Nancy Lee Badger's Blog, page 55

Nancy Lee Badger Presents Angela Quarles

Angela has published a book I have waited for, for some time. She had mentioned it on various writer loops, and I could not help but fall in love with the title, Must Love Breeches. Take it away, Angela!
I know a common question writers are asked is: Where do you get your ideas? So I thought I’d share how my time travel romance Must Love Breeches came into being.
The original germ for this story was wondering who would be cool to meet if I went back in time. I’d originally conceived going back to Jane Austen’s era, but that idea has been well-trodden. But I knew I’d like to go back to around that time, so I kept noodling around for historical figures in that era that the heroine might meet. When I came across Ada Lovelace, I had my answer. Born Augusta Ada Byron, she was the only legitimate daughter of the famous poet and bad boy Lord Byron and his wife, Annabella Milbanke. What a tumultuous and intriguing marriage that was! I had a hard time reining in Lady Byron in this story, as my interpretation of her personality is not favorable, and she was just oh-so annoying to me. I had many more scenes with her, as she lent herself easily to being an antagonist, but this novel isn’t supposed to be a rant about her and they were cut.
At first I toyed with the idea of having the heroine be a love interest for Charles Babbage, and that the heroine would then be the reason (inspiration) for him completing the Analytical Engine. But I was fleshing out this story in October for NaNoWriMo, and I knew that in order for him to be the hero, much more research into his life and personality would have to happen than I had time for before the competition started, so he was dropped as the hero (poor Charles). I’m glad I made that decision! Babbage does appear in one scene though, so there’s that. Ada, however, remained as a main secondary character and I had a lot of fun researching her and her accomplishments.
The title took me until the third draft or so, however. It started out as A Heart for Every Fate, which was a line from a poem by Lord Byron, but it didn’t fit the story’s tone. Then it became To Our Future, but that suffered from the same problem. I work in a bookstore and was making up puns off of titles in the store, and Must Love Dogs had me think of Must Love Breeches and I knew I had my title.
I have asked Angela to share 3 things readers might not know about her: 1)  I once tried learning Irish Gaelic! Whoah, was that a challenge! And that’s coming from someone who’d once learned Finnish, which is often touted as one of the more difficult languages. But yeah, Irish Gaelic was definitely much more difficult and I gave up after a bi
2)  In my twenties I directed a small local history museum outside of Atlanta.
3)  Patrick Henry, of “Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death” fame, is my 5th-great uncle (I’m descended from his sister)
BOOK BLURB She's finally met the man of her dreams. There's only one problem: he lives in a different century.
"A fresh, charming new voice" – New York Times bestselling author Tessa Dare
HOW FAR WOULD YOU TRAVEL FOR LOVE?
A mysterious artifact zaps Isabelle Rochon to pre-Victorian England, but before she understands the card case’s significance a thief steals it. Now she must find the artifact, navigate the pitfalls of a stiffly polite London, keep her time-traveling origins a secret, and resist her growing attraction to Lord Montagu, the Vicious Viscount so hot, he curls her toes.
To Lord Montagu nothing makes more sense than keeping his distance from the strange but lovely Colonial. However, when his scheme for revenge reaches a stalemate, he convinces Isabelle to masquerade as his fiancée. What he did not bargain on is being drawn to her intellectually as well as physically.
Lord Montagu’s now constant presence overthrows her equilibrium and her common sense. Isabelle thought all she wanted was to return home, but as passion flares between them, she must decide when her true home—as well as her heart—lies.
Excerpt from Must Love Breeches
A reenactment ball was the perfect setting for romance. Or not.Isabelle Rochon fidgeted in her oddly-shaped-but-oh-so-accurate ball gown, surrounded by women who’d sacrificed historical authenticity for sex appeal. Red carpet ball gowns in the nineteenth century, really? Once again she was like the dorky kid participating in dress-up day at school when everyone else had magically decided it was lame.“Gah. I feel like a green robot with strange battle armor.” Isabelle pointed to her dark green dress, the shoulders flaring out almost to a point, exaggerating their width. “What were the fashionistas in 1834 thinking?”“I have no bloody idea.” Jocelyn squeezed the poof of fabric at her shoulder. “These huge-ass sleeves are ridiculous.”“Ah, screw it, we’re having fun, right? I’m not going to self-sabotage the ball. Not after all the time I spent obsessing over my costume.”“And obsessing over the etiquette rules.”“That too.” Besides, how fun was it to learn Jocelyn shared her obsession with guys in period clothes and bodice-ripper romances?Isabelle eyed a guy strolling past in tight-fitting, buff-colored pantaloons. She pitched her voice to be heard over the string quartet. “Hmm. How about the clothes on that daring derriere?”Jocelyn sucked on her olive and plopped the empty stir stick into her martini. “Oh, yes. Definitely a breech-ripper.”Isabelle choked on her Bellini, the champagne fizz tickling her throat and nose. This was the first opportunity they’d had to socialize outside work, so she treated this moment delicately, afraid to puncture the mood. No need to point out he sported pantaloons, not breeches.She should ease up on the drink, though. She didn’t want to get plastered at the Thirty-fourth Annual Prancing Through History Reenactment Ball. Especially since her new colleagues would be around. And her boss. She needed to impress him.
How can my readers buy your book?   Amazon (universal)     Kobo      ARe    iTunes     Google Play    Nook   
What’s next for you? Now that I've embraced being an indie, I plan to indie publish my steampunk romance, Steam Me Up, Rawley, set in Mobile in 1890, in January/February of 2015. After that, it will be Book 2 in the Must Love series, which will be Must Love Chainmail, another time travel, this time set during Madog's rebellion in 1294 Wales. 
More about the author Angela Quarles is a geek girl romance writer whose works includes Must Love Breeches, a time travel romance, and Beer & Groping in Las Vegas, a geek romantic comedy in novelette form. She has a B.A. in Anthropology and International Studies with a minor in German from Emory University, and a Masters in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University. She currently resides in a historic house in the beautiful and quirky town of Mobile, AL.
You can find more information about  Angela Quarles and her book,  Must Love Breeches  at: Website  blog    Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads  Pinterest 

