Tell us about yourself.
I’m a widow, mother of twin sons, proud grandmother, semi-retired professor, and lifelong lover of stories, dogs, and small towns with big character. My writing is shaped by years spent in education, a fascination with intrigue, an appreciation for the mysteries of the heart, and—let’s be honest—a wildly active imagination.
I grew up in a small Florida town with one IGA grocery store, a diner where everyone gathered over coffee and blueberry pie, and no McDonald's in sight. Back then, I couldn’t wait to leave for the big city life I saw on TV. Now that I live in a city, I find myself drawn back to small towns—traveling to new ones whenever I can, sometimes for a month at a time. Go figure.
I’ve been to all 50 states, co-owned an educational consulting business, and had a long career in both secondary and higher education. When my beloved husband was alive, we loved to travel—and I still carry that spirit with me. These days, my big projects are writing my Mysteries of a Heart series, building a media presence, and watching YouTube tutorials so I can tackle DIY home projects with more optimism than skill. Currently, I’m trying to replace a medicine cabinet.
In between writing and marketing, I take walks with my spoiled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and happily spoil my grandchildren even more.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in a small town—and like most teenagers convinced they were meant for something much bigger—I couldn’t wait to get the heck out. Small-town life felt too quiet, too slow, and frankly, too full of people who knew what you were up to before you did.
Fast forward a few decades and a big-city zip code later… and I find myself utterly charmed by the very thing I ran from. I now travel to little towns and villages across the country and like a mystery-loving anthropologist, observing everything from quirky diner regulars to perfect flowerbeds (how do they do that?!). It turns out, small towns are brimming with stories—especially the twisty, secret-filled kind.
The fictional world of Dost Island in Lost Heart in King Manor was inspired by real-life visits throughout New England. It’s a place where gossip travels faster than Wi-Fi, everyone has a skeleton or two in their closet, and Lola's A&A is an unofficial news station. Perfect for a cozy mystery! Or a romantic suspense novel.
What was your journey to getting published like?
Imagine a long, winding road with potholes, detours, coffee in the a.m., wine in the p.m., and a GPS that keeps muttering, “Recalculating.” That’s pretty much my journey to getting published.
There were moments I thought, This is it! I’ve done it!—only to realize I’d accidentally sent the wrong draft. Or queried an agent who specialized in dragon/human love (no shade, just… not my thing). There were plot twists, late-night rewrites, and the occasional dramatic vow to quit it all and take up gardening.
But like any good love story, persistence won out. I kept showing up—laptop in hand, coffee in bloodstream—and eventually, I found my happily-ever-after with publication. Turns out, all that heartache, sweat, and stubbornness was worth it.
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
There were two gems, actually—both game-changers.
The first was: Start with a cliffhanger. Hook the reader right out of the gate. It reminded me a lot of teaching—where you begin with the end in mind and work backward to create something compelling. Except in writing, it’s less about lesson plans and more about dead bodies, mysterious strangers, or a well-timed kiss.
The second was that old chestnut: Show, don’t tell. I used to want to narrate everything like a tour guide—“And on your left, we have our heroine feeling sad!” But I’ve learned to loosen my grip, trust the characters, and let them misbehave on the page. Honestly, they’re far more interesting when I stop trying to control the conversation. Much like real life.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Start now. Not someday, not when things calm down, and definitely not once Mercury’s out of retrograde. Just start. I didn’t begin writing seriously until later in life, and let me tell you—my only regret is not starting sooner. (Well, that and big hair in the ’80s—but in my defense, it was the style.)
Don’t worry if you don’t have a fancy writing degree or a dedicated office. My desk is my lap, where the laptop lives, the TV hums in the background, and my dog supervises every word I type. Stories don’t care how old you are or what stage of life you’re in. They just want out.
And don’t wait for Inspiration. She can be flaky. But you can show up. Write the bad draft. Then make it better. You can’t edit a blank page, but you can wrestle a messy one into something intriguing.
Wondering if it’s too late? It’s not. If you’re breathing, you’re right on time. Just don’t wait for Time to circle back—it’s moving on.
What’s a fun fact about you that your readers might not know?
I’m mildly obsessed with the New York Times morning puzzles—Wordle, Connections, the Mini, you name it. Gotta feed the little grey cells.
Escape rooms! Love them! There’s just something about locked doors, cryptic clues, and a countdown clock that gets my heart racing—in the best possible way. Basically, if there’s a problem to solve, I’m in. Which probably explains a lot about my writing.
And hey—when my brain needs a break? Who doesn’t love Hallmark’s Christmas in July? I’ll take a cozy mystery with a side of Andrew Walker or Tyler Hynes any day. Preferably with cookies.
What’s your guilty pleasure book or genre?
For a romantic escape? Give me anything by Lisa Kleypas or Julia Quinn. Suddenly, I’m in a beautiful gown (that somehow laces up perfectly on the first try), being ravished by a brooding, misunderstood duke who smells like leather, danger, and expensive cologne. Sigh. No emails, no laundry, no deadlines—just ballroom drama, stolen glances, and the occasional scandalous carriage ride.
