Nancy Lee Badger's Blog

 

CHECK OUT MY STORY  

NEIGHBORLY LOVE 

IN THIS FUNDRAISING ANTHOLOGY

just released by the Writing Group

TRIANGLE ASSOCIATION 

of FREELANCERS (aka TAF)

Istep out onto my back deck. The leafless trees cannot disguise the monstrositybehind my small cottage. The four-level structure leers down at my property,but I am getting used to it. I bought the cottage for a bargain during the bigbuilding’s construction. The former owner knew what was going up.

I’d prepared forthis. My bedroom and den have thick, room darkening, navy-blue curtains. Noise isanother bother. If I leave windows or my back screen door open for air flow, Ihear cars in the parking garage beneath the structure. Worse, car alarms blareat all hours.

As if on cue, analarm blasts, nearly making me spill coffee on my slacks.

“I am a writer,y’all! Have a heart and keep the noise level down!” Yelling into the wind makesme feel better, but it wouldn’t accomplish much.

The alarm stops.

“About time!” Takinga deep breath, I sit at my deck’s table. As I think about whether or not Ishould bring my laptop outside, or return to my claustrophobic den, a voiceanswers.

“Sorry, sir. Imust have hit the alarm button instead of the lock. My car be new and this bloodyfob be verra’ weird.”

I pause.

The woman with alovely accent sounds young, but I can’t see her through the windowless walls ofthe parking garage. Never mind, she worked her magic and quiet has resumed.

Sipping my coffee,I think about my new book. The decision to write a Scottish historical novelcame out of left field. Mom reminded me last month of our Scottish ancestry,although our ancestors emigrated centuries earlier. I feel American, notScottish. However, a visceral need to write a novel with a Scottish theme hit meone night, so here I sit wondering how to approach it.

Watching movieslike Braveheart and episodes of Outlander isn’t enough. My niecemade me sit through the animated Brave movie. They all gave me a senseof Highland life, but not enough to write an outline.

“Yebe looking deep in thought, but I again wish to apologize for the rude noise.Will ye forgive me?”

I choke on my coffee.

 Get your copy today and check out the stories, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as poetry, from over 30 members as they raise funds to keep the organization striving to help its members achieve their writing goals. TAF is 

501(c)(3) nonprofit group of professional freelance writers primarily based in the Triangle region of North Carolina.
Print VersionsAMAZON     AMAZON AU
Barnes Noble PRINT   BAM
Quail Ridge Books   Powells
*********************************
Amazon Ebook   Amazon AU
Amazon CA   Amazon UK
APPLE   KOBO
********************************** and many other Buy Links HERE
Happy reading!Nancy Lee Badger

On September 18th, the Triangle Association of Freelancers , based in the Raleigh North Carolina area, is releasing another anthology that will raise funds for our non-profit group. The print version is available at AMAZON and will be found in other places as well. 

It was a dream job - until I got hit in the head with a pickle. . . My dress-up shoes are pinching my toes. . . Mississippi Mamaw muscadine jelly biscuits for breakfast, and the fried bologna on the white wonder for lunch. . . Life can be this frightening sometimes. . . "Where are we?" she asks with anxious uncertainty. . . The queen called. . . Sir John FitzAlan drew a slow breath against the pain in his half-healed side. . . Mandy crunches on thinly packed snow with her powder blue hiking boots on the rocky, semi trodden path. . . ."Where do you plan to travel next?". . .Jagged bolts of lightning flashed across the sky. . . The wind shakes the empty trees. . .These opening sentences lead you into a reading experience you've never known before! Words from fictional stories, essays, memories, and poetry; each has its own unique offering. Do you dare to step inside the mind of another? Are you up for the challenge? This wide array of selections will tickle you, entice you, and satisfy your thirst for the written word and hidden messages unveiled. An omnibus that makes you wonder, brings tears, laughter, shakes your head and makes you think deep thoughts. It's a great read!   252 Pages!

 

...and made my 95 year old mother sick, who then shared it with me. Unfortunately, complications took her from us on September 1, 2025. 