Dragons and Dragonflies

I read a recent article in my local paper titled "Flameless Dragons'. It was a story about dragonflies, their habitat, and how these innocent creatures have been burdened with a bad rap. People used to think they would bite you and transmit disease. Nonsense!

When I lived on a pond that connected to Lake Winnisquam, back in New Hampshire, dragonflies were in abundance but I never worried about them. They flitted between the deep grass beside the pond, to my lawn chair while I fished from our dock. I loved watching them, especially when the sunlight highlighted the rainbow of colors in their wings.
Lake WinnisquamI love dragons in the same sense that I do not fear them. No, I have never met one face-to-face, but I would not mind it if I did. I have even written stories where they appear. How much easier it would be to interview a real, live Scottish dragon!

These legendary creatures are typically pictured as having serpent-like or reptilian traits. Dragons are featured in the myths of cultures spanning the globe. But, dragons are a myth, right? 

Whether you believe or not, here are books that feature dragons:


ALL ARE ONLY 99 CENTS






Available just about everywhere 
in ebook format. Find all the buy links HERE

Have a great weekend...summer is almost over!Nancy Lee

What's New with Author David Russell

David Russell's, Dreamtime Sensuality, is out! He stopped by from across the pond (he is an UK author) to talk about the book. Dreamtime SensualityMany a dream can be realised with a little forethought. The characters in this quartet of stories are intelligent, sensitive and literary. They are also supremely voyeuristic and open-minded. Their intelligence is counterbalanced by inhibitions, which they can only lose by premeditated seduction scenarios, which relate intimately to their professional, creative and cultural lives. The great effort each couple puts into arranging a scenario seems to enhance the quality of the experience. A great source of inspiration for this and other works has been the novel The Girl Beneath the Lion by André Pieyre de Mandiargues.
Seductive Semaphore: Fashion Designer Bethesda and journalist Hector live opposite each other, with windows facing. They make initial contact through visible, provocative gestures. Soon afterwards, they get direct contact when Hector assists Bethesda with her folio. She invites him round to model for some of her fashion creations, and proceeds to seduce him. The seduction continues with a ritual visit to a sports centre, and then to a beach. They leave it open as to whether their relationship could ever become long-term.The Heroine and the Author: Dreamer Hecate discovers she has a terminal illness. She wants to make the most of the time she has left by being celebrated in literature as a charismatic, legendary figure. She meets Ferdinand, a ghost writer, who is happy to undertake this massive project with her. In the process, She gets an idea of his physique through jogging and the fitness centre. Then there is a seduction scene inspired by the literary models of Sappho and Donne. Being ‘open-minded’, they make a pact for each one to go and have a sexual adventure – his hetero, hers lesbian. Their relationship is enhanced by this extra dimension.Dreamtime Sensuality: Romana, highly literary and highly inhibited, goes to an exotic island location. She deeply desires a passionate encounter. At the Pension where she stays, she meets Stefano, who fulfils her requirements exactly. The proprietress of the Pension picks up on Romona’s shyness, and gives her reassurance, including some practice in the art of kissing. Romona orchestrates an elaborate beach seduction scenario, and they are both fulfilled. They never meet again, but