Nancy Lee Badger's Blog, page 37

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Author Ashlyn Mathews

Today I’m interviewing author Ashlyn Mathews. Her  book, STAY  was released on April 25. Authors appreciate help getting out the word, so please leave a comment and share via Facebook, Twitter, etc. Ashlyn, please tell my readers a little bit about your book.
Ashlyn - STAY  is a short contemporary romance about a woman who loses pieces of her memories after an assault and the mysterious man who intrigues her with his familiar eyes and sizzling words.
Nancy- Is this the only genre you write in?
Ashlyn - STAY is a contemporary romance. I also write steamy paranormal romances, too.
Nancy- Steamy? Yum! When did you start writing toward publication?
Ashlyn - My writing journey began in 2010 after I took my kids to see the Disney movie, Tangled. For some reason, that movie inspired me to find my muse.
Nancy- I love that movie! Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold? If so, did you send them out yourself?
Ashlyn - I had one manuscript done by 2011 and sold the book to a publisher later that year.
Nancy- Why have you become a published author?
Ashlyn - I became a published author because I can’t quiet the voices in my head, lol. After being a voracious reader of romance since I was a teenager (yes, I snuck out of the house and holed myself at the local library for hours), I decided I wanted to write and share my angsty stories of second chance love and fated love. Those are my two favorite romance tropes to read and write about.
Nancy- What is your writing routine like?
Ashlyn - I work full time and am going to school full time for my Bachelor’s degree, so any chance I get, I sit my butt down and write. After I’m done, I send the document to my Kindle and read and edit. I’m constantly editing.
Nancy- editing is the key. After the book is ready, what sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?
Ashlyn - I don’t do much promo unless I have a new book out. I don’t have help but I do use the book services out there that helps authors promote new releases or a book priced at a bargain.
Nancy- Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?
Ashlyn - My most rewarding thing is to finish a book and sharing the stories with readers.
Nancy- Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?
Ashlyn - I say to keep writing and to listen to the muse in their heads. I let a story settle for a while and come back to it later when I’m frustrated. Eventually as I write, the message of the story comes to me. It can be a lonely and frustrating process but well worth it. And of course, take the time to enjoy life. It will show in your writing process.
Nancy- Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.
I love roses and won a couple of ribbons for best show at my employers’ flower contest.2) I was quite the athlete in school-softball, tennis, basketball and track.3) I listen to music all day long, whether I’m at work, in the car or cooking.
Nancy- What’s next for you?
Ashlyn - I have a paranormal romance releasing in 10 days. And I’m currently working on another contemporary romance about second chance love titled, Love, Actually, Red Meets Blue.
BOOK BLURB from STAYMy heart matters. I don't want a broken heart. The whole of me is already broken.

After losing pieces of my memory in a brutal assault, I know better than to get involved with the new guy in the building. Brooks Hunter is dangerously sexy with his piercing gaze and ripped body beneath his well-fitted suit.

He can have any woman, yet he wants me. I don't deny our instant spark, but I can't understand his attraction. I'm plain and skinny, wear ugly owl glasses and my monotone black hair is piled high on top of my head.

"Invite me in. Otherwise, I can't stay."

He says we know one another. I swear I've never met him. A woman can't forget his type of sexy--mouthwatering and panty-melting hot. But his eyes are familiar, and I can't shake the suspicion he had something to do with my assault.

When he reveals the unbelievable truth behind the story of how we're connected, he rocks the very foundation of my safe world. Will I demand he takes a much-deserved hike? Or will I ask him... to stay?
Buy Links…. 
AMAZON    NOOK
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHORA writer of angsty and dark romances, Ashlyn Mathews likes to incorporate various weapons into her stories and gives her characters out-of-this-world names just because she can. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four boys. Connect with Ashlyn Mathews here:

WEBSITE     TWITTER 

Writing at the Beach!

Angry wavesI had an opportunity to join my sister on a trip to the beach. While she attended workshops on a totally different subject, I was able to sit and edit manuscripts. 

