COPS IN KILTS?

23. September 2011 by admin.

You bet! The Lincoln, New Hampshire police department became supporters of the New Hampshire Highland Games long ago. In fact, through donations and fund-raisers, any patrol officer who wishes to work during the three day annual event MUST wear a New Hampshire Tartan kilt!

This year’s event ended last Sunday. My family and I again volunteered our time under the Information Tent. Besides selling official programs, explaining where visitors can find haggis, sheepdogs, Piper’s Ale, and hunky athletes tossing the caber, we were also in charge of the raffle. Our fantastic group sold all the tickets that were printed (2nd year in a row) and three lovely prizes were awarded, including a trip for two to Scotland. (No, I did not win)

And, if you think these cute cops (one female included, this year) have an easy job, just think again: The bridge to the venue collapsed after Hurricane Irene (see me in photo and notice the broken end on left) and then a fire in a nearby condominium broke out while thousands gathered at the event.

Along with the Loon Mountain and NH Highland Games crews, the police did a great job keeping the people safe. Fire engines and other emergency vehicles zoomed by as pedestrians attempted to enter the grounds over the temporary pedestrian bridge. After a rainy start, the weekend was a success. We are all looking forward to next year, September 23-25, 2012 

Nancy

DRAGON IN THE MIST, a Loch Ness romance,

available at Amazon and Barnes&Noble

Posted in articles | 11 Comments »

POSITIVE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

12. September 2011 by admin.

  As Americans reflect on the 10^th anniversary of 9/11:

Peace, above all things, is to be desired, but blood must sometimes be spilled to obtain it on equable and lasting terms.

—Andrew Jackson

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Dragon In The Mist CONTEST

8. September 2011 by admin.

In celebration of my latest book release, I am having a little contest with a great prize.

My latest release, DRAGON IN THE MIST, a Loch Ness romance, is available on-line from many bookstores. My readers will enjoy having several options for downloading. Even if you do not own a Kindle, Nook, or other e-reader, you can easily download it to your PC or laptop.

Enough of the Sales Pitch! Now for the prize. I bought this beautiful window sticker, doubled sided, with lovely colors depicting two Celtic dragons.

Here are the rules:

Click on any of the buy links below.

Read the Book Blurb which starts with the line “Life without love is not worth living.”

Pick THREE WORDS from the Book Blurb and place them in the comment box. Go ‘anonymous’ if you like. I will have your e-mail when you post the comment (not visible to the public), but it is easy to say ‘Your Name’ won.

There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY, of course.

The contest closes Sunday Sept 11^th, 2011.

Follow me on Twitter @NLBadger. I will announce the winner on Twitter, Facebook, and in the comment section on Monday September 12^th.

AMAZON BUY LINK: http://amzn.to/nNpfNV

BARNES & NOBLE BUY LINK: http://bit.ly/pzEYYh

SMASHWORDS:    http://bit.ly/oKGRDY

ePub ISBN:  978-1-4657-1856-3

Nancy 

Posted in My Books | 7 Comments »

DRAGON IN THE MIST Blurb & Excerpt

2. September 2011 by admin.

 

I released my Loch Ness romance, DRAGON IN THE MIST, this week!

BOOK BLURB

Life without love is not worth living.

Nessía of the Loch has lived beneath the murky water of Loch Ness since ancient times. The pain of loneliness manifests in anger so strong, the entire valley shakes with earthquakes. In 1816, a Faerie queen pleads for her to cease the tremors and rewards Nessía with a human form. To stay human, she must find love. When the man she believes she loves casts her aside, Nessía responds to the betrayal by cursing the men of the MacDonald clan with the inability to keep a woman’s love. Only an act of true selflessness will break the curse.

After centuries pass, Nessía again searches for love. When Rory Hawthorn, an American scientist, arrives under the pretext of researching the earthquakes but in reality to research his MacDonald heritage and the curse, she believes she has found the perfect mate.

Amid stolen kisses, another earthquake, a steamy night of passion, and a broken heart, Nessía returns to the murky depths of the loch. When Rory dives in to follow her, he meets the green, scaly Loch Ness Monster. Assuming Nessía is in danger, he is intent on killing the monster and saving the woman he loves.

EXCERPT

“I need a drink. And dinner,” Rory said.

“Well, sit yourself down and tell me what ye be a ‘craving,” Nessía replied.

At the sexy timbre of her voice, a certain body part surged to life. He dropped his pack and fell into a chair beside a small table. Quickly covering his lap with a ragged linen napkin, he glanced around for a menu. None. She pointed to a hand-written sign over the bar.

“Shepherd’s pie and an ale, please.”

She sauntered away. Nessía stirred his body and filled his head with the startling image of her hair, as it fanned out over his pillow. The Scottish peasant skirt, and the apron she’d tied tightly around her slim waist, displayed her generous curves.

His mouth watered.

