The novelization of archaeology by Min Edwards

Hey, all. I’m Pam Headrick and I wear many hats… sometimes simultaneously. I also change my name at will. Today I’m speaking to you as Min Edwards, Romance and Adventure author. But in a past life, I was an archaeologist. I even have credentials: an MA from The University of Texas at Austin (and yes, The University of Texas is the correct way to refer to UT).

I worked several decades in my profession, doing a bit of field work but early on my professors and other archaeologists discovered my talent for illustration. In all those years affiliated with The University of Texas at Austin as a technical illustrator as well as a staff archaeologist at the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, I probably drew more than 2000 points and tools, shells, site plans, maps and stratigraphic images. Unlike most other archaeologists working from contract to contract, I was continuously employed, i.e. I actually made a living wage.

It was a good life for a single mother. The lab let me work on my own schedule, half a day at the facility, half a day in the office at my house. Full benefits, and if any of you have been employed by a university, you’ll know how good those benefits can be. I didn’t know it then, but now I realize what a great job I had. I could indulge in ‘what if’ thoughts about the past even as I was bent over my drafting table sketching a never-ending collection of archaeological wonders. But time marches on and eyes grow dim. Now I couldn’t draw a hundred foot tall tree much less a tiny ‘bird’ point less than an inch long.

Nevertheless, my time post-archaeology, has been fun, too. I was a bookstore owner, then a formatter when Amazon and other venues made it easy for indie-authors to self-publish. Then, of course, obviously one day I thought… “I can do this, too. I can write a novel.” So I did. Three years ago, I started publishing my own stories.

My debut novel, STONE BAY, was a bit auto-biographical: A Texas woman, bookstore owner, archaeological illustrator, moves to Maine to start her life anew. Yep, that was me writing as Min Edwards. However, after this first novel, I changed pace for a couple of years, writing a Romantic Suspense series: High Tide Suspense. I have three novels published in that series and a fourth in final edits. The threads that bind them together are a group of close friends living most of their lives in the small Downeast village of Stone Bay on the shores of the Bay of Fundy.

I’ve loved writing these: STONE COLD, STONE HEART, STONE FALL, and the newest, PRECIOUS STONE coming in the summer of 2016. But of them all, STONE BAY’s theme trends closest to archaeology. I’ll give you an excerpt in a moment.

But throughout my reading (am I’ve been an avid reader since I was six and won a prize in First Grade for the most books read in a year) and writing life, I’ve been searching for novels about finding the past, depicting archaeology accurately in a fictional story. When I read Jean Auel’s CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR, I felt like I’d found my passion anew. This is what I’d been looking for. An author who was unafraid, whose imagination put life into those stone tools I had been drawing for years.

Since then, I’ve solidified what I want to see in novelizing archaeology.

  • I want an author to understand the past, the cultures that are only present as small chips of stone, beams of hand-hewn wood buried under thousands of years of peat deposits or volcanic ash, long sunk ancient ships spilling hundreds of wine amphora from their cargo holds.
  • I want an author who searches out new theories, and they’re being championed at an increasingly fast rate. Theories of the migration of ancient people into the Americas, Australia, and Europe, theories of the truth of ancient legends. New dates for the onset of agriculture, ornamentation (cave painting, stone carving), writing and domestication of animals.
  • I want to see current technology at work, new methods of doing archaeology. Every month in the pages of Archaeology Magazine (the publication of the American Institute of Archaeology), you can read of fabulous finds, incredible technology, as well as tremendous destruction done to the remains of past cultures all over the world. That’s my first stop on researching a new story.
  • I don’t want a sermon in the novel on protecting our past. What I do want is instruction as to why it’s necessary, and how archaeologists ensure that our pasts are
  • I want a good story, engaging characters who work in often terrible conditions, face danger from man and beast, manage to protect the artifacts, and still have time to have a life and love around a campfire or in a tent. There’s a lot of that going on in real life, believe me.
  • What I don’t want is another Indiana Jones because that’s not what archaeologists today are… well most aren’t. The profession is exciting without stooping to whips and fedoras.

This all said, I’ve decided to join with a friend, L.W. Ellis and co-author a series of our own archaeological novels… the TARE: Talon Archaeological Research and Exploration series. Our first novel will be coming out in August, if all the stars align. THE RUBY EYE. The location is a very large body of water in northern Luzon, the Philippines: Lingayen Gulf. The plot involves finding a 300 year old British East India ship sunk in a storm. There are pirates, sharks, big snakes and recalcitrant governments… as well as the depiction of a contemporary Filipino village and its people, the most generous folks on earth. I know. I’ve stayed in several of these villages while living on Luzon. My only caveat: don’t pitch your tent under a coconut palm; those falling nuts can be lethal!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for research tidbits for this new series and for excerpts as we polish our stories:

Facebook Min Edwards: www.facebook.com/AuthorMinEdwards/

Facebook TARE series: www.facebook.com/TalonArcheo/

Twitter: twitter.com/medwardsauthor

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/minedwards/

Website: www.MinEdwards.com/

 

If you’re interested in archaeology, here’s a list of a few authors I have found sticking pretty close to the technology and theories of archaeology as it’s practiced today. There are more good novelists out there, but these are the ones I particularly enjoy:

  • David Gibbins (an English archaeologist and novelists with eight novels in the Jack Howard series beginning with Atlantis)
  • Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear (People of the Earth series)
  • Kirk Mitchell (southwestern archaeology)
  • Tony Hillerman and his daughter Anne (Mr. Hillerman has passed away, but his daughter took up his pen and is writing her own novels. They aren’t about archaeology so much as they’re mysteries with their main characters being Navaho Tribal police officers… an interesting subject in itself.)

Some good archaeology websites:

And here’s an excerpt from my first novel, STONE BAY. Some archaeology, some history, some technology, but mostly rehab of a house similar to mine — an 1830s Greek Revival farmhouse on the coast of Maine — and falling in love (which unfortunately hasn’t happened to me yet).

In this portion of the story, the heroine, Amanda, and her builder and love interest, Kevin, are in a cave previously hidden behind a rock wall in her cellar. A cave that holds a link to the War of 1812.

 

STONE BAY

StoneBay_3x4_2015

Kevin squatted beside the rock mound on the floor of the cave and carefully started to lift off the bigger stones. Underneath the top layer, he found cloth, a jacket it looked like. Then more bones, then a skull showing a large hole in the temple—probably the cause of death. Here he stopped. “Why don’t you men wait outside until Ms. Warner gets here? She should be in on this discovery since it’s on her property. Greg, could you go get her? I think she’s in the kitchen with Liz.”

