August 13, 2018 · 4:00 am

So, I took a little break….

I’m back.

Did you hear Arnold’s voice when you read that last line? Hee hee

My self imposed break from all social media that I told you about a bit ago (A different track) has officially ended. I was so stressed with everything that had been going on in my life of late – personally, professionally, medically, and spiritually – that I needed a little time to decompress and re-evaluate. Some sleep wouldn’t have hurt, either, but alas, I never sleep.

So. How did my little social media exile go?
Well, the first few days were hard. And by hard, I mean EXCRUCIATING! I had a real issue with FOMO ( Fear of Missing out!)


I seriously was concerned I was missing out on EVERYTHING and that I’d miss something crucial to my career or LIFE that I’d need to know. That lasted about four days. Seriously. I had hives.

Day five something happened. I woke up and the first thing I did wasn’t reach for my phone like I typically do. The first thing I did was kiss my husband good morning. The fact that it was three o’clock in the morning didn’t faze him a whit. He’s used to my insomnia.

And, no. My hubby isn’t Ryan Gossling. Just clarifyin’

Any hoo.

Days 6-10, no social media checks at all. Nada. In fact, I was cut off completely from news of the world on all counts: cyberspace, social media, and world, because I was in  the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on a cruise and no wifi. Oh, I could have had it if I wanted to pay $20.00 a day to hook it up, but seriously! Have you met me? Calling me cheap is the best compliment you can give me!

Day 11 was a travel home day. When we pulled in NYC port, I turned my phone on for the first time in 5 days. It didn’t stop pinging for almost an hour. When all was quiet again I had 1596 emails, 620 spam mails, 42 texts, 122 facebook updates, 501 twitter notifications, over 200 updates on Instagram and those were just the ones I checked. The good Lord above knows how many Pinterest, Book Bub, Goodreads and TRiberr notifications I had!

It took me almost 2 entire days to go through all the emails because a great deal of them required responses.  I found out – via FB and Twitter that  two people I knew had babies, one was admitted to the hospital, had emergency surgery and was now, once again,  home.  The world was still spinning, the day was still breaking every 24 hours, and my life as I’d known it before my imposed exile was still the same.

Was I, though?
Was I any less stressed after unplugging for 14 days?

It’s a conundrum. I was happy while I wasn’t checking my phone every two minutes and living in the moment of the exile, but all the work I had to catch up on when I got back home was a little overwhelming. But, I’ll admit, since I was so relaxed, it didn’t feel insurmountable like it had before I decided to go social media-less.

So. What’s the takeaway with all this? What did I learn about myself from unplugging and stepping away from all my technology and social media platforms?

First, that’s it’s possible and I can do it again if I need to.

Second, the world still spins without you knowing what’s going on 24/7.

Third, immediate knowledge and hearing about realtime events, while a good thing, can make you blind, deaf and dumb to your own life and the events and people surrounding you.

Fourth, while unplugging totally can be a good thing, you still need to be locked in to certain things – like emails from editors who request FULL MANUSCRIPTS of your latest work! Yeah. Happened to me while I was unplugged. Le sigh. That was the first email I answered when I was on-line again, with an apology for the time delay in responding because I was out at sea.

Fingers crossed, peeps!
And last, while social media may rule the world, you can rule your own little part of it by limiting what you allow into you life everyday. I don’t need to check on all my SM accounts daily ( or even hourly, like I was doing!). I don’t need to respond to every single tweet or FB comment I receive. And I don’t need to check my phone the moment I wake up and the last thing I do before going to bed.

So, overall, I have to say, unplugging and going in a different track for a few weeks proved to be a good thing. For me, anyway.

These are the places you can find me if you’re looking. I may or may not be checking them hourly anymore, though! hee hee

Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// BookMe

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August 10, 2018 · 8:43 am

The voices in my head!

I’ve been away from my computer for a week and forgot to write this post before I left, so it’s gonna be a short one!

As far as writing goes, I basically wait until I “hear” a voice in my head to determine if I’m going to pen the book in first person ( my main character talking) or third ( multiple viewpoints). I’ve done it both ways.

When I write in third person POV my books tend to be longer because there are more heads to get into. The major pitfall, though, I find with 3rd POV is that I sometimes forget whose head I’m in!!! I’ve been known to start a scene in one character’s head and without a page break, creep into someone else’s. This is problematic to be sure! Editing is key here.