Rory spread his legs and squirmed in his seat. His neck grew hot while his pulse drummed a staccato beat. To calm his reaction, he concentrated on curling his damp toes inside his wet socks. Uncomfortable as he watched Nessía, he couldn’t push away the raw desire he felt for her.  

Kendra and Suzie were beautiful women, as well, yet more scantily clad than Nessía. With their coy glances, sweet whispers, and touches, they broadcast their need for male companionship loud and clear. So, why wasn’t he attracted to either of them?

“No matter,” he whispered, then quieted when a couple of old-timers stared at him. He forced a bland smile and sat back against the hard chair. Steam rose from his boots as the fire’s heat wafted over him. Though his body ached, his eyelids drooped. Weariness threatened to pull him into a comfortable nap. He’d scampered over rocks and crags as well as climbed around the many levels of the castle and dreamed of Nessía.

Rory’s stomach muscles clenched and all thoughts of rest flew aside when footsteps signaled someone approaching. He snapped open his eyes, and gazed at the buxom beauty heading his way.

~~~

Nessía tripped over the hem of her dress and a steaming plate of food and a mug of foamy ale went flying. A cry of surprise filled the suddenly silent pub interior. The American with the broad shoulders and muscular calves, whose stare had startled her, jumped from his chair. He stood, still staring, covered in food.

Mac appeared at her side.

“What ye trying to do, lass? Drown the man?”

AMAZON BUY LINK:  http://amzn.to/nNpfNV

BARNES & NOBLE BUY LINK:  http://bit.ly/pzEYYh

I hope you will go check it out!

Nancy

 

 

Posted in My Books | 2 Comments »

DRAGON IN THE MIST Cover

28. August 2011 by admin.

 

Here is the cover for my latest novella, DRAGON IN THE MIST. Using my ideas, Florina Romoser at www.ThinkFlowDesign.com created a beautiful design.

Available soon everywhere!

Nancy

Posted in My Books | No Comments »

EARTHQUAKE & HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

25. August 2011 by admin.

On Tuesday, an earthquke shook along the east coast of America, from North Carolina up to the New England area. Now, Hurricane Irene is headed for the same coastal areas, with category three strength. I live in North Carolina, about three hours inland from the Outer Banks, but we might get some of the wind and rain. Here’s a handy reminder of what you should have JUST IN CASE.

* A battery-powered radio (check the batteries!)

* flashlights with fresh batteries, lamps or candles; matches

* packaged food, non-perishible types, that you can eat without having to cook or keep cold. If the power goes out, you might need to use an outdoor gas grill or a propane or sterno@ type stove for heating food. Sandwiches are easy and filling.

* plenty of fresh bottled water for drinking; tubs & buckets of water for cleaning and toilet flushing.

* a basic first-aid kit. In the middle of a storm, emergency personnel will not be able to respond.

* a full tank of gas in family vehicles. Again, if the power is out for days, no gas pumps will work.

* have extra cash on hand. No power? No ATMs

Before the storm, simple precautions will save your personal property as well, so make sure you store any lawn or deck furniture that could blow away in a hurricane. This includes lawn ornaments like birdfeeders and birdbaths. Flags, too.

Watch television or listen to the radio. Be ready! Know where you raingear is. Any communities that are told to evacuate should heed these warnings. If you have to evacuate, bring plenty of prescription medicines.

Place important papers in waterproof containers and take them with you. If you are in a zone prone to flooding, move valuables to a higher level.

Don’t forget your pets! Have extra water and food available for them, too. For small pets, have a carrier ready in case you must leave your home due to loss of part of the structure, a lightning hit, or other calamity.

As a writer, my next step is to back up my computers so I don’t lose everything I work on as well as all my photos. My sister reminded me I can use the AC adapter I bought to recharge my laptop by plugging it into my car’s ac outlet. Which reminds me…I had better go charge my cell phone.

Keep safe, stay aware, and good luck!

Nancy

Posted in articles | 2 Comments »

POSITIVE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

18. August 2011 by admin.

Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination—Voltaire

 

I believe in this, and my latest romantic suspense, LOVE TO THE RESCUE mixes the beauty found in the mountains of New Hampshire with hard-won love between a young woman and a man with a deep, dark secret. Find out more at Red Rose Publishing.

Nancy

Posted in Quotes | 5 Comments »

RELEASE DAY!

12. August 2011 by admin.

 

My latest novel, LOVE TO THE RESCUE, is now

available for download from

Red Rose Publishing.

BOOK BLURB

     The clashing relationship between tomboy Josie Miller and fellow paramedic-firefighter, Pete Miller, escalates after he realizes Joe is not just one-of-the-boys. Pete has a sketchy history and has earned a reputation for one-night stands in the small town of Parmenter, New Hampshire nestled between the Mercy River, the mountains, and the small college. Since he arrived a year ago, Josie suspects he is hiding something. Something too horrible to share, even with her. Working side by side, Joe loves her job, and Pete.

They respond to accident calls, medical emergencies, and fast-moving forest fires amid sparks of another kind. Joe’s clumsiness and baggy uniform work against her when she yearns to be the kind of woman Pete wants like the pretty blonde they must rescue after her car hits a moose.

