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!

A New Book Release: A Paranormal Novel: Heaven-sent Highlander

A long time ago, in a pool in Port Orange Florida, I came up with a story based on a Raleigh, North Carolina art museum. My sisters regaled me with stories of the newly opened wing at the North Carolina Museum of Art that included around thirty bronze sculptures by the French master, Auguste Rodin. As an Art major, who has visited numerous museums, I had my paranormal story half written before I ever discovered the Rodin Garden on the museum's one hundred and sixty four acres. The first book in my Warriors in Bronze series, Heaven-sent Warrior, was released last July. Heaven-sent Highlander was released TODAY and I am thrilled.

A Scottish Highlander falls in battle only to awaken beside bronze statues at a present-day museum. Befriended by a beautiful Fae creature and her allies, he must defeat a demon or die.

Excerpt

     Another day passed with Henrí sharing his knowledge about the abilities Rodin had instilled in him which included conjuring, blinking, and healing.

    “Do I have all these powers? I never met Auguste Rodin.”

    “No one spoke odd words to you before you found yourself inside the statue?” Henrí asked.

    “Wait. On the battlefield at Culloden. As I lay mortally wounded, someone held me. They comforted me with soft words I could not understand. They forced a vile potion down my throat. Next thing I remember was waking inside my tomb.”

    Henrí’s smile made Alex relax. “Alex, that must have been the holy one sent to transport you somewhere, until Heaven needed your help.”

    “What?” Although surprised, he knew Henrí spoke true. Who would have such power except someone from Heaven?

    “One of our Heavenly masters chose us to be guardians of the gates.”

    “I am a warrior, not a gatekeeper.”

I took lots of photos of the beautiful works of art at the museum (which I refer to as the Raleigh Museum of Art, in my book) and will soon add videos of my excursions through the halls and around the grounds of the museum.

The book is available in ebook at these fine locations.

Amazon   AmazonUK

Amazon CAN   Amazon AUS  

I am also giving away a pocket

NOTEBOOK & PEN
to SIX lucky people!

Head on over to my <CONTEST> page

the Rodin Garden a the NC Museum of Art

Nancy Lee Badger's Positive Quote of the Week

Blaze      Photo by Nancy Lee Badger

"See into life…don’t just look at it."

Anne Baxter, Actor

This has been an awesome, busy, exciting week and I fully believe in Ms. Baxter's words. Despite the rainy days and tornado warnings, the sun finally peeked out long enough for my family to enjoy a delicious 4th of July celebration barbecue, visit the North Carolina Museum of Science, and have wine while listening to light jazz at the NC Museum of Art.

What made me think of Ms. Baxter's words? I opened my eyes to how wonderful life can be when you do what you love. I am a writer.

I am patiently waiting for My Reluctant Highlander to be made available in print (the ebook came out June 14th).

I am hustling to reformat Dragon's Curse so I can upload the novella everywhere (now that my publisher has return the rights to me).

I am looking forward to attending the Romance Writers of America conference in Atlanta. Who knows...maybe I will meet an agent looking for someone an unique as me! Or, maybe I will pitch to a publisher willing to take a chance on one of my manuscripts!

I do not plan to sit on my arse and dream...I am heading out to be part of life. Care to join me?

Nancy Lee