The weather was cloudy and drizzling, but it calmed down enough Saturday night so I could walk out onto the Kitty Hawk Pier. The pier was heavily damaged during last October's visit by Hurricane Mathew, and that stung, as it is used by dozens Kitty Hawk Pierof brides for their weddings. In fact, a wedding had just occurred, and the festivities went on into the night. (I peeked at the party inside the building!)

The lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn in Kill Devil Hills (same area on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with Kitty Hawk and Nags
Head) and I enjoyed coffee while watching people until returning to the room to update my manuscripts in my computer before enjoying meals at fabulous local restaurants like Captain George's, the Dunes, and Tortuga Lie.

We woke to blue skies and warm weather on Sunday, but after a short stop at Duck Donuts for a sweet breakfast, headed home to Raleigh. 

A writer spends many months polishing their craft, editing their stories, and typing, typing, typing! A new series is in the works, due to be released in quick succession this summer, so stay tuned via my blog or my Amazon Author Page. Thanks!

Nancy Lee Badger presents Author Alexandra Christian

Author Alexandra Christian stopped by to share her latest book, which was released April 13, 2017.  
BLURB:Librarian at one of Earth's last paper libraries, Phoebe Addison is about to have a romantic and interplanetary adventure wilder than anything she's ever read.

OUT OF THE STACKS

Librarian Phoebe Addison has lived her entire life within a seventy-five mile radius of her small Louisiana town, but when she receives a strange medallion from her adventurous, off-world sister, reality tilts toward the bizarre. Everything Phoe thought she knew is…well, wrong. Dead wrong. But bone-numbing fear has no place in this brave new world—nor by the side of the dangerous, exquisite man who saves her life.