In first POV I tend to write my funnier books. I never used to like first POV until I realized how much better the snarkiness, the comedy, and the plain funny sounded coming directly from a character’s mouth.

I have two new books coming out in a few months and both are in first person AND both have humorous elements, so…

Let’s see what some other writers in this hop use for viewpoint and why! MFRWauthorblogchallenge

and please follow me here: Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// BookMe

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August 7, 2018 · 4:00 am

So, an Angel walks into a room and…..

So let me tell you something funny – any by funny , I mean unusual – that happened to me yesterday….

 I breezed out of my office door into the reception area. Whoa… I rubbed my eyes. Was I seeing what I think I was? Wings? I ventured farther in and…sure enough. Tall, dark and WOW.

“Hello, I’m Caden Silverwind from An Angel’s Unintentional Entanglement. I’m filling in for Tena. She’ll be a long later.”

Shuffling my papers, really buying time, I snatched up a pen. “Uh…okay. Let me gather my thoughts and make a couple of revisions to the questions. You probably don’t know what inspired your story.”

(Caden) “I wouldn’t be so sure.” A devastating grin spread across his chiseled features. His green eyes sparkled with mischief. “Shoot.”

Hot damn. I said to myself fanning the air with my interview papers. That deep voice, smooth as honey warmed my… “Let’s start with where did the idea come from for An Angel’s Unintentional Entanglement.”

(Caden) “Tena claims she rounded the corner of one of the abandoned cabins (dating back to 1880-1890) that dot the landscape near the top of Independence Pass. It’s over 12,000 feet in elevation, you know. The first scene apparently played out right there. Or possibly lack of oxygen.” He snickered.

“Okay. So tell me a little about you.”

(Caden) “I’m a warrior angel… You do know the difference between angels? Right?”

“Not exactly. Why don’t you enlighten me.”

(Caden) A white angel is just what you would expect of an angel. They help people in need, and other divine duties as called upon to perform. The warrior angels are beings who are good souls but extenuating circumstances made them unable to fit that mold. Most were soldiers, warriors, or misfits with a good heart and soul in their human life. Warrior angels are the renegade angels up above. They take on the dark demons or dark ones that rise from the bowels of Hell, or are caught in between, and leave death and destruction in their wake. Mortals have no idea such creatures walk among them or even exist. That’s the way the big guy likes it.” Clearing his throat, he glanced at the heavens and grinned wide. “Warriors are considered outcasts by the white angels, but let one of those dark demons break through the perimeter and listen to the white one’s squeal.” He roared with laughter.

“Wow, didn’t have any idea… So are you going to be in trouble for telling me?”

“Nope, Tena spilled the beans in the book. She’ll have some explaining to do one day at those pearly gates.

“Uh oh. What’s your story?”

“I’d battled dark demons for a very long time. The last confrontation with them nearly destroyed my body and shattered my soul. I’d known it was coming for nearly a year. The darkness seeped into my consciousness a little more with each battle. I talked with my legion commander who ultimately decided the feeling would pass. It didn’t. At least I hadn’t endangered the mission when I failed to act. Against the advice of my superiors, I choose an indefinite sabbatical in the Colorado Rockies. The rugged strength and majestic beauty allowed me the serenity to pick up the pieces, face my fears, and contemplate the future. That’s when I found Mystic. She lay naked, battered, and beaten several yards off the trail. Her long, straight black hair fanned around her head, tangled with twigs, bits of grass and dried blood. That vision still haunts me today.

What did you do?

“Ah…well… you’ll have to read the book to find out. Don’t want to give anything away.” Leaning back in his chair he tented his fingers. “Don’t want her to kill me off in another book. You know how authors are.”

“Tease.”  The door to the outer office banged opened. Tena knocked and rushed in.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, Peggy. It’s been one of those days. Characters running amuck all over the place. I trust Caden kept you entertained.”

“Why yes, yes he did. I shuffled my papers and relaxed back in my chair. “Tell us a little about An Angel’s Unintentional Entanglement.”

Warrior angels are forbidden to fall in love…sometimes fate has other ideas.

Fallen warrior angel, Caden Silverwind, lives alone in Colorado’s rugged Rockies, healing from physical wounds as well as the mental anguish suffered during battles with dark demons. Then he finds a woman barely clinging to life after a horrendous beating. He is not prepared for the entanglement she brings to his life, nor the feelings she awakens in him.

