Friday, July 26, 2019

Whirling through Wilson NC with Nancy Lee Badger

Hubby posing in the Whirligig Park
One bright, hot, July day, I dragged hubby to the car and yelled 'Road Trip'! I have been trying for months to find a day to play hookey and draw myself out of the business of writing to enjoy a drive to visit... Whirligigs.

Our local art museum, where my latest paranormal book series is based, has a hand-built wind-powered colorful sculpture made by artist, Vollis Simpson, who is from the town of Wilson, North Carolina. It is about an hour's drive east of Raleigh. 

While waiting at RDU airport one day, I picked up a brochure about Wilson and brought it home. The photos and descriptions of the town and restaurants intrigued me, but the photo of an actual park dedicated to the artist and filled with his work made me want to see it.

Photo by Nancy Lee Badger

Only after we arrived did we find out that they hold a farmer's market every Wednesday and Saturday along one side of the park under an open-sided pavillion. This was great! Here we were on a very hot Wednesday to check out art, had a place to keep pit of the sun, and we went home with fresh veggies!

Wilson Farmer's Market
The sun beat down brutally so I knew we couldn't stay too long. I took photos and we climbed on the covered stage overlooking a grassy field for a little more shade. Seems the park also hosts music nights and people sit on the grass or bring chairs. I heard there was a museum dedicated to Vollis Simpson in the works, so we have another reason to return to visit the Whirligig Park in Wilson, NC. 

In the meantime, I await the edits from my publisher concerning the 3rd book in my Warriors in Bronze series. It is also set at the fictional Raleigh Museum of Art (based on the NC Museum of Art) to follow Heaven-sent Warrior and Heaven-sent Highlander. Try them!






Friday, July 19, 2019

Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Belle Ami


Belle Ami stopped by to share her latest book with all my readers. I am super-excited to host a best-selling author! Take it away, Belle!

Thank you, Nancy, for hosting me on your blog today. It’s an honor to share my latest thriller with you and your followers. The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio is a time-travel thriller, historical novel, and paranormal journey into the life of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio one of the greatest artists of the seventeenth century. In 1969 his painting, the Nativity, was stolen from a church in Palermo Italy, purportedly by the Mafia. This theft sits at number two on the FBI’s list of important art heists of all time. My heroine, Angela Renatus, a reluctant psychic, and her fiancĂ©, Alex Caine, are enlisted by the director of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to recover Caravaggio’s masterpiece.

Book Blurb
Art historian Angela Renatus knows she’s different. She can see into the past—into the lives of the greatest artists of all time—are her visions a gift or a curse?

Angela works with former Navy Seal, Alex Caine, recovering stolen works of art. When they’re enlisted to solve the mysterious theft of Caravaggio’s Nativity—one of the greatest art heists in history—Angela senses her visions about the tortured artist go far beyond the missing masterpiece.

A web of secrets and lies entangles Angela and Alex on a twisted and treacherous journey into Caravaggio’s very own heart of darkness…spiralling the couple into a deadly trap.

Excerpt:
CHAPTER 1
Rome, Italy 28 May, 1606
     Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio sat up and glanced out the window.
    Merda!” He overslept. He was late. He didn’t need a timepiece to know what
hour of the day it was. The light streaming in through the open window
had turned the walls a shade of ochre—evening was approaching. He leapt
out of bed pulling the sheet with him.
    “Painter, are you stealing my covers?”
    “No, why?” Caravaggio smiled over his shoulder at the beautiful
woman in bed.
    Fillide Melandroni lay on her side, her long red curls tousled around
her. Naked and still rosy from their lovemaking, she was the most beautiful
woman in Rome. He bounded back to bed and nibbled her shoulder. She
was delicious. His lips wandered down the length of her body to her full culo,
the most perfect rump he’d ever seen. Unable to resist, he growled, pinching
her before he delivered a sensuous love bite.
“It is a sin to cover such a gift. Maybe I should paint you just like this, goddess, with your glorious culo preserved for all eternity. Botticelli had Simonetta Vespucci for his Venus, and you, Fillide, are mine.”
    She swatted him away. “Stop it! Sei Pazzo! You’ve painted me enough. I
have something else in mind. Painting isn’t your only talent, il mio maestro.
    He flipped her over to face him and claimed her lips. Her fingers feathered
through his hair and she kissed him back. Then he felt her hand drop to
his groin. He groaned, watching her luminous hazel eyes flame with desire.
    “Do you want more, amore mio?” She fluttered her lashes at him. “Show
me what kind of stallone you are.”

Buy Link



More About the Author
Belle Ami is a #1 Bestselling author of romantic suspense, romantic thrillers and international mystery with a time-travel twist. Her first novel was a finalist for a major book award and launched her dynamic writing career. Belle is a 2018 RONE Award finalist in the romantic suspense category for her novel ESCAPE (Tip of the Spear Series Book 1). The second book VENGEANCE has been highly lauded. RANSOM is the third book in the Tip of the Spear Series. 

Belle is also a Readers Favorite Book Award Finalist for her time Travel Romance THE GIRL WHO KNEW DA VINCI. (Book 1 Out of Time Series). When Belle isn't working on her next book, she's most likely in the kitchen whipping up something delicious for her family to enjoy. In addition to enjoying gourmet cook, Belle is also an accomplished pianist, skier, and world traveler. She lives in Calabasas, CA with her wonderful husband and two kids. She also lives with Cindy Crawford and Giorgio Armani (who just happen to be a horse and a chihuahua). Connect with her here:

   


Friday, July 12, 2019

I LOVE BOOKSTORES!

I love bookstores. I was interviewed by my local paper many years ago while sitting inside Borders, and I confidently told the reporter that I would someday walk into the store and see my own book.

