Nancy Lee Badger Interviews DONNA STEELE

Today I am interviewing Donna Steele. Her latest book, Homecoming, is a contemporary women's fiction and was  recently released by Rebel Ink Press. She and I met at our local Romance Writers of America chapter, and recently roomed together at a writer's conference. I was interested in what she writes. Sci-Fi and women's fiction? Both are very different from what I write, so I wanted to find out more. Welcome, Donna!

Start us off by telling my readers about your book.

This story is a little different than what I usually write. It came to me as I was cleaning out my parent's home after they were gone.  Some of it is true and some is a drastic cautionary tale to get people to clean out their own homes before the kids get stuck with it and don't have a clue what's "important." It did make me appreciate my family - I didn't have to go through it alone.

I live with a pack rat. Describe the genre of this particular title. Is it the only genre you write in?  

This is my first women's fiction and I hope to do some more like it, but my first love is science fiction/paranormal romance. I love seeing the possibilities that are just beyond our grasp; at least they're beyond our grasp for now.

I write in different genres as well, usually whatever strikes me. When did you start writing toward publication?

That's a hard one, I've been writing since I was a little girl. My husband and biggest supporter urged me to send a story to Tor - they didn't take it, but it broke the ice. I have some very dear friends I've written with in the past and one of them, Char Chaffin, recently became published and demanded I join RWA and give it a try. She was so right.

My hubby supports me, too, including reading my stuff before I send it to editors. I still have all my rejection letters. (talk about clutter!) Back to business: how did you get into romance writing?

There's something else to write? Actually I think that the relationship (and bumps within) between two people is the most fascinating story there is, and there seems to be endless variety. That is major cool!

Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold? If so, did you send them out yourself?

Yes, I had finished a couple of manuscripts and have several others in various states of completion. I saw an ad online from Rebel Ink Press and the name caught my attention - Rebels are something I can get behind, so I sent the first one "Rth Rising" to Rebel Ink and lo and behold, they liked it. I still remember the breathless shock when it really happened.

You're a Rebel, and I'm a Yankee, but we clicked! Why have you become a published author?  

To tell the truth, in part to see if I could do it. I've read some incredible stories that have stuck with me for years. I would so love to have something I've written stay with someone and make them smile long after they've read it.

Who first introduced you to the love of reading?

Don't laugh - it's DC Comics. Really. I was six and at school they were teaching me "Dick, Jane and Sally." Lord, they were boring children! And I could read at a higher level than that very quickly. On Sunday's Daddy, my sister and I would walk along the railroad tracks to downtown (and I use the term loosely) to Jim's Drugstore.  As far as I know Jim died long before I was born, but there was a section in the back with "funny books" (now known as graphic novels and charged for accordingly). Superman sucked me in and I never looked back.

I remember when comic books were 3 for 25 cents! Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

The feedback. Reading a review or getting a note from someone that has read my books and enjoyed them. There is no better stroking. I got a note from my 8^th grade English teacher the other day. She and her husband had read Learning Trust and loved it. She was so thrilled that she had a published author as a student.  It doesn't get any better than that.

You are living the dream! What do you see ahead in your writing career?

Plowing ahead - I want to continue to write as long as the stories will come. It's too much fun to create worlds and characters that sometimes take over the story and twist it around in ways I never envisioned.

Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?

I'm a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Heart of the Carolina Romance Writers (HCRW), Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, and I'm a Rebel Ink Elite Writer. They have all been of such immense help. The very energy in the room when I attend the HCRW meetings pulls stories out of me. The inspiration and feeling of belonging is hard to describe.

And, since we see each other at these meetings, the commaraderie is priceless. Writing can be a solitary career if you don't join a group. Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 

Everyone says it, but it's true - write. Even when nothing is coming and you're pulling it out instead of it flowing, keep writing. You can always erase or edit later. Have more than one manuscript ready (or close). Who knows if the next person you send it to wants even more. And make it a book you want to read.

What’s next for you?

Homecoming just came out, so I'm promoting it right now, but I have three under construction and can't wait to get back to them.

BOOK BLURB

Upon the death of her grandmother, Ashley returns home to sell the family home.  There she discovers Matt comfortably ensconced in the guest house, taking care of the family estate.

His love for the architecture and past grandeur of the old mansion tempers Ashley's memories of neglect and abuse at the hands of the matriarch, and the town.  As she and Matt work together, they begin to get the place, and their lives, back in shape.