Bureau of Indian Affairs Agent, Mystic Rayne’s personal dilemma and assignment nearly gets her killed. Divine intervention is a complication she never expected and her growing attraction to Caden is undeniable. Can she trust him with her secret?

Their quest to uncover her attacker takes them from the pristine mountains in Colorado to the wilds of Wyoming. Along the way, they find answers which may place them in more danger. Determined to solve the mystery, they must also navigate their feelings and fears to find love and unite heaven and earth.

How about an exclusive peek between the pages of An Angel’s Unintentional Entanglement?

“Of course.”

She threw up her hands. “Where does that leave us? If there even is an us. What are we doing? Friends? More than friends? Protector and protected? What?” Oh geez, what am I doing. I learned to quit babbling on and on when I felt uncomfortable or not in control in law school. Clear, concise, and to the point. Did all my education fly right out the window, when an angel flew in? The corner of her mouth twitched, and she blew out a breath. She had to get a grip. Thinking with him so close was impossible.

“Not sure where our relationship is going, but I damn sure intend to find out,” he said.

“But if you are forbidden to associate with me…” She looked up at him, wriggled out of his hold and put some space between them on the couch. There, that’s better.

“Nope. I’m no longer a warrior, nor do I intend to return. I can’t be sure that I won’t succumb to the dark demon influence again. Physically I’m not one hundred percent either. That makes me a liability in battle, and I’m not sure when or if that will ever change.”

“I’ve fallen for a defective angel. Wouldn’t you know it.” She threw her hands up in the air then tried to stifle a giggle.

His heart took a leap, and his pulse quickened. “Did you?”

Available at Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, itunes, The Wild Rose Press and Barnes and Noble

Thank you for sharing. What are you working on now? Peggy, I’m excited. A Magic Redemption, fifth book in A Demon’s Witch Series is in edits as we speak. Hopefully it will release by the end of 2018. This one is Synn’s story. She has been a reoccurring character in the series. I wanted people to understand who she really was and how she transformed.

Also I am working on a new series my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, put together about a small town in Willow Springs, Vermont. Where anything can happen. My book is a paranormal romance entitled Mystic Maples.

About the author:

Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance novels. An over-active imagination, 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.

With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide 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. Well, okay there are a few companion animals to round out the tales.

Tena’s social media links:

Website // Authors’ Secret Blog // MySay What blog // Facebook // Twitter // Goodreads // The Wild Rose Press // Amazon // Newsletter // Pinterest // Triberr // Book Bub // Instagram

Thanks so much for stopping by Tena and Caden. It’s been an honor.

“The pleasure was all mine.” Caden stood, towering over me by at least a foot. Leaned over took my hand kissed it.

My cheeks heated. But WOW…An angel.

“Thanks Peggy. Come on Caden, Mystic is waiting for you… something about ice cream in a waffle cone?”

He winked at me as he left. Whew what a day! My daughter and husband are never going to believe this.

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August 6, 2018 · 4:00 am

Social Media and the Quest for Name Recognition…

That’s a wordy title, but it’s an accurate one for what I’ve been mulling over lately.

I’m a household name. In MY household…no other. This is tantamount to the Kiss of Death for a writer, because no one is going to read your books if they don’t know who the heck you are.

True ‘dat, right?

In the past, publishers have had entire teams of people who diligently took steps to make sure their writers’ names were recognized easily. Marketing campaigns, publicity tours, multi-city book signings. Any and every effort the team could get the author’s name to be recognized by the general book reading public was made. With the advent of less traditional publishing avenues, most of the tried and true publishers now are only moving their advertising dollars toward their already recognizable, big-name, authors.

What’s the relatively unknown writer to do?

I’m traditionally published by two presses, Kensington/Lyrical Shine and The Wild Rose Press. Both love their authors, make no mistake about that. They are in the business of selling books and they need authors to  achieve their goal. But taking a chance on a relatively new author  – and by chance I mean throwing advertising and marketing dollars  behind them to promote them – is something both of them are reluctant to do. In the WRP case, they do minimal to no marketing for their authors – the authors and the other writers associated with the company do the bulk share of getting the word out  about a new book release. Lyrical Shine has a marketing department, but with so many authors on their docket, those dollars are stretched thin.

So, what’s an author like me – unknown, no advertising or marketing background – to do, you ask?
Well, of course I’ll tell ya.

When my first book was scheduled for publication I frantically tried to learn whatever I could about marketing and how to promote myself on a nearly non-existent budget. It was hard, peeps. Real hard.

