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My latest release is in ebook and print!

MY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER is filled with heroes. All of them, even the married men, are HOT!

Here is an excerpt to give you an idea of what you can find in any of the books in my Highland Games Through Time series...

Here is a hot and spicy excerpt from My Reluctant Highlander

       “What?” Jake growled.
“The look on yer face…’tis disconcerting to someone familiar with your true nature. Yer eyes are feastin’ upon me, as if I were yer next meal.”

Suddenly in his arms, Skye shuddered with unease. Before her power rose to protect her, his palms slid down her arms, then cupped her hands in his. “I don’t want you to use your magic on me again, so keep still.”He had not raised his voice, but the message was clear; perfectly clear, until he lowered his mouth to hers. Skye’s first reaction was to protest yet he had pinned her with no way free.Her animal’s warm hide steadied her back, and the pungent scent of dead leaves, moss covered tree trunks, and Jake, filled her nose.With their hands clasped together, tingles rose up her arms, along her neck, and ended where their lips met. For a man who worked hard with hot iron, his lips were soft and moist. When the tip of his tongue forced its way into her mouth, she yielded to the pleasure. A soft murmuring surprised her.

‘Tis me?

Now available in ebook and print:Amazon      NOOK     KOBO   iTunes      AllRomance       Smashwords  AmazonPRINT   BarnesAndNobel-PRINT 


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This Romance Writers of America Conference Tote filled with Books and 'SWAG'! Tell me what you think of my excerpt, then hop over to the other blogs listed below to enter to win THEIR great prizes! One lucky Blog Hopping Reader will win A Huge Gift Card!
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My Prize includes: UNTAMED by Sara HumphreysDOUBLE DANGER by Dee DavisA WEEK TO BE WICKED by Tessa DareSTUD by Cheryl BrooksBETWEEN THE COVERS, a steamy promo samplerMY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER by Nancy Lee Badger  pens, bookmarks, notepads, butterscotch candy, too!


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Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Molly Ann Wishlade

Debut author Molly Ann Wishlade stopped by all the way from her home near Cardiff, Wales! She answers a few personal questions. Desire in Deadwood is a historical western and is currently available for Total-E-Bound VIPs to buy and read but will be on general release on 30th August.

Now that I have taken my eyes off your book's cover, tell my readers a little bit about your book.  Desire in Deadwood is the story of Nate Hamilton and Evelyn Campbell who meet up in Deadwood after more than a decade of separation.

When did you start writing toward publication?  I always dreamt of being a published writer but I thought that it was one of those things that happens for others, not people like me. So, following University, I became a teacher then had two beautiful children. I was so busy being a mother and working that I didn’t have much time to think about being creative.
However, as my children got older, I felt that yearning to write building again. Only this time, it was stronger. I took a career break and tried writing a medical romance. I read lots of romances, plotted a story then wrote the first three chapters and a synopsis.
I submitted my manuscript to a major romance publisher then waited. I should have been finishing it then starting the next one but I didn’t. I procrastinated. A lot! When the rejection finally came, I wasn’t surprised. It just wasn’t the right time for me, I guess. Instead of having another go, I got myself another full time job at a different school and packed away my dream of writing, thinking I didn’t really have it in me.

However, a few years ago, when I met my husband and told him all about my dreams, something clicked. He really believed that I could do this and he encouraged me to go for it. His confidence boosted my own and inspired me to try again. He’s such a strong and determined man that with his support and faith in me, I felt more confidence in my ability than ever before.

I wrote, plotted, and submitted. There were rejections but they weren’t heartbreakingly negative. I even had several ‘revise and resubmits’ which gave me hope and encouraged me to persevere. My lowest point came just before Christmas last year when a Regency I’d submitted was rejected. I felt like throwing in the towel once again. Guess what? I didn’t. A dear friend of mine did a thorough critique of it and told me what the issues were but also what she loved about it. It was a steep but invaluable learning curve and it increased my determination. For Christmas last year my husband bought me a cover for my Kindle. It’s designed to look like a Victorian book cover and it has my name inscribed on the spine. On the inside front cover is a message which reads: This is your first book cover of many. You will be published! With support and encouragement like that, how could I fail to keep going?
Post-Christmas, a few lines just popped into my head and kept playing over and over:
“Take your clothes off.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Evelyn forced her mouth shut.
“So? What are you waiting for?”
Her eyes met those of the man on the moth eaten chaise longue in front of her. He was serious.

