Nancy Lee Badger's Blog, page 52

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Alexa Bourne

Nancy- Alexa Bourne stopped by to talk about herself and her latest release. Her book,  Chasing Gold , is a romantic adventure and was released on January 23rd. Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.
Alexa-  Chasing Gold  is part of the Decadent Publishing Beyond Fairytales series. Each story is a romance adaptation of an ancient fairy tale. My fairy tale was The Golden Goose.  Chasing Gold  is a fun adventure with two very different treasure hunters who must put aside their differences in order to find an ancient Scottish prize. They have too many people on their tails as they travel through the modern day Scottish Highlands. I had SOOOOO much fun writing this book!
Nancy- Why have you become a published author?    
Alexa- How could I not? I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember, with my very first story over 100 pages completed when I was in middle school. Writing, being creative, is calming and fills my soul. What other job is as rewarding?
Nancy- Do you have any rejection stories to share?
Alexa- I do! I submitted A LOT of work through the years before I signed my first contract. I saved all the rejection notices. Once I signed the first contract, I tossed all the rejections in a fire at a family member’s house. In my thoughts, I figured the fire ended the 1st part of my journey as a writer and with the contract I would be entering the 2nd part. I wanted to be prepared both mentally and emotionally and I wanted enough room to store all the contracts I hoped to get!
Nancy- What is your writing routine like?
Alexa- I have a day job so I have limited writing time. I get up at 4 a.m. Monday through Friday and write. If I can spend more time on writing at night I do, but at least I know I’m getting in 1 hour a day for sure. It takes me 5-6 weeks to write, revise & submit a novella. I go through several rounds of revisions (3-6) on my own before I submit the work to the publisher. Once I hit SEND, I celebrate by sleeping in for a few days! Then the next week I start something new. Oooh, and it’s important to say that I don’t do any promotional work during this 4-5 hour. It’s only for writing and revisions.
Nancy- Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?
Alexa- The best thing is when readers talk to me or post reviews talking about how much they loved my stories. I once had a lady at my local writing group meeting rush up to me from across the room and say, “I just have to tell you I LOVED your book!” THAT is an awesome feeling and makes me so proud. It also makes me want to get busy on the next one.     
Nancy- Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 
Alexa- Sure! Be willing to take criticism, to learn your craft, to consider yourself a professional. And finally, it may take a long time (like mine did) to get that first contract, but DON’T GIVE UP!
Nancy- Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know. 1) My favorite color is blue, but I HATE baby blue.2) I actually like haggis!3) I once spent two years working on the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Nancy- What’s next for you?
Alexa- I’m working on a new book for my Hidden Destiny series, a series of books with light paranormal elements. One main character in each book has a superpower. I just started this one 2 weeks ago & I will be submitting it by mid-March.

BOOK BLURB   Grace McKay spends most of her time alone trying to convince the world she’s strong enough and smart enough to become one of the best treasure hunters. According to the media, though, all she’s managed to proveis she’s a frigid, narrow-minded woman who doesn’t have a chance to succeed in her current hunt.
Simon Andrews is tired of being a glorified secretary for his family’s treasure hunting business.  As the youngest brother, he’s never had the chance to prove himself in the field, where his true interests lie.
When Grace’s uncle hires Simon on a whim to assist her with the search for an ancient family heirloom, he comes up against a woman determined to accomplish her goal without his—or anyone’s—help. But Simon, although captivated by her passion for her quest and her beauty, will not relinquish his chance to prove both to the client and his brothers that he has the family gift for finding valuables where others have failed.
Grace, frigid? Simon is sure the media met the wrong woman. He’s in danger of bursting into flames every time they are alone together. As they get closer to finding the heirloom, though, their growing passion for one another may distract them from the very real danger that threatens their lives and their possible future together. Whatever that might mean.

Excerpt from Chasing Gold
After sipping her tea, she picked up another piece of pastry. Midway to her mouth, she stopped. A tall, thin man, glasses clinging to the end of his nose, strode through the doorway and scanned the room. A loose-fitting, faded T-shirt covered his chest, and khaki shorts hung on his hips. Kind of thin and bony for her liking, although the soft shade of ginger hair with a hint of blond in it grabbed her attention. It reminded her of her favorite movie star. Both hands were inside his pockets.With a crooked grin, he walked straight up to her table. “Grace McKay?”“Yes. Can I help you?”         He held out his long fingers. “I’m Simon Andrews.” He waited as if his name was supposed to mean something.She didn’t shake his hand. “What can I do for you, Mr. Andrews?”He lowered his arm. “Your uncle said you’d be helping me on my expedition here.” From his New England accent, he could only be American.Uncle Thomas sent him? Of all the crappy things he’d done, this had to be the worst. Did he not believe in her enough to allow her to handle the job? She stood, gathering her papers. “My uncle was wrong. I don’t need any help with my expedition. Good-bye.” She shifted around him and started for the lobby. Studying her paperwork in her own room would suit her better.“Ms. McKay, wait.” He grabbed her arm.She froze. Every muscle tensed.“I realize you want to help in the search, but your uncle hired me to—”She tugged herself free. “I know what he hired you for, but I’m telling you, you’re fired.” As she stalked across the pub, many pairs of eyes stared at her, some wide in question, some narrowed. Who cared? She hadn’t done anything wrong.“That’s not your call, sweetheart,” he said.She jerked to a stop just inside the door and spun around, gritting her teeth. Andrews stood waiting, as cocky as could be, with his hands on his hips.“First, I am not your sweetheart. Second, I don’t need a partner.”
Buy Links….Amazon    Decadent PublishingBarnes & Noble    iTunes Kobo    All Romance Ebooks