A minute later Amanda rushed into the cave and stood over Kevin, who still crouched by the body—bones actually—and cloth. It had obviously been there a long time.

“Kevin, oh, how awful. What do you suppose killed him and when?” Amanda couldn’t look away. A phrase suddenly popped into her mind, I don’t want to die in the dark. She jumped back, startled, and looked around, but there was only Kevin kneeling by the body and Greg and the guys looking into the cave from the opening.

Kevin stood and seemed to lose his balance for a moment. He looked down at his feet as if he’d stumbled on a rock, but it wasn’t a rock under his boot, it was something wrapped in an old piece of oilcloth.

“Amanda, would you run upstairs and get your camera,” he murmured to her.

“Oh, yeah, a camera. Good idea. And put your measuring tape next to the bundle while I’m gone, please. You know, for scale.” She turned and rushed out of the cave.

When she came back only moments later, she hurried to his side, knelt and began taking a series of images from all angles.

“Okay, I’m done,” she said as she nodded to him. “You can pick it up now, but be careful. Try not to disturb the ground around it or any more of the rocks near the bones.”

Kevin carefully got down on his knees and picked the bundle up out of the rubble, gently dusting it off.

“What is it?” Amanda asked, touching his arm.

He slowly opened the cloth covering as Amanda snapped more pictures and there lay a small leather book.

“Oh my God,” she exclaimed. “Is that what I think it is? A journal? Like spies carry?”

 

BIO

ImageCroppedBest_6x6Min Edwards is the pen name of Archaeologist, former bookstore owner, and proprietor of A Thirsty Mind Book Design, Pam Headrick.

The Author has lived in many countries in her life: England, the Philippines, Cuba, Texas (yes, Texas thinks of itself as a separate country), gathering experiences for her writing along the way. She earned Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees from Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin in Anthropology/Archaeology with minors in Art, Geology, and Geography, but she spent her early career as an Archaeological Illustrator of some renown. Radically changing track in 2004 and opening an independent bookstore in an affluent community outside Austin, A Thirsty Mind Words & Wines (one of the first bookstore/wine bars in the country), started her on the road to careers in bookselling, eBook formatting and ultimately writing.

In 2011, she and Zach the dog moved to her small coastal property, Pheasant Cove Farm, in Downeast Maine. She continues her book design and writing careers in the office of her Greek Revival farmhouse surrounded by acres of woods populated with pheasant, moose, deer, raccoon, porcupine and the occasional weasel. She also enjoys her own private beach!

Her first novel, STONE BAY, a Contemporary Romance, was published in March of 2014. It was followed by the High Tide Suspense series, bringing danger to the small village of Stone Bay, Maine: STONE COLD, STONE HEART, STONE FALL, and PRECIOUS STONE (coming summer of 2016). In addition, this summer she and her co-author, L.W. Ellis are publishing Book 1 in their new archaeological adventure series, TARE: Talon Archaeological Research and Exploration… THE RUBY EYE.

 

Drop by her website often for updates:

www.MinEdwards.com

Come to Cutter’s Creek

A Cutter’s Creek Romance Series

I am excited to announce the creation of the sweet historical world of Cutter’s Creek, Montana. The authors started with a picture of a little red chapel in the hills and created the town around that sweet little building used for worship and weddings, funerals and festivals. It is a place of hiding and healing. Four authors have teamed up from across the globe to bring you stories of hope and love.

 

 

The first four novellas introduce you to the town, the Chapel, and its lovely characters. The characters you will meet may appear in future novels. There will be times the authors will all publish at once, and others when they publish a book singly, but each one will be carefully crafted for you to be transported to Cutter’s Creek and a new story of love, struggle, and romance. Some will be short, others will be full length novels.

 

 

The four Kellys covernovellas in this series are threaded together by a beautiful little red chapel nestled in the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, Cutter’s Creek, Montana. The heroine in each of these novellas finds solace inside the walls of the building and the God it was built to serve. The chapel is the center of town and is an important landmark to the residents of Cutter’s Creek. Its unusual red color has become a symbol that all are welcome. In the future, it won’t always take center stage, but it is in each of the introductory novellas.

Karis coverRomance seems just out of reach for these couples. At times, it’s as though they aren’t meant to be together. Sometimes, they’re too stubborn to see what’s right before their eyes. Each has a lesson to learn before they get the prize of happiness in love. These stand-alone, happily ever after stories will melt the coldest heart and make the disenchanted believe in love again.
 

Be sure to follow us on Amazon!

Vivi Holt Kit Morgan Annie Boone Kari Trumbo

 

When pantsing works by Mackenzie Crowne

To Win Her HeartWhen pantsing works…

As a pantser, my writing process involves a loose outline. I start a story with a beginning, a basic middle, and a good idea of how things will be resolved in the end. That usually includes the “dark moment” where everything falls apart, and the “big moment” when everything comes together again, but other than that, it’s a free-for-all.

The thing about flying by the seat of your pants is, when you get stuck, it’s a nightmare, but when it works properly, it’s a beautiful thing. My favorite part of writing are those moments when a character reveals an element I didn’t see coming and don’t understand. The best example I can think of to explain what I mean came in book 2 of my Players series. I stared at the page thinking, why would the hero smell like sawdust? He’s a pro wide receiver.

I moved on knowing I’d be taking that out later. Until the heroine got a call from her mother in a later chapter. She’d had this dream, you see, where she was dancing at the heroine’s wedding on a sawdust covered floor. Yeah, sawdust again. I quickly did a little research on sawdust in dreams. Bang! The element fit perfectly with the conflict between the heroine and her hero.

Spooky, huh? Yeah, for me too, but that’s how it works sometimes and this author isn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Blurb:

In order to protect her, they’ll both have to let their guards down…

ToWinHerHeartTour copyCountry music’s It Girl Jessi Tucker is fed up with her family’s stifling security measures. The threat of a dangerous stalker has gotten the men in her life—including her football star cousin, Tuck Tucker—monitoring her every move. To get the freedom she yearns for, Jessi hatches a plan to recruit Max Grayson, Tuck’s sexy brawler best friend, to play the role of her new boyfriend. But if her scheme works, will she be forced to hide her true romantic feelings for the sake of her independence? Or will she finally steal the heart of her dream man?

Max has been pining for Jessi for years and would do anything to protect her, but a professional cage fighter with too many skeletons in his closet has no business being with one of America’s sweethearts. Yet while Max does his best to keep Jessi at arm’s length, the Tucker family persuades him to accept her offer.
Max believes he can keep Jessi safe from danger, but can he shelter her from his own dark secrets, the media’s unforgiving spotlight—and a mutual desire that’s harder to resist each day?

AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
KOBO

GOOGLE PLAY

KENSINGTON BOOKS

Head shot 2014Mackenzie Crowne Bio

Wife, mother and really young grandmother, Mackenzie lives with her high school sweet heart husband, a neurotic Pomeranian, and a blind cat. She calls Phoenix home because the southwest feeds her soul. Though her friends claim she’s a princess, she disagrees. After all, one can’t raise two rambunctious boys to wonderful men without getting a little dirt under their nails. A lover of the romance genre, her resolve to share her stories with others was sharpened by a bout with breast cancer. Today she is an award-winning author and eight year survivor, living the dream. Her friends call her Mac. She hopes you will, too. Connect with her at http://mackenziecrowne.com, https://www.facebook.com/MackenzieCrowne and https://twitter.com/MacCrowne.

 

Rafflecopter Giveaway – Ebook To Win Her Heart
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Pursuing The Life of a Starving Artist with Delirious Delight (and a constant craving for chocolate) by Elaine Dodge

Harcourt's Mountain by Elaine Dodge - 500No matter what title I’ve held in any profession I’ve pursued, my sub-title has always been ‘starving artist’. This was in no way, let me assure you, a romantic title. Only poet’s think it’s romantic, but then they’ve been known to declaim the romantic allure of daffodils and lonely clouds. And as the majority of the romantic poets seem to have wafted through life amid the haze of opium fumes, one can’t really take their notions on being a starving artist with more than a pinch of salt. Not that a starving artist could spare salt for such trivialities as that.

My entire life’s ambition was to ‘make movies’. No one in Zimbabwe, certainly not my career guidance counsellor at school, even knew that film school, such a wondrous palace of dreams, even existed. They certainly didn’t in Africa. He suggested, even though I answered every question on the tediously long form with the blunt statement, “I want to make movies,” that I pursue ‘commercial art’. Schools really should be more careful when electing personnel to the rather lofty heights of career guidance councillor. ‘Commercial art’ hadn’t been called that for nigh-on twenty years when he gave me this sage piece of advice.

Nevertheless, the sage had spoken and my parents agreed. It helped that, after a brief foray into nursing to appease my mother – where I discovered the horrors of bedpans and the male surgical ward – our church choir master accepted a post at the local polytechnic in Harare in the Graphic Art department. It was but a hop and a skip to signing up for a three-year London City & Guilds Design for Print Diploma.

Unperturbed, well only a little, I threw myself into graphic design. I had, you see, a plan! ‘Top Gun’ had recently come out and I had heard, rightly or wrongly, that the director had once worked in advertising. Somehow, I was going to make movies, even if it meant slipping in through the back door artfully disguised as a graphic designer.

After a few years designing packaging for bacon, I threw in the towel and escaped on a two-and-a-half year jaunt around the world, on my own. A hideous nightmare for a confirmed introvert but, little did I know it, a wonderful source of scenes, atmosphere and location notes for a career well ahead in future.

When I returned to Zimbabwe to attend the weddings of various men in my family, I realised I needed to earn a living and once more resorted to the only thing I knew – graphic design.

A mere hand-span of years on, I was invited to join a company of designers, starvation having been held off thanks to dearest dad during that time. A few years later, that company was bought out by an advertising firm. The plan was starting to kick up a notch, albeit, only into first gear.

Rising through the ranks to Assistant Creative Director would, one would have thought, have increased my bank balance and made being a starving artist a thing of the past. One forgets that one lived in Zimbabwe, the land of the Trillion dollar note.

I was then offered a position as Creative Director in South Africa. I packed the cat and anything else that would fit into the car and headed towards the Antarctic. Johannesburg is a mere 7 342kms from the frozen wastes, but let’s not quibble. A year after arriving, my potential movie career was slammed into second gear when I was appointed Producer and Voice-over Artist on a reality TV show with a local television company.  Another hop, skip and jump and three years after that, I was Producer, Writer, and occasionally Director and Voice-over Artist with a wildlife TV production company working on more shark shows for Discovery and National Geographic than I previously thought possible. I mean, how much is there to say about sharks – they’re big, grey, swim in the sea and are rather fond of humans for lunch. Except, it turns out, they’re not remotely interested in humans until they discover one is quite tasty and conveniently already in their jaws.

Elaine Dodge 3Third gear. Soon, the movie career was going to happen soon. The starving part of being an artist was thankfully slipping into being no more than an old memory.

The one thing about living in Africa is that, despite the realities of life, everyone is unduly optimistic. It must be the sun and rather laissez-faire attitude that tends to prevail. There we were happily swimming with sharks, making award winning documentaries about the poor misunderstood creatures and the next – we’d all been retrenched. The company shrunk from fifty-five to eight overnight. It took a little while longer for my bank balance to go the same way but go it did, and I was once more among the elite – the starving artist elite.

However, by this time I had written my first novel, ‘Harcourt’s Mountain’. I had come to the stunning realisation that perhaps it wasn’t ‘making movies’ that held the ultimate allure for me, but rather ‘telling stories’.

So, now I pursue the role of starving artist with quite another goal ahead of me. I write copy for various companies in order to pay the rent and to support the new dream – being a novelist. It’s not too bad. I’ve gotten used to the garret. It has a spectacular view over the largest man-made forest in the world, which one doesn’t find too often, and which helps to sooth the soul as one wrestles with truculent plots. And if you’re looking for recipes for beans and rice, I’m your woman!

 

Blurb

Spring, 1867 – the western frontier of British Columbia hardly seems a likely place for romance. Filthy, terrified and confused, Hope Booker is waiting to be sold off the ‘bride ship’. Luke Harcourt happens upon the sale. It’s not love at first sight, but he feels compelled to save her from a life of slavery and prostitution. To allay her fears of being raped by him, Luke promises never to touch her. Being a man of his word, this is a pledge he quickly finds almost impossible to keep.

Battling their growing attraction to each other, they must learn to live together in the forests of the wild and almost unexplored mountains. They face white water, Indians, wolves, and dangerous men.

No longer able to deny their feelings, their ‘happy-ever-after’ is shattered when a corrupt land baron forces Luke’s hand. Enraged at the man’s actions, Luke rides into town and disappears.

Alone and pregnant Hope faces the prospect of the worst winter in ten years.  The trauma of fighting off a hungry grizzly brings on labor, but the baby is stuck. Luke, meanwhile wakes up on a ship bound for South America, captained by a revengeful sadist who means to murder him. Luke’s chances of survival are slim. Can he stay alive and make it back to Hope in time?

