Nancy Lee Badger Interviews C. T. Nicholson

I have something very special for you today. Joining me is Debut Author C.T. Nicholson. Her first published book, Aiden's Betrayal is a Paranormal Romance and was released by Rebel Ink on February 3, 2013.
How exciting to have another opportunity to interview a newly published author! I remember my first book, back in 2010, and how 'getting the word out' was a new experience. Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

Aiden's Betrayal is the first in the Guardians of the Society series. Aiden is a vampire who's already lost his mate and not expecting to meet a human who captures his attention. Elle is a simple human who just wants to keep living her boring life. Then she meets Aiden who's a vampire just like the one who killed her parents and he drags her into a world full of action and danger.

Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?  

This is my paranormal romance and Forbidden Attraction, that's set to release in April, is my Sci-fi romance. I write romance only, but I am actually working on what I call my 'normal' book since there's nothing paranormal or sci-fi about it. It does have some sexy men in it!

Sexy men? Normal, I like! When did you start writing toward publication?

I only started writing three years ago with a few spaces in between. I never expected to be published and it's been a very unreal experience.

I grew up reading 'Drug Store Romance' and decided I could write like those authors only better. How did you get into romance writing?

Romance is all there is for me. I've never thought of writing or reading anything different. I'll love any book or movie as long as it has a good love story to it.

Who first introduced you to the love of reading?

I really didn't read much when I was younger, but when I was about seventeen, I was reading short Silhouette/Harlequin books and then my grandmother told me about different vampire books. I was skeptical at first and now that's practically all I read.

What do you see ahead in your writing career?

More writing! I want to further myself in my writing skills and become a bestselling writer one day. And I want to walk into a store and be like OMG that's my book! If they still have paperbacks by then.

Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 
Keep writing no matter what. Set your goal and keep at it. (Thanks to Terry Spear for telling me that) I read my writing and either hate it or love it, so don't freak out if you're not happy with it. Just take a step back and it'll come to you.

Terry Spear is a fabulous author and teacher, and has helped me, too! What’s next for you?

I'm working on sequels to Aiden's Betrayal and Forbidden Attraction. I'm super excited to finish my 'normal' book and let people read it. I'm having so much fun writing it! 

BOOK BLURB

Aiden is a vampire, a Guardian for the Society, who spends his nights hunting down vampires who've turned rogue. He meets Elle, a human, the first woman to get his attention after losing his mate.

Elle's a simple human who runs a bed and breakfast and ends up being dragged to a club with her friend. When she meets Aiden, he draws her to him like no other man ever has, but everything changes when she realizes he's a vampire. Just like the one who killed her family and nearly killed her.

As fate intervenes, Aiden ends up bringing Elle into his world to protect her from a rogue who hunts them and both woman and vampire must adjust. Aiden has to get over his fear of losing another mate and Elle has get over her fear of vampires.

Show more

Show le

A little bit about the author

C.T. Nicholson juggles raising two kids with her husband, a full time job, and still manages to get her writing done. Sometimes she even manages to get some sleep . . . sometimes. Writing and becoming a published author is a recent dream come true. Most of what she reads revolves around paranormal and sci-fi romance, and her writing follows the same path. The fun of weaving new worlds and species into existence is her true calling. She's a romantic to the core and wants nothing more than a happy ending. And of course hot men! You can find more information about C.T. Nicholson and her book, Aiden's Betrayal by visiting:

WEBSITE         BLOG       Facebook       Goodreads   

 

How can my readers buy your book?  

Rebel Ink Press    AMAZON   NOOK   BookStrand

 

The JABBIC Reader’s Choice Cover Contest closes FEBRUARY 10^TH.

JABBIC stands for

Judge A Book By Its Cover.

My book

is in the

Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Paranormal category and I could use your vote.

Click& VOTE HERE

and make my day!

Nancy Lee Badger says "Do it"

Stinson Lake, Rumney, NH photo by Nancy Lee Badger

 

I heard this saying the other day

(author unknown) and I immediately

felt it was talking to me...

