DRAGONS Descend on Orlando

I am leaving soon to attend my second Romance Writers of America annual conference. Last year, I took the train along with fellow local chapter members. We met in Washington, DC. with over 1,000 other writers; hopefulls, newly published, and NY Times best sellers, to perfect our craft and rub elbows. The experience was awesome and a bit frightening. I wore my ‘First Timers’ ribbon uneasily. At my age? And among all these strangers who probably knew a lot more about the publishing business than me.

This year, we are meeting in Orlando, Florida. We had  planned on Nashville, TN but flooding damaged the convention center, so there you go. I am driving part way to my roomie’s home then heading down, three of us in her minivan. This year I will proudly wear a ‘First Sale’ribbon! I have also signed up for some volunteer duties and will represent my chapter at the Chapter Leadership meeting.

I hope to meet several members of two on-line RWA chapters. Speaking via e-mails and in chat rooms will have more appeal once I can put faces to names. I hope to talk about kilts and Scottish dragons with members of the Celtic Heart Romance Writers. I will share paranormal story plots with members of the Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers.

I have had two e-books books released in the last month. One is a contemporary romance (under the pen name Nancy Lennea) and the other is my debut Scottish historical paranormal. I have a romantic suspense scheduled for release on September 30th. This has been a banner year and I look forward to more exciting news.

My greatest need right now, I feel, is to acquire an agent. I have a three book series I am working on. SPELLBOUND HIGHLANDER is also a Scottish historical with witches, time travels, and handsome Highlanders. Wish me luck! If you see me at nationals, please say “Hi!”

Nancy Lee Badger w/a Nancy Lennea

SECRET LOVE MATCH available now at www.redrosepublishing.com

DESTINY’S MOUNTAIN coming September 30th 2010 from Red Rose Publishing

DRAGON’S CURSE available now from www.whispershome.com and www.amazon.com for Kindle

BOOK BLURB

Sometimes a special gift and an unwanted curse cannot keep destined lovers apart.Brianna Macleod has accompanied a shipload of her guardian’s friends to a remote island off the coast of Scotland. She eludes these Highland hunters to keep her innocence…and her gift of sight. Her attitude against falling for womanly desires changes when she nearly drowns. Saved by the talons of a terrifying winged beast, she awakens—naked—in a cave, beside an unusual man.Cursed by a vengeful witch to transform into a dragon at inopportune times, Draco MacDonald hides on this deserted island to live alone: until he plucks a servant girl from certain death. Fueled by jealousy, and tempered by fear for her safety, he succumbs to an unfamiliar desire to mate. Her kisses propel him to dare to make her his own.Set in 1592 Scotland on the Scottish island of Staffa, the cursed hero battles a ghostly witch, a hunter set on rape, and his own growing desire for a young woman with premonitions of his death. 

EXCERPT 

The urge to hunt finally propelled him from his sanctuary as he pondered why the witch neglected to provide night vision. He flicked his tail at the indignity of hunting at dusk, but such was life. He kept his distance from the hunting party, which was safely ensconced in tents for the night. With his astute sense of smell, their fetid stench filled the air while his nostrils flared in search of Brianna’s fragrance. “To see her once more would go far in giving me the comfort of a good night’s sleep.” His words came out as a growl. Under his scales, muscles quivered.He dipped below the cliff face as he swooped and glided, flapping his thin, leathery wings now and then to keep his bulk above the sea. He had filled his belly with two seals, and then plucked a seabird, that had the misfortune to fly too slowly, from the sky. Both filled his mouth with a taste of the salty waves, so he searched out his favorite fountain. With a few flaps, he lunged at the small cascade tumbling from the top of the rock face. He soared below the cliff’s rock-strewn edge, gulping mouthful upon mouthful of fresh water. After filling his belly to cool his throat, he roared with delight. After returning his kisses, Brianna banished him to the silence of his own imagination. Then, he recalled Jean’s laughter when he kissed her under a tree.Had she compared him to another? Possibly Lorn, I should imagine.Had she played him for a fool? Did she purposely lead him astray to fill Lorn with jealousy?When Draco kissed Brianna, her sweet body leaned into his chest. Her delicate fingertips caressed his hair and shoulders with honest need and unabashed passion. His human body, hidden beneath scales and claws, throbbed with a yearning he never dared to feel again. His time with Jean never progressed beyond light kisses. He would spend the remainder of his years alone. Catching an updraft, he flew up and over the cliff and froze in midair when the object of his thoughts suddenly screamed. Brianna actually screamed at him. Her voice filled the night air with her terror. The vibration made his wings falter, and he tumbled end over end toward the sea.His last conscious thought was guilt at the trembling in her voice and the look of fear plastered on her pale face. 

This entry was posted on 24. July 2010 at 02:22 and is filed under my thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.