Highland Games have Given me another Book Idea!

The 29th Annual Loch Norman Highland Games were held last weekend in Huntersville, North Carolina. We arrived on a sunny day to bagpipes playing and meat pies cooking. We enjoyed watched as our old American flags burned in a solemn ceremony, then really enjoyed the women hurling heavy metal objects. The caber tossing came later.

Marching bands and a sheep herding demonstration went on while the other athletes tossed a big bean bag over a very high bar. There was so much to see that it took until the next day to visit all the venders as I tried to replace a set of Celtic-themed earrings I recently broke. 

The historical village, the longbow competition, the parade of tartans, and the children's wrestling kept us enthralled even when the second day clouded over and threatened to rain. The beauty of an outdoor festival is that the weather does what it wants and we must adapt. 

Yes, I got to see the Highland cows. There were four in the meadow this year: two adults and two calves. Their horns are amazing and their disposition reminds me of playful puppies. Just don't let one step on your foot! 

These two days gave me a lot of ideas which will soon end up in another book. Happy trails!

Nancy Lee Badger

Teaser from The Rogue's Ring

 

My new book will be released May 12th. Here is the Plot and Excerpt:

Book Blurb

Bryce would never let down his friends. Finding the owners of signet rings was important. Shooting a masked bandit turned his life on end. The last thing Cat wished to do was steal coins from the handsome stranger. When masked, he shoots her. She suspected he had no idea it was her. Together they will save a boy named Blake. He was, after all, special to them both.

PG Excerpt 

Once Bryce had peeled the frozen coat from his body, he headed up the ladder. The blankets were reasonably clean. Heat enveloped him within minutes of having nestled beneath them.

“A short nap is all I need.” His voice echoed amid the rafters. The outside rush of wind and pitter-patter of sleet accentuated the weariness evident in his voice. The cold that had washed over him as he and Ghost rode the trail disappeared. Having only a few blankets for warmth saddened him.

What I’d give for a lass to share my bed…

A dream about Cat and her luscious lips disappeared when he awoke in the dark. No sounds emanated from the roof, meaning the sleet had abated. The darkness concerned him, though. He had overslept, which might be the lingering result of the sleeping draught Cat had given him.

He hated to head out in the dark, but the better weather meant he might get out of the area and closer to Inverness sooner. Climbing down from the loft, Ghost snorted his disapproval at being ignored and alone for so long. Turning his head, he neighed so loud a barn owl flew from the rafters and out a broken window.

“Now, do not be upset. You hated having sleet coat your head as much as I. Here.”

The beast gulped down the fresh water and a handful of oats Bryce offered him.

“We need to go, my friend.”

The farmer appeared before Bryce could lead Ghost from the barn. “Leaving this late, my lord? My wife sent ye some food and wine.”

“My thanks to you and your wife. I overslept, so must be on my way.” He grabbed the sliced loaf of bread stuffed with a hunk of ham and cheese. He ignored the wine.

“Which way toward Inverness? The road closest to the sea was blocked by downed trees.”

“The main road be that a way, my lord. With the clouds gone, the moon should light yer way, good enough.”

Mounting atop Ghost, he tipped his cap and rode away, eager to leave the area in his wake. As they trotted along and Bryce chewed his food, he thought back to the lass he had loved years earlier. She lived on a similar farm in the same area, and had welcomed him into her heart and into her bed.

Pre-Order Today here:

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and everywhere else HERE

(coming soon in print) 

A New Book by Author Donna Steele

I met Donna Steele many years ago at a writer's meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina. She lives quite a distance away so it was nice to see her and talk over coffee after those monthly meetings. The pandemic meant we 'talked' on zoom for the next couple of years, but we kept competing by writing the next book and the next (she is winning). I am excited to help her share the release of her latest book, a contemporary romance that will take your breath away.  

Blurb - 

Dylan has no time for a relationship, even one her older relative dictates. She’s learning the corporation she will eventually head and that’s enough, until she steps off the elevator and see the new guy who moved in next door.

Nash’s military career is over, due to an explosion, but he has a job now with friends at Sutton and Associates and new place to live. He can heal there and work from home. Then his new neighbor steps into the hall…

Excerpt -

Dylan stepped off the elevator outside of her place, more than ready to kick off her shoes and relax. It had been a long day and she was more than ready to sluff it off. She had even taken the time to stop in the lobby of her building to look at her dad’s portrait. That had helped. It was on the wall next to Granddad now. Great-aunt Lucille’s picture wasn’t on the wall, not yet, even though she was running the company currently. Such placement would be Dylan’s responsibility after Lucille was gone no doubt.