Since Borders Bookstore closed soon after, that never came to pass.

I have persevered and was rewarded when the print version of my fiction novel, Heaven-sent Warrior, was chosen to grace the bookshelves of my local bookstore. Quail Ridge Books is an independent bookstore located in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

Sure...you can order the print version of my books from Amazon, Books-a-Million, Book Depository, and even the nearest Barnes & Noble, but they have to order them then ship them to you. (trust me...it's worth the wait)

If you are like me, you love to browse through an actual bookstore. Do not lament the loss of Borders, Waldens Books, and others, but do your neighborhood a favor and support your local bookstore.


Heaven-sent Warrior is available at Quail Ridge Books
(Yes, they ship!)đź’—

Consider ordering or picking-up a copy from the store at 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Road, North Hills, in Raleigh, NC. 919-828-1588

Nancy Lee Badger


Friday, July 5, 2019

Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Carolina Clemmons



I invited author Caroline Clemmons to my blog to share her latest book with all of my readers. How about a little bit of western romance? Take it away, Caroline!


Hello, Nancy. Thank you for inviting me to your lovely blog. I love to share my stories with readers. DEBORAH’S DILEMMA is book 3 in my Pearson Grove Series. This is a sweet western historical romance set in 1885 North Central Texas. The fictional site of Pearson’s Grove is not very far from where my father was born in Pilot Grove. His first name was Pearson, which explains how I came up with the town’s name. The series will have seven books, interspersed among multi-author projects.

Here’s a bit about the plot:

What can Deborah do to protect herself from the devil plaguing her hometown?

Can a young man who’s been away for six years fit into the community he left?

What madman is responsible for the murder and mayhem plaguing Pearson Grove?

Deborah Taber has been concerned by her inability to choose her life’s occupation. That worry was pushed aside when someone shot her brother and fire bombed her family’s newspaper, The Pearson Grove Gazette. She believes Trey Pearson is innocent of attacking her brother—isn’t he? She’s had a crush on Trey since second grade and desperately wants to trust him.

Wade Pearson III, called Trey, is happy to be home on Pearson Ranch after six years in New England. He trained to manage his family’s far-reaching investments. Nothing prepared him to be accused of murder or targeted by a killer. If not for quick action by the sheriff, Trey would have been lynched by vigilantes. He wants to help trap the real villain while protecting Deborah, her family, and his.

Can Deborah and Trey survive the threats against them? Will this clever murderer be caught before he delivers his terrible revenge against those he believes slighted him? 

Here’s the Universal Amazon

Here’s an excerpt from when Trey’s parents (Judith and Deuce) and grandparents (Marianne and Wade) stop by for a brief visit:

Deborah hurried to make tea and slice the lemon cake for the Pearsons. There were four slender slices left but only if she divided them carefully. She loaded everything on the tea trolley and went to the parlor. Her visitors smiled but she caught Deuce slapping his hat against his knee.
“I apologize for abandoning you. You were so kind to stop by.” As quickly as she could, she served her guests. Thank goodness the best napkins were clean, starched, and ironed.
Wade Pearson swallowed a bite of cake. “Say, this is delicious.”
“Thank you. I make it more often than I should because it’s my father’s favorite. We’re fortunate to have access to plenty of eggs from Mrs. Wallis’ hens.”
Marianne swirled her fork against the icing. “This is so interesting. I’ve never had a cake iced on the sides as well as the top. I admit I like the taste and contrast.”
“Six layers, my goodness. You must have spent hours making this.” Trey’s mother watched her. “Aren’t you having any?”
“I had a slice earlier.” She sipped her tea, hoping she looked as if she were telling the truth and tried to change the subject. “Isn’t it wonderful that Trey doesn’t have to remain at the jail?”
Deuce shook his head. “Not so wonderful when you consider that your shop being bombed is one of the reasons he’s released. Sure sorry to hear about that.”
His comment brought the terrible incident back into her mind. “We were horrified. No one was badly injured, but Papa and the men who helped him have burns here and there.” She explained why the men were with her father.
Wade set his plate aside. “That was good planning on your part. Neighbors like that are a godsend, and I mean that literally. Don’t believe he could have fought that fire successfully alone.”
Deborah hated the thought of him trying. “No, and he would have tried…. ” She paused in surprise when her mother came into the parlor.
“I’m sorry you had to wait in here alone while Deborah took over my hostess duties. I’m so pleased you stopped by. Trey is sitting with Jeff so I can visit with you.”
Trey’s grandmother—Deborah thought her name was Marianne—set her cup on its saucer. “How is your son?”
“We believe he’s getting better. He’s delirious, but at least he’s speaking instead of just laying there. At times, I recognize words.”
Judith Pearson—Trey’s mother—smiled at Mama. “We’ve remembered your family in our prayers, Mrs. Taber. Our children are so precious to us.”
Mama returned the smile. “Please, call me Olive. I’m glad you each had some of the cake. Freddie Pate almost cleaned us out this morning.”
The Pearsons looked at Deborah. So much for her white lie.

Caroline's Muse Chloe 

More About the Author
Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To compensate for this illogical error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a tiny office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their dog and three rescued indoor cats as well as providing nourishment outdoors for squirrels, birds, and other critters.
The books she creates in her pink cave have made her an Amazon bestselling author and won several awards. She writes sweet to sensual romances about the West, both historical and contemporary as well as time travel and mystery. Her series include the Kincaids, McClintocks, Stone Mountain Texas, Bride Brigade, Texas Time Travel, Texas Caprock Tales, Loving A Rancher, and Pearson Grove as well as numerous single titles and contributions to multi-author sets. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, reading her friends’ books, lunching with friends, browsing antique malls, checking Facebook, and taking the occasional nap. 
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