Outside influences come to play when the sister of Pete’s alleged victim shows up and accuses him of something even worse…her sister’s recent death. Once on track to be a doctor, the sister’s betrayal and lies caused Pete to run far away and keep women at a distance unless they agreed to share his bed…and nothing more.

     Pete plans to skip town while Josie worries she has given her heart to a monster. A suicide note, some well-landed fists, stolen moments of love, and a desire to listen to their hearts lead these two heroes toward a climax filled with tension, pain, bloodshed, and atonement.

Check out my 1st Review fro Babs Book Bistro!

Posted in My Books | No Comments »

MYTH OR MAGIC? What Research Has told Me…

29. July 2011 by admin.

  Myths are often considered an aspect of folklore, but not all. Mythology might include the belief in the supernatural, where as folklore and folk tales derived when people had the need to explain mysterious events. Pre-Christianity might have had a hand in old world myths and folklore. A people’s yearning to believe in the hereafter, or in some type of entity, lived on through stories passed generation to generation. Once Christianity became widespread, mythological creatures, such as the “Fairies”, faded away.

Scotland has a rich Celtic History going back over 2,000 years, at a time when superstition was rife and where unusual events were ‘explained’ by legends and whimsical stories. It is therefore not surprising that Scotland has an extensive heritage of myths and folklore. Many objects, including castles, have accumulated their share of myths and legends, such as circles of stones or cairns. These standing stones, and megalithic remains, highlight these reminders of the ancient inhabitants of Scotland.

Some believe that religion was an adaption from stories and memoires or evolutionary biology. In other words, religion evolved as byproduct of psychological mechanisms that evolved for other reasons. These mechanisms might have told early people how to watch for things that could cause them harm (omens). This morphed into an ability to come up with causal narratives for natural events (folk tales) while other people had minds of their own with their own beliefs, desires and intentions (mythology and the precursors of organized religion).

Unexplained observations (thunder, lightning, movement of planets, and other complicated events of nature) were the basis of stories. These word-of-mouth explanations changed with the frequency of their telling which is why one myth could have many different descriptions or endings.

.

The distinctive features of Scottish Folklore are filled with the characteristics of Scotland’s varied scenery. The serene lap of the deep mountain loch, the trickling of a tiny creek, the harsh splendor of the mountains, the solitude of the moor, reflect in their folk tales and myths. The fairies, the brownies, and the bogles of Scotland are similar to those the Irish believe live in their own hills. Their Irish nooks and crags, streams and meadows might be different, but many legends are told with similar aspects except, maybe, for how they dress.

An example of the similarity between the land of the Highlands and the land of the four-leaf clover is the legend of the Selkie. In Scotland, this mythical Selkies are shy marine creatures in the shape of a seal, usually found near the islands of Orkney and Shetland. A female can shed her skin and come ashore as a beautiful woman. If found, a man could force her to be his wife. Of course, as the legend goes, if she recovered the skin, off she’d go. Male Selkies are said to be responsible for storms. What better explanation for the sinking of a ship?

Selkies of Irish lore are said to come from Co. Donegal in Ireland, which happens to be where many people made their living from the sea. Living by the sea might cause people to craft stories as a way to explain its mysteries. The Irish considered the Selkies to have the same characteristics as those of Scotland, even though they considered other sea creatures more malevolent. Most scholars believe the seals and sea lions from which these myths evolved had sweet, non-threatening dispositions. This might have allowed them to easily be transformed by myth into non-threatening Selkies. At least, the females!

Religion changed much of the thinking of the people who listened or read the more popular beliefs which were often rammed down their throats by the hierarchy of a given land. Myths and folklore slipped to the back burner, but never disappeared. Many tales are quite popular today and have thousands of followers. Think of the legend surrounding the Blarney Stone in Ireland or the Loch Ness Monster. Even Girl Scout troops around the world call their youngest recruits ‘Brownies’ after helpful creatures that do good deeds.

Myths and folk tales live on because people need to believe in them. There are hundreds of wonderful stories out there about kelpies, fairies, banshees, and the like. I recommend the following websites if you would like a taste. You might even recognize one or two stories!

www.compassrose.org/folklore/scottish/Scottish-Folktales.html
http://www.sacred-texts.com/

Portions of this article by me were posted Sept. 2, 2009 on History Undressed

Nancy

 

Portions of this article by me were posted Sept. 2, 2009 on History Undressed

 

Nancy

 

 

Posted in articles | No Comments »

POSITIVE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

8. July 2011 by admin.

It is well that war is so terrible—

we shouldn’t grow too fond of it.

Robert E. Lee

We recently celebrated America’s 235th birthday. Such an event was only achieved by the heroic bravery of our ancestors. We salute ‘all those that came before’ and everyone around the world who risk their lives in service to our country.

Nancy,

proud mother of an American soldier

Posted in Quotes | 4 Comments »