their exchange of emails and text messages goes on indefinitely. Dancing with Danger: Verona is a Scriptwriter and Gareth an archaeologist. They both have ‘retreats’ near the coast, and discover their common interests. Verona contrives a half-seduction on a deserted beach, wearing 18th century retro gear – related to their common interests. After some further encounters, they give each other a ‘dare’ to go and have a really risky encounter with someone really dodgy. Gareth finds a young woman on the run. Verona has a rapturous encounter with someone who gets hauled in by the police, suspected of terrorism. She uses her charm on the interrogating police officer to extricate herself. So Verona and Gareth both meet up again, to tell their respective tales.  
Excerpt Bethesda stepped aside from the window, then returned carrying something—which turned out to be a pair of binoculars. She gave him another wave, then closed the curtains. She was obviously dropping a hint—but of what precisely. Quivering, Hector closed his curtains again puzzled over the possibilities. Then the penny dropped, the binoculars meant that she wanted to see him in close up. He too had a pair of binoculars and so the observation could be two-way.Simmering sensations made him want to shed some clothing along with his inhibitions—a reverie of conjoint night attire. Accordingly, he got down to singlet, boxer shorts and over them put on his dark blue dressing gown. Then he waited in anticipation. The mystery lady must make the next move. After a few, near-agonizing minutes, the winking lights occurred. That was the signal.As he drew the curtains, again he could discern her beaming smile. Then she lifted the binoculars to her eyes and gave him a wave. At that, Hector’s dressing gown was smoothly, swiftly off. She gave him a wave, put down the binoculars and made a hand-clapping motion. Hector took off his binoculars and reciprocated her gaze. Bethesda took off her nightdress to reveal white silken underwear—retro style with camiknickers—so repressed and so seductive. He put down the binoculars again and off came Hector’s singlet. Bethesda’s binoculars returned. After an elongated vigil, curtains closed again. Hector’s fires were rising. He took off his boxer shorts and confronted the mirror in his tight briefs. This was beginning to feel lovely. He had had some nice telephone conversations, but they could not compete with these visuals. He danced ecstatically, waiting for the prompt of the next winking lights. How can my readers buy your book?  Dreamtime Sensuality Antho - Devine Destinieswww.devinedestinies.com/Dreamtime-Sensuality-Antho/

www.goodreads.com/author/show/10989.David_Russell ·          ·          A little bit about the authorb. 1940. Resident in the UK. Writer of poetry, literary criticism, speculative fiction and romance. Main poetry collection Prickling Counterpoints (1998); poems published in online International Times.Main speculative works High Wired On (2002); Rock Bottom (2005). Translation of Spanish epic La Araucana, Amazon 2013. Romances: Self’s Blossom; Explorations; Further Explorations; Therapy Rapture; Darlene, An Ecstatic Rendezvous (all pub Extasy (Devine Destinies). Singer-songwriter/guitarist. Main CD albums Bacteria Shrapnel and Kaleidoscope Concentrate. Many tracks on You Tube, under ‘Dave Russell’You can find more information about his books a Devine Destinies  
or at his WEBSITE

Hurricane Season is Nothing to Laugh About

"Singing in the rain" can quickly turn to "Drowning in the tidal surge" so I have listed a few reminders to help you put together a basic hurricane kit...something that can keep you alive and well if the power fails, or can travel with you if you are urged to relocate. (remember Katrina?)