I joined TWITTER, had my best friend set-up my WEBSITE, and made a Facebook Professional Page. I didn’t go out and employ any book-tour companies via the web because I didn’t know they existed back then!!! I garnered several hundred new followers from all this, but it wasn’t enough to make me more well known as an author ( and you know that ultimately means – no sales!)

When the second and third books rolled around and were ready to be published, I had discovered on-line book tours, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM, and Goodreads.

I got even more followers and saw a tiny uptick in sales, so a good thing, but still, my name is not showing up on any bestseller lists, or on any “Watch for the next book from this fab author” lists.

By the time I got my Lyrical contract, I had joined Triberr, BookBub,  and  Google + and started entering more and more contests. My thought was if I finaled in any of them, that will introduce my name to more people. If I, GOD-PLEASE! – won any of them,  my name and my work would be more accessible and known.

Haven’t won any yet, but have finaled in a bunch, so that’s a positive thing, right?

My first book was published in 2015. Since then, 3 years later, I’ve got 2,260 Twitter followers, 1343 people on my FB author account, on Triberr I have a personal reach of 183K and on BookBub I have 281 followers.

Now, those numbers are…okay. But they need to be waaaaaaaaaaay more to have any kind of impact on the romance reading world.

So…

I have a favor to ask ( you saw that coming, didn’t you?!)

If you aren’t already following me across my media, please take this opportunity to do so. At the end of most of my blog pieces I usually list all my Social Media sites and beg, er, ask you to find me. Well, please continue to do that, but could you also please follow me? Here’s the list:Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// BookMe

And if you are already following me across my SM sites – #BLESSYOU and #ILOVEYOU

It’s so humbling to beg!

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August 4, 2018 · 7:05 am

And so it starts….

Remember the other day when I said I was heading in a new track for a while? Well, today is the day it starts.

For next week I will be on radio silence, which is a cutsie way to say I won’t be posting, blogging, or reposting anything to any of the accounts listed below. I am taking a week to reinvigorate my mind, refresh my body and relax my soul.

Please don’t forget about me ( she begs, unashamedly!)

Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// Book Me

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August 3, 2018 · 1:00 am

When I’m not writing, I…

A well rounded person is one who loves to learn, find new fun things to do, and questions everything!

I kinda think I’m a well rounded person.

It’s no secret that I love to write. When I’m putting together a new story, I’m never happier. But, just like man can’t live by bread alone, she can’t do just one thing in life either.

When I’m not writing I’m usually either cooking, painting, or restoring some old piece of furniture.

I lovelovelove to cook. Anyone who knows me or who has read my blog knows this. And I’m an equal opportunity cook, which includes baking. Some people are really good bakers, while their cooking skills leave a lot of be desired. For the others, the opposite is true. They can put together a six course meal, complete with meat and fish courses, but ask them to bake cupcakes and they start to sweat and foam at the mouth. I love to do both!

My passion for painting started in my 40’s when I watched a PBS piece about Donna Dewberry. Donna was just like me – a woman of a certain age, who wanted to learn something new, so she invented a new art form and way of painting. She made it look so easy on her documentary, that I purchased a starter kit and was hooked from the first piece I ever made! Any one who has ever attended one of my book signings know how much I like to paint, evidenced by the hand painted bags I give them with the purchase of a book! This is the Donna Dewberry, One Stoke Method at its finest!

Refurbishing and rehabbing old furniture and steamer trucks has been a passion of mine fore several years. This is one of the most recent trunks that I finished.

Great as gifts, great as storage.

I’ll be brutally honest and tell you I can’t do any sports to save my life. Sometimes, I can’t even walk properly! But in a world where doing creative stuff is a great way to keep motivated, energized, and mentally sharp, I’m a  pro!
Let’s see what some of the other authors in this hop do when they aren’t writing. MFRWauthors Blog Challenge

And, as always, when I’m not writing, painting, cooking or rehabbing, you can find me here:

Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// Book Me

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August 1, 2018 · 4:00 am

A different track?

It’s been a little over a week since I got home from the RWA 2018 conference. Last week I basically played catch-up with my life.  Laundry needed to get done, groceries needed to be shopped for, I had to pay a passel of bills, clean my house, visit and check on my mother, the car was scheduled for an oil change and tune-up, I had a repeat mammogram, a weeks’ worth of blogs to write, PLUS I had a deadline for edits due yesterday on a second holiday release, and my final audio chapters had to be listened to and corrected before the book goes to Audible.

