The summer is over, the Labor Day Holiday barbecues are a recent memory, and a very sad 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks has passed. What is next you ask?

HALLOWEEN!

Headstones are not scary, though. This photo is of me and the grave of my my great grandfather John Olaf Johnson. After leaving Sweden, he arrived in America as a seaman on a ship,

Without young children in our family in these parts, we decorate the house and sometimes hand out candy. It is a way to meet your neighbors or see how big the kids have grown. We have a lovely neighborhood with plenty of families of all ages. 

Have a SCARY good time!

Nancy Lee Badger

What Happened to my Summer?

 

NO, I HAVEN'T MADE IT TO THE BEACH ALL SUMMER! I was reminded the other day that my older son's birthday is right around the corner on September 1st. What? Isn't it still July? Dear Lord, its actually nearing the end of August and I have not blogged since June!

What happened? Well, life gets in the way in subtle ways and you 'roll with the punches' and get back up, or die. I got up. I wrote a short story and it was rejected after six months by a publisher, so I rewrote it and submitted it elsewhere. Guess what? It will be published in a fundraising anthology in October. The earnings from sales go to a writing group, not me, but that's perfectly fine. Seeing it alongside other stories in a book I can add to my bookshelf is the goal.

Hubby and I traveled to western North Carolina for a lovely wedding, then continued south to Florida to check on my parents' gravesite. Come September 1st, mom will be gone one whole year. In mid-July we spent the weekend in Banner Elk and Linville area of North Carolina to attend the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.  The weather wasn't with us, but we had a blast.

Wait...I remember now...August was the month of hardly any rain AND 100 degree days! Yes, the heat has been brutal but unlike our friends in New England, we have whole-house air conditioning. The power company loves it every time we touch the thermostat, so shorts and tank tops are the daily outfits unless we have to go out in public. 

I do like Autumn weather and am looking forward to finishing my current manuscript because I would love it to come out this November, but we will see. Every time I reread it to check things or add a section I find typos. Let's just say the eyesight isn't the best. To all, keep cool and march on until the air temps grow more comfortable!

Nancy Lee Badger

June is Popping Out All Over

POP! Flag Day is June 14th. Americans commemorate this day because in 1777, we adopted the 'stars and stripes' as our brand new country's national flag. Here at our home in Raleigh, North Carolina we fly a flag from the front of the house and from the rear deck every day. 

POP! June 17th! My husband also flies a flag that commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill. Even though the majority of the fighting happened on Breed's Hill in Charlestown, his ancestors fought there as Patriots. 

June 19th is Juneteenth National Independence Day and is now a federal holiday that started in 2021 in the United States. It commemorates the ending of slavery in America.  For my husband and I, it has been the anniversary of our wedding for much longer! In fact, this year we will celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary! 

June 21st is the first day of summer, also called the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere. This also means it is the shortest night of the year. From that day on, the days get shorter as we head toward fall and winter. 

June 21st is also father's Day this year. Fathers are particularly honored by their children. It is a movable holiday, landing on the third Sunday in June. One of our sons was born on a different date, but it was also Father's Day. 

If any of these dates mean anything special to you, enjoy them and the weather that, for me this week, has seen lovely cool mornings. I can be found sitting on our back deck instead of my lawn chair in the front yard because we are having new windows and a front door installed. Energy savings, we hope. I read and still throw carrots and birdseed to feed the rabbits, chipmunks and deer. I listen to the birds and dream of visiting the beach...soon! 

On a serious note, June 1st is a special day for me, this year, because I signed my 5th contract with the Triangle Association of Freelancers to publish my short story, THE HONEST TRUTH in a book titled the  TAF Omnibus Volume V which will be released around October 1, 2026. 

I also hope to self-publish a historical pirate romance set in Scotland this Christmas.

Enjoy the weather wherever you are. Read a book or two. If you need a book, check out my book links HERE and enjoy the summer. 

Happy June to y'all,

Nancy Lee Badger

Let's Welcome May

May Day is May 1st, and has its roots as a Pagan holiday, more like an agricultural celebration. Ever seen a Maypole? Kids or prettily-dressed women would dance around them to welcome planting times. Some countries consider it a Worker's Day (although here in the USA we celebrate that on Labor Day in September.) 

May the 4th is a nod to STAR WARS, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. So wish all you see 'May the 4th be with you!' They should respond in kind with 'And also with you.' 

May 5th is also known by our Latino friends as Cinco de Mayo. (Cinco mean '5') and many go out and celebrate with fantastic Mexican food as well a margarita or two.