Within days, these evolved into a full plot and Desire in Deadwood was born! I submitted it to Total-E-Bound exclusively. And that, as they say, was that! 
Wow! So glad you kept at it, and had someone at your back! What is your writing routine like? As I teach fulltime, I try to write for at least an hour or two in the evenings - if I’m not too exhausted and as long as I don’t have piles of marking to do! I also grab time on the weekends. It’s difficult. I also want to spend time with my family. As my husband also teaches, we want to make the most of our time off. I am very lucky as he’s extremely understanding and he knows that when the writing bug bites and I’ve got something in my head, that I just have to get my laptop out and go for it! 
Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing? Finishing my final edits and realizing that I was actually going to be published was amazing as was receiving my cover package from the wonderful Total-E-Bound team. I just get such a thrill seeing the book on the web and knowing that I wrote it. I don’t think that euphoria will ever go away.
Enjoy it, as you will your next book! Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? Never surrender your dreams. If you really want this – and you have to really want it or you won’t make it happen – then keep trying. You need to read lots, write lots and find some good critique partners, as well as a lovely editor who believes in your work. Don’t waste time procrastinating.
Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.
1)When I was eight, I had a pet mouse called Geronimo. When he died I was devastated so I buried him in a pretty little box with a clear plastic front cover. (It had previously held a letter writing set.)  Enclosed with him in the box was a note which read: Here lieth Geronimo, loveth by all. My Dad teased me about it for years!
2)I am obsessed with all things Tudor and will read just about anything I can get my hands on and even though I’ve read Anne Boleyn’s story time after time, it still fascinates me. I intend to write her story myself in the very near future…with a slightly new take on things. (Watch this space!) My husband recently took me to Hever Castle for my birthday and I cried all the way around the castle and gardens.
3)I have four bearded dragons. We wanted pets but because we work full time, we couldn’t have a dog. So we looked into it and decided that reptiles would be an alternative. They are bright, inquisitive and friendly creatures which enjoy interacting with the family.

All I have is a cat, but he is great company for my husband and I. What’s next for you?
I have just submitted my novel Harlot at the Homestead to Total-E-Bound and so I’m currently going through submission anxiety!  I guess I’d better get on with the next one to make the time pass more quickly.

BOOK BLURB
After more than a decade of separation, can Nate Hamilton really put aside his hurt and learn to forgive the woman who destroyed his life then help her to find her heart’s desire in Deadwood?
Deadwood, 1878, Nate Hamilton and his former sweetheart Evelyn Campbell meet up after more than a decade of separation.
When the widowed Evelyn discovers that her tuition post has fallen through, she is left destitute and concerned about how she will provide for her son, until Nate offers her a way to earn some money – and a way to exact his perfect revenge for her betrayal – he will pay her to be his own private whore.
The combination of past hurts, secrets and rekindled passion causes fireworks in and out of the bedroom!

EXCERPT
       Evelyn stood at her window in the Grand Central Hotel, looking out onto the street below. Dusk had fallen on the camp and the residents had lit their kerosene lamps which hung from their hooks like dead men in the breathless evening. By twilight, the camp seemed calm and even pretty with its gentle lighting and the dark shapes of the mountains as its backdrop. Maybe it was because she’d felt rootless for so long, or maybe it was because Nate was here, but Evelyn felt that she could settle in Deadwood; make it her home. Growing up she’d believed that her home would always be with Nate and she wished that she could believe that again, even if just for a moment. To have that security, that infallible awareness that she was with the man that destiny had chosen for her would still the pain in her heart and mind.
       She shrugged the thoughts away. No use crying over spilt milk. Nothing to gain from it. What was done was done and she had to pin her bloomers to her corset and get on with it, as her granny used to say.
       The main street teemed with people as miners returned to their lodgings to wash before supper; prospectors trudged heavily along the dry, potholed track to fall into a restless slumber filled with images of the gold pocket they’d find the next day and a few painted whores sidled up to passers-by to try to entice them into their establishments for whisky, gambling and a hot lay.
       She moved behind the curtain when Nate appeared, his long strides bringing him quickly in front of the hotel. He stopped as a man waved at him then joined him in the street. She thought she recognised the other man as the sheriff but she couldn’t be sure.
       “Mama?”
       Evelyn turned to her son.
       “Yes Aaron.”
       “Can I go downstairs?”
       She shook her head. “You know we talked about this.” Even though he was ten years old and tall for his age, she still fretted constantly for his safety.
       “But I’ll be careful. I just want to take a look around, see if …”
        His cheeks coloured.
       “You want to see if you can charm a cake off the cook, don’t you?”
       He looked down.
       “Well go on but don’t disappear. I’ll be down for dinner soon as I’ve changed.”
       Shaking her head, she watched as he grabbed his hat and ran to the door then turned and gave her a cheeky smile.
       She laughed and waved her hand. “Go on…before I change my mind!”
       As the door closed behind him, she turned back to the window, pressing her finger tips against the cool pane of glass. Nate was still deep in conversation with the other man.
       She was finding it hard to believe that she had come here to Deadwood and bumped into him after all this time. She had spent years thinking about him, dreaming about him and wanting him. But now that she’d been with him again, it wasn’t at all how she had imagined; he seemed like a stranger.
       His face was still handsome, his eyes still dark brown, but they were hard now and his forehead was lined as if he’d spent too long frowning in the sun.
       And he was angry with her. Still. She couldn’t blame him but she wished that she could go back in time and change things; stop herself walking into marriage to another man.
       But that was impossible.
       Her stomach rolled over as she thought of his final words to her that afternoon.
       “I’ll see you at the same time tomorrow.”
       She needed the money to support her and Aaron. She had no other means of keeping a roof over their heads. Her pride and conscience had seen to that.
       That was why she’d have to go. So why did the thought of seeing him again make her tingle all over?
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I have always been an avid reader and writer of stories. My lifetime of reading has taken me from the magical worlds of The Faraway Treeand The Borrowers, to the Greek myths and legends, to the Sweet Valley High Twins and Judy Blume’s Forever, to Asimov’s science fiction and Jane Eyre’s torment and to Stephen King’s masterpieces. More recently I have wandered through the vivid historicals of Philippa Gregory; the bubbly, gritty delights of Adele Parks and the fast paced thrillers of James Patterson. I love getting lost in a novel and often regret finishing one as the characters are usually missed.