She was a wonderful woman and will be missed. Here is our family get-together on July 4th 2025. By July 24th she was sick with covid and pneumonia.

Seize the day, folks! You never know when someone will suddenly be gone. Love you always, Mom!

Renée Filippucci-Kotz is a writer friend of mine, here in Raleigh, North Carolina. She stopped by to share her latest children's book, Mark of the Dragon . The colorful cover and pages filled with fun are available now!

Book Blurb: 

As Willow approached her thirteenth birthday,a mysterious mark appeared on the palm of her right hand. Not long after itsappearance, Willow received life-altering news. This news sends her off on ajourney full of adventure, danger, and portals to another world. Along the way,she encounters fantastic creatures with untold secrets and ancient wisdom whowill forever change her life.

Excerpt:

Jagged bolts of lightning flashed acrossthe sky. The wind screamed like a demon, the rain came so hard it strippedleaves from the trees, and the earth rumbled. Then, at the exact moment Willow was born,the storm ceased. It wasn’t so much the storm gradually faded away; it simplystopped. The clouds disappeared, and the full moon shone brightly.

Thirteenyears have passed since the night of the storm, yet it was forever etched inthe townspeople’s memory.Even now, the townspeople spoke of it with a mix of awe and fear, their voiceshushed as if the storm itself might hear them. They whispered about Willow'sbirth during such an intense gale, some even calling her cursed or blessed,depending on their beliefs. Her mama explained it was because some people weresuperstitious about her being born the night of such a fierce storm. And eventhough she didn't fully understand why, Willow always felt set apart from thosearound her.

Renée has been telling stories to children since she started babysitting at the age of 11. She is the author of three chapter books: AJ’s Wish, Pepper’s Misadventure, which received honorable mention in Shoal, the Literary Journal of the Carteret Writers, and Mystery at Camp Piney Woods. 

In addition, she has published four picture books: Booker and the Stinky Smell, Smokey and Clover the Runaway Goat, Cody to the Rescue, and Katie’s New Home. She lives with her husband in central North Carolina.

Learn more about the author, 

Renée Filippucci-Kotz here:

Books By Renee     Facebook

Check it out! Great summer reading! 

Here are the Buy Links:

Amazon       Amazon AU

Amazon UK    Barnes and Noble  

Amazon Print

 Let's start my Christmas in July SALE with a book I love dearly... .

RESCUING CHRISTMAS

What's the book about?
A Manhattan businessman in a Vermont ditch meets a muddy female firefighter. No snow since November might ruin the town’s annual fire department fundraiser. Can Elinor and Bradley stop their squabbling long enough to Rescue Christmas?

Ebook now $.99 (US) and Print Book $14.99 (US)
Audio Book $9.99 (US)
Find all Buy Links HERE
***********************************************

Changing gears...The Earl's Treasure is the first book in my Treasure Tales series and it takes place in the bitter snows of Scotland:
After Stone is wounded and thrust into an earldom, and Adele is widowed by an abusive husband, these star-crossed childhood friends meet at an English country ball, escape a kidnapper searching for a treasure, and depart for Scotland ahead of those intent on killing anyone in their way.

Ebook now $.99 (US) and Print Book $14.99 (US)
Find all Buy Links for this and
all my other titles HERE


Happy July!
Nancy Lee Badger

The beach? The mountains? A foreign country? There are many choices, even if funds are few. 

'Vacationing in Place' is a concept many take to heart. Turn off the phone, make some cool beverages, and find time to read.

Check out all my novels. Ebooks and print copies.Find all Buy Links HERE

Enjoy!

Nancy Lee Badger

Technically, summer starts June 20th but the weather around here in Raleigh, North Carolina sure feels like summer. Temps are over 90, storms threaten every afternoon, and flowers succumb to the appetite of the deer. The local power company powers down our A/C when black-outs are possible, and we have already had a couple of power outages. My shower is pretty dark when the lights go out!

Through it all hubby and I sit back and remember our first apartment. No A/C, no control on the temperature (the thermostat was in the lower apartment), no A/C in any of our cars, and it was usual for camp lanterns and flashlights to be close-at-hand.

