Sunday, April 28, 2013

Nancy Lee Badger's Positive Quote of the Week

Yesterday I dared to struggle.
Today I dare to win.
-Bernadette Devlin,
political activist


Check out that dark blue wallpaper and formica counter
No, I am not a political activist, but the words hold special meaning to me. This past week has been exciting, upsetting, uplifting, and expensive.

Why did they put knobs in the middle of the doors? Also, only half the sink worked.
We have lived in this house for five years, and the kitchen has been an eyesore far longer. We bit the bullet and ordered a new countertop and sink from HOME DEPOT.

THAT was the easy part.

The cabinets needed to get a fresh coat of white paint, which I was perfectly capable of doing. HOWEVER, the doorknobs situated IN THE MIDDLE OF EACH DOOR. had to go, and the white paint needed to be stripped from the hinges.


Deconstruction was fun (but, I left the house)
My son, Eric, came to my rescue.

He removed the knobs and stripped the hinges. He puttied the old holes, and I painted all the cabinets. In the meantime, a plumber came in and disconected the ancient sink, useless faucet, and disgusting garbage disposal. 

Hubby and son made quick work of removing the old sink and countertop (circa 1977). 4 days later, the counter and sink were installed, but the house was filled with the horrid smell of glue. I took the boys to lunch as we aired the place out.

Silestone Quartz Countertop in Blue Sahara
The next day, the plumber returned and connected my sink and dishwasher back up (same horrid glue smell), and I was able to finally use it. Joy! Rapture! Clean hands! Washed dishes!

The struggle to choose the countertop, painting the cabinets, painting over the old wallpaper, paying for everything, and having limited use of a kitchen for 5 days was worth it.

I still need to choose a backsplash, but my kitchen works!
I agree with Ms. Devlin's quote: I struggled, but I won!

Nancy Lee

Monday, April 22, 2013

EARTH DAY APRIL 2013

A very happy Earth Day

to my readers and their families.

I hope the sun is shining and

the weather stays clear and dry.

Rodin Garden, NC Museum of Art-photo by Nancy Lee Badger


But if rain is in the forecast,
may your flowers grow!

Nancy Lee

Thursday, April 18, 2013

More About Dragons by Nancy Lee Badger


Here I am, talking about Dragons, again. These legendary creatures are typically pictured as having serpent-like or reptilian traits. Dragons are featured in the myths of cultures spanning the globe. Today, I will concentrate on the mythological dragons of Scotland.

Buy here
One story, dear to my heart, revolves around the most famous dragon of Scotland: the Loch Ness Monster. Nessie is classified as a dragon, even though many assume it is a leftover dinosaur or lake fish that has grown to gigantic proportions.  

Tales of Nessie date from the sixth century. Here is one story I researched: When Saint Columba traveled through the country of the Picts, he had to cross the River Ness. He came across Picts burying a man said to have been bitten by the water-monster. Not a stupid man, Columba ordered one of his men to swim across and return with a boat. The chosen man, Lugneus Mocumin swam off, but the monster saw him and charged. All on shore stood in horror except Columba, who raised his holy hand and inscribed the Cross in the air. He called upon the name of God and commanded the beast, saying, “Go no further! Do not touch the man! Go back at once!” The monster drew back, retreating to the depths of the Loch. Unharmed, Lugneus brought the boat back. Everyone was astonished. The heathen savages who witnessed the miracle were overcome and came to know the magnificence of the God of the Christians. 

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Nessie and Loch Ness are the most famous tourist attractions in Scotland and the locals will tell you about the mythical sea creature that some have actually seen in modern times and is probably a stranded dragon. Dragons have found their way into many modern books and movies. Shape shifters are a modern day paranormal storyline and several authors have used dragon lore to create stories to entertain us all.
 
love dragons, and find their inclusion in my stories a necessity at times. Dragon in the Mist is a short story based on the Loch Ness Monster. My current work-in-progress includes a dragon. Watch for My Reluctant Highlander, the third book in the Highland Games Through Time series (due out this summer!)
 

For more information concerning dragons and dragon lore, check your local library, book store, or these websites:
http://theserenedragon.net
http://www.monstropedia.org

                          Nancy


 

Friday, April 12, 2013

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews author Sandy Loyd


Author Sandy Loyd
Visiting author, Sandy Loyd, has shared some wonderful answers to my questions. Her book, A Matter of Trust, is a romantic suspense and was released on February 18, 2013
Do you have any rejection stories to share?
 
