “Later.”

“We meet again Shay.” The ghost said. “What kind of attire are ye wearing?”

“Never mind. Ye are the cause of the problem, Daylan.” The leader glared at the ghost.

“Oh, no—not this time,” the ghost said.

Daylan stood straight. “No way. I’m not taking the blame for this.”

Shay grinned. “Oh, now things are falling in place.” He pointed a finger at Daylan. “You are his namesake and that is why Khellan has returned.” He flicked a finger at the ghost. “And you have attached to your namesake hoping he or his twin can break the curse. What a tangle.” Shifting his gaze to her, he continued. “This young lass is caught in the middle with naught power to protect herself.”

“For god sakes. She’s mortal. How can she be caught in the middle?” Daylan shouted. “She shouldn’t even be able to see what’s happening.”

“Yet she does. Something to think about.” Shay shrugged one shoulder. “She is besotted with you, as you are with her. The lass’s blood may be diluted, but it’s there. The cycle begins again.”