I also indulge my insatiable hunger for romance and passion in the delicious worlds created by romantic novelists and having published one and with another in submission, I’m about to begin the next one!

I adore spending time with my family, taking long walks (although I’m still waiting for the rescue greyhound to accompany me), cooking my own secret recipe curries, drinking Earl Grey (in copious amounts) and discovering delicious wines. Oh, and I love to ski and can’t wait to go again!
I’d love to hear from readers so please feel free to comment on my blog or to email me at mollyannwishlade@hotmail.co.ukYou can find more information about Molly Ann Wishlade at:

BLOG        Twitter   Facebook      GoodreadsHow can my readers buy your book?  Readers can go to the publisher’s home page HERE


 and the Desire in Deadwood Buy Page HERE

RWA Conference 2013 in Atlanta was a BLAST!

Marriot Marquis, Atlanta, GeorgiaI have been so wrapped up in my volunteer work (as blog co-chair for the Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers), interviewing authors for my own blog, and promoting my latest release My Reluctant Highlander, I nearly forgot to share some photos from this year's Romance Writers of America annual conference.

 Me and author Donna Steele
Nora Roberts signing booksThe conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia this year which was fairly close to home (6+ hour drive). Next year it will be held in San Antonio, Texas. Anyway, the hotel was magnificent. The Marriot Marquis was huge but cozy in places, such as the restaurants, the coffee shop, and the meeting rooms. The guest rooms were functional, and my roommate, author Donna Steele, fit all our stuff and clothes.

Margaret Mallory sat across from me!
Meetings in the bar area were fun, and the food was fabulous. The workshops--too many to choose from!--kept us busy. Book signings held by various publishers, and notables such as Nora Roberts, were well attended and the Indie publishing signing was an eye opener. Someday, I will join them (now that I have figured out the mystique surrounding making covers to upload to Createspace)


Author Elena Dillon & me
Lunch and awards ceremonies were fun, especially when you sat down at tables for twelve. Meeting new people, networking, swapping business cards, and asking others "What do you write?" were worth the trip.  The workshops spanned every topic imaginable and I heard the majority of the workshop presenters were excited and happy to share their brilliant ideas.


Saturday night Golden Heart and RITA Awards was awesome! We clapped for our friends even when they did not win, and we took photos to share with you and others My aunt is thrilled one of her favorite authors, Laura Griffin, won a RITA award.

This chance to meet up with friends, fellow authors, faceless-until-now online chaptermates is life-altering for people like us. Writers tend to spend too many lonely hours in front of their computer, writing about life instead of living.
The RWA Conference got me out of the house (and gave my hubby a little time alone) and made me realize there is more in my future than the 10 books I have published to date. Making friends and networking with others can only help when I release my next book.

The bar was wonderful and a great place to meet up after a brutal day of workshops. Plus, my hands were awfully pained from carrying totes full of free books back to my room! I will be giving away dozens of autographed books over the course of the next few months, so make sure you sign up (*see below)

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Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Alina K. Field

Author Alina K. Field stopped by to answer a few personal questions. Her book, Rosalyn’s Ring is a Regency novella and was released July 24, 2013.

Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.  
Thanks Nancy for the opportunity to chat with you today. Rosalyn’s Ring tells the story of an impoverished noblewoman who seizes an opportunity to help another young woman and to recover her father’s stolen signet ring. She braves a precarious Christmas Eve snow storm, meets a mysterious nobleman, recovers the ring and loses it again, and uncovers a secret that changes her life. And, oh yes, she finds love!