Excerpt

The street was so crowded Harcourt couldn’t get through. They came to a halt outside the brothel. With the bride ship in town it was a relatively quiet day for the girls of the Bright Star Saloon. They crowded the balcony watching the to-ings and fro-ings, calling out ribald remarks to men who had been customers only the night before.

A brightly coloured redhead spotted their wagon. “Mr. Harcourt has himself a bride,” she exclaimed in a sing-song voice. “Heard you paid a lot of money for her, Luke.”

“She doesn’t look like a lot of fun, Luke,” mocked a brassy blonde. “You could have had all of us for that amount of money, honey!”

“At the same time!” yelled the redhead. The girls screeched with laughter.

“Come on Luke, ditch the stuck-up bride and come and have some fun with Babette and the girls!” The blonde wriggled her hips invitingly.

Hope sagged a little beside him and Harcourt felt a blush surge up. He wasn’t sure if he was more embarrassed by the girls’ attention or the flush in his face. He expected Hope to say something. It would be the predictable response. She sat up a little straighter but stayed silent. That was a surprise. Clearly she’d decided discretion was the better part of valour. She shot a quick glance in his direction and then looked down at her hands.

He tipped his hat to the blowzy girls. “Afternoon ladies.”

“Oooh,” cooed the girls, giggling.

“Honey,” the blonde one called, leaning as far over as she could, her straining bodice barely holding her ample self from tumbling out. Hope realised the girl was talking to her. “You going to let that new man of yours come by and visit with us next time he’s in town? Or you going to keep him on a tight leash? We would hate to lose touch with a man we know so well.”

The other whores roared with laughter at her emphasis on the word touch.

Luke grinned up at them. “Now ladies, you might know my name, but that’s about all.” They immediately came up with a variety of ways they could get to know him. “It all sounds very intriguing,” he replied, “but I’m afraid I will have to decline, yet again.”

The blonde leaned out even further. “We’ll get you one day, Luke Harcourt.” The girls all laughed. A space had opened up; he flicked the reins, tipped his hat again at the whores and the cart pulled away.

Glancing over at Hope he saw a small curve flicker across her lips. Although she was trying hard not to smile at all, her laughing eyes gave her away the relief she obviously felt. He wasn’t sure why he’d wanted her to know he didn’t visit the Bright Star, but it had been a good idea. Even though they barely knew each other, Harcourt didn’t want her thinking he was the type of man who visited prostitutes.

 

Buy Links

Kindle US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EK0V2Y4/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Harcourts-Mountain-Elaine-Dodge-ebook/dp/B00EK0V2Y4

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/347550

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/fi/book/harcourts-mountain/id691811266

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/harcourt-s-mountain

 

Allied Operations by Tracy Tappan

ALLIED 72dpiI clearly remember the chilling phone call.

“There’s been a fatal helicopter crash in the squadron.”

My knees turn to water. I don’t end up collapsing to the floor, but only because my own husband is telling me the news, so he’s obviously okay. But someone else isn’t. And that’s blood-icing.

I grip the receiver. “Who?”

“Walt Hogan died, and Mark Eoff is in critical condition.”

My next breath is raw and burning. Tears leap to my eyes. I’ve never been an easy crier, but I cry now.

Mark! He and his wife, Tricia, live just down the street from me and my husband, Jeff. They are good friends—good people. I don’t know Walt too well, but his death is a profound loss to the entire squadron, and I feel that pall over the days to come.

Mark Eoff CruiseI want to reach out to Tricia right away, but she’s spending a lot of time at the hospital. Understandably—her husband is teetering on the verge of death. In fact, she’s told several times to prepare for the worst; Mark isn’t going to make it.

I finally manage to visit Tricia on one of her breaks home from the hospital. She isn’t crying when she opens the door to her house, but it’s clear she has been, and, well…we take one look at each other and both break down again.

I don’t remember exactly what we talked about that night. But I do recall a very clear thought; that Tricia was living through every pilot wife’s worst nightmare—her husband had been gravely injured in the line of duty.

We military wives deal with a lot of worry. When our husbands are deployed, we worry about them facing danger on a daily basis, and we live in constant fear of the CO showing up on our doorstep. I think aviator wives also suffer the added stress of knowing that every single time our husbands get into an aircraft, it could break.

That fateful day of Mark and Walt’s accident, something did break on their aircraft: a cable in the rear rotor blade wore through and failed. These two pilots didn’t do anything wrong, and yet a fine man died, and another one came frighteningly close.

Mark’s death would’ve be a cruel loss to the world. He’s a 6’3” teddy bear of a fellow, good-natured, with a dry wit, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard an unkind word come out of his mouth. Considering all that happened to Mark, it’s a miracle he made it through, but I’m thankful he did.

The crash Mark endured was one of the worst experiences of his life, but he is just the sort of generous soul who would openly share his experiences with me.

During the writing of my military romantic suspense, ALLIED OPERATIONS, Mark was kind enough to consult with me in order to help me make some of the more heart-wrenching scenes of my book as real as possible. I’m known for my stories of gritty realism, but I’m hoping that, with Mark’s guidance, I’ve created an immersive experience with ALLIED OPERATIONS that readers have never experienced before.

Tracy and Mark EoffTracy and Mark at a bbq at Tracy’s house in 2014

 

 

 

 

*         *          *

ALLIED OPERATIONS!

Book 2 in the Wings of Gold series is a standalone book.

In the fight to save four American hostages held deep in the harsh terrain of northern Pakistan, a newspaper reporter and a Navy pilot face off with a dangerous terrorist group…and each other!

 “I give this awesome Tracy Tappan novel a full five hearts for making me cry. Not just once, but multiple times!! Can’t wait for the next one!!”

~ Romance Authors that Rock

Buy Links –

 

Tracy Tappan pilot jacket 72dpiAbout the author

Tracy is the bestselling and award-winning author of gritty romance, her books spanning genres across paranormal (The Community series), military romantic suspense (The Wings of Gold series), and medieval historical (The Baron’s War trilogy). During nearly twenty-five years spent as a naval aviator’s wife, she lived all over the United States and in Europe, enjoying seven years overseas in the diplomatic community, first in Rome then in Madrid, until her family settled back in San Diego. Tracy holds a master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (MFCC), loves to play tennis, is a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and enjoys a good glass of wine.

If you want to be the first to know about Tracy’s new releases, specials, promotions, giveaways, and other fun stuff, please visit her website at www.tracytappan.com, where you can sign up to receive an author update whenever she has something cool going on.