*water for 3 days per person
*first aid kit & prescription meds
*food: non-perishable bags or cans & a can opener
*flashlights AND batteries
*pet food and a pet carrier or leash
*Books, print ones too in case the power runs down on your Kindle, Nook, or iPad*
Wind damage to our fence
Secure your home. High winds can do a lot of damage.
*Cover windows with shutters or wood
*trim trees and clear rain gutters
*bring in outdoor items like chairs & grills  
*Stay away from non-covered windows

Power Outages
*Make sure your vehicles' tanks are full. Gas pumps need power
*Fill a bathtub with water for washing and making the toilet flush
*Turn your frig down and freeze as many items as can fit
*ATMs will not work without power. Stock up on cash
*Charge your cell phones
*Again, stock up on paperback books...no power needed!

These are just a few reminders. Listen to the Weather Stations and be prepared.

Nancy Lee
*looking for a good book to read? Check out my blog's BOOK tab, or on my Amazon Author Page HERE

POSITIVE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I honor my personality flaws. Without them, I’d have no personality at all.”–Margot Black, comedian
I am deep in edits of my second book in my Kilted Athletes Through Time series. 

My Dark Highlander is a spicy Scottish Time Travel romance.
Here is a short excerpt:
   “I’ll miss you too, squirt.” Jake’s arms squeezed her breathtakingly close, then loosened.   Fighting to quash the prickle of tears, Jenny stepped out of his brawny arms. She kissed his cheek, then cupped his chin and rubbed her thumb over his bottom lip.   From the corner of her eye, a tall, kilted Highlander marched toward them. Though his windblown hair partially hid his eyes, he aimed his scowl at her.   “Dear Lord.”   “What’s wrong?” Jake asked. He must have noticed she was staring past him. He turned.   The approaching warrior’s dark plaid had a purplish tint, reminding her of New Hampshire lilacs growing near her home. He’d belted the colorful wool low on his waist and draped a section over one shoulder. A brilliant amethyst brooch pinned it in place. A simple black leather sporran hung over his groin, and black boots cupped his thick, muscular calves. The sleeves of his black linen shirt billowed in the breeze.   “That looks like a pirate’s shirt,” she whispered.   “Argh,” Jake answered, then laughed.    She slapped his arm. When she turned back, Gavin was racing toward them. His scowl erupted into a roar, and he pulled a dirk from the short sword’s leather scabbard at his hip.   Jake grabbed Balfour’s reins, then shoved Jenny behind him. “Stay back!”   A scream clawed at Jenny’s throat. She attempted to inhale a deep breath, but Gavin’s growl made her stop.   “Stay out of this, wench.”   Frozen in mid-breath, all she could do was gawk. How dare he...    “ ‘Tis between this Sassenach and myself.”    Jake dropped Balfour’s reins. “I’m not an Englishman, Sinclair. I’m an American. You have no beef with me.”   “Ye kissed a young, unmarried lass in public, ye fool. Do ye wish to be leg-shackled in the blink of an eye?”   Much more to come!
Nancy Lee

Summer Reads Blog Hop & Giveaway IS OVER

Summer is in full swing and the temperatures are scorching! Time to relax by the sea shore, or in a hammock, or cuddled up with your loved one...as long as you are reading!

To celebrate, I am participating with several authors and bloggers in the Summer Reading Blog Hop. Take a moment to read this short excerpt of my latest book, then scroll down and enter to win prizes!


