Friday, May 25, 2018

Memorial Day is More Than Barbeques

Ever since the US Government moved Memorial Day to always fall on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day has turned into a four-day holiday. Yep, lots of folks also take the previous Friday off from their workday responsibilities, and head to the mountains or the beach. Our family tends to stick around and share a meal, usually on the grill.

Joseph Abner Bean , a relative who died in Libby Prison
This does not mean we should forget what this holiday memorializes!

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States to remember those who died while serving in our armed forces. The holiday this year will be held on May 28, 2018, and marks the unofficial start of the summer vacation season. The holiday is a day to visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many place American flags on graves or along their properties. 

Hubby will lower our flag until noon. Sometime this weekend will will gather to share a meal while remembering those we have lost. How about you?

Nancy Lee Badger


Friday, May 18, 2018

Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Joanne Guidoccio



Author Joanne Guidoccio stopped by to share intimate details about her life AND her latest book. Take it away, Joanne!

While imagining the protagonist of the Gilda Greco Mystery Series, I realized she could easily be my literary twin. In fact, I like to tell people that Gilda Greco is 70 percent of me. As to how I came up with that particular number, let’s just say my well-honed left brain did all the work.

Our similarities...Italian Canadian, born and raised in Sudbury, relocated to Southern Ontario, mathematics teachers, career development practitioners, yoga enthusiasts, non-foodies.

One major difference...Gilda won a $19 million lottery. I’m still hoping!

Blurb 
While not usually a big deal, one overlooked email would haunt teacher Gilda Greco. Had she read it, former student Sarah McHenry might still be alive.

Suspecting foul play, Constable Leo Mulligan plays on Gilda’s guilt and persuades her to participate in a séance facilitated by one of Canada’s best-known psychics. Six former students also agree to participate. At first cooperative and willing, their camaraderie is short-lived as old grudges and rivalries emerge. The séance is a bust.

Determined to solve Sarah’s murder, Gilda launches her own investigation and uncovers shocking revelations that could put several lives—including her own—in danger. Can Gilda and the psychic solve this case before the killer strikes again?

Excerpt
Jim whistled. “You sure don’t like it easy. With all your millions, you’d think this crap could somehow miss landing on you. But you do seem to attract it.” He chuckled. “Might be something to address with a therapist or maybe the psychic you’ve just met.”

“I didn’t just meet Cassandra. I got to know her and her parents very well during those seven months I taught in Parry Sound. They’re good people.” I could tell by his tone that he was dismissive of Cassandra’s psychic powers. While I was also skeptical, I did feel the urge to defend her. She had been so sincere and so open. I couldn’t fathom the notion of Cassandra faking or putting on the airs of a psychic. It wasn’t in her nature to be deceitful.

“I’m sure they are,” Jim said. “But let’s face some facts here. Most psychics need to make a living. I don’t doubt this lady has some intuitive ability—as many women do—but I don’t think it’s enough to catch a murderer. The constable is grasping at straws. What did you say his name was?”

“Leo. Leo Mulligan.”

“Tall, dark-haired guy. Good-looking and a bit of a rascal.”
           
“He’s evolved.” I immediately regretted my response. Knowing Jim, he would pounce and tease me.

“And you’re interested,” Jim said, chuckling. “What does your boyfriend think about this cozy reunion you’re having with a more evolved constable?”

Want More? Click to see the Trailer HERE

Buy Links: 

Kobo     Indigo      Barnes & Noble 


Giveaway:
Click on the Rafflecopter link HERE for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.

Bio
In 2008, Joanne Guidoccio took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews were published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.  Where to find Joanne Guidoccio:

Website     Twitter     Facebook





Friday, May 11, 2018

Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Alicia Hope

Alicia Hope stopped by to tell us about her life AND her latest book. Take it away, Alicia!