 

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GUIDED TO WRITE by Caryn Moya Block

TrappedinShadow_Medium2Do you believe in ESP and Angels? I do. There’s a reason I write paranormal romance books. This is the story of how I became an author.

I love to write almost as much as I love to read. I had always wanted to write a book and put it out into the world until a college professor told me I’d never be good enough. So, I put that dream away even though I continued to write while following my husband who was in the Air Force around the world.

In late 2010, I joined a writing group who met once a month at the county library. I took workshops on writing and psychic healing modalities while working on my psychic gifts. I was recovering from an illness and financial difficulty and couldn’t work. Writing a novel became a “Bucket List” item, the fulfillment of a life-long dream. I worked on visualizing my success and believing in myself.

In early January 2011, I went to one of the healing workshops I liked to attend and announced that I was going to manifest the e-publishing of my book. I felt the energy come in and happily went on my way knowing that somehow I would bring this into the world.

I continued to write, and started volunteering with the Arts Foundation that sponsored the writing group, but I didn’t work on revising “Alpha’s Mate” (my first novel) much at all. I knew it was too short, but I wasn’t feeling anything coming in. I often get a dream or ‘get inspired’ by something that leads me to write.

In June, while serving on the board of the Arts Foundation, I met a woman who was also writing a book, a civil war historical fiction. We hit it off right away.

As we got to know each other, It came out that she was also psychic and a ghost hunter. I was excited to find someone who shared that other world and similar experiences. She mentioned that she was going to the Universal Light Expo in October. I hinted around that I would like to go, but she said “no” as it was to be a special trip for her and a girlfriend. I really felt like I was supposed to go with her, but I put it out of my mind. From attending workshops and learning more about the metaphysical world, I had realized that my number one spiritual gift is: knowing. However, I also feel you can’t push the Universe. Things will come when they come.

I got really busy with my volunteering. Suddenly, the holidays were looming and October was here. I received a call from my friend, who asked me if I wanted to go with her tomorrow to the Universal Light Expo. Her other friend became ill and had to cancel. Everything was already paid for I just needed money for food and souvenirs. My husband said he didn’t mind and we laughed when I said, “see I knew I was supposed to go.”

My friend suggested I get on-line to see the list of vendors and who offered readings. Once I choose someone I’d need to go to his or her location at the Expo and get on his or her list first thing when we arrived to get an appointment or miss my chance at one.

I agreed and went online. I found someone who looked interesting, checked out her website, took a chance, and emailed her for an appointment. She wrote me into her calendar and gave me a time in the afternoon. I had just saved myself from running around when we first arrived at the Expo and took the ease of scheduling to be a sign from the divine.

I packed my bags to have a grand adventure. I’d never been to Columbus, Ohio. But I love to travel and was excited about the opportunity. My friend and I drove through beautiful fall foliage and checked into a lovely suite downtown.

We went to the Expo the next day and had a great time. Afternoon came along and it was time for my reading with Judee. She used tarot cards to help focus her energy and asked me why I was getting a reading when I should be giving them. I explained that she was my ‘back up,’ so I’d know I was getting a clear message that wasn’t my ego talking.

She understood and pulled the first card.

“You have a book in your future, in fact, I see three books. But you are way behind. You should have the first one out already. I see you on roller-skates, so get ready things are going to happen quickly. The third book will make you famous. It’s supposed to be a self-help kind of book.”

My first reaction to her words was guilt. I’d been really lazy about getting “Alpha’s Mate” completed. The Universe had already given me the clue which book to publish first when, at a healing workshop, a lady told me she picked up the name “Violet,” the heroine in “Alpha’s Mate.” I decided right then I needed to get to work and publish my book like I’d said I would.

Then I thought about the non-fiction book comment. I’d never written non-fiction before except for term papers in college. How was I supposed to know what to write? I decided that Judee misinterpreted the message. I was focused on “Alpha’s Mate.”

When we returned home I pulled up “Alpha’s Mate” and set to writing. I added some foreshadowing, wrote a new scene, and reworked others, and finally the word count was up to 41,000. The book was done and I gave it to friends to read. Everyone loved it.

I joined an author’s support group called “Selling Your Novel Idea.” I started researching different e-publishing sites. I asked my friends in the writer’s group for advice and I asked the authors in the support group for advice. I was in high gear and flying.

I started researching how to format the book and how to convert it into the different E-publishing files. My friend and mentor told me which sites she used. I researched the fine print. Did they charge a fee up front? Did they charge you an annual fee? Remember, I didn’t have a lot of money I could use to pay someone else to do this for me. It took me hours to get through all the small print.

I consulted my friends about the energies of the New Year. I was really feeling led to release the book on New Year’s Day 2012. They talked about the energy of Capricorn and stuff I really didn’t know much about. But these were my friends and I knew they would steer me in the right direction. So, it looked like New Year’s Day was the day to publish.

The morning dawns brightly. Here we were at the beginning of 2012. I went to Amazon to upload the book and their site was having technical work done. I started to panic. Was I doing something wrong? Nope, it was just that Amazon thought people had better things to do than upload books on New Year’s Day.

So I went to Smashwords and uploaded there. Everything went through smoothly. No errors were found. I uploaded my picture and bio to the site and gave a sigh of relief that at least my book was up on one site.

We drove to my son’s apartment to celebrate New Years and watch the Rose Parade on TV. I took my little HP mini and the flash drive with my book files. I really didn’t want to miss this release day. I knew I needed to get this book out today. I had this sense of urgency that I was behind and I needed to get this done.

I tried Amazon and the site was still down. So, I watched the Rose Parade and visited with my daughter-in-law. She’d received a Kindle for Christmas and wanted to be the first to download my book.

Finally, after the parade was over, I was able to get the book to upload on Amazon without a problem. I’d priced it at ninety-nine cents since I was an unknown author.

I’d never thought past that point. I was so proud of myself for getting it done. I realized how the Universe had helped me and pushed me to get it out there. I sent emails to all my friends and family. Then I put a notification on Facebook with the links. One of my beta readers put notices on her Facebook page and on her reader’s group page. I was in business.

I gave a huge sigh of happiness and release. I accomplished my goal, which I had been working on for two years. I gave myself a pat on the back and did a happy dance. Two hours later my daughter-in-law downloaded the book onto her Kindle. It was official I was an author.

The rest of January I researched and learned how to put a website up on WordPress and started a blog, which I titled “Moon-Kissed.” I watched the other authors in my genre and I knew that marketing meant getting your name out there and making a connection with your readers.