Excerpt: MY LADY HIGHLANDERBook #1, Kilted Athletes through Time
   Izzy patted Balfour’s nose, then fed him another carrot.   “I remember carrots, and what we shared afterward.” Bull stepped close.   Pulled backward into his chest, she stifled a surprise yelp. There was no sense upsetting the animals, since he would never hurt her. Swept past him until her back settled against the wall beside Balfour’s stall, she glanced up at his face. Shaded in shadow, his eyes glittered beneath dark lashes. Heat pumped off his body, and her blood surged through her veins.   My cheeks must look afire.   “Are you going to tell me why you kissed Gavin?”   “What? Oh, dinna’ ye hear about Niall and his men?”   “Yes. The call to arms roused me from an erotic dream.” He grinned down at her, and she prayed the shadows hid the tears straining to fall. Her heart ached for Gavin, and the possible loss of his brother.    “Niall might have died in battle. I also released Gavin from our betrothal bond.” Her voice cracked, and a stray tear dampened her cheek. He surprised her once more when he swept his thumb across her damp cheek.    “Izzy, why are you crying?”   “I feel the loss, keenly.”   “Gavin’s love?”   She slapped his chest. “Nay, ye idiot. I doona’ love Gavin, but I care for his feelings. Much will change, especially if his brother is dead, and his father is not subdued.”  “So…who do you love?”

Find all Buy Links HERE
My Lady Highlander
BOOK BLURB
Isobel MacHamish escaped a betrothal in ancient Scotland. She rebuilt her life in present-day New England, yet something-or someone-is missing. Arson, thievery, a stalker, and a handsome caber-tossing athlete turn her world upside down.
Bryce Buchanan saves a pretty woman-twice. Sent back to ancient Scotland-again-he is trapped between the skittish woman, and a man pressuring her into marriage. Battles, swords, a Scottish brownie, and a power-hungry laird make ‘Bull’ want to head home to New England.

To escape her former lover, and his murderous, father, Izzy finds her inner warrior. And, when the handsome athlete shows her what falling in love can bring, she is torn, because keeping her hands to herself, is one battle she will never win. 
Along with the Blog Hop's GRAND PRIZEI am giving away a Nancy Lee Badger's Beach-Reading 
Gift Packagewhich includes:Autographed Waking up With a Rake by Mia Marlowe with Connie MasonAutographed Dangerous Affairs by Kelle Z. Riley
Autographed Two Lethal Lies by Annie SolomonAutographed My Lady Highlander by Nancy Lee BadgerBarely A Lady by Eileen DreyerKey chain & Pen from author PJ SchnyderFlower Notebook (to write your own bestseller?)ButterSCOTCH Candy
*Nancy's Prize Package is open to residents of Continental USA. An International winner will receive a Collection of ebooks by Nancy Lee Badger

Make sure you sign-up for BOTH Giveawaysthen hop to other blogs and enter for more
fabulous prizes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entry-Form

An InLinkz Link-up

Summer Reads Blog Hop & Giveaway!

Summer is in full swing and the temperatures are scorching! Time to relax by the sea shore, or in a hammock, or cuddled up with your loved one...as long as you are reading!

To celebrate, I am participating with several authors and bloggers in the Summer Reading Blog Hop. Take a moment to read this short excerpt of my latest book, then scroll down and enter to win prizes!


Excerpt: MY LADY HIGHLANDERBook #1, Kilted Athletes through Time
   Izzy patted Balfour’s nose, then fed him another carrot.   “I remember carrots, and what we shared afterward.” Bull stepped close.   Pulled backward into his chest, she stifled a surprise yelp. There was no sense upsetting the animals, since he would never hurt her. Swept past him until her back settled against the wall beside Balfour’s stall, she glanced up at his face. Shaded in shadow, his eyes glittered beneath dark lashes. Heat pumped off his body, and her blood surged through her veins.   My cheeks must look afire.   “Are you going to tell me why you kissed Gavin?”   “What? Oh, dinna’ ye hear about Niall and his men?”   “Yes. The call to arms roused me from an erotic dream.” He grinned down at her, and she prayed the shadows hid the tears straining to fall. Her heart ached for Gavin, and the possible loss of his brother.    “Niall might have died in battle. I also released Gavin from our betrothal bond.” Her voice cracked, and a stray tear dampened her cheek. He surprised her once more when he swept his thumb across her damp cheek.    “Izzy, why are you crying?”   “I feel the loss, keenly.”   “Gavin’s love?”   She slapped his chest. “Nay, ye idiot. I doona’ love Gavin, but I care for his feelings. Much will change, especially if his brother is dead, and his father is not subdued.”  “So…who do you love?”