The author on Skye
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romance writer by nights, weekends, and all school holidays. She also teaches online classes for writers throughout the year. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance and is thrilled to have the chance to share her stories with readers everywhere.When she’s not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring new cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV, and thinking about exercising. Okay, she also spends way too much time interacting with readers and writers on social media sites. But don’t tell her editors! Find out more about her and her books on her website, www.alexabourne.com.
Alexa at her 1st Book Signing
You can find more informationabout Alexa here:
Goodreads     Facebook  Twitter     Website Blog    Email 

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Lynda K. Scott

Nancy- Lynda K. Scott stopped by for a little one-on-one as she shares her latest release, Riding The Odds . This book is science fiction romance and was released on February 3rd. Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.  
Lynda- Riding The Odds is a story of beating impossible odds to survive and to thrive when it seems the entire galaxy is against you. Tara Rowen survived the Risien Plague but lost her family. She’s rescued by missionaries but the rescue ship crashes on an outlawed planet. She accepts a Wild Rider, Zie, but has to flee to keep Zie and herself safe. She ends up on Bittersweet, a planet of down-on-their-luck settlers and hiding-from-the-law criminals but she learns to play poker and to create jewelry from a mentor there. All this before she turns 14. By the time she’s an adult, she’s a crewman on a cargo ship but her heart is always with the family-style space ship her parents owned before their deaths. She has a new identity for herself and Zie when the odds turn in her favor and she’s able to salvage the trade ship and re-name it Rowenhawk. She stays just above bankruptcy and obeys the laws…until her Rider, Zie, names a devastatingly handsome man as Tara’s mate. Although  Riding The Odds is a science fiction romance, I’ve also done paranormal and horror, but I tend to gravitate toward science fiction. I’ve found that I can blend science and paranormal elements to make what I like to call Science Fantasy. I’m weird like that.
Nancy- Nothing wrong with that! When did you start writing toward publication?
Lynda- I started with short fiction a looonnngggg time ago in a land far away. No, wait, that’s a different story. It has been a long time though. As I said earlier, I started with short fiction, made some sales, got a huge number of rejection slips and spent a lot of money on stamps. Yes, I started before it became common to email your manuscript to your editor.  
Nancy- Why have you become a published author?    
Lynda- What else was I supposed to do with all these stories floating around in my head? Stories exist to be read, to be shared and/or to teach. So I needed to find a publisher for them.
Nancy- What is your writing routine like?
Lynda- I take care of my furbabies, the alien kitten Wookie and my darling Skye, a Golden Retriever first, then prep breakfast for myself and hubby. I try to get most of my writing done from mid-morning to noon, then in the evening. Of course, there are times when I get more or less writing time but my family and my pets tend to be time sponges unless I get very firm with them.
Nancy- Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?  
Lynda- I LOVE people telling me that they loved the story or the characters. I LOVE hearing them say they cried at the sad parts or bit their nails at the scary parts. I LOVE hearing them tell me how much THEY loved the ending or the characters or…anything really. It’s like hearing a teacher praise your child when you go to Parent-Teacher conferences. It just makes you want to smile and say, ‘Hey, I created that!’
Nancy- Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 
Lynda- Don’t give up when you get that nasty rejection letter (and you will). Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep sending your manuscripts out. Eventually you’ll get the last laugh, just as I did.
Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.1) If a tiny kitten has lost its mother, I know how to teach it to go potty.2) I can bake a cake on a camp fire.3) I know how to churn butter (learned at my grandmother’s knee).Did I mention I’m a font of useless and possibly scary information?
What’s next for you? Right now I’m working on book 2 in my Rider universe. It’s tentatively titled Riding The Storm and is about Christopher Drummond, aka Drummer, who made an appearance in Riding The Odds. He’s an ice jockey who wants revenge on the villain who tried to kill Tara in Riding The Odds.
BOOK BLURB   Spaceship captain Tara Rowan has a Rider—an organic symbiote—that enhances Tara's physical abilities. But she can never risk anyone discovering her Rider's true origins. Especially not the sexily dangerous stranger who appears out of nowhere. Trace Munroe is looking for a kidnapped princess, and the only way to find her is to blackmail Tara. Except that a blazing attraction to Tara is definitely complicating things...and if Trace follows his code of honor, it could destroy the woman he's falling for.
How can my readers buy your book?Readers can go to the Entagled Publishing's HOME PAGE     Buy Links….  Amazon     Barnes& Noble    MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lynda K. Scott is a member of RWA and several RWA chapters. She has been a member of the Horror Writers of America and the SFFWA (for science fiction writers) which was also a good learning source.
You can find more information about Lynda K. Scott here:
WEBSITE    TWITTER    Facebook Author Page
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Highland Games are NOT to be Missed!