The first book I ever wrote, back before I even knew RWA or writing organizations existed, I sent out five queries with partials to agents I researched. I received three personal replies even though I had no idea what that meant. One in particular said she liked several elements but it wasn’t strong enough. I had no idea what that meant either (still don’t). What wasn’t strong enough? The writing or the story? But at the bottom off the letter was a PS that mentioned something along the lines that sample chapters should be the first three chapters. I’d sent the first chapter, a middle chapter and the ending chapter. To this day I still laugh over my ignorance. The further into the process I got, the more I realized just how ignorant I was. The business is vast and always changing.

I understand about ignorance. Before joining RWA, I entered a scene from my manuscript in a writing contest. The judges all said I was 'head hopping', the first time I heard the term. I was so embarrased! On a brighter note, do you see writing as a career?
 
Yes. I never considered myself as a writer. It seemed like something that was hard to do. But I’ve always read, and like most authors, I love the written word. One day I didn’t like what I was reading and wasn’t happy with the books out there, so I challenged myself to do better. Of course, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I wasn’t prepared for all that creating a good story involves. It takes more than talent and skill. It takes just doing it and then lots and lots of classes and workshops and then when you think you have it exactly right ready to send off to an editor, you realize there is still more work to do on it to make it marketable. It’s more than a career. It’s a lifestyle. I love it.  Thanks to the changes in publishing, I can run my career and stories the way I want to. To date I have written fourteen books and self-published eight of them – four contemporary romances and four romantic suspenses. A Matter of Trust is the first romantic suspense I wrote and it is one of my favorites. It has action and a scary premise, but the characters have fun finding out the answers. Basically I wrote this for myself. It’s packed with all the things I love, including plenty of twists, but mostly it focuses on the romance. 
Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.
 
I love cats. I have two. My last was a scrawny kitten that no one wanted. I rescued her from a life spent in a cage while waiting to be adopted.
 
My cat, Blaze, was a foster cat that stayed. He is a 14# orange tabby who is happiest at my elbow while I write.
 
Second fact, I’m an avid skier, both snow skiing and
waterskiing. Although, I must admit, I don’t do it as much as I used to. I still love it, especially snow skiing. Being up in the mountains in the winter where the air is clear and the forest covered in snow is awesome.
 
I learned when I was in 9th grade then choose a college because it was close to a ski area. Loved it.
 
The third fact is that I lived in Germany for two years back when I was in the army – a long, long time ago. That was a cultural education in itself and one experience I will always treasure.
 
Visiting my hubby's German friends, who he met when his dad was stationed there, is on my bucket list. 
 
What do you see ahead in your writing career?

I have several books left to write in my series, both for my contemporary books and my romantic suspenses. It just takes time and the muse has to be willing. Right now, I’m working to publish books I wrote while on my journey to being published. When you’re going it alone like I am, it means working on every aspect of the finished product. I need to have the books edited, formatted and then I have to come with ideas for covers. Then comes the promotional part. Letting people know they exist is probably the hardest part about writing.

Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?

I swear by writing organizations. I belong to too many to count. RWA, Louisville Romance Writers, Utah Romance Writers, From the Heart Romance Writers, Kiss of Death, and Central Ohio Fiction writers. They are a writer’s toolkit. Local chapters offer meetings where there is always a workshop or a speaker to learn about craft. Online chapters offer plenty of classes too. Then there are the contests that can help hone skill. Everything I need is available through these organizations, including friendship with people who understand me.  
 
What’s next for you?

I’m working on revisions for a time travel where the heroine goes back in time to 1874 in Louisville Kentucky, just before the creation of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. It’s another one of my favorites. It has a strong message about love and friendship and I love both the hero and the heroine. I wrote it early on, so it really needs work, but I’m whipping into shape.  Hopefully, it will be out at the end of May or the beginning of June.

BOOK BLURB for A Matter Of Trust.
Tired of living in fear of an abusive ex-husband, Cat Tyler is taking charge of her life by learning to fly. Unfortunately, she discovers what true fear really is when her cross-country flight ends in a forced landing. Now she’s trapped in the Montana wilderness with her flight instructor, Josh Buchannan—a jerk who’s been riding her butt since she first stepped into the cockpit.  She definitely doesn’t like the attraction that has sprung up between them. Worse, someone is trying to kill them.

Josh doesn’t wait to find out why they’ve become a target—or who’s behind it. Instinct takes over and Josh spirits Cat away to safety.  Yet, while on the run, he discovers that an incident from his past, one he’s tried to forget, connects him to Cat.  He was in charge of a failed mission in which her parents lost their lives.  Is this her twisted way of getting revenge? Josh can’t trust Cat, but he protects her as they narrowly escape fiery graves, not once but twice. 