Find all Buy Links HERE
My Lady Highlander
BOOK BLURB
Isobel MacHamish escaped a betrothal in ancient Scotland. She rebuilt her life in present-day New England, yet something-or someone-is missing. Arson, thievery, a stalker, and a handsome caber-tossing athlete turn her world upside down.
Bryce Buchanan saves a pretty woman-twice. Sent back to ancient Scotland-again-he is trapped between the skittish woman, and a man pressuring her into marriage. Battles, swords, a Scottish brownie, and a power-hungry laird make ‘Bull’ want to head home to New England.

To escape her former lover, and his murderous, father, Izzy finds her inner warrior. And, when the handsome athlete shows her what falling in love can bring, she is torn, because keeping her hands to herself, is one battle she will never win. 
Along with the Blog Hop's GRAND PRIZEI am giving away a Nancy Lee Badger's Beach-Reading 
Gift Packagewhich includes:Autographed Waking up With a Rake by Mia Marlowe with Connie MasonAutographed Dangerous Affairs by Kelle Z. Riley
Autographed Two Lethal Lies by Annie SolomonAutographed My Lady Highlander by Nancy Lee BadgerBarely A Lady by Eileen DreyerKey chain & Pen from author PJ SchnyderFlower Notebook (to write your own bestseller?)ButterSCOTCH Candy
*Nancy's Prize Package is open to residents of Continental USA. An International winner will receive a Collection of ebooks by Nancy Lee Badger

Make sure you sign-up for BOTH Giveawaysthen hop to other blogs and enter for more
fabulous prizes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entry-Form

An InLinkz Link-up

Nancy Lee Badger-Positive Quote of the Week

If you want to be happy for life,  love what you do. -Mary Higgins Clark, author I am very lucky. After many years, working for others, I am now an Indie Author. With 12+ books released, and more on the way, I am truly blessed. I am a writer...everyday is a vacation!
Find all Buy Links HERE
Slainte! Nancy Lee

Home from a Trip Where I Wrote 17k New Words!

Me at a waterfall in Myrtle Beach-close enough!An opportunity arose to accompany one of my sisters to a veterinary conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I agreed and we decided to head to Florida first, to visit our parents. Dad just turned 89, and it had been some time since we had made the 550+ mile trip to their beautiful home.

Eating out, visiting other relatives, driving the golf cart around the huge gated community, and swimming in the pool were relaxing, yet I still found some private moments to work on promotion and write chapters in my new book.
Marina Inn at Grande Dunes
When we arrived at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, we enjoyed a lovely visit. I woke up at 6:15 each morning to grab free coffee in the lobby at 6:45 and watch my sister take the shuttle bus to the conference hotel a mile away. 

I wrote, I swam, I wrote, then headed to the luxurious lobby every afternoon to write while I waited for free cookies and lemonade at 3:00.  I then waited for my sister to arrive, and we made our evening plans. We had dinner at Ruth Chris' Steak House, and Joe's Crab Shack. Yum! (and, according to yesterday's doctor visit, I only gained 1/2 lb!)
View from our 7th floor balcony
Our 2 bedroom, 2 bath, full kitchen suite overlooking the pool and the marina was beautiful, and during the writing sessions, where I also did a lot of editing, I wrote over 17,000 new words! Good words, too, and my story is headed close to its ending. It is the second book in my Kilted Athletes Through Time series, and I cannot wait to share it with you. For now, enjoy the trip photos.

Nancy Lee Badger
Nancy Lee Badger loves chocolate-chip shortbread and wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a Scottish Highlander. Her stories tempt you with the clang of broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the air.After growing up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in New Hampshire, she moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, Triangle Area Freelancers, and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers.  
See all Buy Links for My Lady Highlander HERE

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Author James Hutchings

Please welcome author James Hutchings all the way from Australia! His book, They Say the Sirens Left the Seas, is a collection of poems, often fantasy-themed, and was released on May 26.
Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.  
It's a collection of 46 poems. It has a particular emphasis on poems that tell a story, particularly in the fantasy genre.