I met a woman today at my local KFC Restaurant. Since I was wearing my new fleece jacket with the New Hampshire Highland Games logo on the left breast, she and I started talking about Highland games. These Scottish events take place in several North Carolina locations, and I recommended the Loch Norman Highland Games held ever spring at the Rural Hill Historic site in Huntersville, NC. For someone who has never attended one of these Scottish festivals, a small one like this one is perfect.

If you have a hankerin' to attend a Scottish festival, here are a few links to ones I have attended and recommend:

Historic Rural Hill

Loch Norman Highland Games

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

Scotland County Highland Games

NH Highland Games and Festival

Quechee Scottish Festival and Celtic Fair

Maine Highland Games

Pugwash Highland Festival 










Nancy Lee

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Sophia Kimble

Nancy- Author Sophia Kimble stopped by to answer intimate questions, and share her book Protect Her , a Paranormal Romance that was released on October 22, 2014. It is a story of two lovers bound by fate, torn apart by evil, and reunited by perseverance. What caught my interest is that part of this book can be considered ahistorical romance set in the 13th century Highlands of Scotland.
Nancy- Everyone knows I love Scots, but let's talk about you. When did you start writing toward publication?
Sophia- I took the leap at the end of 2012, and finished Protect Her a year later. It is the first manuscript I had ever written.
Nancy- Why have you become a published author?
Sophia- I have always wanted to be an author, but was always afraid of failure, so I never tried. Then after I’d mentioned it to my husband for about the hundredth time, he told me to go for it. We were in a position where I didn’t have to work, and I’m not sure what changed this time when he told me to follow my dreams, but I finally bit the bullet and opened the blank document. And I’m sure glad I did.
Nancy- Do you have any rejection stories to share?
Sophia- Oh boy, do I. I received 47 rejections from Agents. Wow, I know. But I never gave up, and after each one, I took a few more classes, tweaked Protect Her a little bit more, and then one day, I took a contest judges words to heart. They told me that my story really began at Chapter 3, so I cut the first two chapters, added what I needed from the first two sprinkled in throughout the manuscript, and then entered Savvy Authors pitch event. I received 7 requests, and three of those became contract offers. A big thank you to that judge wherever you are…that was the best advice I’ve ever received.
A note on rejection:Every writer has been there, maybe not as many times as myself, but they’ve been there. It’s part of the business of writing. A sucky part, but a part none the less. But just remember…we are not alone!
*Kathryn Stockett’s, The Help, was rejected 60 times before becoming a bestseller.* Stephen King’s, Carrie, was rejected dozens of times.*John Grishim’s, A Time to Kill, was rejected by a dozen publishers and 16 agents.*Margaret Mitchell’s, Gone With the Wind, was rejected 38 times.
***In case you’re interested, Savvy Authors is having their pitch event which landed me 3 contract offers, Feb 16-March 1, 2015.  I highly recommend it. You can find it HERE
Nancy- What is your writing routine like?  
Sophia- I wake up at 3am, and write until about 1 or 2pm. I jump on social media at various times throughout the day, and then after the kids get home from school, I’m pretty much done with the computer. I do this almost every day.
Nancy- Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 
Sophia- NEVER GIVE UP! Do not let rejection end your dreams, we all get rejected, some more than others (tee hee hee), but if you give up, that’s it, the end. Take the rejections from agents and editors, contest losses, etc, and learn from it. Figure out what you need to do to your baby to make it saleable, take more classes, tweak it, and sent it out there again, but whatever you do…DON’T GIVE UP!
Nancy- Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know. 1) I’ve seen a UFO2) I play the violin (poorly)3) I love frozen Ho Ho’s
Nancy- What’s next for you?  
Sophia- I’ve just finished the second book in The Druid’s Curse series, Avenge Her, and have written about one third of the next, Fear Her.
BOOK BLURBGolden Alexander is trapped in a nightmare.Trying to flee her hallucination of a demon, she runs heart first into the brooding alpha male she’s been dreaming about for years, and then her nightmare really begins.
Kris Pietka is done with women...he’s broken. But when he meets Golden, an overwhelming need to protect her tests everything he thought he knew about himself, and the paranormal.
A bond forged centuries ago thrusts them together as they search for a way to break an ancient Druid curse prophesying their demise. Racing against the clock, they travel from Vermont, to the Carpathian Mountains in Poland, and the Scottish Highlands in search of answers and a way to break the curse
But something evil watches—it covets, and time is running out.
FREE Excerpt Link HERE  
How can my readers buy your book? Buy it at AMAZON 
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sophia Kimble has always wanted to be an author, but for years, life got in the way. She wouldn't change a thing about how her life turned out, though. Her family keeps her laughing and loving. Her wonderful husband and two extraordinary children stand beside her every step of the way and make this journey called life worth living. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, The Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, The Music City Romance Writers, Fantasy- Futuristic, and Paranormal Special Interest chapter, Savvy Authors, and several critique groups. Sophia has worked as a nurse for twenty years, but has put that career path aside to devote her time and imagination to writing down the stories that keep her up nights. She takes her love of the paranormal, history, and genealogy, and weaves them into tales of family, fated love, and supernatural occurrences.
You can find more information about Sophia Kimble here: WEBSITE    BLOG     Twitter
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Amazon Author Page  