…AND INTO THE FIRE

Following the tragic slaughter of his family, operative Macijah “Cage” St. John understands evil in a way no man ever should. He traded happiness for a magnificent and terrible power, and fate isn’t done with him yet. He wasn’t looking for comfort. He didn’t need tenderness. But today he’ll play hero to a damsel in distress, and his quest will deliver him to the uncanny Martian colony of New London—and his heart to the demure Phoebe Addison. The bookish beauty’s hidden talents and deep abiding love just might save Cage from himself
Excerpt from Phoenix Rising: NAKED
Caught in the Rain
There is no situation that can’t be made worse with the addition of heavy rain. Phoebe stumbled down the path behind St. John, her sensible pumps sinking into the squishy ground with every step. His long-legged strides weren’t particularly fast, but she was practically running to catch up. She was also trying to pull a bulky suitcase behind her without much luck. Finally she ran over a large rock, tipping the case over and taking her with it. She sat down hard on the wet ground, the standing water in the grass splashing up and peppering her with a spray of muddy freckles. “Damnit!” she cried, wanting to throw herself down and have a kicking and screaming tantrum. Instead she took off one of her shoes and threw it as hard as she could. It whizzed past St. John’s ear, and he finally turned.“Problem?” he asked, strolling back toward where she sat in the grass. “Can you slow down a minute, please?” Her tone was teetering on annoyance. Couldn’t he see that she was having trouble? So much for the politeness of the British.He stared down at her, his arms crossed over his chest. “Actually, no. We need to get as far away from that crash site as soon as possible and you to that spaceport so I can be on my way.”  He looked over the assortment of items that had fallen out of the case as it tipped over. “Got any trainers in there?”Phoebe looked up at him like he had suddenly lapsed into Chinese. “What?”“Trainers. Shoes. Like shoes you wear for running.”“Oh. Not really, no.”“Jeans? A jumper?”“No. I didn’t think I’d be trekking through the forest,” she replied, taking his offered hand and letting him pull her upright. She limped over to where she had thrown her shoe, searching the grass.“Is there anything in there that’s helpful or important?”“Well of course,” she replied. “My clothes and toothbrush… anti-bac hand lotion…” She continued listing off all of the things as she pulled her discarded shoe back on. Heaving a sigh, he grabbed the suitcase and slung it as hard as he could over the ravine. “What are you doing?” She could feel the pressure of angry tears behind her eyes as she watched all of her worldly possessions take a header down the bank, spilling her delicates over the dirty ground. How dare he have such disregard for her personal property! Not to mention that the items in that suitcase were her security blankets. There might not be anything of value or anything “helpful,” but there were things she needed! A picture of her family, her allergy medicine… her copy of Gone With the Wind. Phoebe started to run after the case, but St. John held her back. She beat her fists against his arms and chest. “Let me go! That’s my stuff! I need it!”“Your stuff is slowing us down. Look, I said I would help you, but I’m not a bellhop or a hero! If you’re going with me, you play by my rules.”  He looked up into the sky and let her go. “Come on… it’s nearly dawn.”She watched him go, starting to reconsider her pleas for his help and then realizing that she had little choice but to follow him. They were now so far off the beaten path that she’d never find her way out. Steeling her jaw and giving a last glance back to where he’d thrown her suitcase, she started walking. Despite his growling, he did slow the pace a little so that she could keep up. As they walked on and on, the trees rose up around them in an ominous canopy that nearly obliterated the early morning light of dawn. She could hear the stream that ran along beside them at the bottom of the ravine. It was hard to believe in their world that places such as this still even existed. It was almost desolate, but beautiful. Watching him as they walked, she slowly realized that St. John seemed almost as distressed as she felt. By now they’d been walking for hours, and in that time he’d become increasingly irritable. After several attempts at conversation, Phoebe had just given up and walked beside him silently. But his mood was starting to make her worry even more than she had been already.“So… you don’t really seem like the normal space traveler,” he said, surprising her by breaking the silence. St. John shifted the backpack from one shoulder to the other. “What’s taking you to New London?”“What? Oh… yes. My sister,” she replied. “I’m going to visit her.”“Interesting,” he replied blandly. Her heart pounded in her chest. She didn’t fully trust St. John and wasn’t sure that she should reveal her true intentions. Anyone could be working for Machine. Maybe he had been sent to keep an eye on her. Phoe was a fan of James Bond, so she had spent many an hour watching spy movies. He could be some kind of operative that was just waiting for an opportunity to steal the medallion and leave her broken body in the woods. And of course there was the werewolf thing. “Not really. I mean… it’s just a visit.”“Well considering that no one really lives on the space colony unless they’re either filthy rich or a scientist of some sort. Judging by your clothes, you don’t appear to be particularly wealthy. So that leaves scientist.”“She’s an archaeologist,” Phoebe answered. “She works for the Interplanetary Union, looking for natural resources and such. I’m a librarian.”“I didn’t know those existed anymore. Libraries, I mean.”“In small towns mostly, I suppose. I mean, I used to work for a digital archive in New Orleans, but I… I didn’t really like it there.” She bit down on her lip, wishing she could take it back. Her brain whirred, already constructing the story that she would tell him when he asked why she’d left New Orleans. Everyone asked why. To her surprise, St. John just nodded, glancing toward the lightening sky again. “What about you?”“What about me?” he parroted.“Well… what do you do?” “I… I’m not really sure how to describe what I do. I’m a problem solver, I guess.”  Given the things Phoe saw in his backpack, his problem solving skills must involve heavy artillery. 

BUY LINKS:Boroughs Publishing     Amazon      B&N Kobo     Smashwords      Print 
AUTHOR BIOAlexandra Christian is an author of mostly romance with a speculative slant. Her love of Stephen King and sweet tea has flavored her fiction with a Southern Gothic sensibility that reeks of Spanish moss and deep fried eccentricity. As one-half of the writing team at Little Red Hen Romance, she’s committed to bringing exciting stories and sapiosexual love monkeys to intelligent readers everywhere. Lexx also likes to keep her fingers in lots of different pies having written everything from sci-fi and horror to Sherlock Holmes adventures. Her alter-ego, A.C. Thompson, is also the editor of the highly successful Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series of anthologies. 
A self-proclaimed “Southern Belle from Hell,” Lexx is a native South Carolinian who lives with an epileptic wiener dog and her husband, author Tally Johnson. Her long-term aspirations are to one day be a best-selling authoress and part-time pinup girl. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and Broad Universe—an organization that supports female authors of speculative fiction. Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Connect with her here:WEBSITE     BLOG     FACEBOOKTwitter     Newsletter     Amazon Author CentralINSTAFREEBIE

