Fourteen years ago today, I sat with trembling fingers, terrified to push the button that was going to change my life.
Of course, at the time I had no idea how clicking “submit” would begin a whole new chapter I’d only dreamed was possible.
Fourteen years ago today, I published my first three books and a prelude short story in The Women of Tenacity series. It’s stressful enough publishing one book, but a whole series? Pretty sure I was crazy as well as terrified.
Before I hit that final button, I remember wondering for the thousandth time if people would hate my books. Would anyone buy them? Was I dreaming dreams that were too big and unreachable?
Even if my dreams were too big, I had to try.
And I’ve not once regretted that I did.
I love this quote because it reminds me when I hesitate to climb in the bravery bulldozer and forge ahead.
Today, the digital boxed set of The Women of Tenacity is one sale for just 99 cents! It includes the bonus short story!
Welcome to Tenacity!
Visit this small town in Oregon where hardworking cowboys tangle with tenacious women, and sweet romance lingers just around the corner.
This collection of full-length sweet western romances are the heartwarming stories that launched Shanna’s writing career!
Meet The Women of Tenacity
Prelude (bonus short story!)
Spend a day getting to know several characters who live in Tenacity, including a couple of joking cowboys who find out the joke is really on them.
Heart of Clay
Easygoing cowboy Clay Matthews is about to unknowingly unravel the very last thread holding his wife together.
Heart Hope
Sparks fly as a battle of stubborn will ensues when a confirmed city girl falls in love with a . . . country boy.
Heart of Love
A charming, outgoing cowboy has yet to meet a woman who can resist him. Then he encounters a shy librarian who turns his world upside down.
For a chance to win autographed copies of the series and some swag, click on the Enter Now button below.
Then come back here and share one big dream, creative thing, or moment of bravery that changed your life or brought you joy.
After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky western heroes.
When this USA Today bestselling author isn’t writing or covertly hiding decadent chocolate from the other occupants of her home, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.
becoming published in short story in 2015.
That is so awesome, Denise!
Good morning Shanna! I think winning Non-Professional first place/best of show on Ties That Bind. Blue ribbon. It’s a colored sepia drawing of Victorian boots. And my former High School art teacher, and now friend, winning Professional Best of show on her art piece. I couldn’t wait to turn it in, but then I had to have surgery and couldn’t get it to the art show. Without me knowing, my 12th grade senior daughter took my framed art work to the show and entered it. What an honor I felt to win. And with my mentor and friend winning also.
I’m so happy you took that leap of faith Shanna! We have all been blessed to read your wonderful books. Many blessings!
What a wonderful story, Tracy! How neat your daughter entered the artwork for you, and how wonderful to be winning with your mentor and friend. I love that! And your award is well deserved. You are such a talented artist!
Thank you for your kind words about my writing. I so appreciate you and your readership!
My bull dozer moment was when I sang a song at each church my husband and I traveled to to raise support for the mission field. I had never sang a solo before.
Oh, my goodness! What a brave thing for you to do, and what a blessing to those you sang to!
drawing
Love that you draw!
All the births of Kids and Grands!
That is wonderful!
Getting married and then becoming a mom!
Love that!
Shanna, I love your books, every one of them! Your emotional scenes bring on tears every time for me. I always look forward to your newest book and also searching for your older ones I can indulge in. It is a miracle you have found and created.
So kind of you to share, Judy! Thank you so very much! I’m so grateful for your readership!
Playing a sport that challenges me and brings me great enjoyment.
That is fantastic, Laini!
Unfortunately for me, my dreams did not come to fruition. My desire was to open a bookstore with a coffee bar included. I had gone so far as looking at a location in Knoxville, TN, but my husband was not approving of this idea. Basically, we were not financially set up for such an investment. I still think of that wish. I am not a brave person, perse. I delight in the thought of being a leader, which I did each time I was a manager of some business. But that is as far as it went.
Oh, hugs, Judy! I’m glad you were able to be a business manager. If the coffee shop is meant to be, may it be so!
My kids and grandkids.
Love that!
Baking and giving my baked goods to others always brings me joy.
That is a wonderful thing, Becki!
When I found out that I was single and pregnant I decided that I would be brave and raise that child on my own. At 18 and just out of high school I was scared of being a failure. But I still did it. No help from anyone else. I grew up in a house with six children and mom worked nights. I really didn’t have quidance in my life being next to the youngest. Mom tried her best. And I understand that. I grew up to be a strong willed woman who worked hard and took responsibility for my own actions.
Shanna, I love your blog. It really hit home for me. I’ve written all my life in one form or another and I excelled in writing assignments in school. But I never thought I was smart enough to write a book. I thought only college graduates had the skills. One thing that helped was being a huge romance reader. I read them all and soaked them up. Then one day I read a book and hated the ending. It was all wrong. So I sat down and rewrote it. That gave me confidence to start my own book. Still, it wasn’t until a writing group formed in our town and I joined it that I learned the skills I needed. I’m grateful to my extreme stubborn nature and kept going long after I wanted to give up. A dream of succeeding kept me trying until I got a contract with Kensington Publishing. It was really scary but it sure paid off in some surprising ways. Kudos to you for pulling out that first series!
Oh, Linda! I’m so glad you are stubborn and tenacious, because the world is a better place with your beautiful books in it. Thank you, sweet friend!
My biggest joy has been giving my life to Christ, everything else I’ve been through, the good and the bad, knowing Him has made such a difference in how I respond to life and its triumphs and troubles. Knowing that I can be a mentor to the younger girls in my family also bring me such joy and gives my life purpose.
