Nancy Lee Badger's Blog, page 64

Win Nancy Lee Badger's DRAGON....

While researching the poetry of Robert Frost to use in my soon-to-be-released book, MY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER, I wondered if my readers would question why an American poet's work was quoted in a Scottish time travel romance.

First of all, my hero is a present-day American Blacksmith. A farrier, who shoes horses, and who finds himself back in 1603 Scotland. When we first met him, in the 1st book in the Highland Games Through Time series, he was leaning against a tree at the New England Highland Games, secretly reading a book of Robert Frost poetry.

Jake Jamison is my 'hero' in book #3, so I thought a little poetry would work. My research found several poems no long under copyright protection, and I chose a few lines of one that is dear to my heart...so much so, that the title of this blog is loosely named after it.

Can you guess the poem's title? If you know it, leave your answer and email address in a comment for a chance to
WIN A PRIZESince I do not yet have a cover for my newest book, above is a photo of the prize: a gorgeous double-sided window sticker of Keltic Dragons by Jan Delyth.

Who doesn't love dragons? Do you? Then you will love these books (as well as MY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER)
Dragon In The Mist     Dragon's Curse                                                               Southern Fried Dragon

Drawing will be Friday May 24, 2013. GOOD LUCK!

Nancy Lee

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews author Kaylie Austen

Joining me is author Kaylie Austen. Her book, Hellhound, is a paranormal mystery/suspense and was released on May 1st.
Welcome Kaylie! I am glad you could stop by during your whirlwind of a blog tour! Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

