This Old Dog...

This old dog (me) decided to publish another book. I have published or had stories published about 45 times since my first book. All three of the publishers of some of those titles closed their doors. An author needs to take those 'orphan' books and release them again.

A new life for any book takes time...editing, rehashing the story line, updating the language, creating new covers, etc. is easy for me but it takes time. I don't mind as I have found ways to make it work. I was able to upload a clean document of my re-edited story to my Kindle app on my phone. It reads and looks like a book I can buy on Amazon, although without a cover.

That is where this old dog needed to really learn new things. I did my best, but publishing with IngramSpark proved too convoluted (is that an old person's word?). They used terminology I have never heard of and figured I have a time crunch, since I will be attending a writer's conference in May and want to show off my stuff. I bought a Bowker ISBN through them, but Amazon (aka KDP) states I can use it with them if I do not use it with IngramSpark. ISBN numbers are necessary if you want wide distribution and a professional look.

Back I went to Amazon KDP. I have not released a book through them since May 12, 2023. I loved releasing The Rogue's Ring and am glad I set up my promotional blogs in advance because one week later, I fell off a curb at the airport and broke my left wrist and 5 ribs. Ouch!

Once I could type with two hands again, I returned to writing, and summited a short story that was released last September 2024 in The TAF Omnibus 3 which is a fundraising book with my writer's group, the Triangle Association of Freelancers based in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. Weeks ago I submitted another short story for this year's fundraiser and it was accepted! That book will be published in September 2025. I am on a roll!  

Today, I managed to re-upload the interior of my book to KDP(they said some letters were too close to the edge) and make my very first PDF photo of the back cover, spine, and front cover all made by lil' ole' me. I love the book and am happy it will again see the light of day. This will be a hardcover copy, and I will get back to work on the ebook. In the meantime, the spring weather here at home is hitting the 70's so it is time to walk (and watch those curbs!) 

Many thanks in advance to those that helped me with the original book...Kim Beegle and Lynn Erla Beegle for making me aware of the beautiful Art Museum nearby. For freelance Editor Kathleen Rothenberger for urging me to publish the manuscript many years ago, and Author Jennifer Delamere for her help with the French language peppered throughout the story. Using part of the museum as scenery along with the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Outer Banks makes this book a North Carolina must-read!

Keep an eye out for ...

Happy Spring!

Nancy Lee Badger

Green with Envy

While writing my next novel, I was looking forward to celebrating Saint Patrick's Day on Monday March 17th. Imagine my surprise when Ancestry.com/DNA no longer lists 'Ireland' as one of my ancestor's ethnicities! What happened? I know it was there, but now the closest they show is Scottish ancestry, specifically from the Isle of Mann. That little island is spitting distance from the eastern shore of Ireland. 

So, I will sip some non-alcoholic beer and wear a green shirt and cry. Maybe it will come back because I have found a couple of ancestors who came from Ireland, but the percentage is so small, it no longer shows.

While I cry in my beer, I would like to announce that the short story I submitted to TAFNC.com has been accepted. NEIGHBORLY LOVE will appear in the book TAF Omnibus 4 in September. This is the Triangle Association of Freelancers fourth annual fundraiser that has accepted my stories. 

With that completed, I am re-editing three books in my formerly published Warriors in Bronze series after the publisher closed its doors and the rights returned to me. The story lines are paranormal and set in North Carolina and I am removing and adding words to make them more timely. I am thrilled to bring my characters back to life. The next step? Making new covers!

March weather earlier this week was brutally cold for North Carolina. As I write this the temp is heading toward 80F. The daffodils are enjoying the sunshine and I am heading out for a walk.

Nancy Lee Badger 🍀