I need a good night's sleep and two cups of coffee before I write. What is your writing routine like?
I’m a morning writer, but with enough caffeine, I can go all day. I tend to do better in a quiet setting, but I once put out over 30,000 words in thirty days in a thirty foot motor home with my husband sitting across the table from me and the financial news blaring over my head. I considered that quite an achievement! I’m not a pantser, but not a detailed plotter either. So far, what works best for me is to decide upon the characters, the main conflict, and the turning points of the story, and then launch into a fast draft. I say “so far” because I’m always looking for a better way. 

Can I assume a story set in the regency period requires research? Is research a part of your writing? If so, where do you find the answers?  
Yes, research always plays a part in my writing, and I almost always start with the internet. Rosalyn’s Ring touches on the historical practice of wife sales in England. I started with Wikipedia, and from there went to referenced sources, Wives for Sale, An Ethnographic Study of British Popular Divorce, by Samuel Pyeatt Menefee, and Customs in Common, by E.B. Thompson.  For other historical questions, I relied on various online sources, but it was difficult at times to pin down certain critical details. My apologies in advance to readers for anything I got wrong—all historical errors are mine! 

We are writing fiction y'all...  Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?
Thank heavens for Romance Writers of America and the tremendous supportive network of writers I’ve found there. I’m active in two local chapters, East Valley Authors and the Orange County Chapter, and in the last year I joined two specialty online chapters, Celtic Hearts and Beau Monde.  How have they helped me? Let me count the ways: positive role models, affordable education, networking, fellowship, and constant encouragement. I urge all writers of fiction to check out RWA. 

The recent RWA Conference in Atlanta was inspiring. Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 
The best thing you can do is to keep writing, keep reading, and keep learning. Your craft will become stronger and you’ll find yourself with a body of work that will make you more marketable.  Believe it; I’ve seen it happen with my writer friends. 

Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.   1)  I won first place in a college fencing (as in “sword-fighting”, not “chain-link”) tournament.
  2)  I met my husband on an Immigration raid. He was a cop, I was a fed.  
  3) I spent a number of years in plain clothes carrying a gun; I hated it. I’m not well-endowed enough to distract from the bulge of a shoulder holster. My hips are generous enough for a belt holster, but then, yipes, I had to wear a darn belt, and try dealing with the bathroom in that (ask a policewoman). And put it in my purse? Forgetaboutit; not only is that not a quick draw, imagine having your tube of lipstick pull the trigger accidentally!
BOOK BLURB
With her true inheritance lost, Rosalyn Montagu has reluctantly fallen into her elderly cousin’s tidy London life of do-gooder spinster. When a young woman from the district of Rosalyn’s childhood is put up for auction in a wife sale, Rosalyn seizes the chance to rescue her—and to recover a treasured family heirloom, her father’s signet ring, purloined by the woman’s innkeeper husband.

Intent on liberating the young wife with the money she has scraped together, Rosalyn braves a precarious Christmas Eve coach ride in the company of a mysterious nobleman. She soon finds she is not the only determined buyer attending the sale. Her rakish opponent not only succeeds in thwarting her purchase; he reveals himself as the man who took everything that should have been hers. Everything, that is, but her father’s ring, which she manages to recover before being tossed out of the inn into the snowy night. 

The newly anointed Viscount Cathmore has accepted there is no way to avoid living his father’s dream of accession to a social class he disdains, but he has drawn the line at marrying a blue-blooded miss. Then he meets Rosalyn, a provoking beauty with an upper crust manner, a larcenous streak, and enough secrets to rouse even his jaded heart, including the truth of her identity—she is the woman whose home and inheritance he has usurped. But more mysteries swirl around Rosalyn’s lost inheritance, and Cathmore is just the man to help her uncover the truth. Excerpt from Rosalyn’s Ring

Chapter OneRosalyn Montagu had calculated there would be dangers on this increasingly madcap mission of mercy, but she never expected to be sitting in opposite seats from one them, and in his snug, well-appointed, private coach, too. It put her at a disadvantage, it did. The weather, all grey sky and arctic wind with the smell of snow, had halted her public coach at the last staging inn. A private coach waited there for the two silent gentlemen who had joined them that morning, ready to carry the gentlemen onward to the Village of Glen Murray. With as much dignity as she could muster, Rosalyn had begged a ride for her and her maid. After all, a woman’s future—her dignity, her safety, maybe even her life—were at stake, though Rosalyn did not feel compelled to share the particulars. Lord Cathmore and Mr. Logan, they were. Not young, not old, for men. Possibly thirty, and both quite handsome. Lord and steward, or Lord and secretary perhaps. Unfortunately, his lordship was silent no longer. After she and Nelly had settled on his cushioned seats, he had begun a polite campaign to get at those particulars.“I live in London,” Rosalyn answered him, omitting the precise neighborhood, “with my mother’s elderly cousin. She was kind enough to take me in after my father’s death.”  Author Alina K. FieldIt was only a small lie. Almost true. Her cousin and benefactor, Abigail Crompton, had died after Christmas last year. This would be Abigail’s first Yuletide spent underground, rolling probably, at the misuse of her monetary bequest. Lord Cathmore raised only one wicked eyebrow. A little bit about the authorAlina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but she found her true passion in reading and writing romance. Though her roots are in the Midwest, after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California and hasn’t looked back. She shares a midcentury home with her husband and a blue-eyed cat who conned his way in for dinner one day and decided the food was too good to leave.
You can find more information about me, Alina K. Field, and my book, Rosalyn’s Ring AT:WEBSITE     TWITTER Amazon Author Page

How can my readers buy your book?  AMAZON      

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Reese Ryan

Reese Ryan stopped by for an indepth interview. Her book, Making the First Move is a contemporary romance and was released July 22, 2013.