Thank you for having me! Hellhound is the story of Selene, aka the Hellhound, and her struggle with breaking away from her pre-ordained life. She’s a Mythian, a direct descendant of Greek Gods, and her powerful bloodlines dictate that she marry another firstborn of Elders to become part of the ruling council that will one day take the world back from mortals. The problem? She hates being told what to do, when to do it, and who to marry. She’d rather cave into her darker side than to be brought into the light, literally (she absorbs power through the moonlight while the Elders soak energy from the sun).
Selene takes the bold step of mating with a tracker, a class beneath her. Demetrius shows her the world and how to hunt. With her prized weapon, he names her the Hellhound to the clans of Mythos. Things are shaky, but Selene’s entire world turns upside down when her father and intended, Nathanial, are found dead. All eyes focus on Demetrius. The evidence mounts against him. And, since Selene is now a huntress, the council gives her the order to bring in her accused lover. A race against time to find the truth, the Hellhound must work quickly to outwit super-human archers, shape-shifting sentinels, the cerebral chamber of the muses, and a deceitful council before she’s forced to annihilate her lover.
I can relate to 'breaking away' in order to be happy. Describe the genre of this particular title, and is this the only genre you write in?   Hellhound is a blend of several genres: Paranormal, mystery, suspense, and romance. I also write dark fantasy, science fiction, and contemporary in both adult and YA.What is your writing routine like? I don’t have a routine, per say. Ideas flood into my head, storylines form, dialogue crops up, and I have to get it all down before it consumes me. It’s actually quite hectic in my head during a writing episode. I type fast, between 500-10,000 words a day, usually in the afternoon and evening. I spend weeks on editing, revising before sending the manuscript to beta readers. I’ll obsess a little longer before sending it out, and even then, I always find something to change or tweak with every read thereafter. I type fast, but spelling and grammer cause headaches for me! Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?  To have people tell me, or write reviews, about how much they loved the story. That’s a great feeling to know someone enjoyed my work.    I agree! Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?  I know it sounds generic and every author says it, but it’s true. Never give up. If you try to give up writing, and the words keep coming, then you know you’re destined to be a writer. During all this writing, read and learn the craft. Always continue to grow.What’s next for you? This month I will be participating in an exciting month-long blog tour with giveaways, although truth be told, I’m a bit tempted to keep those prizes for myself. As far as novels go, I have a deliciously disturbing YA dark fantasy coming out later this year.BOOK BLURBSelene is the Hellhound, a powerful and ruthless descendant of the Greek gods. She is bound by tradition and tied by bloodlines to lead her people against the mortals. Although she is arranged to marry Nathanial, she falls for Demetrius, the self-professed Black Angel, and things take a bitter twist. When she stumbles across the corpses of her father and Nathanial, all eyes move in on Demetrius. Selene must take the assignment to hunt down her accused lover. Facing the untrustworthy cerebral chamber, powerful shape-shifting sentinels, superhuman archers, and a deceitful Council, the Hellhound must work quickly to uncover the truth before she is forced to annihilate her lover. Excerpt from Hellhound
  I stepped over the threshold. The doors closed behind me with an echo that bounced against thick interior walls. I stood as close to the doors as possible in the empty, twelve-foot, circular chamber. The smooth, metal walls were bare, dark. One, small light to my left illuminated the room, and cast odd shadows in the distance.   The ancient muses lived in our domicile, trapped in this chamber for the purpose of the Council. They materialized from thin air. Dense, colored particles gave the appearance of solid flesh cloaked in cloth, similar to a hologram.   I hated giving them my memories. No one should know them except me, but relinquishing them proved I was not a criminal.   The cloth-like façade covered their faces. The woman in the middle stepped forward.     “Welcome, Selene.”   “We recognize you anywhere,” another spoke.   Their majestic voices echoed, creating a haunting ripple of sound.      I swallowed. “Let’s get this over with.”   All three smirked and rushed into me at once. I gasped as their force slammed me against the door. For the most part, they dissipated into air, but a small portion passed through my skull and entered my brain. I dropped to my knees and cradled my head between curled fingers. With my teeth clenched, jaw tight, and eyes pressed, I rocked on my haunches.   The muses moved across my thoughts, creating a vicious headache as they replicated memories and stored them in the chamber.  My body heat rose. Sweat beads tickled as they slid down my flesh. My breathing escalated until my lungs hurt, my chest burned. I thought my head might explode, as if my brain throbbed, pounded against bone. Heavy breathing turned into muffled whimpers. Panting turned into hissing. Just when I lost self-control, just before screaming, the pain vanished. The muses disappeared and took with them everything I knew.How can my readers buy your book? 
Online stores such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble   Readers can go to the publisher’s home page at http://worldcastlepublishing.com  MORE ABOUT THE AUTHORKaylie Austen was born in India and raised in Austin, Texas where she attended the University of Texas. Her multi-cultural upbringing fueled her desire for languages, cultures, and travel. Kaylie is perhaps best known for her sudden and infectious laugh. She enjoys anything science fiction and fantasy related, and writes in both genres for adults and young adults. She currently lives in beautiful Washington State with an amazing husband. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to contact her. You can find more information about Kaylie Austen and her book, Hellhound, at WEBSITE      BLOG      Twitter    Facebook      Goodreads a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nancy Lee Badger-POSITIVE QUOTE for Mother's Day

The author's sons, over twenty years ago, in Rumney, New Hampshire. Time is fleeting! “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.–Mary Dunbar, artist  As an artist, romance writer, and mom to two adult men, I will enjoy the weekend knowing I have been blessed. Though we may be separated by distance, I love y'all (and you too, Mom)  Nancy Lee

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Michelle Garren Flye

Michelle Garren Flye has come to visit! Her book, Close Up Magic is a contemporary romance and will be released June 1.