My husband and I celebrated when I broke into Amazon’s top 5000. I wasn’t expecting anything, so each new step forward was a reason to celebrate. I kept reading online about how to market a book. My author’s support group gave me ideas. My writers group celebrated my success. The book moved to 1028 on the Amazon list and then 125.

All the messages I kept getting from my angels were “Yes, you’re on the right track. Good things are coming. You’re going to get your heart’s desire.”

Now, I write three different paranormal romance series and I am just about to release my second book for psychic kids. I probably wouldn’t have done it at all if my Angels and the universe hadn’t pushed me.

For information please visit CarynMoyaBlock.com

Coming April 25, 2016

 

Trapped In Shadow

Book Four in the Shadow Walker Tribe Romance Series

Stacey Johnson is all about secrets. She’s an operative for the government and kills people on command. Love has no place in her life. Even when she dreams about Hugh Thunder Hoof, the one man who makes her wish for a different lifestyle. With him she can believe that happy endings are possible.

Hugh Thunder Hoof, Shadow Walker, left the service after being injured. Now he walks with a slight limp. The one thing he still craves from that crazy lifestyle is his last partner, Stacey Johnson. When she shows up in his life five years later, he thinks he’ll finally get his wish. But Stacey isn’t going to make it easy on him and once again when the mission is finished she disappears. Only this time, he’s going after her.

Excerpt:

“Target is entering the building. Mission is a go, Stinger.”

Stinger readied the poison ring and nonchalantly walked across the lobby of the five star hotel. The marble floors bounced the light of the crystal chandeliers illuminating the room in a warm glow. Her stiletto heels clicked out a message of death with each step. The noise blended with the conversations of the movers and shakers of Washington D.C. who mingled with upper class tourists and visiting international dignitaries.

Tonight, she went by the name of Linda Howell. Her cover being a starlet that just had her big break. A bright red wig covered her normally blond hair and her outfit dripped trè chic.

Her target, a South American arms dealer selling to America’s enemies, walked in the door. With a jolt, Stinger was surprised to see a small girl holding the man’s hand. She skipped to keep up with the large stride of the adult, her dark curls bouncing with every step. Nobody mentioned a child in the mission briefing, only a spouse the target had eliminated. The little girl looked to be around six, the same age Stinger was when covert agents murdered her mother.

“What’s with the little girl?” she whispered through the two-way radio piece in her ear, signaling her partner waiting outside.

Amazon Link:  http://amzn.com/B01D6NA95S

_DSF0008BIO:

Caryn Moya Block burst onto the paranormal romance scene with her debut e-book Alpha’s Mate in January of 2012, which won the “Global Ebook Award for 2012” in contemporary romance. She was also named one of the “Top 50 Indie Authors for April 2012” from E-Reader Reviews. A Siberian Werewolf in Paris was chosen as a finalist in the 2014 RomCon.com Readers’ Choice Awards in the paranormal category.

Caryn has continued to write, giving her readers three different series to choose from,  The Shadow Walkers Romance Series, The Witch Guardian Romance Series, and the very popular, Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Series.

She also has two children’s books published under the pen name Caryn Block and has her new adult non-fiction book, “Joy, My Journey of Awakening.”

Caryn loves romantic movies and stories that end “Happily Ever After.” She is an avid reader and writer who lives in the Virginia Piedmont. Her pack consists of her husband of more than thirty years, two grown sons, two beautiful daughters-in-law, and two granddaughters, as well as a cat, a turtle, and three Shetland sheepdogs. She suffers from “Multiple Sheltie Syndrome,” because one is never enough. After seeing her first ghost when she was three, she has been intrigued with the paranormal. She would love to hear from you at: CarynMoyaBlock@gmail.com

Or sign up for her newsletter at: http://carynmoyablock.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/

How I Bring Frontier Romance to Life: Tons of Research by Shirleen Davies

ShirleenDavies_ColinsQuest800One of the reasons I love historical novels is they transport the reader to another world in a way no contemporary story can—no matter how compelling. Reading a good historical romance is like going back in time. The period adds a lush, delicious layer to the escapism we all love to get from a captivating romance book.

There’s another side to writing historicals. A side that is less dreamy and more an intellectual challenge and constant labor of love for me as the writer. Research.

In order for escapism to work, there has to be detail. There has to be accuracy. The whole setup must be seamlessly convincing, full and rich, an intimate glimpse into our nation’s history and into the hearts and lives of the people who lived back then. How does a writer know about life on the frontier? Or how the people spoke or how they managed their chores? How would a writer even know what the chores were?

The answer is research—endless, constant research. When I’m writing an historical novel, I research before I start and continue checking sources throughout the development of the story. Both of these are important to the final product.

There are certain events I know I’ll have to research. Because the period of western expansion was one of rapid change, I always confirm political and geographical facts of the particular time period and location where my stories are set.

Some questions repeat themselves:

What parts of the country were settled during the period of the story? How regions were divided and what were the boundaries? What laws governed the people? Were there any specific, common known events that took place around the time period?

A settler’s journey westward can be as big a part of the story as a character’s life once they’ve reached the west, making the hardships of travel another substantial research topic. It certainly required a lot of my attention while I was writing Colin’s Quest! I started writing with the basic facts. As the story developed, I continued to research until I found the detail needed to create an accurate picture of easterners traveling west by wagon train.

I spent some time in college studying American history, which gave me a good knowledge base. As I’ve written and researched more and more, I’ve built on that knowledge. However, like anything else, I can always learn more.

When I write a romance, I need details that make the setting come alive. A readers expects to know how women’s clothes looked from one end of the country to the other, how a man protected his family from danger, and know how people expressed themselves. What were their social lives like? How would a young family have outfitted their kitchen? What did their cookware and dishes look like?

It’s these details I have to catch, correct, and fact-check as I’m writing. Sometimes I find myself backtracking because what first appears to be a simple factual error. I would be lying if I said this wasn’t challenging.

The great aspect about research is it builds on itself, and the process is a skill you can hone as a writer. Every time I create a story, every time I make and correct a mistake, I’ve learned for the next book. I use several resources over and over again, which are a godsend when I’m researching.

Here are a few of my favorites from my quick, convenient resource cheat sheet.