May 10th is Mother's Day this year. It always falls on the second Sunday in May. This is a special day for anyone that has had a hand in raising a child. (Dads have to wait until June.) I miss my Mom.

May 25th will be celebrated as Memorial Day. It used to be May 30th, but was changed to wherever the last Monday of May lands. I wish I could have met my Uncle David, but he died during WW2.

However you celebrate May, do it with smiles and laughter and remember to enjoy the sunlight. If its raining (it's Spring, remember) try reading I have a few books out there. See the list and all Buy Links HERE

Nancy Lee Badger

E-Books Help Earth Day All Year

I loved the Kindle I owned, then found I could send the same books I buy to my Android Smart Phone. Now, I take books everywhere. 

Waiting in a medical office? READ! Waiting in the airport Cell Lot for a relative to land? READ! Want to read outside or so you don't disturb your partner with a exterior light in a dark room? READ on a device that has its own light.

I still prefer the written book in print, but even I have problems holding a heavy hardcover book at times. Also, the words seem to be getting smaller! Another plus for reading via a Kindle or Smart Phone is that you can enlarge the size of the words.

Amazon sells the Kindle, Barnes & Noble has the Nook Book, and Apple does it all. Whichever way you like to read, you might find you can read a new favorite for a lot less than a printed book. My published books are discounted because an ebook is cheaper for a distributor to distribute.

But...please remember. It still takes the author the same amount of time to create the story. You will get all their hard work whichever way you buy it. You are buying the same sweat, creativity, hours of work, editing, and more.

For EARTH DAY 2026 I am reminding you of my published  ebooks available now at great, low prices and instantly downloaded to your device. 

Check them all out on my Blog BOOK Page HERE.

Here are a few examples of ebooks you might like:

So, whatever you plan to do to celebrate Earth Day 2026 which falls on Wednesday April 22nd this year, remember that caring for our planet can include saving a tree all year long by READING AN E-BOOK!

Nancy Lee Badger

A Writer Loves Coincidences and Clover

It was simply a coincidence that I was born on a Friday the 13th. Other oddities fill my life and I cannot ignore them. 

Our firstborn son was due August 16th but arrived over Labor Day on Sept.1st. Our second son was born on Father's Day. My dear dad passed away on Groundhog Day. My sweet mother recently passed away Labor Day that also happened to be her grandson's birthday. She was buried on September 11th aka 9/11. As New Yorkers, that date means a lot to us. It is also my cousin's birthday, the one who served in Vietnam. Another cousin still celebrates her 4th of July birthday. Our grandmother was born on Easter. 

And last (although there are probably more) Hubby and I were married on a date that we never realized would become a Federal Holiday... Juneteenth!

Do you remember I mentioned recently that I am back to writing? I spent a month writing along others in the Triangle Association of Freelancers aka TAF and my book is now about half completed. Lots more to go, then edits. I have set it mostly in 1867 in the town of Southold, Long Island, New York. I still need to work on a Christmas holiday historical story, and I plan to submit a short story for TAF's Omnibus V, a group fundraiser, which will be published in the fall. I am toying with writing a quick-read short story to submit to a company I recently heard is accepting submissions. A busy time. 

If you are or want to be a writer the best thing to do is start. Maybe you have a small idea or maybe you have tried before. As Yoda said "Do not try...do!" A plan is setting aside some time in your day and then sit down and do it. A pad of paper and a pen, a notebook, or a laptop can take your words and show you what can be. Try it. 

Find all Buy Links HERE

Nancy Lee Badger 💗

Snow. What is YOUR Take on a SNOW BOMB?

We moved to 'The Sunny South' years ago from the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. After attending college, finding work, buying a home, and raising two boys, I remember snow. Lots of snow. Get-the-car-stuck-in-the-driveway snow. Use a 20 foot roof rake to remove a foot of the white stuff so ice edges didn't form or the roof collapsed.

So, after the kids grew into adults and I told my husband we needed to move closer to my parents and sisters, we arrived in Raleigh. Little did we know a 'SNOW BOMB' would stop everyone in their tracks. With the threat of ice and snow (we got mostly ice the first weekend) stores were ransacked of food and Duke Energy were warning us about a possible power outage. Schools were closed before a flake arrived. We stayed indoors for five days because the roads were treacherous. I wish I had a horse.

The next weekend the snow arrived in abundance. We got 5 to 6 inches. Luckily, it was fluffy stuff and the wind blew a lot of it away. It looked pretty until you realized the streets were not plowed. Again, or ever. A snow storm is the perfect reason to grab or download a book and read near the fireplace. 