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Author Erica Obey

Today I’m interviewing Erica Obey. Her book, The Curse of the Braddock Brides is a historical romance/mystery and was released on April 25,2017. Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.
Erica - It’s the first in the series of historical romance/mysteries inspired by the historic houses of the Hudson Valley. Nancy- Describe the genre of this particular title, and is it the only genre you write in?   Erica - In my mind, it’s an historical romance, but hard-core romance readers might feel it’s really a mystery.  I voraciously read Gothic romances growing up (and still do), so romance, mystery, and paranormal elements always blend in my work.  However, my books do tend to divide into two broad categories: historical and urban fantasy/paranormal. Nancy- Why have you become a published author? Erica - If I can’t stop the voices in my head, I might as well make a profit from them, right?  A little less facetiously, writing is my life’s blood – and, as Virginia Woolf would say, opening your private creations to the court of public opinion is like playing tennis with a net.  Nancy- Do you have any rejection stories to share? Erica- Don’t we all, beginning with my first publisher dropping me in order to concentrate solely on Westerns?  And there was the agent who answered my query by telling me she had given up on being an agent.  I was like, was my book really that bad? Nancy- What is your writing routine like? Erica - You can set your clock by me.  I get up in the morning, work on something that’s still in its planning stages while I have my coffee, then go for a run.  I come back in the afternoon to bear down on the manuscript I have in progress.  I aim for 1500 words on the latter.  I try to keep my goals for the former more fluid.  As a former teacher, I tend to be very structured, very goal-oriented, and I constantly have to remind myself that aimless daydreaming is a very important part of this job as well.  Nancy- What sort of promo do you do? Do you have help? Erica - I do my own website, along with my FB pages as best I can.  Beyond that, I try to stick to what I do well: giving talks on history and writing at local historical societies and libraries – which I love to do.  I have a 20-year-old genius running my social media and I’m happy to leave that to her. Nancy- Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know. 1) I both grow and hunt orchids in the wild – photos only for the latter, of course!2) I collect books – mostly Arthuriana and lady folklorists, as a result of writing a dissertation on Lady Charlotte Guest, who translated the first Welsh Arthurian material.  I also collect classic Gothic novelists: Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney, as well as lesser known ones – mostly because I love the covers.3) I’m an avid hiker, but will gladly put in a 15 mile day if it means a shower and a civilized glass of wine, instead staying out overnight.  Nancy- What’s next for you? Erica - My newest paranormal, The Avalon Array , is with my editors – and I have just launched into creating a series bible for it and its sequels.  I also finished a first draft of another Hudson Valley mystery right on Braddock Brides’ release date!  This is one is set in Saratoga Springs and concerning the little-documented history of black jockeys (too often ex-slaves) in the 19th century.
BOOK BLURB   Lord Hardcastle, a single man with a title and a slew of poor female relations, may be in need of a wife, but that doesn’t mean American heiress Libba Wadsworth is interested. Not with the mysterious, orchid hunter Will Ransome lurking about.
Rather than endure yet another awful Coming-out Season of boring balls and vacuous visits from suitors, Libba Wadsworth, in one of her more self-indulgent moments, contemplates the romantic thrill of throwing herself off Cora’s Leap to go down in history as yet another of the cursed Braddock Brides. She knows full well she won’t do it, but still ... the men she’s had to endure season after season certainly made a leap into the abyss appealing. Until one Lord Hardcastle comes to call and Will Ransome, claiming to be Hardcastle’s batman and an adventurous orchid hunter, shows up. But can she trust either of them? And, more importantly, are they really who they claim to be? 
Nancy- How can my readers buy your book? Amazon   Barnes and Noble  
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erica Obey pursued an academic career specializing in the women folklorists of the nineteenth century, before she decided she’d rather be writing the stories herself.  Today, there are three places you can find Erica when she’s not writing: on a hiking trail, in her garden, or taking tea at a nearby stately home – all in the name of research, of course!   She is the author of two mysteries, Back to the Garden and The Lazarus Vector, as well as The Curse of the Braddock Brides, the first in a series of romantic mysteries inspired by the historic houses of the Hudson Valley. You can find more information about Erica Obey here:
WEBSITE     Twitter       Facebook Goodreads       Amazon Author Page 