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Alanna Lucas

Nancy: Author Alanna Lucas stopped by to talk about her writing career. Her  book, When We Dance is a Historical Romance-Regency and was released on September 30th. Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.  
Alanna:Before I start, I want to thank Nancy Lee Badger for having me as a guest today. When We Dance is the second book in the In His Arms series, which was inspired by the allure and sensuality of the waltz. There is one caveat; my heroine has two left feet.  Not to worry, the Honorable Nigel Rochefort has all the right moves. “Nigel Rochefort succeeds at everything he attempts, but burying his family in scandal and breaking up a wedding while seducing the bride is not quite what he had in mind. Nor was finding true love.”
Nancy: I am glad to have you. Your plot sounds interesting! What is your writing routine like?
Alanna:I start by keeping a journal with all my thoughts, ideas, and pertinent research. I write down scene ideas, character descriptions, and songs that inspire me (my current favorite is Demons by Imagine Dragons). The journal goes everywhere with me and is the first thing I open when I sit down to write. I tend to be most productive in the afternoon. The kids are in finishing homework (did I mention that I homeschool two kids?), emails have been read, and there are few interruptions. It has taken some effort, but we have all gotten into a good routine. My youngest has even started writing his own book!
Nancy: That is a great way to pay-it-forward and keep your kids interested in your career! Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?    
Alanna:Seeing the finished product, cover and all.
Nancy: Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?
Alanna:I would be lost without Romance Writers of America and the tremendous resources they provide. I am also a member of a local chapter, East Valley Authors, and several specialty online chapters- Celtic Hearts, Hearts Through History, and Beau Monde. The support, encouragement, and knowledge has been invaluable.
Nancy: I agree, writing groups help. Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 
Alanna: Learn your craft, join a writers group, and write everyday (even if it is only 100 words).
Nancy: Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.1) I collect recipes, but I don’t cook. 2) I have done a lap on the Nurburgring in Germany. 3) I’ve kissed the Blarney Stone.
Nancy: I would not have guessed any of those! What’s next for you?
Alanna:I am currently working on the next book in the series entitled Dancing Around the Truth.
BOOK BLURB  STEP BY STEPMiss Artemisia Germayne is used to gossip. She is far from the ton’s version of an ideal beauty. Worse still, she cannot dance. But when she finds herself in the uncomfortable predicament of abandonment on her wedding day, embarrassed and humiliated she retreats to the country.
Nigel Rochefort, second son of the Earl of Monfort, has always taken his good fortune for granted, so when the woman for whom he has a secret tendre is about to marry his friend, the only logical thing to do is break up the wedding. But that scandal is only the start. The bride’s sister has also disappeared, and Nigel must first clear his name to assure Artemisia’s affections. As he gives chase, many truths are yet to be learned. This is no simple country dance or game of seduction but an unstoppable waltz of desire—and true love.
EXCERPTShe actually struck him. Nigel could not believe what had just happened. A woman had just struck him. Not just any woman or casual acquaintance, but Artemisia. Not a delicate slap, but a hard punch full of pent up anger. That had never happened to him before. He just sat there...stunned. Did she suspect?Before he had the opportunity to reflect further on the question, Lord Germayne made an announcement and swarms of guests brushed past him, giving him curious looks as they filed out of the chapel. His first thought was to stay put and wait for everyone to leave. He was in no mood for inquisitive gossipmongers, but he did not want to be trapped, surrounded by the same gossips in question.Following the herd of bright dresses and fanciful hats out of the chapel, whispered theories swirled around him as to the whereabouts of Mr. Chartwick. The general consensus was that the groom had cold feet. Nigel knew otherwise.Nigel was within earshot when Lady Lamden began to weave one of her vicious tales. “...and this is not the only scandal facing Lord and Lady Germayne. Did you notice that Miss Philippa Germayne was not in attendance?”The pair of gossips stopped walking, and huddled together, too deep in tittle-tattle to notice that anyone was eavesdropping.Ducking behind a large urn of flowers, Nigel strained to hear the conversation.“I have it on the best authority that the young lady in question is not indisposed, but has disappeared altogether.”“Disappeared?”“She has not been seen since yesterday when she was discovered alone in the park with a certain notorious rake.”Nigel’s stomach lurched with guilt. He was the notorious rake they spoke of.
Nancy: How can my readers buy your book?
Readers can go to the publisher’s home page at Boroughs Publishing Group and The Boroughs Publishing Group Book Pageas well as AMAZONand NOOK
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alanna Lucas grew up in Southern California. From an early age, she took an interest in travel, incorporating those experiences into her writing. When she is not daydreaming of her next travel destination Alanna can be found researching, spending time with family, or going for long walks. Alanna Lucas is a member of the Romance Writers of America, East Valley Authors, The Beau Monde, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.  
WEBSITE    Twitter    Facebook    TSU
Goodreads    Amazon Author Page

Apple Crisp & Autographed Book GIVEAWAY!

