Get a behind-the-scenes all-access pass to Tena Stetler's A Witch's Journey Series!
SYNOPSIS:
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's 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?
How are the books in the series related?
Each book builds on the former book and its characters
with additional characters in the hero and heroine positions.
A
Witch's Holiday Wedding is a small town paranormal romance/mystery.
Lathen’s covert military mission threatens life as he knows it. Torn in too
many directions will Pepper and Lathen make it to the altar?
Hidden
Gypsy Magic - Gwen a wildlife rehabilitator, and Brock a veterinarian,
discover the consequences of awakening hidden gypsy magic in Salem.
Chocolate
Raspberry Magic- Fund-raising, Ice cream social, furry and feathered babies,
romance, mystery, and magic what more could you ask for in a paranormal
romance/mystery? Animal rescue of course.
What are the sub-genre and tropes?
Paranormal Romance/Mystery. Troup, animal rescue, wounded warriors, second chances.
Did your characters lead you to this genre or was that decided before the story began?
Both. I conjured up this trope because of my love of animals and rescue.
Are you more character or plot-driven?
Definitely, character is driven. I write by the seat of my pants, to speak.
With many main and secondary characters, how do you keep them separated in your mind?
I have extensive character worksheets for all characters.
Do you have a story/vision board above your workspace?
Not really, I make notes in the story when I stop as to where I think it’s going, characters sometimes make changes without warning. LOL
I use Scrivener and that computer program has a lot of places for notes, working ideas, etc.
I know from previous interviews that characters take on a life of their own. Were any of the characters in this series determined to take their own direction instead of where you initially wanted them to go?
Oh yes, Pepper McKay (heroine) was headstrong and took the book where she wanted it to go. Sometimes she and Lathen Quartz (hero) would get crosswise but usually worked it out before I intervened.
Are any of the male POVs based on anyone you know?
Not exactly.
(Off-Topic) In my debut novel (published Sept 2015), A Demon’s Witch, the hero was named for my husband and loosely resembles some of his traits. It was kind of a joke. I said, “if this ever gets published, how will you explain the demon with your name in the book?” He said, “I won’t. Let ‘em guess.” LOL
Are any of the female POVs based on anyone you know?
No.
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
Not really. I love all the characters and the situations that come up in the books. As I said before animal rescue is near and dear to my heart.
What is your favorite book in the series?
Hidden Gypsy Magic, but I enjoy them all.
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
Pepper, Lathen, and Gwen. Sorry, can’t pick one. I tried.
Their spunky attitude, perseverance in front of adversity, care and compassion for animals, and their moral compass.
Series question - Who is your favorite couple and why did you decide on their dynamics?
Not fair. If I’m forced to pick a couple, it would have to be Pepper and Lathen, they are in the first book.
She had just been let go from a 10-year job she loved for being a witch in Salem. When she inherited the McKay property where Lathen was a maintenance man there. He is a disabled vet and working with Pepper and the animals helps him overcome his problems and he pays it forward in a later book. They are so opposite each other, when they come together, it’s great.
How do you get inside these characters’ heads to find their perfect HEA?
As I said, it just unfolds as they give me insight into their personality. The 5-page character worksheet doesn’t hurt either. LOL
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for you? Why?
The scene at the pond before the wedding. No spoilers here. But, something that was assumed by all is discovered not to be true.
Series - Were any of the books harder to write than others?
I’d have to say A Witch’s Holiday Wedding was the most difficult.
The characters were flustered due to the activities in their lives and the scary event made things worse. Then you have the ghosts sticking their noses where they don’t belong and trying to run the show.
This question is if you write in MULTIPLE POVs not just
the hero and heroine - I love the multiple POVs in a book. It’s not just the hero and heroine, but we
get inside the heads of multiple characters throughout this series. I feel that it gives the story further
depth. Do you think you will write
another book or series following this multiple POV outline?
A Witch’s Journey Series doesn’t have multiple POVs exactly. Each book has new characters.
However, the sequel to my Christmas Cookie novella will have multiple POVs. We’ll see how that goes. LOL
How long did it take you to write this book/series?
A Witch’s Journey was about 4-6 months, the others about the same maybe a little less because the world was already built.
How did you come up with the title for your book and (if
applicable) series?
Usually, the name comes to me while I am working on the character worksheets.
If you met these characters in real life would you get along?
Yes, or at least mostly.
Series question – Did you know in advance that you were
going to write this as a series or did one of the characters in book one demand
their own story?
After the first couple of books, I didn’t know for sure if any of them would be a series, but as I went along writing, the secondary characters demanded their story.
If your book/series were made into a movie, which actors do you see as playing your characters?
Hard to say. No one comes to mind right away.
Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect
next? Whether a new book and series or a
sequel to an existing series? Can you
share a small tease?
I have a Christmas cookie novella coming out in November.
Then Security Force of Two (3 books series so far), (about a former CIA agent, a Special Forces vet, and an adorable dog) will be out in late 2022 or early 2023,
The sequel to the Christmas Cookie novella is being written as we speak. Hopefully, all goes well and it will be out Spring of 2023. All I can say about the Christmas Cookie novella and its sequel is that they are set in a very unusual town with unusual inhabitants
Check out all my interviews/reviews for Tena Stetler!
https://readingbydeb.blogspot.com/2022/06/author-at-glance-tena-stetler.html#more
BIO:
Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of the award-winning paranormal romance/mystery with an over-active imagination. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot, 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 great Colorado outdoors.
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.
My Say What Blog:
http://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/
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