Don't forget to scroll down and sign-up for a chance to win GREAT PRIZES during her BLOG TOUR.
Please tell my readers a little bit about your book. Making the First Move is about two people who struggle with painful pasts in a way that threatens their prospects for a happy future. Melanie Gordon obsesses over her career as a way to hide from the pain of her father’s death and a devastating break-up. Raine Mason is a selfless, committed philanthropist who has a mysterious past that left him with physical and emotional wounds.  Their relationship and the obstacles it encounters provide them both with an opportunity to reassess their lives and shed learned identities that are holding them back.
Reese RyanDescribe the genre of this particular title, and is it the only genre you write in?
For me, contemporary romance encompasses many things. The typical love-in-the-here-and-now stories we expect, but also new adult, romantic suspense, and romantic women’s fiction. This title and my December release are both contemporary romances, but both stories are very much about the heroine’s journey—as much as they are about the romance that is central to it. However, future stories in the works include a new adult trilogy and a romantic thriller.What inspired you to write your first book?
A fellow copywriter told me about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It sounded insane, but I was also intrigued. I started my first fiction novel since high school while participating in the event the following year. Making the First Move was a NaNo project I started in maybe the first or second year I participated. A few years later I went back and finished it.I tried NaNoWriMo last year for the 1st time! Loved it! How did you get into romance writing?
It was only within the last two years that I really came to realize, and embrace, the fact that I’m a romance writer. I was an avid YA reader in middle school and high school. Several years later, when I started reading fiction again, it was during the height of Chick Lit’s popularity—a genre I still love. So I hadn’t read very many pure romance novels and I considered myself a Chick Lit and then a women’s fiction writer. When Carina Press acquired this novel as a contemporary romance I started to really examine all of my stories. They deal with the heroine’s journey and family drama—yet a romance is alwayscentral to the story. It was one of those moments when you finally figure out what everyone else already knows.Ha! Took me until my fifties to figure writing was my passion. Life got in the way. Who first introduced you to the love of reading?My parents. I thank them for that in the acknowledgements of every book I’ve written.
My parents are my loudest cheerleaders! I met you at a meeting of our local chapter of Romance Writers of America. Has your membership helped? One of the best things I did as a writer was to join RWA—even when I thought I was strictly a women’s fiction writer. Membership in my local Heart of Carolina chapter and two online chapters has brought me a wealth of knowledge and encouragement. Also, being a member of other local writing groups has introduced me to some outstanding local writers and to my current critique group.Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?I had three completed manuscripts when Carina Press acquired Making the First Move. I’d sent queries to a few agents on two of the manuscripts—including this one.  Then I stumbled across a pitching session to another digital-first publisher. They requested the full manuscript. That opened my eyes to this medium. So I submitted to several others. Out of the five publishers I submitted to I received two contract offers and one request for a revise and resubmit. So while it has become more challenging to get published traditionally, the rapidly changing industry offers so many opportunities for new writers. So keep writing. Keep improving your craft. Learn as much as you can about available options and choose the one that’s right for you. Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know. 1) I just might be the oldest blanket baby in the history of blanket babies.2) As a kid I hated playing outside because I didn’t like that outdoors smell my great aunt in Mississippi refers to as “fresh.”3)I conquered my fear of heights to climb Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica. Now I’m trying to work my way up to ziplining in the Costa Rican rainforest.
What’s next for you? Jamie Charles—the best friend character in Making the First Move—gets her own story, tentatively titled Love Me Not. It will be released in December. I’m currently planning my first novella—a contemporary romance based on Leslie Morales, another character in Making the First Move and a new adult trilogy.BOOK BLURB
  Melanie Gordon has spent the past five years obsessing over her career to dull the pain of a devastating breakup and the loss of her father. Her effort pays off when she receives the promotion that could be her big break. Only it means returning to her hometown to face her past while leaving behind the man who could be her future.Selfless (and insanely sexy) philanthropist, Raine Mason, is committed to his cause. But his passion for rescuing high-risk young males from the road to disaster is fueled by his own dark and tragic past. When Raine is ready to take his casual friendship with Melanie to sizzling new heights, her one-way ticket to Cleveland is already booked. But a steamy night of passion leaves them both wanting more, even if Melanie is afraid to admit it. She reluctantly agrees to a long-distance relationship with no promises and no commitments.Melanie may finally be ready to give Raine her heart…but then she discovers startling news that causes her to question everything she knows about him. Worse, he’s harboring a dark secret from his past that threatens to shatter any hope of a future for them unless he can convince her that their love is worth the risk.EXCERPT LINK  HEREA little bit about the authorReese Ryan writes sexy, contemporary fiction filled with colorful characters and sinfully-sweet romance. She secretly enjoys torturing her heroines with family and career drama, reformed bad boys, revealed secrets, and the occasional identity crisis, but always rewards them with a happily ever after. Born and raised in the Midwest, she now resides in Central North Carolina with her husband and young adult son who tolerate her propensity to sing and dance badly. A self-proclaimed Bohemian Southern Belle, she treads the line carefully between being a Northerner and a damned Yankee–despite her insistence on calling soda pop. Reese gauges her progress by the number of “bless your lil’ hearts” she gets each week. She is currently down to two.
Visit Reese online at ReeseRyan.com. Follow her on Twitter  @ReeseRyanWrites . Her blog    The Reese Ryan Diaries Amazon Author PageConnect on GoodreadsConnect with her on  Facebook .
How can my readers buy your book?  AMAZON       BARNES AND NOBLE      ITUNES   
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Nancy Lee Badger's Positive Quote of the Week

