Nancy Lee Badger Cover Reveal! Shimmer: The Beginning

Do you love to read stories filled with dragons & fairies? What about shape-shifters and Scottish islands? How about dark fairies as villains, and human hunters carrying deadly weapons? Find it all by reading SHIMMER: The Beginning

This 100 page novella releases on July 13th everywhere as an ebook and a print version, and is a prequel to my fabulous series about three shape-shifting dragon brothers in Scotland. If you have read the Clan of Dragon series, find out why/how they got the ability to shift into other creatures AND humans. 

After reading my full-length novels, SPARK, SMOKE, and SMOLDER, this book will give you some insight into how their Clan of Dragons came about.

Pre-Order ebook Links:

Amazon    Amazon UK     Amazon CAN     

Amazon AUS     NOOK     Kobo     iBooks

Print ISBN: 978-1548148133  

Haven’t picked up the series yet? 

Reading SHIMMER: The Beginning is a great way to start.

SPARK, SMOKE, and SMOLDER... find all buy links HERE

Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Sorchia Dubois

I asked author Sorchia Dubois to share a little about her Zoraida Grey series. Take it away, Sorchia! 

Zoraida Grey and How She Helped Me Hide from Reality

I’m sure psychologists have a name for this condition and I’m sure many authors have been diagnosed with it. When the real world gets a little intense, we escape into our stories. My latest delusion is my Zoraida Grey series.

The series starts with Zoraida Grey and the Family Stones, now a finalist for a Prism Award. The award is offered by the Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Romance Writers, a chapter of Romance Writers of America and I’m over the moon with excitement just to be a finalist. The winner won’t be announced until late July.

In Family Stones, Zoraida lands in a haunted Scottish castle which is a conglomeration of all the best parts of all the castles I’ve ever encountered. It has an enchanted ballroom floor, a haunted East Tower, an oubliette, an ancient tunnel leading to a crystal-encrusted cavern, and other oddities too numerous to mention. Building Castle Logan could be a book all by itself. She meets two seductive Scottish witches but neither one of them seems entirely on her side.

The next book in the series will be Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen. To gather the clan for an assault on Castle Logan, Zoraida travels to the Caribbean to retrieve a wayward witch who has stepped into a huge pile of Voodoo. Before they can return to Scotland, Zoraida must cross the Gulf of Mexico in a modern-day pirate ship, survive a hurricane, slog through the Yucatan jungle, and battle a Voodoo priestess and her army of red-eyed minions. I hope to release it late this summer or early fall. It has been a blast to write!!

The final book in the series will be Zoraida Grey and the Pictish Runes. I already know it will involve even more spookiness at Castle Logan, quite a lot of steamy romance, dangerous plans to restore the witchy Logan clan to a power they’ve not enjoyed in centuries, and equally dangerous plans to stop them. I’m a sucker for a happy ending, but not all the characters will make it to the very end. If everything goes the way it should, I’ll release it before the new year—or soon thereafter.

Somewhere in the middle of these, I also have an anthology of Zoraida Grey short stories called Witchling in the works. It contains stories about Zoraida as a kid and as a young woman before the events in the series take place plus a couple of tales delving into Logan family history. I’d planned to send it out into the world in May, but I’m behind schedule. July or August is probably more like it.

I’ve had such fun writing the series and I think that translates into fun for readers. I’d love to hear what any of you think of it.

Writing is my chosen form of escapism. What’s yours? 

Book Blurb:

Granny’s dying, but Zoraida can save her with a magic crystal of smoky quartz. Too bad the crystal is in Scotland––in a haunted castle––guarded by mind-reading, psychopathic sorcerers.

Getting inside Castle Logan is easy. Getting out––not so much. Before she can snatch the stone, Zoraida stumbles into a family feud, uncovers a wicked ancient curse, and finds herself ensorcelled by not one but two handsome Scottish witches. Up to their necks in family intrigue and smack-dab in the middle of a simmering clan war, Zoraida and her best friend Zhu discover Granny hasn’t told them everything.

Not by a long shot.

Excerpt 

   Jade green walls contrast beautifully with the burnt oak trim. A wide casement window looks over the courtyard and across it to the darkened East Tower. Michael leads us to a glass case mounted on the wall. Milky jade stones glimmer against a black velvet background.