  

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Author Donna Gephart

*Donna will be a Guest Speaker at this year's WRITE NOW writer's conference in Raleigh, NC on April 29th. (more info below)

Donna Gephart writes humorous, heartfelt novels from her home in South Florida with the help of her canine assistant, Benji.  Some of her award-winning titles include LILY AND DUNKIN, DEATH BY TOILET PAPER, HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL and OLIVIA BEAN TRIVIA QUEEN.  She’s a popular speaker at schools, book festivals and conferences, which is why she will be guest speaker at the 10th Annual WRITE NOW Conference on April 29th. She will present Creating Quirky Characters From the Outside In as well as sharing closing remarks. Donna, please tell my readers a little bit about your latest book.   Donna- LILY AND DUNKIN is a dual narrative about a transgender girl who tries to save a beloved tree and Dunkin, who moves to a new state and tries desperately to fit in with the very boys who are tormenting Lily while he deals with bipolar disorder and a terrible secret.  While the themes are serious, the story is gripping and contains many genuine moments of humor.  Nancy- Describe the genre, and is it the only genre you write in?  Donna- Most of my books are upper middle grade fiction – ages 10-14 Nancy- When did you start writing toward publication? 
Donna- I’ve been writing since I was ten.  My first sales were of funny greeting cards, then I moved onto humorous essays for magazines, then onto stories, poems and puzzles for children’s magazines like “Highlights for Children,” then, when I was 40, I sold my first book for children, AS IF BEING 12-3/4 ISN’T BAD ENOUGH, MY MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, which won the Sid Fleischman Award for the funniest children’s book of the year.  Nancy- Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold? If so, did you send them out yourself?  Donna- I’ve written, revised and submitted at least five full-length novels before I published my first book.  I have a name for those books now:  I call them “Practice.”  Nancy- What is your writing routine like?  Donna- I like to write for a few hours first thing in the morning before tackling other tasks like planning school visits or conference talks, answering email, working with educators and librarians to promote reading, running a critique group, etc.  Nancy- What sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?  Donna- I attend and speak at many conferences, book festivals, schools, etc.  I also write blog posts, articles, etc.  I give out bookmarks and do giveaways for teachers and librarians throughout the school year.   Nancy- Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?  Donna- I love being able to live a creative life, work with inspiring people, help and inspire young people on their journeys and being part of a wonderful community of other creative people.  Nancy- Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?  Donna- SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) www.SCBWI.org has been part of my journey from the beginning.  I recommend anyone who wants to write for children join the organization and get involved at least at the local level with critique groups and conferences.  Nancy- Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?   Donna- Write what you love, what matters to you.  Enjoy the process/the journey.  Focus on the things you can control and do them with great confidence and joy . . . and let the rest go.
You can find more information about Donna Gephart at: 
WEBSITE       TWITTER       FACEBOOK
Meet Donna and hear her and other wonderful speakers at:

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Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Redbook Editor Sarah Smith