Please join me over at Romance Recipes where I share my recipe for Quick Apple Crisp as well as a FREE Excerpt from my latest book, SHIVER, a White Mountains Thriller.
I am also giving away an autographed copy of my book and a 24/pack of Recipe cards!
Click on over to the Romance Recipes Blog and check out my simple, low-sugar recipe. Yum! While there, leave a comment.
Click HERE to Enter Contest ends January 21, 2015

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Alison McMahan

Author Alison McMahan stopped by to share insights into the world of writing romance. Her book, The Saffron Crocus, a Historical Mystery and Romance for Young Adults, was released December 13th.
Nancy: Please tell my readers a little bit about your book. 
Alison: The story is set in Venice in 1643, which was ten years after the Black Plague had decimated Venice. The book's protagonist, Isabella, was orphaned by the plague. It is also a time when Venice was a great musical center, with numerous opera houses and choirs in all the large churches. Claudio Monteverdi was the director and composer for the choir of San Marco's Basilica. The choir is important in the story, because Isabella wishes she could sing in it, but only males are allowed to sing in public. Her singing teacher, Margherita, tries to convince Isabella to sing opera but Margherita is murdered before they can get very far with that plan. It's also the heyday of the Ghetto Vecchio in Venice. There's a lot of singing, sleuthing, and swordfights.
Nancy: The plague? Yikes. Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?  
Alison: I write historical mysteries, romances and adventures for adults and teens.
Nancy: When did you start writing toward publication?  
Alison: I was trained as a film historian, and my first two books were about film history. The first was the award-winning  Alice Guy Blaché, Lost Cinematic Visionary (Bloomsbury 2002). It's about the first woman filmmaker, who invented cinematic narrative as we know it. It's been translated to Spanish. A documentary film based on the book is in production by the PIC agency in Hollywood. The book was also the basis for a play by La Recua Teatro in Toledo, Spain, in 2012. My second book was The Films of Tim Burton: Animating Live Action in Hollywood (Bloomsbury 2005), which is an analysis of the work of Tim Burton but also a look at the transition from analog to digital film production, which makes all movies closer to animation. As a result we are closer now to how cinema was at its inception, when live-action and animation were also joined at the hip.
The Saffron Crocus is my first novel to be published. I have a prequel  to The Saffron Crocus in the works, (about Margherita's life and love before she came to Venice)as well as two other historical novels in progress or in the revision stage.
Nancy: My readers want to know what your writing routine is like.
Alison: I'm a full time writer. I get up at 5 am and write until 9 am. I try not to look at email before that. Then I have breakfast with my husband and get some exercise. Then I go back to the writing desk. In the afternoon, I write more, do promo, take care of bills, and work at sharpening my writing skills, usually by taking an online course of some kind or trying an exercise. There's always a skill to improve. I read at night after dinner. I'm also a screenwriter, so I have to keep up with the well-written TV shows and latest films. I read a lot of screenplays as well as books.
Nancy: I find I get more writing done early in the day...unless hubby is home! Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?
Alison: I'm a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America) which really helped me transition from a wannabe novelist to a novelist. Going to RWA conferences and striving to reach PRO level helped me professionalize more than my MFA in Creative Writing did. It also made me think more about who I was writing for.  Going to my local RWA chapter meetings has made me feel less lonely, as writing full time can be very isolated. And by submitting my opening chapters to RWA chapter contests I got invaluable feedback that made me improve them to the point where when I finally started sending  a query with opening chapters to editors I got good responses.
I'm also a member of  MWA (Mystery Writers of America). Going to my MWA chapter meetings is also very helpful. They have great speakers on various subjects and I learn a lot, about weapons and legal systems as well as writing. Mysteries, like romances, have their own particular structure, and I learned that structure from other writers, as well as reading books.
I joined ITW, International Thriller Writers, as a screenwriter but I find them very helpful to me as a novelist. They have a great program called the Debut Authors program, which I'm in now.
Finally, I'm a member of the Historical Novel Society. That's a group of people really devoted to history, their conferences, which alternate between the US and the UK, are just wonderful, and I've made some great friends there, as well as finding some great books.
Nancy: Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 
Alison: Once you are ABSOLUTELY SURE your book could not be improved, start sending it out. You will get offers eventually. The important thing is not to settle for the first offer you get. Once you are getting published, make sure you get a good cover. A good cover is really important. I'm really grateful to Mishi Bellamy for the lovely cover on Saffron Crocus.
Nancy: Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know. 
1) I grew up in Spain while Franco was still dictator. It really colored my political perspective.2) I took fencing lessons to help me write the sword fights in Saffron Crocus.3) A couple months ago I went to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and got an interactive wand. My husband was embarrassed to be seen with me at first, especially when I was in line with small children. But he got into it after some generous seven-year-olds showed us how to use the wand and make magical things happen.
Nancy: A trip to Universal's Harry Potter World is on my bucket list! What’s next for you?
Alison: I'm writing a YA Historical Adventure novel called The Circassian Slave Girl, set at sea, on the island of Rhodes and in Istanbul in 1483. I'm also working on a prequel to Saffron Crocus, and two historical novels for adults. One of my screenplays, a sci-fi mystery, has been optioned and I'm rewriting it for the director.
BOOK BLURB
Venice, 1643. Isabella, fifteen, longs to sing in Monteverdi’s Choir, but only boys (and castrati) can do that. Her singing teacher, Margherita, introduces her to a new wonder: opera! Then Isabella finds Margherita murdered. Now people keep trying to kill Margherita’s handsome rogue of a son, Rafaele.
Was Margherita killed so someone could steal her saffron business? Or was it a disgruntled lover, as Margherita—unbeknownst to Isabella—was one of Venice’s wealthiest courtesans?Or will Isabella and Rafaele find the answer deep in Margherita's past, buried in the Jewish Ghetto?
Isabella has to solve the mystery of the Saffron Crocus before Rafaele hangs for a murder he didn’t commit, though she fears the truth will drive her and the man she loves irrevocably apart.
KUDOS for Saffron Crocus:I adored this beautifully written, passionate book. The Saffron Crocus is a glittering, thrilling opera of a novel that plucked my heartstrings and kept me reading at fever pitch. Brava, Alison McMahan! Encore!
~ Nancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Wicked SagaThe Saffron Crocus won the 2014 Rosemary Award for Best Historical for Young Adults, the first year that award was offered by YARWA (Young Adult Romance Writers of America).
Excerpt Who knew a singing career would be this much trouble?
    “Rafaele!” She flew into the garret. “Piero, it was so wonderful, wait until I tell you!”    The stool next to the bed was knocked over. The tray with the genepy bottle was on the floor, one of the cups broken. The fat candle that had been burning next to Rafaele’s bed had been flung to the other side of the room.. Canvases were strewn all over the floor, some of them slashed, and many of Master Strozzi’s jars of paint elements were broken.    Did Piero and Rafaele have a fight? She quickly suppressed the thought. Who would get into a fight with a man who was already injured?     Something else must have happened.     She walked across the garret. “Piero? Rafaele, are you here?”    Rafaele was not in the bed. The sheets and blankets she had piled on top of him were strewn everywhere. Blood-stained sheets spilled over the edge of the pallet. There was a pile of clothes on the floor.     She walked around to get a closer look.    Not clothes. It was Piero. Face down, one arm over his face, as if to defend himself.     A puddle of blood under him.     Dead.
How can my readers buy your book?Readers can buy the book, in print or as an e-book from the publisher, Black Opal Books, on Amazon, on Barnes and Noble online, on Kobo and Smashwords. The webpage with all the buy links for the book is www.TheSaffronCrocus.com
MISHI BELLAMY, (Cover Artist) bioThe cover is the work of fabulous artist Mishi Bellamy. Mishi divides her time between India and France, where she has her own art gallery, the Atelier des Colombes.  www.MishiBellamy.comwww.Atelierdescolombes.net
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alison McMahan chased footage for her documentaries through jungles in Honduras and Cambodia, favelas in Brazil and racetracks in the U.S. She brings the same sense of adventure to her award-winning books of mystery and romantic adventure for teens and adults.
She loves hearing from readers.