   “Rumor has it a clan member turned pirate once upon a time. The necklace is part of his hoarded treasure. Whatever its origin, it is a unique piece. Beautiful, exotic, and priceless. A perfect setting for our beautiful and exotic guest.” He dimples at Zhu and I think she might wrestle him to the floor and have her way with him. I am disgusted by how easily she falls for this.

   He turns to me and the force of the spell catches me full in the face. He touches my arm leading me to the door between my room and Zhu’s. A flush of warmth radiates from his hand and I follow him like a sheep.

   “Your room, Zoraida.” He caresses my name, saying it slowly, meeting my eyes. “We call it the Lilac Room. It once belonged to the bride of a Logan clansman. She suspected her husband of sorcery and had the bad taste to spread the rumor in the village. At the time—the mid-fourteen hundreds—witchcraft was frowned upon and I’m afraid the villagers actually marched to the castle en masse, torches blazing, to demand the clansman be burned at the stake.”

   “What happened?” Zhu’s eyes are still glassy. I consider whipping out my phone to take a picture of her so she can see what an idiot she is being. Then I catch a glimpse of myself in a framed mirror. I have the same stupid look. My reflection frowns back at me, the spell broken.

    “That particular clansman happened to be an authentic witch.” Shea speaks from the hallway and I nearly jump into Zhu’s arms, thinking Lorne Logan has come to make sure I behave myself. “He enchanted the villagers, murdered the wife, and lived to a ripe old age. Scotland is notorious for unhappy endings.”

Buy links:

Amazon    Wild Rose Press

Barnes and Noble    Kobo 

Author Bio:

Sorchia Dubois lives in the piney forest of the Missouri Ozarks with seven cats. She edits technical
writing part time, but she spends a number of hours each day tapping out paranormal romance, Gothic murder, and Scottish thrillers. A proud member of the Ross clan, Sorchia incorporates all things Celtic (especially Scottish) into her works. She can often be found swilling Scotch at Scottish festivals and watching kilted men toss large objects for no apparent reason. Connect with Sorchia here:

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Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Author Marlo Berliner

The Angel of the Sea Hotel

Marlo Berliner stopped by to talk about her book, The Ghost Chronicles. It is an upper YA with adult crossover appeal and was released on November 17, 2015. She will also be releasing the next book soon! Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

 Marlo- The best stories lie at the intersection of truth and imagination. The Ghost Chronicles began this way, as well. I had my ‘eureka’ moment one day while reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with my son. Chapter Eight, The Deathday Party, deals with the ghosts in the Hogwarts Castle and what it might be like to ‘live’ in the afterlife, so that provided the spark that ignited the fire to write The Ghost Chronicles. At the same time, I was also thinking about a truth from my past. When I was seventeen I was in a car accident that wasn’t my fault. An accident that almost took my life. The thought of ‘what if I had died’ has been one that has haunted me ever since. So immediately I knew I wanted The Ghost Chronicles to be not only a story of what it’s like to be stuck in the afterlife, but I also wanted it to be about a boy who dies tragically through no fault of his own. The kind of story ripped from the headlines about a promising young person who has their life taken away far too soon. It won’t be completely apparent until later in the series, but I wanted it to be a story of great hope for anyone who has lost someone tragically, particularly someone young. I’m also hoping readers will take away the theme embodied in this quote from the book – “Cherish life, it’s absolutely precious.” The final piece of the love story in The Ghost Chronicles fell into place after I stayed at The Angel of the Sea, an award-winning bed and breakfast in Cape May, NJ. This spectacular inn has been featured on several television programs and in magazines throughout the world. Most notably, it was chosen by Oprah Winfrey as one of the “Best Vacations in the World” and included in her television talk show. The two buildings of The Angel of the Sea are so iconic, that it is one of the most recognized Victorian structures in the United States. Legend has it that in the late 1960’s, a girl did fall to her death at the Angel of the Sea and did at one time, haunt the inn. The story of the girl has been included in several non-fiction books about ghosts in Cape May. Sarah’s character in The Ghost Chronicles was inspired by this legend and after staying at this romantic inn, I also decided to make The Angel of the Sea the setting for the book.