My office

What was the worst ice or snow storm you have ever survived and where did you live at the time?

Nancy Lee Badger, waiting for spring.

An Author's NEW PLAN

"Nancy, get back to writing." 

Simple as that, you think? Not really. It has been a tough last six months. 'Things' took over my life.

My 95 year old very independent mother got Covid-19 that turned into pneumonia that put her into the hospital, then rehab, then killed her. 

She gave me Covid-19 and I am finally feeling a lot better (and am newly vaccinated...again!) As her oldest child and her executor I am still waiting for the lawyer's bill. Oh yeah...I will have to get her forms to her tax man. With luck, a few dollars might be refunded. 

We got her buried with dad in another state and cleaned out her apartment by donating most of her furniture to Healing-Transitions in Raleigh, NC. I kept her pretty green couch and still need to move some things around to make it look its best. I will think of her as I sit and watch the birds at the feeder.

Back to writing...really. I just started a book, by referring to an outline I started two years ago after a visit to Southold, Long Island, New York. It is in the early stages, but the idea of getting up with something to do that keeps my mind learning and growing is a treat. 

If you are or want to be a writer the best thing to do is start. Maybe you have a small idea or maybe you have tried before. As Yoda said "Do not try...do!" A plan is setting aside some time in your day and then sit down and do it. A pad of paper and a pen, a notebook, or a laptop can take your words and show you what can be. Try it. This is how I was able to write and publish around 50 books (2026 plan: count the books).

 So, have a Happy New Year by sitting down and starting that book, like me!

Nancy Lee Badger

Snow or No Snow?

Many in the world, at least in the Northern hemisphere, are experiencing the beginning of the winter season. Cold temperatures are not welcome.

What about snow? I love the photos of snow and remembering playing in it on Long Island in New York when I was a little girl. Sledding and snowman building with trips to a nearby pond to ice skate was fun. As an adult, walking across campus in New Hampshire in bulky clothing while trying to 'keep pretty' was hard. I did ride a toboggan at night into a very steep gorge with others. Horror! Thank goodness we did not hit any of the trees.

As a young mother, bundling the children simply to get them to the sitter or a food store was a jumble of legs and tears. Once they got a little older, taking them sledding and walks through the woods was fun. Ice skating behind Nana's house on her lake was bitter cold but memorable.

As an older (and wiser?) adult romance writer, I wrote a book about an idea triggered by a season of green...when no snow fell in my new home in Raleigh, North Carolina. What would happen to a small Vermont town and its fire department that relies on income raised during their annual winter festival? The problems this causes; the Manhattan businessman who has lost his way; the female firefighter with the job as her only future...well, check out what happens.

The ebook is ON SALE wherever you download ebooks such as Amazon, NOOK, KOBO, Apple, and more HERE

The audiobook is downloadable HERE at Apple.

Whatever winter brings, remember that a good book, a warm blanket, and a cup of cocoa can make the dreary days pass wonderfully.

Happy Holidays!

Nancy Lee Badger

The Holiday Spirit

 

Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday on November 27th. It commemorates the meal the Pilgrims shared with their new Native American friends on the shores of Plymouth, Massachusetts. After landing there, from England (via the Netherlands) in 1620, and after losing 1/2 their numbers in the first harsh winter, they certainly needed something to celebrate.

Learning to grow corn and finding the less-than-pretty turkeys quite tasty, I am glad that the 50+ who survived kept living and thanking the good Lord. My husband shares his blood with six of those brave surviving Pilgrims, so Thanksgiving means a lot to us.

This is the first family celebration since my mom passed away in September. The group at the table is smaller but the laughter and dreams go on. With the Christmas holiday right around the corner, why not dream a little? Yes, most of my decorations are up and we will work on putting exterior lights out next week. I have no room for our little tree since I still cannot get rid of an extra couch, since I inherited mom's pretty green one, but that's okay. 

What plans are filling your date book? Travel? Sleeping-in? (we are retired so we can do that) I hope to continue writing while reading a new book, here and there. I am almost through the TAF Omnibus IV which includes my story Neighborly Love. It is a modern take on new neighbors and Scottish Highland games in a contemporary setting. 

Reading is a perfectly wonderful way to spend a cold weekend or dark, snowy night. We don't get much snow here in North Carolina, but we do get nasty weather. The camp lanterns are ready along with the gas fireplace. We will enjoy its coziness. Enjoy! And, if you need more book ideas, check out all my titles HERE.

Happy Holidays!