You can find more information about Alison McMahan here: WEBSITE    BLOG    Twitter  
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Julie Anne Lindsey visits with Nancy Lee Badger

Nancy :   Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night, and she stopped by to share some helpful writing tips. 
Julie Anne Lindsey : About two years ago, I was in a bad place. I had a manuscript on submissions and it received wonderful compliments followed by things like: BUT we just picked up something too similar. Many. Many variations of that. It was an exhausting, infuriating time. I didn’t take it well.
Somehow my “intriguing”, “well-written,” “engaging” even “page turner” of a manuscript couldn’t find a home because I was late to the party. Well. I screamed. A lot. Eventually, I threw my hands up and quit writing. Forever. And I meant it. But it didn’t stick.
Soon, desperation took over.
I went back to the drawing board and I asked myself: What hasn’t been done a thousand times in YA? I came up with Vikings. Literally. I borrowed the term Vikings, deemed them demigods, and built a world of mythology to support them. Then, I took my hero, a boy who was mysterious because his family had mental issues circa Bates Motel and I made him a Viking instead.
Extreme. I know, but sometimes a supercharged, mega dose of creativity (or in this case a bit of a creative tantrum) helps.
Nancy: Sometimes an author needs to get out of their comfort zone.
Julie Anne Lindsey : I changed my “safe” storyline and went with something I loved, but had long been afraid to approach. I embraced my love of Thor and Loki, Odin and Zeus (Yeah, I like both Greek and Norse mythology) and I wrote my very first fantasy romance.
Vikings. Huzzah!
Plus there’s kissing. Always with the kissing.
Thanks to that act of writerly desperation, my debut YA fantasy, PROPHECY , arrived in September from Lyrical Press/Kensington, and I am one happy author, excited to share my enthusiasm for making mythology mainstream.
Fellow writers, I have to throw this out there: If you’re debating a crazy concept, I encourage you to go for it. Why not? What do you have to lose? Sure, writing outside your comfort zone can be scary, riddled with uncertainty and yes, intimidating, but if you’re not writing with passion and finding joy in the process, then maybe you’re doing it wrong (like I was) and maybe it’s time to start again. Then again, what do I know? I write about Vikings and sea nymphs in Ohio. It’s totally your call if you want to take advice from crazy o_0.
Nancy: Great advice! Now...please share Three things readers might not know about you: Julie Anne Lindsey : Okay1) I’m madly obsessed with Alice in Wonderland2) I’m a shameless fangirl of about a zillion fandoms3) My childhood dream was to marry the Goblin King from Labyrinth.
Prophecy, book 1, the Calypso seriesOn the other side of death, is destiny.Callie Ingram is spending her senior year focused on one thing: swimming. Her skill as a competitive swimmer is going to secure a scholarship and her future, or so she hopes. She has big plans, and Liam Hale, her gorgeous new neighbor, isn’t going to affect them. But when Callie sees Liam beheading someone, she learns his family has a secret that will change everything. The Hales are Vikings, demi-gods who’ve been charged by The Fates to find their new destined leader.
Callie’s caught in the middle of a budding Norse apocalypse, in love with Liam Hale and desperate to protect her best friend—who the Hales believe is marked for transformation. Putting the clues together as fast as she can, Callie discovers she has the power to rewrite destiny, for herself and all humankind.*Excerpt or excerpt link (optional: 300 words or less, no hotter than PG13) *optional Readers can buy Prophecy at online retailers for $.99 through January 31st!        Amazon     B&N                Kensington               iTunes *What’s next for you? Prophecy’s sequel, Goddess, arrives in 2015. I’m extremely excited about this. Prophecy allowed me to set up the world, establish characters and dynamics as well as introduce my mythology in modern day Ohio. That done, Goddess allowed me to dive in with frost giants, epic battles and more mythological players from the very first page. It was a ton of fun and I’m giddy for readers to find it.
I’ve also contracted a new YA with Lyrical/Kensington for release in early 2016. I walked away from mythology for this one, tentatively titled, In Place of Never. This is a dark, issue driven romance about a troubled girl and a traveling side show. I love it.  (Of course, I’m somewhat biased).
Outside the YA realm, I have a three book contract with Carina Press for a set of quirky, upbeat mysteries, tentatively titled the Geek Girl Mysteries. They will release in 2015 and 2016.
I have some busy months ahead. I can’t wait!