Scottish Highland Cow
Photo by Nancy Lee BadgerRomance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.
-Elinor Glyn, novelist and scriptwriter


Rural Hill Scottish Festival roadside flowers  
Photo by Nancy Lee Badger
What is more 'everyday' than the beasts and flowers of the world? Can you picture them on the cover of a romance novel, or part of the plot? Here are a few examples of the Scottish persuasion. Enjoy!

Nancy Lee

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Blacksmith Photo by Nancy Lee BadgerPlease enjoy these
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 CHAPTER 1  Wick, North Sea Scotland 1603 Skye Gunn could not breathe. She had barely sucked in one deep breath before water covered her head, and the strong current pulled her down into the icy depths of the ocean. Since she had escaped the battlements high above with her life, her current situation was ironic in a sick sort of way.Fleeing one danger, only to tumble into another lethal situation, is not to be borne!With her dress wrapped around her ankles, and rope binding her wrists, death was the obvious outcome.Too bad I always do the least obvious.The first surprise was that she had managed to escape from the dungeon. When her spell tore the hinges from the door of her cage, the joy that spread through her body lasted but a heartbeat. Angry shouts made her run through the castle prison and up the stone stairway.When the guards gave chase, she ran faster. The sorcerer’s displeasure, evident in his raging curses, followed her as she climbed the steps to the highest level. Guards circled her. Cornered, she glared at the hooded form.“Helen, ye must stay and join with me,”the sorcerer said, the wind and crashing waves nearly drowning out his voice.“Who be Helen?”she had answered.When the sorcerer raised his magical blackthorn staff, she did not wait for an answer. Her only foreseeable option was to jump from the tower.The sorcerer and his minions gave me no choice.After all, she was familiar with the castle the sorcerer had overthrown and claimed as his own. Castle Barrowmann belonged to HER!Skye expected to die on the boulder-strewn beach below. She inhaled the salty tang of the ocean on the breeze, and prayed for a quick death. The crash of the waves prompted her decision. There was a chance they would sweep her broken body away, out of the sorcerer’s control. I believe in second chances.As she considered plummeting toward her death on the rocks at the base of the castle, and leapt to meet it, a huge foamy wave broke, cushioning her landing. She was euphoric for a moment, but happiness evaporated as the icy water swept over her, and dragged her out to sea.Was she up? Or down? She opened her eyes, but the swirling water gave no sense of direction.Her left foot hit something slimy and immovable. A rock wall? A wrecked fishing boat? The bottom of the ocean? Pushing away, she prayed she headed upward, but not back toward the castle. As her head broke the surface, relief washed over her along with salty spray. Sucking in much-needed air, she kicked her feet and rode the swells further from shore. She hoped she could make safe haven out of reach of the sorcerer’s archers.Ping! The feathers of an arrow’s fletching disappeared beneath the surface, so close that water splashed her cheek. She had to escape, but if she followed the currents, she would end up alone in the middle of the North Sea. A gray sky dotted with wisps of orange-tinted clouds heralded the approach of night. She would soon be alone. In the dark. Not a good fit for someone like her.“You’re a social butterfly,” Haven had joked with her at a recent festival. She recalled looking around at the faces that stared at her as they walked by. Dozens of the Highland’s best warriors, draped in colorful plaids, had come to the valleys surrounding Keldurach to turn the caber, throw the hammer, and down as many pints of ale as their stomachs could handle. Their scandalous smiles and slobbering wolf calls were disgusting.Even so, Skye lived up to her title as the laird’s sister and mingled with their guests. She teased the more demanding ones, but she knew her future…her brother planned to marry her off.Again. Want to read more? Check out the ebook available here:Amazon    NOOK    Allromance    KOBO    SmashwordsAlso Available at
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Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Ruth A. Casie