Please tell my readers a little bit about your book. 
Thanks for having me here, Nancy. Close Up Magic is the first book of my contemporary romance series Sleight of Hand. Each book in the Sleight of Hand series will feature a magician as either the hero or heroine. The hero for Close Up Magic, for instance, is Andre Hawke, who is a mishmash of every magician I’ve ever seen perform a card trick in my life. I have always admired magicians. Everybody from David Copperfield and Lance Burton to Ricky Jay to the magician I hired to perform at my kid’s birthday party. The whole idea of magic just makes me happy, so I guess it’s a natural progression to want to write about it.I use ancient magic, especially the use of herbs and potions, in some of my books. Describe the genre of this particular title, and is it the only genre you write in?  
Close Up Magic is a contemporary romance, and yes, it’s pretty much the only genre I currently write in, although sometimes I cross the thin line into women’s fiction. I tried to write scifi, fantasy, horror and even (gasp!) literary fiction for a long time, but finally had to admit I had more fun writing romance than anything else. When did you start writing toward publication?  I guess I really started writing toward publishing fiction after my son was born thirteen years ago. I had always written short stories and some other crap that wasn’t worth being published, but after he was born, I got serious about it. I joined an online writing group (zoetrope.com) and got some amazing feedback that really improved my writing, and probably kept me from succumbing to mommy blues during those first years of being a mother. In fact, one of my novels, Weeds and Flowers, was written during that time, and I totally credit some of my online writing buddies with how well it turned out.
Children can be a great catalyst. I started really writing the month my son returned from a tour in Iraq. Why have you become a published author?   I love this question because it hits at the very heart of what I feel marks the difference between a career writer and a hobbyist. Validation. I’m not afraid to ask for it. At first I thought I needed a publisher or an agent to give it to me, but I’ve since realized that there’s only one group of people I need to hear from: readers. I publish because I want readers to read what I write. That, in my opinion, is the validation that all career writers seek. Of course, I realize you can be an excellent writer and never publish. But if you want to make a career out of it, you have to have that hunger for validation from your readers.I agree! Do you have any rejection stories to share?Rejection is too painful, really, to share. You can’t take it to heart, but you have to or you’re not going to get anywhere. Close Up Magic, for instance, was rejected. When I got the rejection, I decided to go the self-publishing route because I believe in the story, and I think the market is ready for it now, not six months to a year from now, which is what would happen if I submitted to another publisher. Of course, since it’s the beginning of a series, that means I’m deciding to go the self-publishing route for the whole shebang, so I may not get any more rejections for a while. Talk about a silver lining!I have tried it both ways. It is good to have publishing choices. What is your writing routine like? Wish I had one! Especially right now. I’m itching to get back to writing, even though I’m having lots of fun with promoting Close Up Magic. But between three kids, two dogs, volunteering and a husband, I usually am only able to squeeze in a half hour or so of writing. I’m hoping it’ll get better next year when my youngest goes to kindergarten and I am able to schedule my volunteer work around my writing time. Speaking of time sucks, what sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?I use Twitter extensively, and I’ve started a Facebook page for Close Up Magic where I’m posting tidbits about magic that I’ve learned in my research (https://www.facebook.com/CloseUpMagicFlye). Rachel Simeone of ZetaBlue Marketing has been a huge help in learning my way around social media websites. I also have a blog (http://michellegflye.com), and I’m currently running a contest over there for a Kindle Paperwhite. And next month I kick off a virtual book tour for Close Up Magic with the help of Goddess Fish Promotions. Of course, I have wonderful friends and fellow writers like you who help me out from time to time, too!Gee, thanks! What’s next for you? Right now, I’m working on Island Magic, Book 2 of the Sleight of Hand series, but I think my next release will be Saturday Love, the sequel to my contemporary romance/women’s fiction novel Ducks in a Row. It’s already written and in the process of being edited.
BOOK BLURBReporter Stacey Matthewson has made a living writing sensational stories that knock celebrities off their pedestals. Now she's got a hot lead on an even hotter magician who's mystifying Las Vegas with his new show--the problem is, she's had a crush on him for years. How can she write a story that might ruin him, especially when he proves himself to be so much more than she'd ever dreamed?  