The world is so fast

there are days when

the person who says

"it can't be done"

is interrupted by

the person doing it.

 

The words make me want to

get my head in the game and write.

How about you?

 

 

Nancy

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews David Russell

David Russell

David Russell has kindly ‘crossed the pond’ to chat with me about his contemporary romance, Self’s Blossom.

I love that you hail from London. The internet has opened the world to international discovery of authors like you and like me. Please tell my readers a little bit about your book. 

David- Well...check out this review...

Queen of Tarts Review of  Self’s Blossom by David Russell

I sometimes felt like I was watching a foreign film or an art house movie and that I was missing some of the complexities of the narrative. I finished this book uncertain as to what the heroine had discovered about herself. But I could still appreciate the beautiful pictures the author paints with his words and his unique approach to storytelling .

Self’s Blossom is all about Selene and her long awaited, scrimped and saved for, holiday. I connected with Selene on a few levels. She’s a workaholic. She’s single and busy moving through life. And I admired her desire to seek out new experiences and learn new things. I didn’t always like her. But I appreciated her intelligence and that she was unashamedly confident in herself and determined to follow through on her decisions.

She uses her vacation to try and break out of the rut she feels her life has become and fling caution to the wind. To have adventures and a passionate affair… or two. Her stay is at a resort in Central America. There are beautiful descriptions of the ocean waves and the lush paradise and how they relate to life and love, lust and passion. And then there are all the characters she meets on holiday and how they help or hinder her journey.  

Nancy-Describe the genre of this particular title, and is it the only genre you write in?

David-My work has been described as literary erotica. I also do speculative fiction, poetry and literary journalism.

Nancy-I wrote poetry in college in the 70s. Little did I know it would morph into novels published since 2010. When did you start writing toward publication?

David-Back in the 60s.

Nancy-Why have you become a published author?

David-I feel it vindicates my worth.  

Nancy-I tell people this is my 4^th job, and the first (and last) career. I write fulltime from home, and love it. What is your writing routine like?

David-I operate on flexi-time; I have to be constantly with priorities.

Nancy-My hubby thinks he is a priority (he is) but I get more writing done when he’s at work. What sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?

David-I do my own via the net – blogs and review sites.

Nancy-I hope inviting you here, today, helps. Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

David-Getting feedback from intelligent readers.

Nancy-Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 

David-Be tenacious; believe in yourself. Always be prepared to revise. If you get scathing criticism, analyze it carefully.

Nancy-I agree. I received two rejection letters in January. I will not trash that manuscript, but give it another look, then send it out again. What’s next for you?

David-A couple of short stories, to be published by Devine Destinies.

Nancy-That is great! I hope you will return and tell us about those books when they are released.

Self’s Blossom BOOK BLURB

This is about a young woman's self-discovery. Selene is a 'success story', having become a top journalist, while retaining her dazzling looks. However, in the past she has had unhappy relationships, and feels she has missed out on hedonistic fun.  This she obtains, firstly with a young stranger on a beach, and finally with enigmatic Hudson: tryst is preceded by cultural tourism, and careful sizing up of minds. Afterwards Selene returns to her 'I stand on my own' attitude.

While she is on holiday, her mind is free to ramble, often into Selene's chequered past. Flashback blurs into the present, past-rooted interior monologue into direct observation. The dialogue is sparse. Selene is a cautious, premeditative type, in whom thought, reflection and analysis outweigh direct action.

Selene’s subtle, monitoring mind coolly observes and controls all the events. Maybe she is super-confident, or perhaps has a deep, underlying insecurity. She is many things to many readers.