Today I’m interviewing Ruth A. Casie. Her book, The Guardian’s Witch is a historic fantasy and was released on July 1.
Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.  In order to save the man she loves from being executed for treason and prevent being married off to another, Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, must make a crucial decision. Dare she rely on her knight, Lord Alex Stelton, to find a way to save them both or does she trust her magic and risk exposure as a witch?I also write heroines who use magic and potions for good. Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?  This book takes place on the English/Scottish border in 1290. It is a historic fantasy. I am undeniably a romantic and find the medieval and Renaissance periods my favorite. I am totally taken with knights and chivalry. My first book, Knight of Runes, was also a historic fantasy with a time travel element.Time Travel & Scottish historicals are my favorite things to read & write. When did you first consider yourself a writer, and when did you start writing toward publication?  Author Ruth A. CasieI didn’t plan to be an author. I wrote my story without any understanding of craft. I just wrote until the end and was surprised that it was 105,000 words. I didn’t know what to do with it once it was done. I searched for a support group and found RWA. I called Texas and told this very nice lady what I had done and she led me to the NJ and NYC chapters. Then I learned how to write a story. I was relieved and excited that in many ways I had intuitively put it together correctly. Technically I had a lot to learn. Head hopping and sliced commas were a challenge. Sounds like you jump-started your career the correct way. We all need help at one point. It is okay to ask for it! What inspired you to write your first book?Ah, this is an interesting story. I was watching a program on television, Who Do You Think You Are. It’s about the journey a celebrity takes in finding their ancestry. It really started me thinking. Women today are independent, self-supporting, and accomplished. They run the board room and are good in the bed room. How would they be viewed by their ancestors? So I took a very alpha female who does ordinary things well and dropped her back in time (to the 17th century) and had her find the love of her life. How they deal with each other and grow is what Knight of Runes, my first book, is all about. I LOVE strong heroines! How did you get into romance writing?I’m very involved as a volunteer in our county’s women’s shelter for victims of domestic violence.  I’m on the executive board. At an executive meeting, the board secretary, who was a former client, told me she was writing a book. I thought it was about her experience. She laughed and said no one wants to hear about that. No, she was writing a romance novel. I’ve always had stories in my head and offered to beta read or be a critique partner if she’d like. We traded story ideas. The following week at the regular board meeting she said she had been thinking about us both writing stories and possibly putting them together as a set. To make a long story short. We outlined our stories and started writing but she had other pressing issues. While I am a sedentary empty nester, she was training for the New York Marathon and touring colleges with her daughter. She stopped writing and I continued on my own.Why have you become a published author?  I really didn’t plan to be a published author. I was a vice president at a large financial institution and doing well. I was in product management and did a lot of work in communication and marketing. When my friend and I started writing though, I found a new creative outlet. Once I wrote the book the next step was to get it published. Then I faced a decision. Was it the challenge of getting published that I wanted? Or, did I want a new career? I found my writing friends sparked my creativity. You can’t get too creative with a wire transfer. And I wasn’t willing to quiet the voices in my head. I loved the creative process and even working with my editor. That was like a private tutor! Once my publisher encouraged another book I ran with it.   Okay, how about the flip-side? Do you have any rejection stories to share?I had sent my first book out to this one editor and got a rejection. It wasn’t a form letter but rather a detailed response why it was not accepted. I went to my NJ chapter meeting. We give out Hershey hugs for bad news and Hershey kisses for good new. For the bad news I announced the rejection. For the good news I announced it wasn’t my book. I had gotten someone else’s rejection. The editor later sent me my real rejection letter but that first one still makes me smile.I am passing along the chocolate idea to my local chapter!What is your writing routine like? If you asked me before June 1, I would have said I write after dinner and on weekends. But, I retired from my day job on June 1 and now I’m in the process of developing a routine. I’ve spent the last month ramping up for the release of my new book, The Guardian’s Witch, this past July 1. So I am still trying to develop a routine. Please. Let me know if you have any ideas. I retired to write full-time in 2007...still figuring it all out! Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?   The most rewarding thing was to see the number of books that I sold and realize neither I (nor my family) had bought them all. Other people were buying and reading my stories! That is still amazing to me.My family supports each book I publish, but it is the strangers out there that make our careers. What do you see ahead in your writing career?I’m planning on writing two to three books a year as well as a short story to two. My friend gave me a license plate cover that says, “NY Times Best Selling Author in Training”. I would like make that more than a wish. I’d like to make that a reality.Me too! Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?I am a member of several RWA chapters. Each provides a wealth of information and friendship. One of the most exciting things I’ve found about writers is their willingness to help others and, as you do Nancy, pay-it-forward.  Interviewing authors is my way of helping, and I appreciate your thanks. Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? Don’t be discouraged. I know rejection can be painful but it a gauntlet we all go through. Never stop honing your craft. Read. Read. Read. And keep your critique partners close.  Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.1)Paul and I love to ballroom dance. We’ve done it in every room of the house.2)Working in international banking, I filled up my passport in two years.

