Romantic suspense author Celeste Fenton chats with me about her new novel, Lost Heart in King Manor, Book 1 in the Mysteries of a Heart series.
Celeste is touring with Wow! Women on Writing, so make sure to stop by and check out other tour stops! Details and links are below the interview.
Bio:
Celeste Fenton holds an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and has over thirty years’ experience in higher education. Her writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery, a fascination with the complexities of the human heart, and just enough real-world experience to keep things interesting. A widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired professor living in Florida, she weaves imagination with insight to create stories that are both emotionally rich and laced with suspense.
When she’s not writing, reading, or plotting her next twist, she’s often off exploring small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures, much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of friends and family. Her latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.
Please tell us about your current release.
Lost Heart in King Manor kicks off my Mysteries of a Heart series with forty-five-year-old Gabby Heart—who wants nothing more than quiet days on Dost Island running her gift shop, teaching art, and avoiding trouble. But life has other plans.
When her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby brings her to recuperate at King Manor, the island’s once-grand estate. What should have been a safe haven quickly turns into a hotbed of family secrets, betrayal, and eerie happenings. Someone within those walls has a dangerous agenda, and a brewing hurricane means no one is getting in… or out.
Trapped inside with two very different men—her exasperatingly handsome officemate and a charming new neighbor—Gabby has to decide who she can trust. One might want her heart. The other might want her gone… permanently.
This is a slow-burn romantic suspense with an edgy cozy mystery feel—humor, danger, brooding secrets, and a heroine over forty who’s more than capable of holding her own. Think small seaside town charm… with a deadly undertow. Because some secrets are worth killing for. And some hearts don’t break quietly.
What inspired you to write this book?
I didn’t start writing because life was calm. I started writing because life cracked open.
I had a draft I tinkered with now and then, but in 2021 everything changed. My beloved husband—my partner, lover, and best friend of nearly thirty years—died unexpectedly. I had to sell the home I thought I’d grow old in, and I had recently stepped away from a long career in education—a role that had given me identity and purpose. I felt untethered. I was supposed to… what? That’s when I went back to writing.
What also inspires me comes from observation and, I’ll admit, a fair amount of eavesdropping. Writers are magpies for moments—we collect them everywhere. In part, Lost Heart in King Manor grew out of the big stuff—the resilience of the human spirit, the way people survive heartache, loss, and grief and still manage to move forward with grace and grit. But it’s also rooted in the little things that keep us going: a mother absentmindedly stroking her child’s hair while waiting in line at Target, a toddler melting down over a toy, or the way my dog rests her head in my lap when I’m sad, saying more than words ever could.
So, if you see me in a café with my coffee going cold, I’m probably not zoning out—I’m stealing lines, gestures, and quirks for a future scene. Consider yourself warned.
Excerpt from Lost Heart in King Manor:
PROLOGUE
2019 – Friday, October 11
The cave walls pulsed with shifting shadows, torches spitting light against jagged stone. The air was thick with damp and the acrid bite of burning oil.
A gun glinted in the flickering light, its barrel locked on Gabby and her companion.
Is this how it ends?
Two months ago, her life had been safe. Simple. Maybe even dull. She’d thought kale smoothies were daring. Now, she was standing at the edge of oblivion—no longer just an instructor, no longer just a woman watching life pass by. She had become a sleuth. A fighter. A lover. And, if she didn’t move fast, a corpse.
The gun trembled, finger twitching over the trigger.
Gabby’s pulse pounded in her ears. Her breath came sharp and fast.
Do something. Now.
She lunged.
A deafening blast split the air, the gunshot ricocheting off cavern walls.
Well, on the bright side, at least she wouldn’t have to choose between two impossible men—death was annoyingly decisive that way.
What exciting project are you working on next?
Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle (book two) is being released today — September 22, 2025. Gabby Heart’s adventures continue with a trip to Scotland. Book three, Broken Heart at Avalon Chateau, filled with snowstorms, treasure maps, and too many secrets for one tucked away wintery retreat, will be out in the early spring of 2026. Stay tuned for books 4 and 5 in the Mysteries of a Heart series!