Magician Andre Hawke has a knack for making things disappear, but when it comes to his brother's drinking and gambling, he's got a problem. Hiring the sexy reporter who threatens to blow away his carefully wrought illusion might be the answer to his problems...or she might bring on a whole new set of them.   
Stacey’s never believed in magic, and Andre doesn’t know who to trust anymore. Can passion overcome their inhibitions, or will betrayal stem the tide of love?
Excerpt Andre caught up to her, wheeled around and started walking backward in front of her. He was amazingly nimble on his feet, able to avoid oncoming traffic without even glancing over his shoulder. Stacey shook her head. “Don’t you think you need to watch where you’re going?”“Why?” He shrugged. “I can never see it until it’s past anyway. Most people can’t.”She rolled her eyes. “I had no idea kissing made you philosophical.”He tsked. “Kissing makes me horny. Lifemakes me philosophical.”He was starting to get on her nerves. “Get over it, Andre. So we made out. We got carried away, that’s all.”“I think it was more than that…for at least one of us.” His words teased her, but she wouldn’t ask him which one of them he was talking about. He kept walking backward, and this time, he was heading directly toward another man--a very large one--walking toward them. Stacey opened her mouth to say something but before she could, he’d walked directly into the other man, almost as if he’d intended to do it. He laughed out loud, catching himself by putting his arms around her. He glanced over at the large man, breaking off his embrace of Stacey to turn and shake his hand. “Thank you! That was perfect. Sorry about that, I’m trying to make a point, though, and you just did it very effectively.”He turned back to Stacey. “You say you never saw it coming. I say we never see things coming. I mean, look at this particular incident. I was walking backward, couldn’t possibly have seen him, right? But what’s his excuse?”MORE ABOUT THE AUTHORMichelle Garren Flye is the award-winning romance author of five novels. Reviewers have described her work as: “an engaging novel with charming and likable characters”, a story that “will make you believe in love and second chances”, and a “well-written and thought-provoking novel.”
Michelle placed third in the Hyperink Romance Writing Contest for her short story “Life After”. Her short stories have been published by the romance anthology Foreign Affairs, Opium.com, SmokelongQuarterly.com and Flashquake.com. She has served on the editorial staffs of Horror Library Volume 1, Horror Library Volume 3, Butcher Shop Quartet, Butcher Shop Quartet II and Tattered Souls.
Michelle has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is the mother of three and lives in North Carolina with her husband and their rapidly growing collection of pets.How can my readers buy your book?  Close Up Magic will go on sale June 1, 2013 on Amazon.com. In the meantime, you can check out the PREVIEW Keep up with the latest news on the Close Up Magic Facebook page  You can find more information about Michelle Garren Flye and her book, Close Up Magic by visiting: WEBSITE       TWITTER       FACEBOOK      Amazon Author Central

Nancy Lee Badger's Positive Quote of the Week

Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dare to win.-Bernadette Devlin, political activist

Check out that dark blue wallpaper and formica counterNo, I am not a political activist, but the words hold special meaning to me. This past week has been exciting, upsetting, uplifting, and expensive.

Why did they put knobs in the middle of the doors? Also, only half the sink worked.We have lived in this house for five years, and the kitchen has been an eyesore far longer. We bit the bullet and ordered a new countertop and sink from HOME DEPOT.

THAT was the easy part.

The cabinets needed to get a fresh coat of white paint, which I was perfectly capable of doing. HOWEVER, the doorknobs situated IN THE MIDDLE OF EACH DOOR. had to go, and the white paint needed to be stripped from the hinges.


Deconstruction was fun (but, I left the house)My son, Eric, came to my rescue.

He removed the knobs and stripped the hinges. He puttied the old holes, and I painted all the cabinets. In the meantime, a plumber came in and disconected the ancient sink, useless faucet, and disgusting garbage disposal. 

Hubby and son made quick work of removing the old sink and countertop (circa 1977). 4 days later, the counter and sink were installed, but the house was filled with the horrid smell of glue. I took the boys to lunch as we aired the place out.

Silestone Quartz Countertop in Blue SaharaThe next day, the plumber returned and connected my sink and dishwasher back up (same horrid glue smell), and I was able to finally use it. Joy! Rapture! Clean hands! Washed dishes!

The struggle to choose the countertop, painting the cabinets, painting over the old wallpaper, paying for everything, and having limited use of a kitchen for 5 days was worth it.

I still need to choose a backsplash, but my kitchen works!I agree with Ms. Devlin's quote: I struggled, but I won!