When did you start writing toward publication? 
I wrote a novel in the early 2000s that's best not spoken of, but I've been writing and submitting continuously since 2010.
I started submitting stuff (turned out to be crap) in 2007, and sold the good stuff starting in 2010. Practice makes perfect! Do you have any rejection stories to share?
I got a rejection email for one of my poems which said that "There were several amusing parts in this poem, but it’s not consistently funny throughout, which is what I’d be looking for in a humour poem. I think the problem (as I see it) is that you’re often vague or allusive; specific details tend to be funniest." This would have been a lot more encouraging if the poem was meant to be funny.
What is your writing routine like?
I've heard some writers say they can only write in a particular room, or only at a particular time of day or something, but I've never had anything like that. At the moment I mostly write last thing in the day, but I'd be happy to change this if circumstances required it. I've done a lot of writing on bus or train trips.
Me, too! With a husband and several volunteer 'jobs', I try to get 'stuff' out of the way, then write until something else interrupts. Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?
I've been a member of a few different face-to-face critique groups, as well as online ones, and have found them mostly useful. However I've never been a member of bigger, fee-charging organizations like Writers Victoria. I've found that, at least for an amateur like me, the cost isn't worth what they offer.
Please share THREE fun facts about you that most people don’t know:
1) I have three nipples (the third one is small, and looks like a birthmark or a pimple, but it's a nipple).
2) This isn't really a fun fact, but it's a strange fact. Some local neo-Nazis called Australia First recently decided (falsely), that I was the author of an anti-Nazi blog. They published my photo, name, address and even date of birth online (I assume they found them on facebook). I went on local radio with the real author of this blog to prove that we were two different people- but even after I did this they kept insisting that I was really him! I've actually had to get lawyers to threaten to sue them.
3) I used to dance like no one was watching, but everyone stared at me.
What’s next for you?
Later this year I hope to put out two more ebooks: one based around a long poem set in my fantasy city of Telelee, and the other around a long Western poem called 'Confession of a Bounty Hunter'. At the moment I'm working on a longer poem, set in the distant past and with a fantasy-like atmosphere, but no magic or monsters.
BOOK BLURB
The last dragon faces his death...
A magician bases his life on a misheard word...
A teenager goes looking for his friends' girlfriends, none of whom have ever been seen...
46 poems by James Hutchings.
Excerpt:
The Cat and the Toad
At the dawn of the world on a tree-sheltered roadan agreeable cat met a horrible toad.When the cat saw its neighbor it fearfully shookfor in those days all creatures would act as they lookedand the toad was all warty, and bulging, and slimy.The trembling cat mewed a terrified "Blimey!"(more vigorous oaths had not yet been discovered)and looked at the evil made plain on the otherone hideous sin for each hideous feature."Oh please do not kill me, most wicked of creatures!"it begged without hope. But the toad thought awhilethen it gave what might almost have been called a smileand it said, "You may keep what you carry withinbut if you are to live, you must give me your skin."Now the cat had no choice, though it bitterly criedbut to take off its fur and to put on the hideof the venomous toad, and no creatures had madesuch a villainous threat, such a terrible trade.Then the cat hopped away where it once would have strodefor the toad was a cat, and the cat was a toad.
This explains why the toad, though so utterly charmlessis gentle in nature and totally harmlesswhile cats appear graceful and splendid and goodbut would murder us all in our beds if they could.
(Disclaimer: This only refers to other cats. Your cat is lovely of course).
Thanks!  How can my readers  b uy your book? 
SMASHWORDS     AMAZON
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR James HutchingsJames Hutchings lives in Melbourne, Australia. He fights crime as Poetic Justice, but his day job is acting. You might know him by his stage-name 'Brad Pitt.' His work has appeared in Daily Science Fiction, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly and Wisdom Crieth Without among other markets. His ebook collection 'They Say the Sirens Left the Seas' is now available from Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble and DriveThruFiction.
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