Please welcome Sarah Smith, who will be the keynote speaker at the 10th Write Now Conference April 29, 2017, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Please tell our readers a little bit about you, such as why did you become an Editor?
Sarah- When I was 8, my older brother and I launched the Gunderson Gazette, a hand-written two-page newspaper we created for the families on our block and photocopied at the local library. We charged 25 cents for a 3-issue subscription, and I’m sure it was both terrible and charming (sadly, no copies exist today). While I enjoyed interviewing my neighbors and writing about back yards and impending births, what I really loved was figuring out what we were going to write about, how much room each article should get, and what on earth we should do about reluctant sources. I definitely didn’t know it at the time, but that was the start of my career packaging and problem-solving. The other reason I’m an editor is also because of my background: My mother is a writer, and I grew up steeped in the tricky, time-consuming, exhilarating process of reporting and writing (how many times did I have to say, “Mom? Mom?” before she heard me when she was on deadline? A million). I always admired her hard work, and wanted to be a part of that process in a way that made sense for what I was best at.
Nancy- Please tell our readers about the magazine you represent. 
Sarah- REDBOOK is a magazine for the kind of woman in her 30’s and 40’s who cares about her hair and about her health. Smart style advice lives alongside the latest medical research; beauty how-tos are followed by heartfelt personal stories. Our millions of readers live in the real—and sometimes messy—world, so we give them clothes that fit bodies that aren’t model size, home ideas that don’t make them feel guilty, money advice that works whether you’re a CEO or a nurse’s aide, thoughtful essays that make them think, and myriad ways to feel smarter, confident and more in control.