Nancy Lee

EARTH DAY APRIL 2013

A very happy Earth Day to my readers and their families. I hope the sun is shining and the weather stays clear and dry. Rodin Garden, NC Museum of Art-photo by Nancy Lee Badger

But if rain is in the forecast, may your flowers grow!
Nancy Lee

More About Dragons by Nancy Lee Badger

Here I am, talking about Dragons, again. These legendary creatures are typically pictured as having serpent-like or reptilian traits. Dragons are featured in the myths of cultures spanning the globe. Today, I will concentrate on the mythological dragons of Scotland.

Buy hereOne story, dear to my heart, revolves around the most famous dragon of Scotland: the Loch Ness Monster. Nessie is classified as a dragon, even though many assume it is a leftover dinosaur or lake fish that has grown to gigantic proportions.  

Tales of Nessie date from the sixth century. Here is one story I researched: When Saint Columba traveled through the country of the Picts, he had to cross the River Ness. He came across Picts burying a man said to have been bitten by the water-monster. Not a stupid man, Columba ordered one of his men to swim across and return with a boat. The chosen man, Lugneus Mocumin swam off, but the monster saw him and charged. All on shore stood in horror except Columba, who raised his holy hand and inscribed the Cross in the air. He called upon the name of God and commanded the beast, saying, “Go no further! Do not touch the man! Go back at once!” The monster drew back, retreating to the depths of the Loch. Unharmed, Lugneus brought the boat back. Everyone was astonished. The heathen savages who witnessed the miracle were overcome and came to know the magnificence of the God of the Christians. 

Buy hereNessie and Loch Ness are the most famous tourist attractions in Scotland and the locals will tell you about the mythical sea creature that some have actually seen in modern times and is probably a stranded dragon. Dragons have found their way into many modern books and movies. Shape shifters are a modern day paranormal storyline and several authors have used dragon lore to create stories to entertain us all.
 
I love dragons, and find their inclusion in my stories a necessity at times. Dragon in the Mist is a short story based on the Loch Ness Monster. My current work-in-progress includes a dragon. Watch for My Reluctant Highlander , the third book in the Highland Games Through Time series (due out this summer!)
 

For more information concerning dragons and dragon lore, check your local library, book store, or these websites:
http://theserenedragon.net
http://www.monstropedia.org

                          Nancy
 

Southern Fried Dragon eBook available FREE

To commemorate the beginning of the American Civil War that started April 13, 1861, (152 years ago) I am offering my novella, SOUTHERN FRIED DRAGON, for FREE at Amazon...
April 13th to April 17th.

My husband and I visited Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, down in South Carolina, and toured the museum. I was inspired to write a book.

Could I write a romance set during war without demeaning the sacrifices of those affected by what had occurred? 

Walking through the fort, I viewed with awe the crumbled walls, missing floors, left-behind cannons, walls showing the remnants of spent shells, and the eerie silence.

As a writer, I put myself in my characters’ shoes. What job would a single woman hold in 1861 Charleston? How could I make her history include living as a dragon in Scotland? What reason would I use for her coming to America? What kind of hero would sweep her off her feet? Once I made him a federal officer, how would they meet and how would he survive when war broke out?

I used what I learned from visiting Fort Sumter National Monument as well as books on the Civil War. The freedom to create a paranormal historical set on American soil tainted by the strive of what many still call The War Between the States or the War of Northern Aggression was a task I did not take lightly.  The resulting paranormal love story I titled

SOUTHERN FRIED DRAGON  The best part? My novella is FREE at Amazon until April 17th
*please make sure your purchase says 'FREE' and not just free to Prime Members

BOOK BLURBAmid cannon fire, and the threat of Civil War, love and trust will find a way.

Dru Little flew away from her home in a cave beneath a Scottish Island to end her lonely existence and find companionship across the sea. Her journey in late 1860 has led her to the modern American city of Charleston, South Carolina. Hiding her true self, she takes over the life of a serving girl and enjoys the hard life working in a tavern near the wharves. She has no idea that her life will turn upside down in a dark alley the moment a handsome soldier saves her life.