Excerpt

Here, she was on a beach, pure and simple. Now the sea breathed heavily,
whispering and murmuring to her. It was returning her stare, speaking to
her. It was the spirit of love, beckoning her with a pulsing, sinewy body.
In all its lines, shades, and fleeting forms, Selene saw the essence of pure
beauty, all grace of form, flesh, limb and feature. It was in one, all the
lovers of whom she could possibly dream, conflated into one elemental ideal.
He, pure love in soul, bade her to enter his domain and make it hers. His
arms moved her hands to unclasp, unbutton, and unzip . . . the blossom
emerged. The sun became the eye of all that was not earth, and Selene loved
fully, though the pallor of her skin left her momentarily abashed.

At first she lay in the tide's path, the top of her head at its most extreme
mark. The sand bank made a soft bed. The sea lover smoothly caressed her
calves, thighs, hips, breasts, shoulders, and cheeks before retreating to
pause in his mossy pinnacles. Three times this action was repeated, and then
Selene stood up, wading in with arms outstretched. Her arms were linked, as
she stood up to her neck in the saline flow. The balls and heels of her feet
wobbled, slithering on the moss. With the next wave, she lost her balance
–her breath prepared in unison with the hissing around her. She threw her
head back, once again horizontal, and launched into a backstroke, sweeping
and circling. She parted her legs wide with each thrust of motion, each
sweep of self-propulsion pushing out to answer the cavernous currents of his
passion. Seven circles gave her a delicious, warm bliss –then the sea lover,
well pleased, carried her back to a near-dry bed. Aching and contented,
Selene dozed a while.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

B. 1940; live in London UK. Have been writing for many decades. My first publication was a poetry collection called Exacting Modality of the World Web. I produced a work of speculative fiction, High Wired On in 1985. I started trying to write literary erotica in the mid-80s. I have some short stories in this genre in addition to Self’s Blossom. I am also a singer-guitarist-songwriter. My main albums are Bacteria Shrapnel and Kaleidoscope Concentrate. I have many tracks on YouTube. 

How can my readers buy your book?  

AMAZON   AMAZON UK   NOOK

You can find more information about Self’s Blossom at

WEBSITE    GOODREADS

AWESOME SCOTTISH PROVERBS

I think of proverbs as simple, popular sayings. The Oxford English Dictionary explains a proverb as: “a pithy saying in general use”, and the Longman Dictionary says it is: “a short well known phrase or sentence, which contains advice about life.” Often repeated, proverbs express a truth based on common sense. Proverbs are wise words of wisdom, said in a hidden way. In many cases, we heard them given as advice or as warnings.


Living History at the NH Highland Games

Proverbs are handed down generation-to-generation, country to country, and through more than one language. The ‘Bible’s’ ‘Book of Proverbs’, and medieval Latin, have played a large role in distributing proverbs across Europe, although almost every culture has examples of its own.

Everyone has heard proverbs, in one form or another, retold over and again by the people who influenced their lives. Sage expressions such as hast makes wast, willful waste makes woeful want, and penny wise, pound fool were meant to guide us in our younger years. Spouted by our parents, schoolteachers, and clergy, we children were taught to use them wisely upon reaching adulthood. Recalling their words make us pause when faced with an important decision.

I write Scottish historical novels and my research has uncovered several interesting tidbits. I am amazed at the vast number of proverbs linked to Scottish origins. Many of these I found in literary texts written before 1600! Several of these old adages sounded familiar!

My favorites among the proverbs I recorded for this article are the ones that mention our furry or feathered friends. Please bear with me. I believe they will also ring true, even though their translations from Scottish dialects to English sound funny!