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Honestly, I’m still a little humble about that title—but I’m learning to give myself credit. One of my nephews gave me a big boost when he heard I’d finished and published Lost Heart in King Manor. His reaction was, “That’s amazing! You’ve created something that will be forever!” That stuck with me. It reminded me that what we put into the world—words, stories, art—can outlast us. And that’s a pretty incredible thing.
Do you write full-time?
I wish I could, but the truth is I have to snatch writing time whenever I can—an hour here, an hour there. I aim for at least four hours a day, but life has a habit of rearranging my plans.
What’s your workday like?
Most mornings start with my dog waking me around 6:30. After a bathroom walk and an enthusiastic sniff session, we head back inside for her breakfast and my coffee. That’s my prime writing time—two or three hours until she insists it’s time for another walk. Then it’s on to chores and errands.
As for finding time for writing, I chase writing time the way my dog chases lizards—optimistically and with a lot of distractions.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Sometimes I’ll write the same scene two or three different ways, or swap out the characters entirely, just to see where it leads. It’s a little like casting different actors in the same role and watching how the story shifts. (Can I confess that sometimes I imagine which actor/actress would be perfect for a certain character?). And I always have the TV on for background noise. Not because I’m watching it (I couldn’t tell you what’s on), but because complete silence makes me feel trapped.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Would you believe… a journalist? I had this romantic vision of chasing stories like Christiane Amanpour, Gloria Steinem, Marie Colvin…notebook in hand, uncovering the truth.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Writing my debut novel at 69 has been one of the most rewarding, fulfilling experiences of my life. I truly believe it’s never too late to pursue your passion, create something meaningful, and share it with the world. Whether it’s a book, a painting, a garden, or a business—make it yours. Not only will you inspire yourself, but you’ll be giving your family and friends a living example that dreams have no expiration date.
Thank you very much for this opportunity to share a little about myself and my books with your readers.
Links:
Website | Facebook | Amazon | YouTube | Goodreads | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org
Blog Tour Calendar
September 15th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Celeste Fenton’s debut novel filled with romance and suspense: Lost Heart in King Manor. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book. https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
September 16th @ All Things Writing
Don’t miss author Celeste Fenton’s advice on Setting the Stage for Suspense. https://www.caitrincking.com/blog
September 17th @ Chapter Break
Today’s guest is Celeste Fenton, telling the story of Publishing at 69! It’s Never Too Late for a Story. https://chapterbreak.net/
September 19th @ What Is That Book About
The spotlight’s on romance and suspense with Celeste Fenton’s debut novel Lost Heart in King Manor. www.whatisthatbookabout.com
September 22nd HERE!!
September 25th @ Words by Webb
Jodi reviews a novel for reader that like a good dose of adventure with their romance: Lost Heart in King Manor. https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
October 1st @ Avonna Loves Genres
Start the month off right with a review of Lost Heart in King Manor & a book giveaway. https://avonnalovesgenres.com/
October 2nd @ Some Thoughts. Everything Creativity
Stop by for a review of the first book in Celeste Fenton’s mystery series: Lost Heart in King Manor. https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/blog
October 3rd @ Books R Us
Author Celeste Fenton is visiting today with the guest post From Barbie to Breakdown: Writing About Complex Women. www.booksrusonline.com
October 4th @ Three Things on a Saturday Night
Searching for some Saturday fun? Lost Heart in king Manor made the list of Three Things on a Saturday Night! Check out the review. https://nicolepyles.substack.com/p/3-things-on-a-saturday-night
October 7th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Enter to win a copy of Lost Heart in King Manor. Author Celeste Fenton also share a guest post: Cozy Mystery Doesn’t Have to be Cute: Grit and Grace in Your Cozy. https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
October 9th @ Knotty Needle
Stop by for a review of Lost Heart of King Manor by Celeste Fenton. http://www.knottyneedle.blogspot.com
October 10th @ Some Thoughts. Everything Creativity
Novelist Celeste Fenton is posting about Using Weather as A Metaphor. https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/blog
October 19th @ Just Katherine
Everyone loves a romance! Find out how Celeste Fenton writes it with the guest post Second Chances, Slow Burn: Crafting the Romance in Lost Heart. https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com/