Lieutenant Shaw Stenhouse has his own worries. Southern secessionists are talking up a storm in Charleston. His fellow Federal soldiers are suddenly at risk from the community they are here to protect. The possibility of civil war takes a backseat when he saves a comely lass from drunken sailors. A good deed and a stolen kiss put a smile on his face until the threat of war becomes a reality. Their instant attraction proves disastrous when Dru spots her former lover, the Black Dragon, working for General Beauregard and the southern troops. As the clandestine group plans their attack on Fort Sumter, and Shaw’s soldiers, she takes to the sky.

former cover Feb 2012Dru fights against the threat of detection, while she fears losing Shaw’s love. What will he do when he finds out that she is a powerful Scottish dragon Hell-bent on carrying him to safety? When Shaw discovers her hiding inside the heavily guarded fortress, thoughts of espionage—and worse—catapult the two lovers into danger from many sides.
When her former lover threatens Shaw, Dru must decide which is more important: protecting another of her kind, now nearly extinct, or protecting the human male, the man she has come to love.

Enjoy,
Nancy Lee

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews author Sandy Loyd

Author Sandy LoydVisiting author, Sandy Loyd, has shared some wonderful answers to my questions. Her book, A Matter of Trust, is a romantic suspense and was released on February 18, 2013Do you have any rejection stories to share?
 
The first book I ever wrote, back before I even knew RWA or writing organizations existed, I sent out five queries with partials to agents I researched. I received three personal replies even though I had no idea what that meant. One in particular said she liked several elements but it wasn’t strong enough. I had no idea what that meant either (still don’t). What wasn’t strong enough? The writing or the story? But at the bottom off the letter was a PS that mentioned something along the lines that sample chapters should be the first three chapters. I’d sent the first chapter, a middle chapter and the ending chapter. To this day I still laugh over my ignorance. The further into the process I got, the more I realized just how ignorant I was. The business is vast and always changing.

I understand about ignorance. Before joining RWA, I entered a scene from my manuscript in a writing contest. The judges all said I was 'head hopping', the first time I heard the term. I was so embarrased! On a brighter note, do you see writing as a career?
 
Yes. I never considered myself as a writer. It seemed like something that was hard to do. But I’ve always read, and like most authors, I love the written word. One day I didn’t like what I was reading and wasn’t happy with the books out there, so I challenged myself to do better. Of course, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I wasn’t prepared for all that creating a good story involves. It takes more than talent and skill. It takes just doing it and then lots and lots of classes and workshops and then when you think you have it exactly right ready to send off to an editor, you realize there is still more work to do on it to make it marketable. It’s more than a career. It’s a lifestyle. I love it.  Thanks to the changes in publishing, I can run my career and stories the way I want to. To date I have written fourteen books and self-published eight of them – four contemporary romances and four romantic suspenses. A Matter of Trust is the first romantic suspense I wrote and it is one of my favorites. It has action and a scary premise, but the characters have fun finding out the answers. Basically I wrote this for myself. It’s packed with all the things I love, including plenty of twists, but mostly it focuses on the romance.  Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.
 I love cats. I have two. My last was a scrawny kitten that no one wanted. I rescued her from a life spent in a cage while waiting to be adopted.
 My cat, Blaze, was a foster cat that stayed. He is a 14# orange tabby who is happiest at my elbow while I write.
 Second fact, I’m an avid skier, both snow skiing and
waterskiing. Although, I must admit, I don’t do it as much as I used to. I still love it, especially snow skiing. Being up in the mountains in the winter where the air is clear and the forest covered in snow is awesome.
 I learned when I was in 9th grade then choose a college because it was close to a ski area. Loved it.
 The third fact is that I lived in Germany for two years back when I was in the army – a long, long time ago. That was a cultural education in itself and one experience I will always treasure.
 Visiting my hubby's German friends, who he met when his dad was stationed there, is on my bucket list. 
 What do you see ahead in your writing career?

I have several books left to write in my series, both for my contemporary books and my romantic suspenses. It just takes time and the muse has to be willing. Right now, I’m working to publish books I wrote while on my journey to being published. When you’re going it alone like I am, it means working on every aspect of the finished product. I need to have the books edited, formatted and then I have to come with ideas for covers. Then comes the promotional part. Letting people know they exist is probably the hardest part about writing.