It was a good portrait of Dad, but she’d so much rather have him back. She would run the company one day, for him. It would have been better to do it together.

She stopped short at the sight of the chaos and mess that confronted her in the hall outside of her apartment.

Flattened cardboard, bubble wrap, and paper wrappings were piled high outside the apartment next door to hers. The place had been unoccupied for a couple of weeks while the company cleaned it. Looked like she had a new neighbor. At least she didn’t see a drum set or any brass instruments thank goodness. Before she could get to her door, the other one opened and a man stepped out.

Okay, yes, she swallowed hard at the sight of him. Damn, did they really make them like that? Tall, well over six feet, military short dark hair, and all muscle. The t-shirt covering his chest showed his pecs off to great advantage. Had she ever seen an honest-to-god six pack not air brushed before? There was no way she could get her arms around his chest. Not that she’d ever have an opportunity to try. She took a mental step back.

He looked up and gave her the most adorable sideways grin which transformed his face from slightly scary to mischievous. There was even a twinkle in his dark eyes. “Sorry. I’ll get this stuff out of here as soon as possible.”

“Don’t worry about it. Moving is a messy business. I’m Dylan, I live there.” She pointed at the apartment next to his. Their doors were next to each other, so his place was a mirror image of hers. Good, their bedrooms were on opposite ends of the apartments because a man who looked like him would no doubt have lots of overnight company.

“Nash.” He held out a hand and she took it, though it engulfed hers. Wherever he came from, they grew ‘em big. Did she hear a slight southern accent? She couldn’t stop herself from wondering how large he was everywhere and mentally slapped herself. This was no way to think about a new neighbor. Even a hunk like him.

“Let me get this out of the way.”

His packing material wasn’t encroaching on her door yet, but it would be soon if he had much more.

“Guess I’ll be seeing you around.” His devastating sideways grin was back, and her next thought was ‘player.’ Damn good-looking player. Yeah, a lot of overnight guests. And she couldn’t blame them.

Snap judgment, Dylan, she chastised herself but met his grin with a smile of her own. “I’m sure we will,” she offered as she stepped inside.

She let herself in and with a last glance, closed the door behind her.

And sank against it.

Damn, he was pretty. Okay, pretty wasn’t nearly the correct word, but looking at him at been no hardship at all. If thugs took over the neighborhood, she was planning to huddle behind him. They’d never see her. Too bad she didn’t have time to pursue something with him. Nope, he was a neighbor in any case, too close for that kind of thing. And she was pretty sure she wasn’t his type. Why did strippers and pole dancers immediately come to mind?

He had however brightened her outlook at the end of a long day.

She kicked off her shoes and headed for the kitchen.

As far as she was concerned, the neighborhood, already nice—despite her aunt’s opinion—had just ticked up several notches.

Buy links - Amazon     B&N 

                      iBooks    Kobo  

Bio -

Donna writes science fiction, paranormal and small-town romances about women coming into their strength and having the courage to find and accept love.

Now that she has retired from going into an office every day, she created an office at home and writes full time. Talk about living the dream!

She was the girl at the party who was yearning for the quiet corner and a book to read (go Rory Gilmore!) and has been writing in her head since she learned to read. Getting those stories down on paper (or in her laptop) has been more fun than she ever imagined it could be.

The possibilities of science fiction have always drawn her, and she’s read them all, there just needed to be a little more romance in them. She finally got up the courage to write them herself and is delighted to be able to share these stories with you.

She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers.

Please sign up for her newsletter here.

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Cover Reveal: The Rogue's Ring by author Nancy Lee Badger

Life happens when you are making other plans.

My plans tend to go by the wayside. My third full-length book in my Treasure Tales series, following The Earls Treasure and The Dukes Diamond, was on the calendar to be released in early January 2023. The plot takes place starting on New Years Day 1817 amid snow surrounding the Bellmeer Estate in Northern England. The next day, my hero and some friends head into Scotland to follow a treasure and reunite nobles with their stolen signet rings.

What happened to my proposed book's release day you ask?

I had cataract surgeries December 12th and January 30th which should have occurred November 28 and December 12th. If the original plan happened, my eyesight would have been perfect and the last edits and the book's release would occur on schedule. Because the first eye was delayed (someone in the surgeon's family got Covid), he could not do my second surgery until the end of January. In those six weeks between surgeries, I could not read, write, or drive. Add to this a member of my family coming down with Covid in early January that put her in the hospital and you can imagine my priorities had changed.