The difference? We married and set up our first home in New Hampshire. The mountain breezes and nearby rivers of cool, clean water, as well as lakes and hiking trails made our summers a treat. Vacationing in nearby Canada or a trip to the Dover coast for lobster made for a great life. Forty-nine years later, we manage it all...together.

What do you do to survive the weather that seems to have turned worse across our country? We are NOT looking forward to possibly 13 or more hurricanes. These massive storms are unpredictable. Only 4 hours west of us, the towns of Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Asheville, Bat Cave, Chimney Rock and many more were nearly destroyed only nine months ago. 

Find your flashlights and heed the warnings, 

but try to enjoy SUMMER! 

(Don't forget your summer reading...)

Nancy Lee Badger

 Happy, Happy Friday the 13th!

Although I was not born in North Carolina, I have come to love this part of our fabulous country. After traipsing around the state, mostly using recommendations by my sisters who had relocated here years before, I discovered the North Carolina Museum of Art. It swept me away and when its 164 acres brought me to the open-air Rodin Garden, I was hooked. Huge statues by the sculptor, Auguste Rodin, made ideas swim in my writer's mind. The result?

The Warriors in Bronze series.

Published April 15: HEAVEN-SENT WARRIOR

Asleep inside abronze statue, a naked Frenchman wakes a century later to save a half-Fae, museumcurator from a demon bent on ruling our present-day world.

Published May 15: HEAVEN-SENT HIGHLANDER

To be Published June 15: HEAVEN-SENT FLAME

These books are available in ebook and print.

Find all Buy Links

HERE

The beginning of summer is right around the corner, so these books make great 'beach reads.' Will you consider adding one to your beach chair?

Nancy Lee Badger 

p.s. Happy Father's Day June 15, 2025

p.s. Happy birthday to our son, Eric, born on Father's Day many years ago (when it was June 16th)

 

Although I was not born in North Carolina, I have come to love this part of our fabulous country. After traipsing around the state, mostly using recommendations by my sisters who had relocated here years before, I discovered the North Carolina Museum of Art. It swept me away and when its 164 acres brought me to the open-air Rodin Garden, I was hooked. Huge statues by the sculptor, Auguste Rodin, made ideas swim in my writer's mind. The result?

The Warriors in Bronze series.

Published April 15: HEAVEN-SENT WARRIOR

Asleep inside abronze statue, a naked Frenchman wakes a century later to save a half-Fae, museumcurator from a demon bent on ruling our present-day world.

Published May 15: HEAVEN-SENT HIGHLANDER

To be Published June 15: HEAVEN-SENT FLAME

These books are available in ebook and print.

Find all Buy Links

HERE

The beginning of summer is right around the corner, so these books make great 'beach reads.' Will you consider adding one to your beach chair?

Nancy Lee Badger 

p.s. Happy Father's Day June 15, 2025

p.s. Happy birthday to our son, Eric, born on Father's Day many years ago (when it was June 16th)

It is one month since I released the book Heaven-Sent Warrior, the 1st book in my Warriors in Bronze paranormal romance series. 

This 2nd book in the trilogy, titled Heaven-Sent Highlander, takes the story in a new direction with a Scottish hero and a demon with a personal vendetta.

Here is the plot: 

Alexander awoke in darkness inside a bronzestatue. Remembering how the green of Scotland’s Culloden field had turned redwith blood and bodies that day in 1746, had he died before awakening nude andsightless in front of strangers in present-day Raleigh, North Carolina? Themystery of how was overshadowed by why. Told that another warrior awoke when ademon threatened to take over the world, had a second demon escaped Hell?

Training with swords and wooden staffs againsta powerful Fae warrior is difficult at best and blurry vision made theexperience intense. When the demon appears and demands Gwen join him, Alex mustuse all his new skills and Heaven-sent powers to keep her and the worldsafe. 

The book is available in ebook and Print. Find all Buy Links HERE 

Thanks for reading!

Nancy Lee Badger