But when I want to get down and dirty… nothing beats a gritty mystery. High stakes, dark secrets, and a killer on the loose? Yes, please. And if I’m not feeling quite that brave, a cozy mystery hits the spot—small towns, quirky characters, and the occasional body behind the bakery.
The best of both worlds? Romantic suspense or mystery romance—think Nora Roberts with a flashlight and a kiss. That's my sweet spot.
What’s your favorite quote about writing?
“Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
I cried when I killed off a character in Book 2, Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle.
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
When I’m deep in writing mode, I don’t read much—mostly because my brain is already juggling plot twists, dialogue, and imaginary arguments 24/7. But when I do unplug, I love spending time with my family, going to dances and events in my 55+ community (yes, we party), traveling, and—my secret hobby—Christmas-themed paint-by-numbers.
And when I settle in for a Hallmark movie? You better believe I’m mentally kicking out Nikki DeLoach or Lacey Chabert and inserting myself into that starring role. Celeste Fenton with flawless hair, wearing something with white furballs, perfect snowfall backdrop, and flirting with a handsome gingerbread-baking widower? Yes, please.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Curious George. I amaze myself sometimes. Can't believe I can remember that far back. I think I must have been 3 or 4.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
I’ve always been a romantic at heart—I believe in the power of love to heal, surprise, and transform. But I also love a good twist, a little danger, and the thrill of a mystery unraveling. So, I didn’t exactly choose one genre—I let them mingle. My books weave together romance, mystery, and suspense, because I think life is rarely just one thing. There’s love, yes—but also secrets, heartbreak, adventure, and sometimes a dead body or two.
Romance gives readers (and writers!) that wonderful sense of hope and escape—the promise that even in chaos, a happy ending is still possible.
How do you deal with negative reviews?
I confess that often my first instinct is to get a little defensive and maybe mutter something dramatic to my dog. But once the initial sting fades, I try to open my mind and really listen to what’s at the core of the critique. Not every review will be useful, but some offer real insight that helps me grow, tighten my writing, or clarify my messaging.
At the end of the day, reviews, good and bad, mean someone took the time to read my book. And that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.
How do you connect with your readers?
I love connecting with readers through the blog on my website, where I share updates, behind-the-scenes stories, and the occasional writerly musing. I’m also working on mastering the social media jungle—building a stronger presence on Facebook and Instagram, and creating videos for BookTok (with only mild tech-related meltdowns).
Now that Lost Heart in King Manor is gaining traction, I’ve started attending book signings and literary events, which has been a joy. And one of my favorite ways to connect? Joining virtual book clubs to answer questions, chat about the writing process, and share juicy insights about the characters readers have come to love—or love to suspect.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am marketing Lost Heart in King Manor which was published in April of 2025. That’s book one in my Mysteries of a Heart series. Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle (book two) will be released on 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!
Are there any Easter eggs or hidden messages in your work?
Absolutely! I can’t help myself—there are little winks tucked all throughout my books. Some are subtle callbacks to earlier scenes or lines that take on new meaning later. Others are nods to classic mysteries, favorite literary quotes, or even a few inside jokes that only loyal readers (or my family!) might catch.
I also like to hide small clues about upcoming plot twists or future books—things that might seem like background details at first but turn out to matter later. And yes, a certain dog may or may not share some personality traits with one from real life…
So if you’re the kind of reader who likes to reread with a highlighter or make wild theories in the margins—I’ve got you covered.
How do you approach writing dialogue for your characters?
Before I even start writing the book, I spend time getting to know each character—their strengths and weaknesses, fears and vulnerabilities, and sometimes even the real-life person they’re loosely inspired by. I want to understand what makes them tick so that when I write their dialogue, it feels like something only they would say.
Dialogue is where characters truly come alive. It’s not just about what they say—it’s how they say it. Some are snarky, some are poetic, some speak in half-thoughts or movie quotes. I read every line out loud (yes, sometimes with dramatic flair) to make sure it sounds true to the character. If it doesn’t ring right, I tweak it until it does.
I also love the messy stuff—characters interrupting each other, saying the wrong thing, or hiding what they really mean under layers of banter. Because hardly anyone I know speaks in tidy, well-edited sentences.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
A huge thank you. Truly. Your comments, messages, and support mean more than you know. The first time someone asked me to sign their book, I nearly cried. My first thought was, Really? Me? Are you sure you don’t mean the person behind me?
Every time a reader reaches out, leaves a review, or shares a favorite moment from one of my books, it reminds me why I write in the first place—to connect, to entertain, and maybe even to comfort.
So please—keep those comments and ideas coming! You can leave me a message on my website (celestefenton.com). Find me on social media, drop me a note, or tag me in your bookish posts. I love hearing from you (I do a little happy dance every time).
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.