Tanya Hanson romance author

My New Journey

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Well, after more than two decades at the computer writing my tales on the “trails to tenderness”, I find myself on a new path of family and well-being. Those writing days are riding off into the sunset. Many of my older titles are no longer available, and after much thought and prayer, I have decided that self-publishing them is just not something I want to pursue.

Sad? Relieved? A bit of both, but mostly joy. I made lifelong friends, worked with fabulous editors including Cheryl Pierson, Nic D’Arenza, Nicola Martinez, and Lisa McCaskill, who all taught and inspired me. Good memories and real books in my hand. It’s been a great ride with lots of hills and valleys, exciting awards and nominations, and a healthy dose of rejections, too. Since 2010, I’ve been honored to be part of Pelican Book Group where I will have a new Christmas story out this year. It’s a medieval1 And I’m thinking about one more Hearts Crossing Ranch prequel. But that is in the Lord’s hands right now–He will let me know if the simmering idea reaches a boiling point.

Right now, traveling with my hubby is a joyful use of my time. I enjoy retirement and spoiling our four grandkids and one dilute calico kitty. There’s always my succulents to work on, another trip to plan…and my 8-year old granddaughter MIGHT want to get a sewing machine all her own with Gramma as her teacher. Since I love fashion, I am hopeful.

Currently, I’m making framable collages of all my book covers.

Most important, every week this year, I write down a blessing I’ve experienced. In these troubled times, I pray to shut out the division, noise, and chaos all around, and my Mason jar of scribbles will be treat to re-read next New Year’s Eve.

May 2025 bring all of us good things!

Much love,

~Tanya

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The Heart of a Stranger~Christmas 2024!

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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

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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:

Today’s Tender Trail….

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My dear friend and former teaching colleague John moved up to Washington a while back, so we keep in touch electronically LOL. Here’s a pic of the autumn walk he took a couple days ago, and I couldn’t resist asking permission to share his photo. He readily agreed. We each taught American Studies at a Catholic high school, and share the same core beliefs about our country’s history and Constitution. Here ya go, a look at a perfect fall day in Washington state!

P.s. I’ll be reading and reviewing another dear friend LoRee Peery’s Christmas story in the near future, so stay tuned!

Love at First Snow

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A Hearts Crossing Ranch Origin Story!

My baby Kitty Leigh.

Okay, my dilute calico babygirl really isn’t the reason I’m posting today, but my release IS a Christmas story, and I came across this picture and…you understand. She’s three and we adopted her during Covid lockdown from our local animal services, and she’s definitely become Her Royal Highness of the Household.

(One day soon I’ll post her peeking out of the Christmas tree branches at age three months, when she climbed to the top.)

Anyway, moving on…I’m thrilled to be part of Pelican Book Group’s 2023 Christmas Extravaganza, and to continue the saga of the Martin family of Hearts Crossing Ranch in Mountain Cove, Colorado. There’s even an anthology with the first eight stories–featuring separately the challenges and romances of each of eight Martin siblings. I’ll show you more about it soon. But LOVE AT FIRST SNOW is the story of how their ma and pa meet. We go back all the way to 1976, yikes, to meet Elaine Martin and Alex Kennedy, who get together –of course, at Christmastime.

Another gorgeous cover to print out and frame, and hang on my wall.

I also love how their faces are kinda hidden with western mystique. You can imagine their visages all by yourself.

I’ll be back soon to post a blurb and a release date. Or at least the blurb! Can’t wait to share more with you.

Love at First Snow…

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LOVE AT FIRST SNOW...coming December 2023!

If you’ve known me longer than ten seconds, you know I like nothing better than writing Christmas stories and watching Christmas movies. I’m already recording practically every second of Hallmark and GACs’s “Christmas In July” programming. Ought to keep me busy until, uh, Christmas.

But I’m here today to announce that the next installment to my Hearts Crossing Ranch series over at PelicanBookGroup, LOVE AT FIRST SNOW, will be part of their wonderful CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA, featuring 24 stories by select authors. I can’t wait to cuddle up with every single one, my impossibly spoiled calico kitty Leigh snug on my lap…

LAFS was an amazingly enjoyable story to write, as it’s set back in 1976. It’s origin story of how Hearts Crossing matriarch Elaine Martin meets the love of her life, Alex Kennedy. While this makes one dozen novellas in this series about the Martin family of Mountain Cove, Colorado, never fear: each book is stand-alone. So…Kennedy? Yet it’s the Martin family? Find out how and why Alex takes his bride’s last name.

I’m thinking…just like “Yellowstone” (love it or hate it LOL…) next year’s Christmas story just might take me back to my original writing roots–the Old West, and how Josephus Martin started the ranch in the first place…

Stay tuned for more deets. And enjoy this lovely summer “Christmas in July” day!

Me at Lake Tahoe, last November

Time Goes So Fast…

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I am not the only one who thinks the world is spinning faster and there are fewer seconds each day. But if I ever catch up, I’ll just have to start all over again. Thing is, I have a beautiful story out right now, Royalty at the Ranch. about a cowboy who’s a prince. Incognito with a college chum at Hearts Crossing Ranch for Christmas, Brodie (aka Prince Anders) finds his heart stolen by the ranch’s granddaughter. (You can read more about her in Seeing Daylight.) But he lives in (fictional) Dornfeld, Addie in Colorado. Oh, what to do? Of course you know me, and you know a happy ending’s in store. And that I believe in Christmas Miracles. Thanks to my amazing publisher, Pelican Book group’s Christmas Extravaganza, and Watershed lines, for bringing my story to life. It’s so hard to leave Hearts Crossing Ranch that my brain is always exploding with new plots and characters, all set in that perfect little part of Colorado. Fingers crossed for next Christmas!