This is Alicia Hope saying g'day from sunny Queensland, Australia. Yes, that's right, I live where it's beautiful one day and perfect the next (except when it's being buffeted by cyclones of course)!  One of the state's sunniest spots - maybe the sunniest in the whole country - is the setting for my book, The Long Road to Loving Grayson, a rural romance and my best seller. This story clamoured for release, its scenes coming to me faster than I could type - and I pride myself on having flying fingers! 

I wrote Grayson just after returning to the coast from the remote north west of the state, where I worked in a Human Resources role, like Maggie in the story. Also like Maggie, I found living remote to be a new and quite wonderful experience, which is partly why I simply HAD to write this story. Grayson is one of my first books but still the one closest to my heart, a piece of which I left in the 'warm heart of Australia'. :)

Blurb: 
Being in love with one man but married to another isn't something uber-capable HR officer Maggie could have prepared herself for; and when civil engineer Grayson travels to a remote Queensland town to relieve for six weeks, he isn't expecting to have to summon the Flying Doctors, survive a tropical cyclone, or lose his heart. So when he finally sets off on the journey back home, neither of them realises that Maggie is also on the road ... the long road to loving Grayson. And there are plenty of roadblocks and obstacles to be negotiated on Australia's outback highways, so they’d better buckle up! 

Buy links:
Amazon     Amazon AUS     


B&N      iBooks    Kobo 

Bio:
Alicia Hope lives in Queensland, Australia, with her author husband and their two pet birds, her much-loved muses. Bass playing, scuba diving, bird and horse loving Alicia lives on coastal acreage dotted with Australia’s famous gum trees and frequented by the wildlife she adores. Her feel-good stories are mostly set in Australia, with many of them inspired by her love of the land and the natural world. She likes to imagine readers curled up and engrossed in one her books on a rainy afternoon, or any time!
Once you choose HOPE, anything is possible....

Social media links:

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

How I will Spend Mother's Day

I have no idea how I will spend Mother's Day. Do I spend money and go out to eat; buy take-out and enjoy it in front of the TV, or nap all day?

My older son and his partner live a thousand miles away, so a card or a phone call from them will make me smile.

My youngest should be home from his travels and I assume (should I) that he will spend a little time with me.


My mom lives 550+ miles away, and the card is in the mail, and the flowers will be delivered today. Hope she enjoys them. I have told family not to give me flowers, as the cat ends up eating them then puking them all over the carpet.

Sigh.

So, if you are a mom or have a mom, make May 13th a special day. And...
if you want me to be happy, buy one of my books!




Find all Buy Links HERE



Saturday, May 5, 2018

Celebrating a Delicious Cinco de Mayo

Hubby and I celebrated early last night by enjoying homemade tacos. Yum!

Tacos, burritos, nachos with lots of beef and cheese are our favorites. 

We might not be of Latino heritage, but this is the day to enjoy everything Mexican. Ole'

Nancy Lee

Friday, May 4, 2018

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU!


I was a blushing newlywed the month that the first (or should I say 4th?) STAR WARS movie was released. Back in 1977, not many other movies were anywhere like this 'space western'. I considered it a young adult or coming of age saga, very unlike STAR TREK

I grew up watching STAR TREK on TV. It was my first love for everything science fiction, but STAR WARS was very different. Different in the way a contemporary novel is from a paranormal romance. Authors shake things up because readers love it. Escapism is quite popular with the movie-going public. What if you don't have the time or money for the movies? And don't talk to me about the price of soda and popcorn!


My advice? READ A BOOK!


Since I have all the STAR WARS movies on DVD, I will spend Friday watching them all...and I can fast-forward through Jar-Jar Binks! Do you remember this quote by Jar-Jar? "Count me outta dis one." So I will!


Since I was an adult woman when Han Solo first showed up on a movie screen, I have already marked my calendar so I do not miss the May 25th release of SOLO, a new movie prequel




Ok, now for my personal public service announcement. Since I am the daughter of a Navy veteran and the mother of an Army veteran (who served in Iraq) I say:


...and if you prefer to read between movies, 
check out my latest releases, which is 
ON SALE $.99
for a limited time!


Find all BUY LINKS on my BOOKS page