Webster’s Dictionary: I use two editions of the dictionary to check my word choice. For historicals, I always check the Webster’s 1828 online dictionary first. http://webstersdictionary1828.com  If a word appears in this resource, I’m comfortable using it. The second is the current Webster’s online edition. The modern edition of Webster’s will often offer the approximate date of first usage.

www.HistoricalTidbits.blogspot.com: This blog is great for looking up whatever topic comes to mind during the creation of a story. The blog is authored by Lynn Coleman, a fellow historical novelist, so it’s no wonder the information she chooses to feature is so interesting and useful to me.

www.USHist.com: This is one of the resources I use to learn about period clothing. This site sells highly accurate, custom-made reproductions of frontier clothing, and is chock full of information and pictures of the everyday items of 19th century life. These folks are good enough that museums buy their wares!

Redwood’s Medical Edge http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com  Let’s all take a moment to thank our lucky stars we don’t live with the medicine of the 19th century. Illness and injury are facts of life, and were even more so on the tough western frontier. This blog is dedicated to “Medical Fact for your Fiction” and has several posts about 1860s medicine. Some of it is pretty grisly, but interesting once you stop squirming in your chair.

www.IdiomSite.com: This one isn’t specifically historical, but it is helpful when a phrase is on the tip of my tongue.

Conner Prairie Interactive Park www.connerprairie.org This is a great resource for learning about the daily lives of women and families on the frontier. It is organized by a non-profit with a physical site in Indiana. There is plenty of helpful information and pictures on their website for writers or those who are simply curious.

I’ve enjoyed putting this post together and hope you find the information useful—as a reader or a writer!

Colin’s Quest, Book One, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Historical Western Romance Series

For An Undying Love…

When Colin MacLaren headed west on a wagon train, he hoped to find adventure and perhaps a little danger in untamed California. He never expected to meet the girl he would love forever. He also never expected her to be the daughter of his family’s age-old enemy, but Sarah was a MacGregor and the anger he anticipated soon became a reality. Her father would not be swayed, vehemently refusing to allow marriage to a MacLaren.

Time Has No Effect…

Forced apart for five years, Sarah never forgot Colin—nor did she give up on his promise to come for her. Carrying the brooch he gave her as proof of their secret betrothal, she scans the trail from California, waiting for Colin to claim her. Unfortunately, her father has other plans.

And Enemies Hold No Power.

Nothing can stop Colin from locating Sarah. Not outlaws, runaways, or miles of difficult trails. However, reuniting is only the beginning. Together they must find the courage to fight the men who would keep them apart—and conquer the challenge of uniting two independent hearts.

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Excerpt:

Colin lowered himself next to Sarah, letting their thighs touch as he ran his hands through his hair, squeezing out the moisture. Lowering his hands, he turned toward her, his heart swelling at the look of adoration in her eyes.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered so no one else could hear, grasping her hand in his. “We have to talk.”

“I know, but how? Da doesn’t let me get more than a few feet away from the wagon.” She threaded her fingers through his and squeezed.

“Everyone will be busy for the next two days, cleaning up after the storm, searching for lost animals, and repairing wagons. Your da can’t watch you every minute. We’ll find a way.” He leaned toward her, wishing he could brush his lips across hers. He’d kissed her for a brief moment once and couldn’t forget the taste of her. He had no intention of ever forgetting.

“Robena, Sarah, are you in there?”

Sarah’s frightened eyes locked on Colin at the sound of her father’s voice. Without thought, he leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek before launching himself out the front of the wagon as the back flap flew open.

 

Colin’s Quest Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016C4QH3Q

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1048224779

GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ENm7CgAAQBAJ

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016C4QH3Q

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/colins-quest-maclarens-of-boundary-mountain-historical-western-romance-series-book-1-shirleen-davies/1123025452?ean=2940158072673

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=Colin%27s+Quest

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27786636-colin-s-quest

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/598492

 

dsc_0254_0120 cropped -SM useAmazon Author Page Information and General Bio for Books

Shirleen Davies writes romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance.  She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.

 

Shirleen loves to hear from her readers.

Write to her at:  shirleen@shirleendavies.com

Visit her website:   http://www.shirleendavies.com

Check out her book: http://www.shirleendavies.com/books.html

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New release! When Love Conquers Time

WLCT 4 Book Banner (1)

Nancy Lee Badger has banded together with three other talented authors to create a boxed set released on March 2nd. The collection, When Love Conquers Time, contains over 1,000 pages of time travel romances set from the 14th century to the late 20th century.  Kilted Highlanders, shape-shifters, vampires, pirates, dragons, soldiers, and more will give readers hours of adventurous reading. Here are the Book blurbs:

MORAG’S TEARS (Celtic Storm Series Book 5) by Ria Cantrell

Step back in time to the beautiful Highlands of Scotland in the 14th century. Come and sit with us by the warm peat fire as Morag, the much loved character from Ria Cantrell’s bestselling Celtic Storm series tells the story of her life. From a child, gifted in the ancient ways, to a beautiful young woman in love, Morag weaves her rich tapestry of tales. She is a mystical seer, healer, manipulator of time and chatelaine to the clan MacCollum. You will feel as if you are walking alongside her on her life’s journey. Share her tears of joy as well as a few sad ones, as she recounts the triumphs and tribulations of a long life filled with love in its many guises.

SEA PANTHER by Dawn Marie Hamilton

Can love mend a fractured soul? After evading arrest for Jacobite activities, Scottish nobleman Robert MacLachlan turns privateer. A Caribbean Voodoo priestess curses him to an eternal existence as a vampire shifter torn between the dual natures of a Florida panther and an immortal blood-thirsting man. For centuries, he seeks to reverse the black magic whilst maintaining his honor. Cruising the twenty-first century Atlantic, he becomes shorthanded to sail his 90-foot yacht, Sea Panther. The last thing he wants is a female crewmember and the call of her blood.
Although she swore never to sail again after her father died in a sailing accident, Kimberly Scot answers the captain’s crew wanted ad to escape a hit man. She’s lost everything, her fiancé, her job, and most of her money, along with money belonging to her ex-clients. A taste of Kimberly’s blood convinces Robert she is the one woman who can claim the panther’s heart. To break the curse, they travel back in time to where it all began—Jamaica 1715.

MY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER by Nancy Lee Badger

Skye Gunn could not prevent her husband’s death, and will risk everything to defeat the sorcerer she blames. When he attacks her nephew, she is taken, instead. She escapes by plunging into the North Sea, and a spell takes her back to the future, to Jake. The woman who haunted his dreams since she blackmailed him into traveling back in time falls from the sky, beaten and bloody. He must trust her as they return to ancient Scotland. To survive, he and Skye must dare to love in the time they have.