A little bit about the author

I’d love to say I’m able to write full time.  Unfortunately my real life demands attention worse than my kids when they were toddlers. Ever since I learned to read I’ve wanted to write. Maybe it was just to escape that "real life" but I managed it! I finally got up the courage to submit a few things and I’m delighted that I finally get to share my passion with you. I write science fiction and mild paranormal usually with an eco-twist, though I am indulging in some contemporary women's fiction. My premiere novel, Rth Rising, was released on March 3, 2012. Learning Trust came out June 7. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, FF&P and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers. I live in North Carolina as an empty nester now with my beloved best friend and husband, who actually encourages this mad passion of mine.

Read an Excerpt of Homecoming  HERE

Thanks for stopping by, Donna. How can my readers buy your book? 
Amazon 
All Romance EBooks
Barnes and Noble

You can find more information about Donna Steele and Homecoming, by visiting:

WEBSITE 

TWITTER  

FACEBOOK 

GOODREADS 

 

AND THE WINNER IS...

The winner of the

Hot Autumn Nights Blog Hop

chosen for her wonderful comment is

NAY NAY!

Nay Nay said "I love to curl up by the fire with the hubby sipping hot toddies, or reading a hot romance if hubby is not around on a cold fall evening."

Nay Nay has won an ebook of her choice of either

MY HONORABLE HIGHLANDER

or

MY BANISHED HIGHLANDER.

Thanks to everyone who left wonderful comments

on how they love to keep warm on

HOT AUTUMN NIGHTS.

The winner of the Blog Hop

Barnes & Noble Gift Card

will be announced shortly.

Highlanders Crave Hot Autumn Nights

Welcome to the HOT AUTUMN NIGHTS BLOG HOP! Join me and dozens of authors as we welcome the cool, crisp nights of fall under the harvest moon. My fictional New England Highland Games take place when the leaves turn to red and golds, and a chill fills the mountain air. Is that a snowflake?

My Honorable Highlander

Present day herbalist Haven MacKay’s

love spell goes awry, is cast back in time,

and meets her true love,

Laird Kirkwall Gunn. 

 

 

My Banished Highlander

With a letter in Iona Mackenzie’s

hand and

Highlander Cameron Robeson

at her back,

what could go wrong?

How do you keep warm as the air cools with the crisp northern breezes? What's your idea of a hot autumn night?
1. Hot cocoa with your honey?
2. Snuggling in front of a crackling fire?
3. Do you watch the leaves turn brilliant colors from the heat of a hot tub?
4. Do you tangle with a special someone on a blanket under the stars?
5. Or, do you share a tent or castle bed chamber with a time-traveling Highlander?

My Highland Games Through Time series has hunky ancient Highlanders, the strong modern-day women who keep them on their toes, and lots of spicy tension to give the reader a good romp through the wilds of Scotland.

Leave a comment with YOUR idea

of a way to keep romance HOT

on cool Autumn Nigths!

I will chose a winner at the end

of the Blog Hop. That person

will win their choice of either

My Honorable Highlander

 or

My Banished Highlander

ebook.

Also, the coordinator of the Blog Hop will issue a Barnes and Noble Gift Card to one lucky person, so remember to visit all the participating blogs for better chances to win. The links are below.

*remember to include your contact info and ebook format choice

My winner will be chosen December 3rd

And the 13 Ebook Winners are...

I have chosen the winners and have emailed them. A couple DID NOT leave their email addresses. I am hoping to contact them soon.

 

Congratulations to all the winners of my historical paranormal romance,

SOUTHERN FRIED DRAGON

Around this time last year, while researching a book, I stumbled on this great website: (click for link)

GEORGIA’S BLUE & GRAY TRAIL

PRESENTS AMERICA’S CIVIL WAR

The website consists of numerous links surrounding a Civil war time line. How cool is that! All you do is click on the century, the decade, and the year, scroll down to the month and day, and there you have it! What a great research tool for someone writing Civil War stories. Since I was writing Southern Fried Dragon, my paranormal set on the eve of the American Civil War, this was priceless. I thought I would look to see what happened in my birthday month, in the year before war was declared. Since I start my story in this time frame, I came across some interesting tidbits. Check it out!

November 6, 1860

Republican Abraham Lincoln wins the Presidential election with 39.7% of the vote, defeating Stephen Douglas, John Breckinridge and John Bell.

November 9, 1860

South Carolina calls for a convention on December 17 to decide if the state should secede from the Union

November 10, 1860

James Chesnut becomes the first Southerner to resign from the Senate. He is quickly followed by James H. Hammond

November 12, 1860

In Preston County, Western Virginia holds its first organizational meeting, expressing a desire to "adhere to the Union".