I love that so much! What a wonderful thing to mentor the younger girls in your family. They have a special person they can look up to in you.
Having and raising 3 boys while I wasn’t in the best of health after my divorce I think is the bravest thing I’ve ever done.
That was brave of you, and shows how much you love your boys. Happy summer to you.
Moving across the country
That was a big, brave step to take!
Congratulations this is Awesome Shanna! <3
Well, after dating for 1 month I moved in with my then boyfriend , I was taking a big chance and being brave . Well after a year we got married . Next month we will be married for 48 years and we have 2 adult grown children with little families of their own and we have 3 grandchildren and we have 1 pup and lots of grand pups and grand kitties. I really liked my husband the very first day I saw him.
Oh, wow! That is a great story. When you know you’ve found the one – you know! Happy summer to you!
Getting my dream “job” of being an editor/proofreader dropped in my lap in January of 2020. God did it, and I love it!
That is wonderful, Trudy. So glad he opened that door for you!
I was hired as an executive secretary to work in a physician owned healthcare system. I remained in that position for 22 years and found it to be the greatest joy of my life. I enjoyed a ministry with people who were sick or were striving to improve their health. Some were merely trying to survive. The friendships made during those 22 years carry over to today with my coworkers. We were like family. It was part of God’s plan for my life and I couldn’t be more grateful.
I loved what you shared, Kathy. What a beautiful life lived with joy and gratitude, and how wonderful you had a ministry with people who were sick or healing in some way. You are amazing!
Definitely getting married and having kids.
That’s wonderful, Cherie! Happy summer!
Someone showed me how to do counted cross stitch when I was in 7th grade. I’ve made several things over the years. It brings me joy to make things for others and myself.
What a wonderful gift that skill is, Vickie! My husband’s grandmother made wonderful cross stitch projects. I need to learn one of these years. Happy summer to you!
I’m a bullying survivor have been bullied all my life and looked down upon when I graduated high school some sort of counselor he came to the house and listened to my goals then he said you my as well forget going to a 4 year college and a 2 year college because you’ll never make it through and that dream of just graduating from college came true in fact I not only graduated from a 2 year college with my Associates in Elementary Education but went on to a 4 year college and graduated with a Sociology Degree to say the least I’m very proud I was able to do that but if it were not for God’s help none of it would have happened so I am very thankful to God for helping me complete this dream
I’m so glad you followed your heart and dreams, Crystal. I know what it is like to have someone say you can’t do something. Proud of you for pursuing and being tenacious with your dreams. God is so good.
Thanks Shanna for your tenacity to take the leap & go full time as a writer. I have been reading as you have been writing! … I didn’t realize that it’s been almost 14 years ago that I read this set of stories!
Shanna, Keep on writing because my tenacity is that I am enjoying myself by staying up too late reading what you have written!
Thanks Shanna for your tenacity to take the leap & go full time as a writer. I have been reading as you have been writing! … I didn’t realize that it’s been almost 14 years ago that I read this set of stories!
Shanna, Keep on writing because my tenacity is that I am enjoying myself by staying up too late reading what you have written!
Oh, Abbie! Your kind words gave me the biggest smile. Thank you so much for reading my books and being an encouragement to me. I am grateful. Wishing you beautiful days ahead!
After my second quad tendons surgery on my left leg, no one was confident that I would be able to move my leg or have much weight bearing on it. When I was first able to bend it in physical therapy, the leg bent much more than anyone expected. I am walking with a walker at home, but use a wheelchair when I am out of the house. The Lord is a great, great God. God bless you.
I had to have two quad tendons surgeries on my left leg. No one was confident that I would be able to move my leg or have much weight bearing on it. When I was first able to bend it in physical therapy, the leg bent much more than anyone expected. I am walking with a walker at home, but use a wheelchair when I am out of the house. The Lord is a great, great God. God bless you.
That is wonderful you have more use of your leg than expected. Blessings to you Debra.
Graduating from college to be a medical assistant.
That is awesome!
When I was in high school, I heard President Kennedy’s speech about the formation of the Peace Corps in March of 1961. I decided at that time I would join. It took until I finished college in June of 1968, but I joined and left 4 weeks after my graduation. It was a big step for someone who lived at home during college and had only been away from home for a half semester for student teaching. I then found myself on the other side of the world. I finished the 2 year commitment and extended for another year. It was a fantastic experience and I got so much more from it than I could ever have given, even though I tried. It confirmed my beliefs about people and my commitment to service. I have continued for the rest of my life to live up to the standards I set for myself and my belief in service to others.
Having my daughters
My family and friends
When I was hired by the school district to supervise after school detention and that turned into a classroom placement in special Ed for 25 years.
Think one of the bravest things I did was to have a knee replacement (it needed to be done). I’d had both my hips replaced several years before, and the 2nd one of those, I almost didn’t survive. My blood pressure dropped, and I went direct from surgery to ICU. Also, the medical staff always had had trouble getting IVs in, so I hated to face all that as well. But with a lot of prayer surrounding me, the insertion of the IVs went easy, the knee surgery itself went well, and my blood pressure stayed up!
I went to Paris a few years ago. I was meeting friends there from another part of the country. So I had to fly by myself, and was there a day before them. Walking around Paris by myself was nerve wracking and inspiring, and I was able to attend a Sunday mass at Notre Dame, before the fire. It was so incredible and beautiful to see this place I had always wanted to visit.