REFLECTIONS OF LOVE by Paul A. Crust
As a result of a head injury suffered in the Gulf War, antiques dealer, Jason Hobbs is the victim of total amnesia. After investing a great deal of time and money trying to unlock his past, he has resigned himself to the fact that he may never fully know his own true identity. Life goes on and in the course of his business Jason acquires an old dresser with an oval mirror among a shipment of antique pieces from England. That same evening, strange images start to appear, reflected in the old mirror, and the mournful sound of a woman weeping can be heard, echoing through the night air. As he searches for answers to the mysterious events which began the day the dresser came into his possession, the past and present collide, bringing events from World War 1 crashing to his doorstep. A shocking revelation will rock his world, changing his perception of who he really is.

When Love Conquers Time NEWESTWhen Love Conquers Time, a four-author boxed set, is available at AMAZON for only $.99 (Free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers)

Also available HERE for Amazon UK Readers

Learn more about the authors:

 Morag’s Tears by Ria Cantrell:  Facebook Twitter

Sea Panther by Dawn Marie Hamilton:  Facebook Twitter

My Reluctant Highlander by Nancy Lee Badger: Website  Facebook

Reflections of Love  by Paul A. Crust:  Facebook

JUST ONE FRIEND — How it came about By June Shaw

 

photo (3)Some people ask why I changed from selling mysteries—a series of humorous mysteries with romance and a suspense—to creating work in other genres. Here is how that came to be.

My eight-year-old granddaughter asked me to. Sweet Claire asked if I’d hurry and finish my latest mystery and write a book with her. How could I say no? What kind of book would you like to write? I asked but she didn’t know. I thought about it and discussed my ideas with her, and we came up with How to Take Care of Your Pet Ghost. The publishers I was selling to only did mysteries, and we couldn’t wait since she was so young. That’s why I ventured into self-publishing. We have a fun book for young children that Claire helped sell at various places (giving hard stares at anyone who passed by without buying our book.) She bought an iPad with her first earnings and has earned a lot of extra cash since then.

And then my mother died. She was an amazing who went to college and became a businesswoman way before her time (Mom was born in 1906.) Widowed at an early age, she pressed on with outstanding values, and when she was aged seventy, started dating. That made her way fun to be with. She exercised and lost weight and danced all evening until a month before she passed on—at the age of 102—and a half. She told everyone that half really counted once a person reached 100. She also told a man who asked her, when she was 95, how she looked so amazing and did she take many pills. “One,” she said, and when he asked what for, Mom looked at me and then told the man, “Birth control.”

Mom’s favorite dances were The Freeze and Macarena, and everybody insisted I write a book about her. They wanted to know her secrets—exercises, foods, attitudes….. I wanted to have it out while so many people still remembered her, so again I self-published. That book, which many have called extremely inspirational, is called Nora 102 ½: A Lesson on Aging Well.

Awhile after that, my teen granddaughters Brooke and Caroline, who are sisters, asked to write a book with me. “Do you just want money, or do you really want to write a book?” I asked, and both assured me they thought writing a book would be fun. They were avid readers, and we all loved the Hunger Games books. Thus my latest work was born.

Just One Friend takes place after warfare destroyed most of the country, and only one area exists where it’s known that people can survive. Because of limited resources and space, the Leader decreed that each person can have only one friend. A lonely teenage girl believes things should be otherwise. If she is wrong, she and someone very dear to her will meet with a horrible death.

Our book has done well and received excellent reviews. Thanks for letting me share my writing voyage thus far. I hope you’ll check out my (our) work.          June                        www.juneshaw.com

Nancy Lee Badger and Medieval Redemption

11219233_10206939397275869_601120718873488373_nToday I am sharing an awesome collaboration between myself and three other talented authors. We banded together to create a boxed set that is taking the world by storm. The book, Medieval Redemption, contains over 1,000 pages of bad boys from ancient times, and the women who redeem them.  Here is the Book Blurb for My Banished Highlander, my contribution to this boxed set:

When his clan convicts Cameron Robeson of treason in 1598 Scotland, the last thing he thought his cousin the Laird would do was banish him to the future. With a certain woman on his mind, he plans revenge.

Iona Mackenzie is worried about her friend, Haven, and searches for answers among the tents at the present-day Highland games. Whom can she trust to help? The tall, golden-haired Highlander?

When a magical amulet and an angry sorcerer send this unlikely couple back through time, more than one heart will be broken. Danger, intrigue, and threats surround them, and feelings between Iona and Cameron grow hot and steamy. With a letter in her hand and a Highlander at her back, what could go wrong?

My Banished Highlander Excerpt (PG-13)

Iona leaned in and kissed Jake on the mouth. Cameron blinked. A roar thundered through the tent’s small space, and the bundle hit the ground. His vision wavered as his feet moved toward the couple. He shoved Iona away, then grabbed Jake.

Iona screamed.

Jake coughed, and gasped for air.

Cameron stared at fingers circling the blacksmith’s neck. The man’s eye’s bulged, while the odor of sweat and leather scented the air. Cameron sensed someone at his elbow, and when small hands gripped his, and pulled, he growled.

“Let go,” she whispered.

Iona’s flowery fragrance suddenly filled Cameron’s nostrils, stamping out the earthy, manly scents. Her voice snapped him out of his trance. He glared at her and then at her fingers that tugged at his circling Jake’s throat.

Cameron let go. Jake collapsed into Iona’s arms, and he turned away from her concerned expression for the lad. Cameron stomped from the tent.

“Cameron! Wait!”

He stopped against his will, his legs aching to continue, and waited for her to catch up. When she stood beside him, with the swell of her breasts rising and falling with her every breath, he thought stunning. The urge to do more than simply look was overpowering. Instead, he bit the inside of his mouth, grabbed her by the wrist, and started down the hill.

Medieval Redemption, a four-author boxed set, was released November 13th and includes over 1.000 pages. It is available at AMAZON for only $.99 (Free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers) The titles include:

12227065_10207831382279796_6721532942349321384_nThe Honor of a Highlander by April Holthaus:  Blog  Facebook

Celtic Fury by Ria Cantrell: Twitter  Facebook

My Banished Highlander by Nancy Lee Badger: Website  Facebook

Gavril of Aquina by Aurrora St. James: Website  Facebook

More About Nancy Lee Badger

After growing up in Huntington, New York, award-winning author Nancy Lee Badger attended

College in New Hampshire, married, and raised two sons in a small town in the shadow of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. She is the proud mother of an Army veteran. She moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, the Celtic Heart Romance Writers, and the Triangle Association of Freelancers. Nancy and her family volunteer each fall at the New Hampshire Highland Games surrounded by…kilts! Contact Nancy Lee Badger here…

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