November 13, 1860 (my birthday, though years later!)

At the end of a fiery, pro-secession speech, Robert Toombs announces his resignation from the U. S. Senate at the end of his term.

November 14, 1860

In Milledgeville, Alexander Stephens gives a response to Toombs' speech the day before, calling for a meeting of southern states to discuss secession.

November 23, 1860

Major Robert Anderson (who is mentioned in my book) reports Fort Sumter is being threatened in Charleston as federal forces begin to improve Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter in the harbor. (both forts are in my book!)

My book takes place in and around the city of Charleston, South Carolina and Fort Sumter, which lies in the harbor nearby. It was a fun story to write since, with my love of dragons, I twisted history just a bit to include a Scottish dragon-turned-bar maid who meets a handsome soldier. 

Here is an Excerpt:

Rated PG-13 

He backed her against a shadowy wall and pressed against her, returning her attention to his rock-hard body. The swift surge of passion thrilled her with the power their shared kiss conjured. The second kiss was a joy-filled surprise that swiftly turned into a carnal promise of things to come.

With her fingers entangled in his silky locks, she wiggled her hips, yearning to get closer. He groaned, and pressed her between the hard planks of the wall and the steel planes of his chest. His tongue slid across her lips until she opened beneath his touch, welcoming him inside. She now knew what to expect. She now craved his intimate strokes within the sensitive curve of her mouth.

Prickles of desire brought a moan from deep within her throat. She never would have believed the fire inside could flame even brighter. She yearned for more.

Much more.

When he broke the kiss, Dru cried out with disappointment.

“I should not keep taking advantage, Miss…you neglected to share your name.”

She laughed. Yes, she’d forgotten he’d asked, as any human male would. Names were a big thing between humans. Saddled by the name of the woman whose life she’d overtaken, she had nothing to hide. As time wore on, she’d grown to like it.

“Dru Little.”

He smiled and bowed at the waist, picked up his bent loaf of bread and stepped back. “I must leave ye, now.”

“Getting back to Fort Moultrie?”

He nodded while his thumb wiped a raindrop from her cheek. “I will return in a week, at a more appropriate hour. Goodnight, Miss Little.”

As he retreated into the dark, she glared at his back. Why did he have to leave now? Kissing him could lead to a variety of pleasurable things and she desperately wanted to experience them. Her human body reacted uniquely different from her scaled dragon form, but he spoke the truth. No normal human woman would make love to a man she just met.

What was I thinking?

Title:  SOUTHERN FRIED DRAGON
Author:  Nancy Lee Badger
Genre: Paranormal Historical
E-book  Was $2.99, now $.99

AMAZON   NOOK    Smashwords    All RomanceEBooks     

WIN MY BOOK!

Since it is MY birthday month, I will give away 13 e-copies* of SOUTHERN FRIED DRAGON to 13 lucky people who leave a comment on what the American Civil War means to them. Yes, open to international readers as well. 

*Please leave your email addy AND your preferred format type, such as pdf, epub, mobi, etc.

I will draw the winners on Sunday November 25th

3 BOOKS TO 3 LUCKY WINNERS!

Congratulations to the following readers who
left  comments during my salute to the
Men & Women of the Military Blog Hop
which ended yesterday.

Julie R has won an ecopy of
MY BANISHED HIGHLANDER









Both Ann Q and
Kim in Hawaii will
receive an ecopy of
my military romance,
UNWRAPPING CHRIS

Thanks to all who entered!

Nancy Lee

Men & Women of the Military BLOG HOP-Win Books!

I am an Army Mom. I have been since 2002, when my youngest son joined the army on their delayed entry program. He was 17, just ready to start his senior year at high school. It was 2 weeks after his 18th birthday when he left on a bus for Basic Combat Training.

Fast forward to many years after he had served in Germany and Iraq. He is now safely home, living nearby, a Drill Sergeant in the army Reserves, and about to graduate college. I asked his help while writing a short story with a military theme for Whispers Publishing.

In UNWRAPPING CHRIS, Army widow Jayne Rockwell searches for a secure future for her and her two daughters. Staff Sergeant Christopher Hawkins regrets leaving young Jayne eight years ago to go off to war. 

 

A crash encounter a week before Christmas thrusts these two lonely people back into each other's lives once more. Jayne must learn to trust a man who disappeared with her heart. Chris must overcome the guilt of taking her innocence, and then leaving her heartbroken and alone.  