Nancy- Wow! My skin is crawling, so let's change it up a little. Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

Marlo- For me, the most rewarding thing has been hearing from fans and reviewers that they are thrilled with the book, and also having the book recognized with so many awards and accolades. The Ghost Chronicles was the book of my heart, and all the praise has made me feel I wasn’t crazy for writing it.

Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know. 

1) I went to high school and Carnegie Mellon University with actor Ethan Hawke before he left to make Dead Poet Society. We’ve played Thumper together.

2) Walter Matthau once asked me to marry him. The story is on my blog HERE

3) I’m going to be an extra in Code 8, a sci-fi movie with Stephen Amell, Robbie Amell, and Greg Bryk.

Nancy- Exciting. The closest I got to fame was as a walk-on spot on the soap opera, Another World MANY years ago. Besides stardom, what’s next for you as an author?

Marlo- I’ll be releasing The Ghost Chronicles, Book 2 on July 11^th, 2017. The last and final book in The Ghost Chronicles series will be released sometime in 2018. I’ll also have a book of inspirational short stories out later in 2017. My agent is currently shopping around one YA novel, and I have three others I’m working on.

BOOK BLURB: 

Can Michael get to heaven before the devil gets him first, and if it means leaving Sarah is he sure he still wants to go?

Michael Andrews had everything - a loving family, a great girlfriend and a promising basketball career. That was before the accident that took his life. Now, he's a ghost, wandering among the living, struggling to understand why he's stuck. All he wants is to move on.

That is until he meets Sarah, an attractive young girl who died just as tragically as he did. The only trouble is falling in love and binding oneself to another soul is forbidden, for it may keep one or both of the souls bound to earth for longer than they should be.

To make matters worse, there's also a danger in going too far with Sarah, because the "joining" of two souls in the afterlife is also strictly forbidden and they don't know what will happen if they do go that far. Each time they touch they can feel the boundaries of their energies slipping perilously into one another.

Things get even more complicated as Michael learns he's being pursued. Demons are after him because he's a marked soul, a soul the devil wants very badly for some unknown reason.

So, maybe falling in love in the afterlife isn't such a good idea.

EXCERPT

In a quiet voice, she asked, “Did you love that girl?”

He needed to be truthful. “I thought so at the time.”

“And now?” Her eyes betrayed her hopefulness.

Stepping closer to her, he said, “Things have changed…in more ways than one. I really missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” she said in a whisper. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about me…or maybe moved on.”

“I could never forget you, Sarah.” He stared at her lips, longing to kiss her.

She met his gaze and a light flickered in her own eyes.

Instinctively, they leaned closer to one another. As the distance between them dwindled, Michael felt that magnetic pull taking over once again. He brushed one hand gently on her cheek, sliding his other arm around her waist. Slowly, he pulled her close.

Everywhere their spirit bodies touched was instantly electrified with an amazing tingling sensation and warmth. He could tell by her reaction she felt it too.

Now for the moment of truth. He let his lips brush lightly against hers. As before, a pleasurable tingling passed between them. Sarah closed her eyes in a silent surrender and he pressed his lips to hers. Hot and intense, the kiss was better than any he’d ever had. For an immeasurable breadth of time he kissed her, savoring the heat, his mouth moving hungrily over hers.

To be warm again, to tingle again, to feel again, these sensations were so familiar, yet already so forgotten.

How can my readers buy your book?

Amazon    Amazon UK    Amazon Print 

Barnes & Noble Print    Walmart Print

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marlo Berliner is the award-winning author of THE GHOST CHRONICLES, her debut book which was released in November 2015 to critical acclaim. The book won the 2016 NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best First Book, was named a FINALIST in the National Indie Excellence Awards for Young Adult Fiction, received the Literary Classics Seal of Approval, and was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion. Marlo is represented by Eric Ruben of the Ruben Agency and she writes young adult, women’s fiction, and short stories. Marlo is also a freelance editor with Chimera Editing. Her second book, THE GHOST CHRONICLES BOOK 2, will be released in July 2017. 

When she's not writing or editing, Marlo loves reading, relaxing at the beach, watching movies, and rooting for the Penn State Nittany Lions. After having spent some wonderful time in Pittsburgh and Houston, she’s now back in her home state of New Jersey where she resides with her husband, two sons, and a rambunctious puppy named Max. Connect with Marlo here:

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Author Author Page

Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Stephanie Queen

USA Today Bestselling Author Stephanie Queen stopped by my blog to discuss her latest release. Take it away!