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

I swear by writing organizations. I belong to too many to count. RWA, Louisville Romance Writers, Utah Romance Writers, From the Heart Romance Writers, Kiss of Death, and Central Ohio Fiction writers. They are a writer’s toolkit. Local chapters offer meetings where there is always a workshop or a speaker to learn about craft. Online chapters offer plenty of classes too. Then there are the contests that can help hone skill. Everything I need is available through these organizations, including friendship with people who understand me.  
 What’s next for you?

I’m working on revisions for a time travel where the heroine goes back in time to 1874 in Louisville Kentucky, just before the creation of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. It’s another one of my favorites. It has a strong message about love and friendship and I love both the hero and the heroine. I wrote it early on, so it really needs work, but I’m whipping into shape.  Hopefully, it will be out at the end of May or the beginning of June.

BOOK BLURB for A Matter Of Trust.
Tired of living in fear of an abusive ex-husband, Cat Tyler is taking charge of her life by learning to fly. Unfortunately, she discovers what true fear really is when her cross-country flight ends in a forced landing. Now she’s trapped in the Montana wilderness with her flight instructor, Josh Buchannan—a jerk who’s been riding her butt since she first stepped into the cockpit.  She definitely doesn’t like the attraction that has sprung up between them. Worse, someone is trying to kill them.

Josh doesn’t wait to find out why they’ve become a target—or who’s behind it. Instinct takes over and Josh spirits Cat away to safety.  Yet, while on the run, he discovers that an incident from his past, one he’s tried to forget, connects him to Cat.  He was in charge of a failed mission in which her parents lost their lives.  Is this her twisted way of getting revenge? Josh can’t trust Cat, but he protects her as they narrowly escape fiery graves, not once but twice. 

Unwittingly, the two are fighting more than trust or attraction.  An unknown terrorist cell has unleashed its secret weapon—a human Trojan horse—which gives a new meaning to terror. 

As Cat and Josh struggle to stay alive, their trust in each other is threatened at every turn. Josh senses Cat’s somehow involved in this mess and works doubly hard to keep his attraction to her under control.  Still, he craves her belief in his innocence, impossible once she discovers the truth about his involvement in her parents’ deaths.

As they work together to uncover the plot that threatens western civilization, they must come to grips with the past in order to create a relationship built on mutual trust in the future.

A little bit about the author: 
I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, but left after high school to see the world. In my earlier life, before I started writing, I was a sales rep for a major manufacturer and I traveled a great deal. I was able to live and work in some fabulous places in the US, including South Florida.  I’ve met a lot of people and have seen a lot of places, which is a good thing because I now have a million stored memories to draw from for my novels.  I currentlylive in Kentucky and am able to write full time since I’ve recently become an empty-nester.  But I’ll always be a western girl at heart, so I try to get back to the Wasatch Mountains every year to renew my muse. 
I have published eight books so far – four contemporary romances and four romantic suspenses. I write what I love. All my stories have plenty of twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. My suspenses are more like an edgy cozy mystery filled with romance. My characters have fun and my voice is lighter and more humorous than dark and gloomy. My latest romantic suspense, A Matter Of Trust, is one of my favorites. The characters interactions are entertaining. It’s a good mystery and has plenty of action along with romance.   How can my readers buy your book?   Links to A Matter of Trust: Amazon          iTunes        NOOK You can find more information about Sandy Loydand all her books by visiting: WEBSITE       TWITTER       FACEBOOK  

NATIONAL TARTAN DAY & WEEK

  Tartan Parade photo by Nancy Lee Badger
What is this you ask? Americans of Scottish descent are important citizens of the United States of America. Many clansmen and their families helped in the development of the United States. From the framers of the Declaration of Independence to the first man on the moon, Scottish-Americans have contributed in many aspects. I heard that there are more than eleven million Americans who claim Scottish and Scotch-Irish roots -- making them the eighth largest ethnic group in the United States.

For their contribution, these people and their accomplishments are honored on National Tartan Day, April 6th, which many communities stretch into NATIONAL TARTAN WEEK. Enjoy a bit of plaid!


The author and her husband wearing the MacBean Tartan

Nancy Lee