So, I decided to let fate take my lemons and give me lemonade (sugar-free, of course) I took my time editing my book, and created a cover that continued the theme of the series. My thanks to Kim Killion at The Killion Group Images for wonderful subjects that fit my vision of the main characters. 

The Rogues Ring is up for pre-order just about everywhere. Look for buy links HERE. Also, please read the short plot:

Bryce Ketteridge would never let down his friends. If finding the owners of signet rings was important, he would do his share. Shooting a masked bandit turned his life on end. What followed was not in his plans.

The last thing Cat Douglas wished to do was steal coins from the handsome stranger. When he later shoots her while she threatened a nobleman’s coach, she suspected he had no idea it was her. Kidnapped boys, pirate threats, and murder propel them to save a boy named Blake. He was, after all, special to them both.

Check out the other books in the Treasure Tales series

in ebook & Print!

Remember to pre-order The Rogue's Ring.

Release day is May 12, 2023

A Little Bit Irish

Thanks to Ancestry.com/DNA I have discovered some Irish in me. As I do more discovery using them and FamilySearch.com it looks like some of my Scottish ancestors decided to move to Ireland. Needless to say, my 'family' can trace our roots way back.

I wish I had known there was some Irish in me when growing up. Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with green beer would have meant more!

Have a great day and enjoy the rest of the week. Although weather is showing some people that Spring is far away, I will cross my fingers that it arrives soon everywhere.

Nancy Lee Badger

Spring Ahead Equals Lose an Hour...maybe

In many areas across America, time zones keep up with the movement of the sun with what we call Daylight Savings Time which this year ends at 2 a.m. on March 12. Some people harp on the thought of losing an hour of sleep every spring. (Hey! We gain an extra hour in the fall.) 

How interesting that some places, such as the islands of Hawaii, do not reset their clocks. Ever. Come to think of it, Arizona does not go along with this idea either. I heard some other states as well as the Government of the United States is considering doing away with Daylight Savings. You might not know, but I remember that our country tried to eliminate it many decades ago. All too soon, parents complained about kids waiting for the bus in pitch darkness. Didn't last.

What will losing an hour of sleep do for me? Nothing. I am retired. I get up too early and sometimes have no idea what DAY it is, let alone the hour. I have so many projects and a ton of medical appointments (for me and many family members) so I set alarms for the important items and fill my day with projects. Getting back to writing books can take its toll, but I enjoy it almost as much as reading books.

My next book The Rogues Ring will be released on May 12th. Two months away from now sounds like a long time, but then I look at a calendar I wonder how am I going to get it all done?

Calming down, I remember my 10 steps for writing and publishing in 2023 and continue the work needed to have a great book release. I have plans for Amazon gift card giveaways, so make sure you hear about all the plans by receiving my newsletter. You can sign-up HERE. 

Nancy Lee Badger

p.s. don't forget to reset your clocks!

Writing in Retirement is a Great Life

I was happy as a 911 Emergency Medical Dispatcher back in New Hampshire, but the chance to move to the south had its reasons such as:

*no more shoveling snow

*move closer to relatives

*no more working 10 hour shifts starting at 6 a.m.

*no more worrying how to pay the taxes and flood insurance

*no more driving through ice and snow

It helped that I had started writing romance novels with hopes of being published. My husband found out that he could transfer from his New Hampshire company to its Raleigh affiliate. We agreed I would do nothing but write. I was off and running!

My first book, Secret Love Match, was soon purchased by a small publisher and released months later in June 2010. What was lucky, was that I sold another story titled Dragon's Curse to a second small publisher. They also published my book in June 2010. Actually, on the same day! Dragons Curse is still available.

48 or so books later, I have survived several ups and downs such as the pandemic and recent cataract surgeries that kept me from reading or writing until now. Then, a family member got Covid (no the pandemic is NOT over). Caring for her through her hospitalizations and then rehab took up some time, but this is what good families do.

I will release my next book on May 12, 2023 and am currently creating a cover that will intrigue and get noticed by readers. The Rogue's Ring is mainly set in Scotland. I have plans to finish another historical romance also set in Scotland. (Can you see a pattern?) 

Until then, I wish y'all good weather and clean drinking water. And, please do not forget Ukraine.