A little bit about the authorJulie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. She’s a self-proclaimed nerd with a penchant for words and proclivity for fun. Julie lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world.
You can find more information about Julie Anne Lindsey and my book, Prophecy at: Julieannelindsey.com Find Me on Facebook! Tweet Me!! Read with me on GoodreadsPin with me on PinterestBlogging at Musings from the Slush PileCapturing life on Instagram

HAPPY HOGMANAY from Nancy Lee Badger

Hogmanay…a strange word to this American writer. 

 “What did he say?” I said to a friend the first time I heard the word. Until recently, I mistakenly assumed it was the Celtic term for Christmas.

Nope! 

Hogmanay is a celebration of the new year, as close to our ‘watching the ball drop’ festivities and the Rose Bowl Parade wrapped up in one lovely holiday.

So, I am taking a moment to wish you all a very HAPPY HOGMANAY and a very, very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just to wrap-up my activities in 2014, here are what books I released:






Nancy Lee

Nancy Lee Badger Welcomes Author Kathryn Royce-Martin

One author's journey : The Prophecy Series - Kathryn Royce-MartinHi everyone, my name is Kathryn Royce-Martin and I'm here today to tell you a little about myself and my debut novel Prophecy Unravelled. Before I start, I wanted to say a big thank you to Nancy Lee Badger for having me as her guest.
So, to begin,  you should know that I'm addicted to rugged, sexy heroes, in my books that is, as long as there's also a strong and beautiful heroine supporting them, however, trouble along the way is a given and so much fun to write!
Just to let you know a little about myself, my family came to Australia from the U.K. in 1962. We lived in the migrant hostel "Silver City' for a short while, while my father looked for work. Someone told him that there was work in Geelong and we journeyed on the train to stay briefly with the friend of a friend for a while until we were able to purchase a home.
Being the youngest of three children, I would spend hours as a young child making up stories in my head.  I always asked for a book for Christmas and remember the first time that I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. My family wasn't particularly well off so I had to wait for my birthday for the next in the series and Christmas for the next and so on. This was the beginning of my lifelong love of reading.

