For The Latest From the Deerbourne Inn . . .

          Earth/Fire witch Mercy Rose's insatiable curiosity always gets her in trouble. After a break-in at her Colorado flower shop, and a court battle that comes to a screeching halt in her favor, she arrives at Deerbourne Inn for a much-needed getaway. Looking for peace and quiet, she finds just the opposite in a startling handsome but mysterious man and his dog.

          Silvanus Forrest's gypsy/fae heritage is a double-edged sword. The land he inherited from his parents is rumored to be enchanted. But when Mercy discovers the truth, his well-ordered life unravels, and they're catapulted into the past to right a wrong. Along the way their lives intertwine, and they discover the true meaning of family and love. Will they change the past in time to save their future?

Wild Women Authors is delighted to present Mystic Maples the latest release in the Deerbourne Inn series, by Tena Stetler. We have an extra thrill of speaking with Mercy Rose, the heroine of Mystic Maples.

Where are you from? Colorado, my family owns a little flower shop there. After my parents retired, they gave the shop to my sister, Hope, and me. Now Mom and Dad split their time between Colorado and the family castle in Scotland.

Tell us a bit about Mystic Maples. Earth/Fire witch Mercy Rose's insatiable curiosity always gets her in trouble. Silvanus Forrest's gypsy/fae heritage is a double-edged sword. The land he inherited from his parents is rumored to be enchanted. But when Mercy discovers what’s hidden in the barn, his well-ordered life unravels, and they're catapulted into the past to right a wrong.

What did you think the first time you saw Silvanus?. He was very good looking and had a beautiful dog. 

Works for us. And your second thought? My track record with men sucks, so I should stay clear. That didn’t happen.

No, it certainly didn't. Was it love at first sight? Not really sure. It was more a feeling that we were meant for each other. You know fate.

Ah, yes, that pesky fate thing. What do you like most about him? His confidence and caring nature.

How would you describe Sil? Down to earth but he lets his family history drag him down, when there’s no reason for it.

How would he describe you? That I am a spontaneous individual with insatiable curiosity that gets me in trouble.

What made you choose being a florist and plant geneticist as a career? I’ve worked in the family flower shop since I could see over the counter. There were so many opportunities to create flowers no one has ever seen with gene splicing and a little magic sprinkled in. I love working with plants. Did you know that bioluminescence can be spliced or crossed into flowering plants, like roses, using bioluminescent bacteria?

Gee. Who knew. What is your biggest fear? I know it sounds cliché but failure is my biggest fear in either my personal or professional life. Heaven knows I’ve failed in my personal life enough, but it’s never permanent, thank goodness.

How do you relax? Working with flowers, bringing a garden to life.

And you certainly managed to do that, both at Sil's home and the Deerbourne Inn. Who is your favorite fictional character? Wonder Woman

Gee, another 'well duh' moment. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Keep my curiosity in check. I still haven’t mastered that though.

This has been a lot of fun for us, Mercy. Having read the story makes it extra special. We'd like to chat with Tena for a bit.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Love the humor infused in Molly Harper’s books. I enjoy the writing style of Deborah Harkness, and the hominess feel to Nancy Atherton’s books. I’ve tried to incorporate some aspects of each into my writing while still making it my own. If that makes sense. I hope it does.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? I’ve always had an overactive imagination and insatiable curiosity that is forever getting me in trouble. I share those traits with my character Mercy Rose which I think makes her an entertaining character.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? The Wild Rose Press is my publisher. I saw their name in the RWA’ monthly magazine. After being downsized from my job, I’d finished polishing A Demon’s Witch and was considering submitting it to publishers. That’s always a scary step, the first time. Heck it’s still scary and Mystic Maples was my ninth book in four years. My best friend and my husband became insistent that I send it off. So I finally did. The Wild Rose Press was the first to come back with an offer. The rest is history.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I am reading all The Deerbourne Inn books as they are released, but currently I am reading Destiny of a Warrior.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves?

Well, let’s see, I just turned in to my editor the sequel to Charm Me, fingers crossed she likes it. I’m also working on a three book cozy mystery series, as well as, the third book in A Witch’s Journey, and eventually the sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series. I thought I was done with that series, but my characters informed me differently.

Speaking of characters, of which there are many Mystic Maples, Tena brought an excerpt.

Still he couldn’t get the meddlesome woman out of his head. Maybe I should give her a chance to explain what she was doing on my property—well after dark.

Returning to the ATV, he turned to his dog. “People don’t run if they’re not guilty of something.” He scratched Rag-a-Muffin behind the ears. She leaned into his hand.

Technically, she didn’t run. He shook his head, raking his fingers through his hair. One minute she was standing there bathed in the silver of the full moon reminiscent of a yoga pose. The next, poof she disappeared into thin air.

At the location he’d spotted her last night, he parked the ATV, got out, and examined the area. Two deep barefoot prints in the dirt remained, as if she’d dug her feet into the earth on purpose. Picking up a handful of soil, he crumbled it, and let it sift through his fingers. His palm and fingers tingled. No doubt she was a magic creature. But what was her angle? How much did she know? Still sore, he absently rubbed at his lower chest where she’d zapped him, unsure of his next move.

It had been a long time since he’d used his talents or the gypsy intuition that his mother swore by. There was more to this woman than meets the eye. He could feel it

To purchase Mystic Maples, go to: Amazon, Barnes&Nobel and itunes

To learn more about Tena Stetler, go to:

Website: https://www.tenastetler.com

Authors’ Secret’s Blog - https://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/

My Say What Blog - http://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author

Twitter Page: www.twitter.com/TenaStetler

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tena-stetler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenastetler/