Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a semi-retired professor who decided at 69 that I could grade papers AND start writing romantic suspense with a cozy mystery twist. I’ve always loved stories that combine heart, humor, and a little danger—and now I get to write them. I published Lost Heart in King Manor in April of 2025, book one in my Mysteries of a Heart series. Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle (book two) will be released on September 22. 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!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Lost Heart in King Manor, the first in the Mysteries of a Heart series. It was inspired by my love of old estates, hidden tunnels, complicated families, and the idea that it’s never too late for a second chance—or a little danger. I wanted to write a story where a woman in midlife is forced to confront her past, protect her future, and navigate both a murder mystery and a love triangle—all while trapped inside a storm-battered manor. It’s cozy-meets-suspense with a heroine who’s far from finished.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I plot entire chapters in the shower and talk to my characters like they owe me rent. I also have a small dog who thinks she’s my editor—she barks when she doesn’t like a line (or when I forget snacks). Walks are a real imagination booster, as are grocery lines, and coffee shop ques. Also, I have a habit of accidentally turning a cozy mystery into a steamy scene and then having to rein myself in. Oops.
Seriously though, the decorating theme for house is post-its. They’re everywhere, with my ideas, one-liners, plot twists, quotes, grocery lists…scribbled on them.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been reading since I was 4 or 5…Nancy Drew of course. Then I graduated to Victoria Holt, Harold Robbins, Agatha Christie, Phyllis Whitney, Daphne du Maurier, Mary Stewart…gosh, I could go on and on. I can’t forget M.C. Beaton. I went on a Murder, She Wrote TV bender. I admire how Louise Penny and Tana French build mood and character, and how writers like Janet Evanovich and Elinor Lipman keep humor alive even in the messiest moments. My tone tends to land somewhere between “Jessica Fletcher meets Nora Roberts” with a dash of sarcasm.
What are you working on now?
I’m deep into Broken Heart at Avalon Chateau, where my characters are stuck in a remote Canadian chateau with a hidden treasure, suspicious sabotage, and a blizzard rolling in. There’s a dual mystery unfolding—one in the chateau, the other back home on Dost Island—and let’s just say, no one’s leaving unscathed. Or unsmooched.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly? I’m still figuring that out. I came into this whole social media thing with the enthusiasm of a teenager… trapped in the body of a woman who still double-checks what LOL means. But I’m learning! I’m launching a TikTok channel (GrittyGrannyWrites), where I talk books, banter, and occasionally forget where the camera is. I’m also onYouTube, Instagram and Facebook, and I’ve discovered that Canva is my new best friend for pretending I know what I’m doing. So, while I might not be a marketing guru yet, I am persistent.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid. I think I waited way too long because I was afraid of failure…afraid of rejection. Start writing. Even if it’s just a page at a time. Keep going and finish the book, the poem, the memoir…whatever your art is. What a wonderful legacy that will be for your family and loved ones.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you know.”
— Christopher Robin to Winnie-the-Pooh. Gabby Heart reminds her daughter Valentine of this wisdom in Chapter 1 of Lost Heart in King Manor.
What are you reading now?
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld and Storm Watch by C.J. Box. I’m also rereading The Thursday Murder Club series while anxiously awaiting the show on Netflix,
What’s next for you as a writer?
After Broken Heart, I’m taking my characters to Tasmania for And there’s more! Book Four—Wild Heart at Crest Edge Villa—takes Gabby and friends to Tasmania after Anna’s half-brother dies under mysterious circumstances. A cryptic letter leads them deep into the wilderness in a motorhome (what could go wrong?), where a wrong turn becomes a survival story with eerie twists, ancestral secrets, and a stalker in the shadows. Book Five—Rescued Heart at Water’s Edge—is also outlined. After barely escaping Tasmania, the group ends up shipwrecked on an uncharted island. Let’s just say—Gabby didn’t exactly pack for Cast Away. Think family secrets, foggy cliffs, and a dangerous inheritance. I’ll also be working on marketing through my social media (celestefenton.com, celestefenton.writes on YouTube, and building an Instagram and BookTok following.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Oh no! I can’t do that. That’s like picking a favorite grandchild. If you read Lost Heart in King Manor and Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle, you’ll get a clue about what is one of my favorites!
Author Websites and Profiles
CELESTE FENTON Website
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