Nancy Lee Badger

November is Speeding By

Veteran's Day has passed and I was thrilled to see how many folks posted NICE things to say about our Veterans. Dozens of restaurants offered free meals too. 

My birthday has also come and gone for another year and America's Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Thursday Nov. 27th will be a day of remembrance and thanks...thanks for another year, but a day to remember our dear mother who passed away on September 1st. Our table will be smaller and the company a bit reserved. We will enjoy a home-cooked meal and thank my husband's Pilgrim ancestors for coming to this new country in 1620.

An upcoming trip to Florida will give us a chance to visit the cemetery to make sure the gravesite is complete and the stone is correct. The Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell is a beautiful site. A few days in the Florida sun might cheer us up a little, too.

The year will end soon and I am hopeful for new and exciting things. I have returned to writing and will do my best to bring stories to life. I am currently editing a story with a historical Scottish Christmas theme that, unfortunately, could not be worked on in order to be released this year. No excuses, but everything went downhill medically and family-wise in July. 

I have tons of books available in ebook and print. Prices are reasonable. Please check them out. You can find all the books and their Buy Links HERE

Thanks for listening, 

Nancy Lee Badger

CHECK OUT MY STORY

 

CHECK OUT MY STORY  

NEIGHBORLY LOVE 

IN THIS FUNDRAISING ANTHOLOGY

just released by the Writing Group

TRIANGLE ASSOCIATION 

of FREELANCERS (aka TAF)

I step out onto my back deck. The leafless trees cannot disguise the monstrosity behind my small cottage. The four-level structure leers down at my property, but I am getting used to it. I bought the cottage for a bargain during the big building’s construction. The former owner knew what was going up.

I’d prepared for this. My bedroom and den have thick, room darkening, navy-blue curtains. Noise is another bother. If I leave windows or my back screen door open for air flow, I hear cars in the parking garage beneath the structure. Worse, car alarms blare at all hours.

As if on cue, an alarm blasts, nearly making me spill coffee on my slacks.

“I am a writer, y’all! Have a heart and keep the noise level down!” Yelling into the wind makes me feel better, but it wouldn’t accomplish much.

The alarm stops.

“About time!” Taking a deep breath, I sit at my deck’s table. As I think about whether or not I should bring my laptop outside, or return to my claustrophobic den, a voice answers.

“Sorry, sir. I must have hit the alarm button instead of the lock. My car be new and this bloody fob be verra’ weird.”

I pause.

The woman with a lovely accent sounds young, but I can’t see her through the windowless walls of the parking garage. Never mind, she worked her magic and quiet has resumed.

Sipping my coffee, I think about my new book. The decision to write a Scottish historical novel came out of left field. Mom reminded me last month of our Scottish ancestry, although our ancestors emigrated centuries earlier. I feel American, not Scottish. However, a visceral need to write a novel with a Scottish theme hit me one night, so here I sit wondering how to approach it.

Watching movies like Braveheart and episodes of Outlander isn’t enough. My niece made me sit through the animated Brave movie. They all gave me a sense of Highland life, but not enough to write an outline.

“Ye be looking deep in thought, but I again wish to apologize for the rude noise. Will ye forgive me?”

I choke on my coffee.

 Get your copy today and check out the stories, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as poetry, from over 30 members as they raise funds to keep the organization striving to help its members achieve their writing goals. TAF is 501(c)(3) nonprofit group of professional freelance writers primarily based in the Triangle region of North Carolina.

Print Versions

AMAZON     AMAZON AU

Barnes Noble PRINT   BAM

Quail Ridge Books   Powells

*********************************

Amazon Ebook   Amazon AU

Amazon CA   Amazon UK

APPLE   KOBO

********************************** 

and many other Buy Links HERE

Happy reading!

Nancy Lee Badger

A NEW RELEASE & FUNDRAISER

On September 18th, the Triangle Association of Freelancers, based in the Raleigh North Carolina area, is releasing another anthology that will raise funds for our non-profit group. The print version is available at AMAZON and will be found in other places as well. 

It was a dream job - until I got hit in the head with a pickle. . . My dress-up shoes are pinching my toes. . . Mississippi Mamaw muscadine jelly biscuits for breakfast, and the fried bologna on the white wonder for lunch. . . Life can be this frightening sometimes. . . "Where are we?" she asks with anxious uncertainty. . . The queen called. . . Sir John FitzAlan drew a slow breath against the pain in his half-healed side. . . Mandy crunches on thinly packed snow with her powder blue hiking boots on the rocky, semi trodden path. . . ."Where do you plan to travel next?". . .Jagged bolts of lightning flashed across the sky. . . The wind shakes the empty trees. . .These opening sentences lead you into a reading experience you've never known before! Words from fictional stories, essays, memories, and poetry; each has its own unique offering. Do you dare to step inside the mind of another? Are you up for the challenge? This wide array of selections will tickle you, entice you, and satisfy your thirst for the written word and hidden messages unveiled. An omnibus that makes you wonder, brings tears, laughter, shakes your head and makes you think deep thoughts. It's a great read!   252 Pages!