At secondary school, I was one of those nerds who loved the Library! I also loved English classes, especially when we were given a reading task or a prompt to write to and I won a number of awards for my stories.
Now, I'm all grown up, well maybe! I only read what I enjoy. If a story doesn't grab me within the first few pages I find it hard to continue reading, that's what I aspire to in my writing, to grab the reader from the outset.
My claim to fame is that I went to school with Isobelle Carmody - Of Obernewtyn fame... Oh, and I've met Richard Dean Anderson at OzComicon!!!!! :-)
I've thought about writing a manuscript for many years, but put my writing aspirations on hold several times during my life for a variety of reasons, not least of which was a lack of confidence that my work would be good enough for others to read
So, to that end, I located and undertook numerous online writing courses with the wonderful Terry Spear. With Terry's help and encouragement both my writing and confidence improved.
Once again I began work on my novel, this time with a clear picture of my goal and the storyline in my head. My final inspiration to actually knuckle down was watching The Adventures of Merlin, although that had a most dissatisfying end and I vowed that my stories would always end happily, one way or another.
So, inspired by an image of my favourite Knight, Sir Gwaine, played by the Irish actor, Eoin Macken, Prophecy Unravelled began to flow onto the page with a working title of The Golden Stone. I connected with Eoin on Twitter and shared my inspiration with him. He was very supportive and it was enough, with everything else, to make me determined to have my manuscript published.
The characters grew as I wrote. I always knew that I wanted the story to revolve around a heroine, but in the end, several of the main characters shared the limelight with Tarienne. Tarienne evolved into a  complex blend of fierce and vulnerable, a powerful, yet sensual and loving Fae princess who becomes the glue holding the men she cares about together during their difficult quest to return the balance of magic to the Kingdom of Therin.
Before Prophecy Unravelled was finished, I'd edited the entire manuscript around 5 times. My beta readers were amazing, providing suggestions and constructive criticism and finally it was finished.So here I am, excited that I achieved my initial goal and well on the way toward finishing Secret Alpha, the next story in the Prophecy Series.
BLURBPrince Aidan’s life was mapped out. He would be the King of Therin when his father died. He would protect the people, lead the army to fight for the Kingdom and he liked to think that he would be remembered for his skills as a warrior and strategist.
The arrival of Tarienne at Castle Therin changed everything. In the space of three years, she had managed to turn his world upside down, challenging everything Aidan believed in.
Charged with protecting Prince Aidan so that he could fulfill a prophecy that he knew nothing of, Tarienne didn’t expect to become friend and confidante, nor be part of a ruse, feigning courtship with the classically handsome Prince. Despite her relationship with Aidan, the passion that Daien, Aidan’s dearest friend and one of the King’s Guards, ignites within Tarienne from the moment they meet, complicates her life at court. Can she keep her magical abilities a secret, maintain the pretence of loving Aidan, convince him of his role in the prophecy, and, make the breathtakingly handsome warrior, Daien, aware of her interest, all under the ever watchful scrutiny of an unforgiving King, who is vehemently opposed to magic?
EXCERPT:Tarienne called out, her heart pounding with terror as she searched the battlefield for Aidan and Daien, unable to find them in the aftermath of the bloody conflict. Her stomach churned at the sight of broken and bleeding bodies strewn across the battle field. The river ran red with the blood of the dead and dying. Her face dripped with tears, shed for the soldiers she knew, their limp, lifeless bodies, crumpled on the muddy ground. Never to return to their loved ones. Was anyone left alive?Suddenly she spotted him, the lifeless body of Daien, his battle garb slick with his own blood, his brown eyes open, empty of the warmth and laughter that had lived there. She cried out, rushing to him. She almost slipped in the slimy mixture of blood and mud as she navigated around the corpses. The stench of death threatened to overwhelm her as she sank to her knees at Daien's side. Her body racked with sobs as she grasped at his now ice cold hand. She flung herself over his chest, "NO, NO, NO." She screamed and couldn't stop.Tarienne woke in a cold sweat, her heart pounding. Sitting bolt upright in bed, she fought to retain the contents of her stomach. Her breath coming in short gasps, it took her a few moments to realise it had been a nightmare. Not real. She shivered despite the first shafts of warm sunlight peeking through the edges of the heavy curtains that covered the thick glass windows. Wrapping her arms around herself, she shook her head to dispel the disturbing images. A tear escaped, trickling down her cheek. It felt too real.
If you'd like to read more you can purchase  Prophecy Unravelled at: 
Partridge Publishing   or   AMAZON

You can also connect with me onTwitter or  Facebook
Or follow my WEEKLY BLOG on Wordpress:
What's next?:What's next for me? Well, I'm currently writing the second book in the Prophecy series, entitled Secret Alpha. This follows the story of the wolf changeling, Tere from Prophecy Unravelled. 
I'm also working on a time travel romance with a working title of Second Chances, that deviates from my usual paranormal genre but began forming in my brain a while ago. I took the opportunity to put pen to paper, so to speak, recently when I had a bit of a brain freeze about  Tere's story which is now all moving along nicely, evolving into a suspenseful tale of hardship, love and loss. Tere's story is at times heart wrenching, the tale of a young cub raised in violence and fear, whose strength and compassion rises against all odds.
Next will be Raef's story, Tarienne's brother and the Crown Prince of the Fae Kingdom of Darewood. Raef is a powerful and handsome Fae warrior who has a dark secret that he fears will drive away the only woman he has ever loved...stay tuned. :-)
About the author:
Kathryn's love of reading and writing started in her school years, where she earned many awards for her poetry and short stories. On leaving school, Kathryn put aside her dream of being a journalist, opting instead for the more stable choice of a nursing career. When fate brought her to a job in a Library, her dreams were rekindled, but put on hold to raise her family. She contented herself with reading widely, always searching for new authors' works to devour. From Narnia to the Lord of the Rings, magic, shifters and highland romances, her printed book collection is one of her greatest treasures, although she also loves to read works downloaded to her kindle. She has undertaken many online writing courses.
Kathryn works full time as a Librarian in a University Library in Victoria, Australia. She lives with her husband, grown-up children, two dogs named Daisy and Milly, an aging Chinchilla x Persian cat, called Matilda and a canary with the perplexing name of Roy.

http://www.KathrynRMartin.com