Waken not sleeping dogs. I agree. Good advice! I like owning ten fingers.
Ye cannot make a silk purse of a sows lug. I felt this way when in my younger years, until the braces came off.
Love me, love my dog. My sister, the veterinarian, lives this.
A given horse should not be lookt in the teeth. I never let on which wedding gifts were God-awful-ugly! A few eventually found their way into one of our yard sales.
Better a fowl in hand nor twa flying. I have always had a problem with taking ready cash and investing it in order to make more. With the all-too-recent economic downturn, this became a wise choice.
Ane may lead a horse to the water, but four and twenty cannot gar him drink. I married a man just as stubborn! I find it best NOT to give him a choice about anything. And, this last one made me break out laughing, especially when I remember awkward family dinners!
Fidlers, dogs and flies, come to the feast uncalled. (Just kidding, Mom and Dad)

Born a Scorpio, I have also used several adages from my childhood to tame my temper and found it TRUE that the higher up, the greater the fall. No one loves a bitch. What about all is not gold that glitters? Many instances in my life have shown me the truth in these words, especially when I recall our first home. It looked like a castle to our young first-time homebuyers eyes. What a money-pit.

Historical Village at the Loch Norman Highland Games, NC

As a volunteer EMT, I often responded to an emergency scene and arrived first. I learned many hands makes light work and always breathed a little easier when my squad showed up to back me up. Of course, my mom used that same proverb around my sisters and I quite frequently! And, a new bissom sweeps clean is recognizable in any language. Maybe we ignored her words at the time, as it goes in at one ear, and out the other, but I remember her wisdom years later.

You can find oodles of Scottish Proverbs in a vast selection of printed books, on-line resources, and even T-shirts! How have proverbs passed through time and space to guide our thoughts and actions? Family stories, one generation to the next, is the most common method. When you find yourself pausing before acting on some impulse which may change your life forever, think back on those little Scottish proverbs. And remember: no door ever closed but another opened. When you do, you may be delighted to find that all is well that ends well.

For more information on Scottish Proverbs try:
http://www.compassrose.org/
www.worldofquotes.com/proverbs
http://www.cafepress.com/
http://www.rampantscotland.com/

Nancy

This article was written by Nancy Lee Badger and first published on November 13, 2009 on http://HistoryUndressed.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday Scottish Poet Robert Burns

Salute the HAGGIS!

January 25th marks the celebration of a birth that occurred over 250 years ago. This person came into the world before America was its own country; before the regency and Victorian eras swept England; before my ancestors had any inkling how the world would turn out.
 

The dry facts go like this: Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Ayreshire, in Scotland, in a farmer’s cottage. Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect was his first published work. Burns’ poem To a Haggis, is recited across the world during the annual Burns Night celebrations every January. His tongue-in-cheek exaggeration of his love for this oatmeal, onions, heart and liver concoction boiled inside a sheep’s stomach has elevated the simple sausage to a national icon.

Still wondering what all the hoopla about a guy long dead is all about? Do the English host a party on Shakespeare’s birthday? Do the Americans honor Longfellow? Not to this extent. The world has celebrated this poet’s life since a few years after his death when a group of Burns’ friends got together to read his poems and drink a little Scotch Whisky.

Some idolize the man for his poetry and songs. He is remembered in Scotland, where a beautiful museum was dedicated to Robert Burns. 

January is here, again. Since moving from New Hampshire, I have missed attending the annual Robert Burns Night held by the St. Andrews Society of New Hampshire. I miss those gatherings, where over 100 people attend dressed in Scottish attire to enjoy music, Highland dancers, fine whisky, great food, and a story about Robert Burns. The evening always ends with everyone joining hands to sing one of Robert Burns’ songs, a very familiar song…Auld Lang Syne.

Happy Birthday, Robert.

Nancy 

A Scottish Proverb to Live By

Be happy while you’re living,

for you’re a long time dead

—Scottish Proverb

What exactly does this mean to you?

To me, it reminds me of a friend's son who died in a senseless accident in late December. It reminds me that my father's roommate at the VA Home just passed away. It reminds me that a family member's recent surgery could have had a dire result, but I also celebrate that the tests came back normal.

I made no New Year's resolutions. Instead, I asked that we all slow down, see out doctors, eat sensibly, and enjoy life while we have another day.

Unlike the cool, crisp morning hubby and I spent recently in New Hampshire (see photo above), here in central North Carolina, the temperature is in the 70s. I think I'll take a walk.

Slàinte,

Nancy