Oh, and let’s not forget I needed to reconnect with my husband and daughter.

Can you spell S-T-R-E-S-S-E-D?

So, because I’m only one woman and even I – Miss Chronic Insomnia – sleep 2 hours a night, I am doing something I’ve never done before with regard to my writing.

Get ready for it, because it’s a doozy!

I, Mrs Writing is my Oxygen, am taking a bit of a writing break.

I know. Shocked the s**t out of me, too!

I’ve never actually had a vacation from writing before, even when I worked full time. I always wrote in the evenings, on weekends, and when we traveled.

But I’m going to give myself 2 weeks off starting in a few days. I need to rest my brain and re-examine my career. This has been a busy year, writing and publishing-wise for me. I had one book come out in April ( CAN’T STAND THE HEAT), and I have at least 2 books ( DEARLY BELOVED and CHRISTMAS & CANOLLIS)  and an e-book (HOPE’S DREAM) coming out before the end of the year, plus 2 Audible books.

That’s a lot.

Really. A lot.

So….let’s see if I survive this little vaca from writing everyday. I just might not be able to….breathe, and by breathe, I mean make it out on the other end alive!

Hahah. Dramatic, thy name is Peg Jaeger.

Any hoo. I’ll report back after my self imposed exile ends. Until then, I’ll be scheduling some stuff  on Hootsuite I’m writing a head of time, so you’ll still hear from me regularly.

When I’m off the grid – and even when I’m on it – you can find me here:

Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// Book Me

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July 30, 2018 · 8:28 am

The End…for now

The logo/motto for the 2018 RWA conference was RETHINK REVITALIZE RENEW. I think I did all 3.

It’s been a week since I’ve been home and I’ve been super busy trying to finish edits on an upcoming title, due today. Yesterday I completed them and sent them on their way, so now I can start to listen to the RWA flash drive of the classes and workshops I missed, plus put into effect some of the marketing strategies I learned.

Here are a few random pictures I still haven’t posted from the event. Next year, NYC. Can’t wait…truly!

When I had to choose which shoes to wear to which event: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the menu had yet another thing I was allergic to: (PS I  never ate the food at any of the  luncheons or dinners because I was allergic to almost everything they served!

My favorite event: The ProLiteracy book Singing!

Next year I’m going to be more diligent in how I take pictures. This year I didn’t take enough!

If you’re looking for me before RWA2019 in NYC, you can find me here:Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// Book Me

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July 27, 2018 · 4:00 am

Set for life….

This is a topic/prompt I’ve thought about a lot in recent years: What would I do if I won the lottery?

You would think the ideas would be endless. They might…for some. But not me.

If I suddenly came into great wealth there are really just a few things I’d do with the money.

  1. Make my husband retire. And I mean MAKE!!! He’d have no choice at all in the matter.
  2. Pay off all the mortgages/school loans/ debts of my parents and in laws.
  3. Start a foundation dedicated to PAYING IT FORWARD. I’ve had so many blessings in my life ( even if I don’t win the lottery) that I feel I need to help others as I’ve been helped, with the stipulation they pay the good fortune forward.

That’s really all I can think of for now. I wouldn’t suddenly leave on a world tour; I wouldn’t go buy-crazy and get boats, houses in every state, flashy jewelry.

I have simple tastes and not much actual NEED.

Don’t hate me….heehee.

Let’s see what some of the other authors in this blog challenge would do with a sudden influx of ridiculous cash. MFRWauthorblogchallenge

And if you’re trying to find me, look here:Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// Book Me

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July 25, 2018 · 4:00 am

The Doors of #RWA2018

Many years ago when I visited my daughter in Ireland where she was studying, I came upon a poster in a local shop called the Doors of Dublin.

 

This is my version of that famous poster featuring many of the decorated elevator doors at the Sheraton Downtown hotel where RWA 2018 was held. RWA has been shrink-wrapping the elevator doors in hotels for years and it’s a fabulous marketing tool for the authors who are lucky enough to be able to afford it. I’m not at that tier yet but….someday.

 

Obviously, I couldn’t put every elevator door poster in this blog, but believe me when I tell you – there were a lot of them and every one was sosososo cool!

I have photos from past years of these elevators, too, so I think that I’ll put together a poster like the Doors of Dublin and see if I become famous like the photographer who put that collection together did!

Just think’ aloud, peeps.

Find me here:Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// Book Me

 

 

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