Special ops legend Dane Blaise made a lot of enemies in his violent career, but none more dangerous than his first; the enemy he made before he'd been a legend, the one he made at the age of sixteen.

BOOK BLURB: Beachcomber Reckoning - Book 6 - Beachcomber Investigations series, a romantic detective series

Local juvenile delinquent, Dagmar Hunt had the bad luck of running into Dane at the wrong time and wrong place. Dane knew he couldn’t let Dag get away with what he’d done. Dane was only a kid, but he’d been determined to make Dag pay. He went after Dag and succeeded in getting the notorious badass thrown in jail for a violent crime.

Dag never forgot what Dane had done. Over the years, while Dag was in and out of jail, he'd held his grudge and as he became more powerful and notorious, he made the ultimate threat to get his retribution.

Dane's past is finally about to catch up with him. Now he needs to protect the ones he loves most from paying the price.

EXCERPT from Beachcomber Reckoning

Chapter 1

   In Dane’s experience—and he had plenty--whenever someone told him that it was their decision, their call to do something dangerous, that’s when he worried most.

When someone told him that they were the one responsible for the consequences for doing something foolhardy, that’s when he worked ten times harder to make sure nothing bad happened to them. Because he knew it was really all on him.

   He would feel responsible no matter what they said.

   Because he was responsible.

   Dane’s mother had insisted it was her decision to visit him on Martha’s Vineyard. No matter how dangerous it might be.

   He hung up the phone and had no idea how the conversation with his mother had gotten so out of control. But how could he stop her? He stared out the back door at the old Jeep-heap in his driveway and pushed a hand through his unruly too-long hair. The salty air had stiffened it on his evening beach run. The day had been breezy and pleasant.

   He wished he gave a damn about the weather. If the sunshine mattered to him, that meant there were no problems on the horizon.

   Today if hurricane hell blew into town he wouldn’t have cared.

Realistically, there was only one way to stop his mother, but it was too late for him to catch a plane to Hyannis then drive 200 miles to her house in the Berkshires. Then he’d likely get in trouble for locking her in a closet.

   She was already on her way. His mother was coming to Martha’s Vineyard to visit him.

   “Shit.”

   “What’s your problem?” Shana said as she brushed past him where he leaned against the kitchen sink. She reached for the freezer door handle. Pulling it open, she grabbed the bottle of tequila by the neck.

   “I’ll have a shot of that.”

   “No kidding?” She rolled her eyes at him.

   He’d need Shana to help him.

   “Want to do me a favor?”

   “You mean besides pouring you a shot?” She went to the upper cabinet and removed two old fashioned glasses.

   “I mean professionally.”

   She stopped what she was doing and took a closer look at him. He held up under her scrutiny. There was only one person who could rattle him with a look. And she was on her way.

   “What do you need?”

   “I need you to sit second chair protecting my mother.”

   “Someone threaten her?”

   “Not lately.” A bolt of pain shot through his shoulder blades. He’d have to tell Shana about the threat. Even with all the hell he’d been through since he left home for West Point after high school, there was no memory that struck more fear in his heart than the threat against his mother.

   His mouth was clenched shut as he shut the memory out of his head.

   She waited, leaned against the opposite counter with her arms fold across her chest, not hiding her ample breasts because that would have been impossible, but pushing them up, making them more prominent if possible. The glint in her eye told him she was teasing to distract him.

   His man-parts told him it was working.

*****

   She should be used to Dane having secrets, but she still hated it.

   “What haven’t you told me?”

   Worry ebbed into her chest, taking up space where air should be. She’d invited Dane’s mother for the visit. It seemed the right thing to do. Her mother was visiting. Why shouldn’t Dane’s mother visit, too?

Buy links:

Amazon    iBooks     KOBO

More About Stephanie Queen

Stephanie Queen is the USA Today bestselling author of the romantic detective series, Beachcomber Investigations. She lives in bucolic New Hampshire with her family, her cat, Kitty and her fun-loving friends. Besides going to the gym sporadically, Stephanie cooks and crochets and loves chocolate covered potato chips (yes, she should go to the gym more often). She used to be a 9 to fiver working in downtown Boston, but has thrown her stylish suits and fancy heels in a closet and now hangs out in UConn t-shirts, jeans and sneakers. “If I could come back in another life as anything I wanted, I’d be a regency era heroine.” (Not surprisingly) Regency romances are her favorite secret reads. Connect with her here: 

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Twitter:  @StephanieQueen

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Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Becky Lower

Please welcome Becky Lower to my blog. She and her fellow authors have recently released a multi-author anthology and she stopped by to tell us all about it. Welcome, Becky!

