Christmas Lights

The Heart of a Stranger~Christmas 2024!

/ Tanya Hanson / Leave a comment

Howdy! Welcome to my world of writing. The upcoming The Heart of a Stranger was a joy to write. I’m both honored and thrilled to announce that this prequel to the Hearts Crossing Ranch series has been selected as one of only 24 stories for Pelican Book Group’s annual Christmas Extravaganza! I’ve gone back to my origins for this one–historical Western romance. It’s December 1876, and the ranch’s heir Elena Montoya meets handsome interloper James Martin as the family graveyard. He claims he owns the ranch. Of course it’s love at first sight, but then he nearly dies in her arms. It’s a story of love for sure, Christmas comfort and joy, faith always, and a fine little mystery. Is Hector, her long-time trusted ranch boss, actually a killer?

I hope you like reading it as much as I liked writing it. Hearts Crossing Ranch began in 2010 after I entered a writing contest at Pelican book Group. Since then, my fictional Colorado ranch has inspired thirteen stories. I just can’t stop filling it with people–their love stories and faith journeys.

My editor-in-chief Nicola Martinez is amazingly supporting, both professionally and personally. Not long ago, she helped me through a health challenge. Honestly, she’s the first person I confided in. And Lisa McCaskill, who along with Nicola edits my books, is also near-perfection. These ladies give life to my ranch and help my dreams come true. Thanks and love to both.

And just sayin’…Wordpress gives me absolute fits. But it did auto-generate this lovely image for me.

Bye for now. I’ll be starting a Scents And Scentsibility page soon (What’s that? Stay tuned!) as well as a writer’s tool box. Gotta put my career as a Catholic high school English teacher to use in my retirement. And I reckon new ideas will get me back here more often.

Please come back. Love to all who’ve wandered by on my trail to tenderness.

It’s Here–LOVE at FIRST SNOW

/ Tanya Hanson / Leave a comment

Yep, my prequel to the Hearts Crossing Ranch stories is now available! Release date is called a “book birthday”, but in this case, it’s a Christmas treat! Part of the Christmas Extravaganza at my wonderful publishing house, Pelican Book Group. Each year, PBG selects 24 authors for their Christmas stories of holiday traditions, families, hope, and faith. I am so pleased to be one of the bunch for the fourth time!

I love Christmas stories as much as I adore Christmas movies. I read and watch both all year long. So…it’s easy to get inspired to write an Extravaganza.

I came up with the title first, reckoning somehow I’d figure out a Christmas Extravaganza story that fit. All my stories take place at my fictional Hearts Crossing Ranch in fictional Mountain Cove, Colorado, each one featuring a member of the Martin clan. So…this time I decided on a prequel of how their ma and pa met in 1976. Such a fun hobble down memory for my editor Lisa and me. I wrote the story for the Watershed line, since present-day matriarch Elaine is twenty years old in the book, refusing to go back to college after taking time after her father’s death. Yeah, it’s labeled YA, but it’s suitable for all ages, I promise. Something about first love we can all relate to. Sigh. And for some of us, like Elaine and me, it lasts forever!

Book Link:

Merry Almost Christmas!

/ Tanya Hanson / Leave a comment
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A happy trail near my home.

So glad the trail led you here to my homestead. Kick off your boots and make yourself welcome. It doesn’t snow around here, so I enjoy writing and reading Christmas stories all year long so I can pretend. Hang around barefoot as long as you want here along the beaches of California’s central coast.

Well, this was a tough year. I needed to remind myself of miracles a whole bunch. Our hearts broke at losing a loved one to Covid, and I gotta isolate a much as I can, due to a medication that messes up my immune system. Seeing the four grands and planning for Christmas are big challenges for sure. But hey, God’s in charge, always has been, aways will be.

Anyway, I hope you’ll return to Hearts Crossing Ranch in my latest novella for the series, Holly Hearts, and enjoy a merry little Christmas with Elli and Haggai. A kindergartener in Sanctuary, ranch granddaughter Ella Martin is now old enough to be a teenager with a heart and heartbreak all her own! When the hottest guy at school–not to mention her dad’s favorite ranch hand–breaks their date for the Winter Formal, she’s got to hold it together. Especially when she finds out Haggs is worried about his mom’s medical crisis. Well, she knows all about loving–and losing a mom–she’s lost one and trying to love another–so whatever Haggs needs, she’ll be there at his side.

The characters might be teenagers, but the theme of this book resonates with all ages. I mean, we’ve all been sixteen once, right? Helped somebody we love through a bad time, and hopefully trusted in God. It’s a sweet romance with a faith message, but as you know, my stories are never judge-y. It’s truly a story for everybody, all ages, all believers. And I know for sure Jesus held my hand while I wrote this. Please enjoy your journey back to Hearts Crossing Ranch!

Where of course, it snows every Christmas!

All about Tanya’s tender tales

/ Tanya Hanson / Leave a comment

Welcome to my homestead! So glad the trail led you here.  Just kick off your boots or sneakers or flipflops…you can even stick around here barefoot. Whatever you’re wearing or whatever mood you’re in, you’re bound to find something to read on my bookshelf.  I always love me a cowboy, but let me say, I’ve got plenty of other other pieces  in my Crazy Quilt. Please stay a while and check things out.

News Flash: My first-ever World War II story, Nearby, is first-up in the mystical anthology MUSIC FROM THE HEART, where each author’s story is based on a historic popular songs. “Someone to Watch Over Me” inspired Stella and Ty’s wartime love story. Are there really angels?

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My sweet romance WHEN HEARTS FLY takes you to my very own imaginary town, Paradise, Nebraska, in the Old West. Innkeeper Cordy Meeker wants a cowboy all her own, and falls into the arms of Hawk Shockley, a handsome Brit wearing a Stetson. But her late and very bad twin brother has gotten her in trouble…Enter Eadweard Muybridge, the real-life father of the motion picture. Is he friend? Or foe? Is Hawk true love? Or a charlatan?

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Then…ride along with me and seven other terrific authors as we take a JOURNEY OF THE HEART and explore every thinkable mode of transportation in the Old West.  In Sorry, my preacher’s-niece heroine Sarah, aka Sorry, scandalizes Truckee, California, by Riding a Bicycle. And nearly runs down a handsome preacherman who’s trying to find his way. And his heart. 

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Just released in one handy beach-read anthology…the original Hearts Crossing Ranch series, all eight stories in one big book!

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And now in print–my first-ever Time Travel romance Witchy Woman along with two other spicier stories in IT MUST BE MAGIC, all part of the 2016 Octoberfest at Cobblestone Press. You’ll have a fun ride going back with Allie and Pack to Salem, Massachusetts, one of my favorite places, in 1644 where they Save The World, (just kidding), fall in love (of course!) and, oh, it has nothing to do with witchcraft.

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Witchy Woman is also available separately.

Stay in touch, stay strong, and God bless!

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