Nancy- What is your weekly routine like?
Sarah- We’re always working on at least two issues at once, but where we are in the cycle determines whether I get home for dinner with my family, in time to read my son his bedtime stories, or miss all of that entirely. On quiet weeks, some of the things I do are attend planning meetings, put together our issue lineups, assign articles, help staff editors with the stories they’re responsible for, write revision letters, write display, and edit copy. Busy weeks mean I’m approving art and final drafts of stories, writing all the things nobody thinks of as needing to be written (look at the spine of a magazine; are there words there? Someone like me wrote those), and solving myriad tiny but crucial problems that get us closer to getting the magazine to the printer on time. It sounds like the quiet weeks are busier, and in some ways there’s more actual work then, but there is nothing quite like the drama and excitement of wrapping everything up.
Nancy-  For authors or prospective authors: what influences your decision to read a submission: the query letter, synopsis, the plot, etc.
Sarah- I can never say this enough: Your query letter is a writing sample. And the biggest thing I’m looking for is style. What does that mean? Two things: One, that you have read my magazine and have a sense of the tone we take. REDBOOK is smart but not egg-heady, funny but not goofy, and down-to-earth but not boring. And two: That you have style. There are writers who can “put a sentence together,” as we like to say, and then there are ones that bring a little sparkle to anything they write, no matter what the topic or publication. As a huge magazine working to stay relevant in a vast field of content, REDBOOK relies heavily on the quality of our writing on every page: feature stories, yes, but also captions and short items/blurbs (which should never, ever be referred to as “filler”—it’s a huge pet peeve of mine, since writing short and snappy is absolutely the hardest thing to master). Story ideas matter too, of course, but someone with wit and verve with a close-but-not-quite-right idea is always going to get more encouragement than someone with a solid idea but flat writing. We cover the same things year after year: The difference is in the writing. How do you be the person who writes with style? I have two pieces of advice, both of which I’m sure TAF writers know, because my understanding is that they are a smart and hard-working bunch: Write, and read. You have to practice to get good, but you also have to immerse yourself in all kinds of writing in order for your own to improve. 
Nancy- What is the biggest no no you see in submissions that makes you reject them?
Sarah- Besides writing that doesn’t grab me, the easiest way to get turned down is to suggest you write a regular column. It’s not because you couldn’t do it: There are many people who have 10-12 illuminating, unusual, and different things to say over the course of a year of issues, but this kind of gig is something you really have to build up to. Here’s another minor pet peeve of mine: Telling me the exact word count of the story you have (“I’d like to submit my 1,137 word piece on…”) because there’s very little chance that I (as an editor of a women’s magazine, notorious for requesting changes and shaping things in our vision) will buy it as-is. So implying the piece is complete at this very specific length says to me that you are not open to being edited. And the thing that gets you a second assignment is a willingness to revise.
Nancy- What do you see ahead in your career?
Sarah- I love being an executive editor—it’s what I wanted from the day I met the woman who become my third boss, the then-executive editor at Parenting. She is an enormously talented and sane editor, and I wanted to keep the ship humming along like she did, making the words great and the staff happy. I hope jobs like mine still exist in five or ten years: My title and work might not look just like it does now, but I hope I’ll still be helping writers, editors, and designers find just the right way to tell a story that resonates with readers. 
Nancy- Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first submission contract?  Also, how can our readers find your submission guidelines?  
Sarah- Let me tell you a little story. A writer pitched me an essay that I enjoyed reading, but the topic just wasn’t right for us. So she pitched me another, and I said no again—better topic, but in this case, the piece didn’t really go anywhere. She tried me again a couple months later with a pitch for a reported story, and I was pondering that one when I suddenly had a need for an essay on a very specific topic (the boss wants what the boss wants, you know?). Who was going to write it?? I shot her an email to say, “Does this sound like something you could write about?” She said yes, and wrote a beautiful piece and was so incredibly lovely to work with that I now am so delighted whenever I hear from her. You might think, “I’ll never get lucky like that,” but I guarantee you, that kind of “luck” happens a lot. You’ve got to keep trying, because you need to be top of mind when editors need something. If you get feedback, heed it. If you don’t, try to figure out why not on your own, and do better next time. Do not give up: No article is done on the first draft, and no writer gets picked up on the first pitch. On your fiftieth pitch? Change something up: The outlets you’re trying, the topics you’re pitching, the way you’re writing. You will get a hit, and all the effort is absolutely worth your time. You’re getting writing practice, which is essential, but you’re also building your stamina for hard work, which is what editors value at least as highly as top-notch writing. (A great writer who won’t do a revision is not actually so great a writer.)
REDBOOK doesn’t have traditional writer’s guidelines anymore. Why? I’ll be honest: It’s because they were for people who weren’t real writers, people who maybe had one great, personal story to tell and wanted a chance to reach out and share that idea. Professional writers who get assignments have always come to us more directly: They read the magazine carefully, they look at the masthead to find an editor to reach out to, and then they try to build a relationship that way. This is good news, because if you go to all that trouble, it means we will take you seriously in a way that was a real challenge for writers of “slush pile” submissions.
More About Sarah Sarah Smith is the executive editor of REDBOOK, the 113-year-old magazine named Adweek’s Hottest Women’s Magazine in 2015. Under Sarah’s direction, Redbook has won several MIN Awards as well as a Clarions from the Association for Women in Communications. Prior to her time at REDBOOK, Sarah was the editorial director of Kiwi, and a member of the senior staff at Parenting. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and son.
Facebook: facebook.com/redbookInsta: @redbookmagTwitter: @redbookmagPinterest: pinterest.com/redbook

You can find even more information about Sarah Smith at: 



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Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Author Barbara M. Britton