Becky- It’s a shootout at high noon in these high-stakes romances, with lovers’ hearts on the line. Saddle up and ride along with these couples as they try to outdraw Cupid. All the drama and sexy attraction of cowboys and the dangerous Wild West in a value-priced collection, The Wild Wild West, which released May 15, 2017, features full-length American historicals from Apollonia Lord, Marie Patrick, Rue Allyn, Becky Lower and Diane R. Jewkes. 

Book Blurbs 

Seduced by the Outlaw: Tamar Freeman has everything under control as the owner of Kansas City’s local newspaper until undercover lawman Amos Tanner responds to a lonely hearts ad that’s actually a trap to catch a burglary ring. To all he meets, he’s Deadwood Dick, an outlaw and the last man Tamar should fall for. 

A Kiss in the Shadows: Driven by his single-minded revenge mission against the man who killed his brother, Brock MacDermott rides from town to town on a lonely quest. He’s careful to keep emotional attachments at arm’s length—until young, beautiful Stevie Rae Buchanan insists on joining his hunt to exact her vengeance.

One Moment’s Pleasure: Drawn to San Francisco during the Gold Rush, Edith narrowly escapes working in a bordello, but she can’t escape Dutch Trahern, who seeks redemption after his misspent youth. A relationship could cost them both everything they’ve worked to earn, but it just might be their path to salvation.

Expressly Yours, Samantha: To escape her wicked uncle, Samantha Hughes cuts her hair to pose as a man and become Sam Hughes, a Pony Express rider. There she meets Valerian Fitzpatrick, who joined the hard-riding circuit in an attempt to escape life in the family business. As he and Sam grow close, Valerian’s more than willing to protect her secret, but when Sam’s forced to run yet again, does a future with her mean giving up the freedom he’s always craved?

The Heart You Need: When reporter Adeline Ellsworth’s cousin is murdered in 1896 San Francisco, her investigation leads to danger—and she wakes up tied to Alec McCairn, Lord Peyton. In California to set up a new office, the Scottish peer definitely wasn’t looking for a romantic entanglement, but he suspects the beguiling Adeline is in over her head and too proud to ask for help. He’s determined to save her from herself.

Short Excerpt from Expressly Yours, Samantha   

   A sign at the post office caught Samantha’s eye. She feigned disinterest as she snuck sidelong glances at the poster about the new Pony Express, reading one line at a time.

   Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows.

   She tore her glance from the sign and studied the customers queued up in front of her. Another quick look.

   Not over eighteen.

   She posted her letter and turned away from the window, catching the last of the poster’s message.

   Must be expert riders.

   Willing to face death daily.

   Orphans preferred.

   She was all of what they wanted, except for one basic and glaring fact. She might be young, skinny, and wiry, but she was no fellow. Samantha calmed her breathing as she walked away from the post office, but her mind was buzzing with possibilities. Her ticket out of the nightmare her life had become had just presented itself. She loved horses and had a good hand with them. All she needed to do was to hide her true identity—pretend to be a boy—and she was certain she could pull it off. Uncle Jack had enough money to keep him busy until after midnight. Samantha figured she had at least twelve hours to transform herself and get on the road.

Buy Links:

Amazon    Goodreads     NOOK

Author Bio: Amazon best-selling author Becky Lower has traveled the United States in search of great settings for her novels. She loves to write about two people finding each other and falling in love amid the backdrop of a great setting, be it in America on a covered wagon headed west or in Regency England. Her Cotillion Ball Series features the nine children from an upscale New York family prior to and during the Civil War. Her first Regency, A Regency Yuletide, received the Crowned Heart and has been nominated for the prestigious RONE award from InD’Tale Magazine. A regular contributor to USA Today’s Happy Ever After section, her books have been featured in the column on eight separate occasions. Becky loves to hear from her readers at beckylowerauthor@gmail.com. Also connect with here Here:

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