A Christmas wedding brings them closer when Jayne spies him as a groomsman in Highland dress, complete with kilt. He cannot keep his eyes off the woman in green velvet wearing a wedding ring. Accusations, explanations, and remorse leads to a love that erupts among candlelight, Christmas carols, and a dark room. Who needs mistletoe?

 

Fast Forward to last September when I released my latest book, MY BANISHED HIGHLANDER. Scottish warrioirs of the Highlands join forces to fight a sorceror bent on killing my hero's cousin, the laird of his clan. When his clan convicts Cameron Robeson of treason in 1598 Scotland, the last thing he thought his cousin the Laird would do was banish him to the future.

 

 

With a certain woman on his mind, he plans revenge while surrounded by the sights and sounds of the modern day New England Highland Games. His plans go awry when a comely redheaded lass wearing the Mackenzie plaid lands at his feet. 

 

 

Iona Mackenzie is worried about her friend, Haven, and searches for answers among the tents at the games. Whom can she trust to help? Her father? The handsome blacksmith? Or, the tall, golden-haired Highlander? Romance takes a back seat because saving her friend is her priority, no matter how great Cameron can kiss. 

 

When a magical amulet and an angry sorcerer send this unlikely couple back through time, more than one heart will be broken. Danger, intrigue, and threats surround them, and feelings between Iona and Cameron grow hot and steamy. They fight the sorcerer and search for Iona’s friend, the woman he vowed to steal from his cousin. Will the strong-willed Highlander and the present day witch stop fighting long enough to listen to their hearts?

 

War and warriors might have changed over the centuries, but here in the United States of America, we celebrate our veterans on November 11th. The Jeep Diva, host of the Blog Hop, will be donating $$$ to the Wounded Warriors Program.

 

VETERAN'S DAY SPECIAL

leave a comment about what 

Veteran's Day means to you

and I will award

THREE FREE EBOOKS.

 

Winner #1 and Winner #2 will win a copy of

UNWRAPPING CHRIS

Winner #3 will win a copy of

MY BANISHED HIGHLANDER

 

*please remember to leave your email contact info. Thanks! Winners will be chosen Noveber 15th.

Show More

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AND...for a chance to win LOTS OF OTHER PRIZES...

Hop on over to other participating blogs, below.

Interview with Author Kyle Newton

A funny thing happened when I recently attended the New Hampshire Highland Games  and Festival. I came face-to-face with a kilted young man whom I had talked with, briefly, one year ago. Many things have changed since our last encounter.



Kyle with  Loon Mountain in the background

Kyle Newton cut his long hair! More importantly, he published his first book Allegiance of a Soldier, and is well on his way to more books. (the second book in The Betrayer Series should be out by now). Compared to me, Kyle is youngun and seems to know my sons who were also at the games. You see, my family gets together in the fall to volunteer under the Information tent, so we meet lots of great people dressed in every color imaginable.

Kyle is a member of the Forbes Clan. Every Scottish Clan has their own 'tartan plaid' and it is such a pleasure to photograph men in their ancient garb. Kyle looks the part and I pulled him aside to get to know the real Kyle.

"I love to tell stories," he told me as we lounged in the shade and watched the thousands of visitors to the games. He also admitted he nearly failed his creative writing course in high school because he was writing his book!

Like me, Kyle was inspired by an author. He met Mary Carroll Moore at a writer's conference, and off he went! Since high school, Kyle has worked in retail to pay the rent, but his passion is writing stories.




The author at the New Hampshire Highland Games with his book

Lies of the King is the second book in his trilogy, and he found out quickly that promotion takes time away from writing. I gave him some ideas and I hope this will help increase sales, since the dream of all writers is to WRITE FULL TIME.

Book Blurb of Allegiance of a Soldier

A dying country rises from the ashes of war. Aran, one of Rairal's elite, and a war hero amongst his brothers-in-arms, views himself as a disgrace. A dark secret lingers within him, crippling his daily life. Hoping to find peace in nature, he is arrested by the King's men, and is promised death in prison. With friends few and far between, it becomes time to face difficult questions: Is it better to fight or hide? Is killing for King and country still considered murder? What if facing the past that haunts you is the only way to save your country's future?

 

Ebooks of Allegiance of a Soldier are available at:  

 

Amazon      Smashwords    KOBO

Print versions are available at:  LuLu

Where to find AUTHOR KYLE NEWTON:

Website    Facebook    Twitter

WIN an Ebook of Allegiance of a Soldier! I will personally send a Gift Certificate to either Amazon, KOBO, or Smashwords to one person who leaves a comment! MY GIFT TO YOU!

Winner will be chosen Nov. 5th

Nancy, an author paying-it-forward