3)One of my favorite places is a bench by the lighthouse at Pemaquid Point, MEAs a former New Englander, mine is on the rocks by the ubble Lighthouse in York, Maine. What’s next for you?For the immediate future I’ve also started a project with my critique partners. We’re writing a short story Christmas anthology that we will self-publish. I’m also working on follow up books to both Knight of Runes andThe Guardian’s Witch.       BOOK BLURB     England, 1290Lord Alex Stelton can't resist a challenge, especially one with a prize like this: protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and it's his. Desperate for land of his own, he'll do anything to win the estate—even enter a proxy marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch who lives there.

Feared and scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she'd never marry, but she is drawn to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great love with him but fears what he would think of her gift and her visions of a traitor in their midst.

Despite his own vow never to fall in love, Alex can't get the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind and is driven to protect her when attacks begin on the border. But as her visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it is she who must protect him. Realizing they'll secure their future only by facing the threat together, she must choose between keeping her magic a secret and losing the man she loves.Excerpt from The Guardian's WitchHis soft breath heated something deep inside her when he brought his face closer to hers. Her heart thundered with anticipation. His firm lips kissed her eyelids and advanced to her ear. Mine, he whispered. A delicious shudder pulsed through her body. He marched on to her lips and coaxed them open. His spicy scent swept over her. He captured his prize and swept in with his tongue in victory. Forever echoed in her head.

She blinked and the haze vanished. A jumble of confused thoughts and feelings assaulted her. Once again she stared into his magnetic eyes. Her lips throbbed with hunger for his. She dropped her lashes to hide her confusion. A dream? A wish? She’d never had such visions. She gave herself a shake to rid herself of the final images.

A little bit about the authorRuth A. Casie is a seasoned professional with more than 25 years of writing experience, but not necessarily writing romances. No, she’s been writing communication and marketing documents for a large corporation. Not too long ago, encouraged by her friends and family, she gave way to her inner muse, let her creative juices flow, and began writing a series of historical time-travel and historical fantasy romance novels. Her first release, KNIGHT OF RUNES finaled in NJRW’s Golden Heart for Best First Book. Her latest story, THE GUARDIAN’S WITCH, released July 1. Both books were published by Carina Press. When not writing you can find her home in Teaneck, New Jersey, reading, cooking, doing Sudoku and counted cross stitch.  Together with her husband Paul, they enjoy ballroom dancing and going to the theater.  Ruth and Paul have three grown children and two grandchildren.  They all thrive on spending time together.  It’s certainly a lively dinner table and they wouldn’t change it for the world. Ruth is President of the Board of Trustees of Shelter Our Sister (SOS), Bergen County’s shelter for victims of domestic violence.How can my readers buy your book?  Readers can find Ruth’s books at: Carina Press HERE     Amazon     Barnes and Noble       
You can find more information about me, Ruth A. Casie, and my book, The Guardian’s Witch at: WEBSITE            BLOG           Facebook
Twitter         Goodreads    Amazon Author Page   
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Nancy Lee Badger's Positive Quote of the Week

Blaze      Photo by Nancy Lee Badger"See into life…don’t just look at it."

Anne Baxter, Actor

This has been an awesome, busy, exciting week and I fully believe in Ms. Baxter's words. Despite the rainy days and tornado warnings, the sun finally peeked out long enough for my family to enjoy a delicious 4th of July celebration barbecue, visit the North Carolina Museum of Science, and have wine while listening to light jazz at the NC Museum of Art.

What made me think of Ms. Baxter's words? I opened my eyes to how wonderful life can be when you do what you love. I am a writer.

I am patiently waiting for My Reluctant Highlander to be made available in print (the ebook came out June 14th).

I am hustling to reformat Dragon's Curse so I can upload the novella everywhere (now that my publisher has return the rights to me).

I am looking forward to attending the Romance Writers of America conference in Atlanta. Who knows...maybe I will meet an agent looking for someone an unique as me! Or, maybe I will pitch to a publisher willing to take a chance on one of my manuscripts!

I do not plan to sit on my arse and dream...I am heading out to be part of life. Care to join me?

Nancy Lee

Enjoy Independance day, but Remember....

 

"A people... who are possessed of the spirit of commerce, who see and who will pursue their 
advantages may achieve almost anything."--

GEORGE WASHINGTON 


Back in 1776, many of our forefathers signed a document, then fought to become a free and independent nation. Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans.

Nancy Lee Badger, a proud Army Mom