I interviewed Barbara M. Britton, and discovered some interesting things. Her book, Building Benjamin: Naomi’s Journey is a work of Biblical fiction and was released on April 1st. Barbara, please tell my readers a little bit about your book.
Barbara-  Naomi’s story was inspired by the last three chapters of the Book of Judges where the tribe of Benjamin is almost wiped out by the other tribes of Israel. The remaining Benjamite men have to abduct wives for the tribe to continue. I wondered what it would be like to be one of the girls kidnapped.  
Nancy- Describe the genre of this particular title, and is it the only genre you write in?
Barbara- I write in the genre of Biblical fiction. I like to take little known Bible characters, or events, and bring them to light. I had no idea of the abduction story in Judges until I was hunting for my next story to write. I was shocked that I had never read this account before in the Bible. I have written in other genres (YA, Historical), but those stories don’t have book contracts, yet!  
Nancy-  Do you have any rejection stories to share?
Barbara- Oh boy, do I! I had been writing for eight years before I received my first book contract. I sold the fourth book I had written which was the first book in my Tribes of Israel series—Providence: Hannah’s Journey. I amassed over two hundred rejections between those four books, and I even had rejections on Providence. I tell inspiring authors to keep writing even if your book doesn’t sell. By the time I sold Providence, I had almost finished Building Benjamin. I am so glad I had another book to offer my publisher, or my life would be even busier than it already is.
Nancy-  Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?
Barbara- I enjoy meeting readers and talking about books. Since I write in the genre of Biblical fiction, I can also talk about my faith and my relationship with God.  I hope my novels inspire people to read the original story in the Bible.
Nancy-  Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?
Barbara- Definitely! When my first book was released, I had been on my writing journey for nine years. My mantra was the same as Dory’s in Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming.”  I would heartily recommend joining and getting involved in professional writing organizations. It helps to have friends who understand the business of publishing and can encourage you along the way. There is a lot to learn about the craft of writing and the business side of publishing a book, so I attended writing conferences for knowledge and networking opportunities. I also didn’t follow the traditional path to publication. My story was noticed through the mentoring program Pitch Wars (#PitchWars, check it out), and I don’t have an agent (though, not from lack of trying). I love writing Biblical fiction, so I guess I was really stubborn that my characters would have their day in the universe.
Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.1) I raised a guide dog for the blind through a 4-H program in California.2) I was afraid of cats until we adopted a stray.3) I got over a fear of crickets when my son bought a gecko and it was still alive when he left for college. I inherited the duty of feeding the lizard live crickets. 
Nancy- What’s next for you?
Barbara- After Naomi gets her day, I will be promoting my third book, Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey. Currently, I am writing another book set in the Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures.
BOOK BLURB   Love Grows Where God Grafts the Tender Shoot. Naomi desires to dance well enough to catch the eye of a wealthy landowner. Her father needs a substantial bride price due to the deaths of her brothers at the hands of the tribe of Benjamin. But when Benjamites raid the Ephraimite feast and capture young girls, Naomi is bound and carried from her home by Eliab, a troubled shepherd who needs a wife.
As Naomi awaits rescue, she finds Eliab has a strong faith in God and a just reason for abducting her. A reason that affects all the tribes of Israel. The future of the tribe of Benjamin hangs in the balance, but if Naomi follows her heart and stays with Eliab to rebuild his lineage, she must forfeit her family and become a traitor to her tribe.
You can read the first chapter of Building Benjamin here: Excerpt Link  How can my readers buy your book? Readers can go to the publisher’s home page at Pelican Book Group. comCheck out my Book Trailer.Buy Links…. Amazon, BN, Target   ,MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Barb kicked off her Tribes of Israel series in October with the release of “Providence: Hannah’s Journey.” Naomi’s journey, “Building Benjamin” is out now. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. You can find more information about Barbara M. Britton here:
WEBSITE    Twitter    Facebook    Goodreads   Amazon Author Page      

And the Winner is...

Spring is here but the blog hop is over...









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Spring into Romance Blog Hop and GIVEAWAY!

Spring is here! What better time to share our favorite reads for the season? Join me in telling everyone about what new reads you're excited about!





Here are some of my favorites:Another Time by Donna SteeleThe Earl by Katharine Ashe
The Lottery Winner by Emilie Rose
May I add my recent release?
SMOLDER BK#3 Clan of Dragons



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No, it's not an April Fool's Joke!SMOKE, the 2nd book in ...

No, it's not an April Fool's Joke!
SMOKE , the 2nd book in the Clan of Dragons series is only 99 cents @Amazon in order to help celebrate the release of SMOLDER, the third book in the series.
Please pick up a copy today! Amazon      Amazon Can    Amazon UK    Amazon AUS  
$.99 SALE ENDS SOON!