Covid Strikes Again

 

...and made my 95 year old mother sick, who then shared it with me. Unfortunately, complications took her from us on September 1, 2025. 

She was a wonderful woman and will be missed. Here is our family get-together on July 4th 2025. By July 24th she was sick with covid and pneumonia.

Seize the day, folks! You never know when someone will suddenly be gone. Love you always, Mom!

A New Book by Renée Filippucci-Kotz

Renée Filippucci-Kotz is a writer friend of mine, here in Raleigh, North Carolina. She stopped by to share her latest children's book, Mark of the Dragon. The colorful cover and pages filled with fun are available now!

Book Blurb: 

As Willow approached her thirteenth birthday, a mysterious mark appeared on the palm of her right hand. Not long after its appearance, Willow received life-altering news. This news sends her off on a journey full of adventure, danger, and portals to another world. Along the way, she encounters fantastic creatures with untold secrets and ancient wisdom who will forever change her life.

Excerpt:

Jagged bolts of lightning flashed across the sky. The wind screamed like a demon, the rain came so hard it stripped leaves from the trees, and the earth rumbled. Then, at the exact moment Willow was born, the storm ceased. It wasn’t so much the storm gradually faded away; it simply stopped. The clouds disappeared, and the full moon shone brightly.

Thirteen years have passed since the night of the storm, yet it was forever etched in the townspeople’s memory. Even now, the townspeople spoke of it with a mix of awe and fear, their voices hushed as if the storm itself might hear them. They whispered about Willow's birth during such an intense gale, some even calling her cursed or blessed, depending on their beliefs. Her mama explained it was because some people were superstitious about her being born the night of such a fierce storm. And even though she didn't fully understand why, Willow always felt set apart from those around her.

Renée has been telling stories to children since she started babysitting at the age of 11. She is the author of three chapter books: AJ’s Wish, Pepper’s Misadventure, which received honorable mention in Shoal, the Literary Journal of the Carteret Writers, and Mystery at Camp Piney Woods. 

In addition, she has published four picture books: Booker and the Stinky Smell, Smokey and Clover the Runaway Goat, Cody to the Rescue, and Katie’s New Home. She lives with her husband in central North Carolina.

Learn more about the author, 

Renée Filippucci-Kotz here:

Books By Renee     Facebook

Check it out! Great summer reading! 

Here are the Buy Links:

Amazon       Amazon AU

Amazon UK    Barnes and Noble  

Amazon Print

Vacation Time...Where will you Go?

The beach? The mountains? A foreign country? There are many choices, even if funds are few. 

'Vacationing in Place' is a concept many take to heart. Turn off the phone, make some cool beverages, and find time to read.

Check out all my novels. 

Ebooks and print copies.

Find all Buy Links HERE

Enjoy!

Nancy Lee Badger

Summer is HERE!

Technically, summer starts June 20th but the weather around here in Raleigh, North Carolina sure feels like summer. Temps are over 90, storms threaten every afternoon, and flowers succumb to the appetite of the deer. The local power company powers down our A/C when black-outs are possible, and we have already had a couple of power outages. My shower is pretty dark when the lights go out!

Through it all hubby and I sit back and remember our first apartment. No A/C, no control on the temperature (the thermostat was in the lower apartment), no A/C in any of our cars, and it was usual for camp lanterns and flashlights to be close-at-hand.

The difference? We married and set up our first home in New Hampshire. The mountain breezes and nearby rivers of cool, clean water, as well as lakes and hiking trails made our summers a treat. Vacationing in nearby Canada or a trip to the Dover coast for lobster made for a great life. Forty-nine years later, we manage it all...together.

What do you do to survive the weather that seems to have turned worse across our country? We are NOT looking forward to possibly 13 or more hurricanes. These massive storms are unpredictable. Only 4 hours west of us, the towns of Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Asheville, Bat Cave, Chimney Rock and many more were nearly destroyed only nine months ago. 

Find your flashlights and heed the warnings, 

but try to enjoy SUMMER! 

(Don't forget your summer reading...)

Nancy Lee Badger