Unwittingly, the two are fighting more than trust or attraction.  An unknown terrorist cell has unleashed its secret weapon—a human Trojan horse—which gives a new meaning to terror. 

As Cat and Josh struggle to stay alive, their trust in each other is threatened at every turn. Josh senses Cat’s somehow involved in this mess and works doubly hard to keep his attraction to her under control.  Still, he craves her belief in his innocence, impossible once she discovers the truth about his involvement in her parents’ deaths.

As they work together to uncover the plot that threatens western civilization, they must come to grips with the past in order to create a relationship built on mutual trust in the future.

A little bit about the author: 
I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, but left after high school to see the world. In my earlier life, before I started writing, I was a sales rep for a major manufacturer and I traveled a great deal. I was able to live and work in some fabulous places in the US, including South Florida.  I’ve met a lot of people and have seen a lot of places, which is a good thing because I now have a million stored memories to draw from for my novels.  I currently live in Kentucky and am able to write full time since I’ve recently become an empty-nester.  But I’ll always be a western girl at heart, so I try to get back to the Wasatch Mountains every year to renew my muse. 
I have published eight books so far – four contemporary romances and four romantic suspenses. I write what I love. All my stories have plenty of twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. My suspenses are more like an edgy cozy mystery filled with romance. My characters have fun and my voice is lighter and more humorous than dark and gloomy. My latest romantic suspense, A Matter Of Trust, is one of my favorites. The characters interactions are entertaining. It’s a good mystery and has plenty of action along with romance. 
 
How can my readers buy your book?  
Links to A Matter of Trust:
Amazon        iTunes       NOOK
You can find more information about Sandy Loyd
and all her books by visiting:
 
WEBSITE       TWITTER       FACEBOOK  

Saturday, April 6, 2013

NATIONAL TARTAN DAY & WEEK

 
Tartan Parade photo by Nancy Lee Badger

What is this you ask? Americans of Scottish descent are important citizens of the United States of America. Many clansmen and their families helped in the development of the United States. From the framers of the Declaration of Independence to the first man on the moon, Scottish-Americans have contributed in many aspects. I heard that there are more than eleven million Americans who claim Scottish and Scotch-Irish roots -- making them the eighth largest ethnic group in the United States.

For their contribution, these people and their accomplishments are honored on National Tartan Day, April 6th, which many communities stretch into NATIONAL TARTAN WEEK. Enjoy a bit of plaid!


The author and her husband wearing the MacBean Tartan

Nancy Lee  

Thursday, April 4, 2013

BREAKING NEWS! The 2013 Golden Claddagh Contest is OPEN!

 
THE CONTEST OPENED APRIL 1, 2013

Enter Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Chapter contest The Golden Claddagh! Don’t let our chapter name dissuade you; your entry does not have to be Celtic based to enter.

We have four categories for unpublished manuscripts:
Historical, FF&P, Contemporary, and Young Adult.

Our contest opens on April 1st with a final due date of May 1st, 2013. Finalists will be notified by June 15th, 2013 and winners announced at the Celtic Hearts AGM at RWA Nationals in Atlanta. All finalists will be invited to the AGM, if they are able to attend.

ELIGIBILITY: The competition is open to RWA members and non-members. The Golden Claddagh Contest is open to published and non-published authors but the submitted work must never have been published in any format. The entry must be either a full-length novel (greater than 40,000 words) or a novella (no less than 20,000 words and no more than 40,000 words). Short stories and novelettes are not accepted.
 

Entry fee is $15 for CHRW members
 and $25 for non-members.
 






FINAL ROUND JUDGES

Contemporary
Julie Mianecki of Penguin Books
Chelsey Emmelhainz of Harper Collins Publishing

Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal
Alissa Davis of Carina Press
Laurie McLean of Foreward Literary Agency

Historical
Meredith Giordan of Carina Press
Susie Townsend of New Leaf Literary Agency

Young Adult
Aubrey Poole of Sourcebooks
Becky Vinter of Fine Print Literary Agency

Find the Contest Entry Form and Rules at Celtic Hearts Romance Writers website.  Sign up today! You know you want to. So what are you waiting for?

Eager to enter? Click HERE for more information
*News item from the Celtic Heart Romance Writers:~Permission to Forward Granted

Nancy Lee Badger, member of Celtic Hearts Romance Writers

Monday, April 1, 2013

Nancy Lee Badger-Positive Quote of the Week

Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience. -Victoria Holt, author

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Victoria had the right idea. I have been working on my latest manuscript in between updating a bathroom, spring cleaning, and volunteering.

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My Reluctant Highlander
is the third book in my Highland Games Through Time series. The story is coming right along and I finally feel as if it is wonderful!

Nancy