Spark
Clan
of Dragons, Book
One
by Nancy
Lee Badger
a Scottish Paranormal Romance
a Scottish Paranormal Romance
a guest post by Nancy Lee Badger
Research is a word
that makes many writers cringe. Nothing seductive about that. You want to write
your story, but readers expect accuracy. Since I set my latest series, Clan
of Dragons, and the first book, Spark, on the island of Skye, off
Scotland’s west coast, I needed to research the land. What kind of herbs would
my characters use, and did they heat their hearth fires with tree logs or peat
bricks? What flower would my female characters smell like? Does my hero smell earthy,
or of the leather he wears or the horse he rides? Attraction requires all the
senses.
All these questions
needed answering before I could share my characters way of life. Skye has some
forests and both evergreens and deciduous trees. The rowan tree, a cousin to
the mountain ash, grows prolific along the base of the Black Cuillin Hills,
where part of my story is set. Edible berries feed the birds and forest
animals, and the broadleaf tree gives them shelter. The crystal-clear fairy
pools keep the beasts and bugs well quenched.
I depict my characters
as ancient people, living in villages or on farms in the early fifteenth
century. There is a peat bog where they can cut and dry the heavy earth for
fuel. There are numerous creeks and waterfalls for fresh water. The island is
surrounded by the sea so seafood, and pirates, can affect them. The weather can
change in an instant, and snow will fall in the winter, so farming the land and
harvesting enough food to help them survive until spring.
There are many ways to
keep warm on the island of Skye, where my dragons make their home. Spark
takes place during the change of leaves and encroaching winter. Smoke,
book #2, is now available for pre-order.
Spark Book Description:
Nancy Lee Badger brings you another
story filled with Scottish dragons and shape-shifters. Set on the Scottish
Island of Skye, she again fills her paranormal fantasy with romance and danger,
and with characters you will remember. Some will tug at your heart. Others will
make you wish for their demise. SPARK is the first book in a brand new series,
Clan of Dragons.
What can a young dragon do to prove
to his older brothers that he is their clan’s best chance to save their
species? In the Black Cuillin Hills, Evan heads to the village of Morhban to
find a way to interact with humans. To learn their language and customs, and to
get close enough to a red-haired beauty to mate with her, the brown-winged
purple dragon shifts into a copper-colored horse. When his new hooves protect
her from Lord Toal MacMorgan’s inappropriate demands with a well-placed kick,
she thanks Evan by brushing his silky coat. Things are looking up.
When an unfamiliar horse kicks Toal
into the creek, releasing Vika from his roaming hands, her appreciation turns
to horror. A sputtering Toal demands that the animal die. Anger makes Vika
agree to a wager. A three day hunt will determine the fate of the horse she
names Spark. Failure will mean his death, and the loss of her freedom. Pirates,
wolves, a wild boar, and a handsome stranger lead her on a wild ride. She
discovers her heart is in as much danger as her life.
Without
the fire burning in the hearth, the air in the cottage stole Vika’s breath, and
she rubbed her cold hands up and down her arms. After her brief sojourn
outside, her feet were cold and dusty. Bending over, she wiped the dust away
with the hem of her nightdress. When she felt someone’s eyes upon her, she
searched the cottage only to spy Spark’s head at the small window.
The
horse’s amber eyes reminded her of Evan’s, but she shouldn’t feel shy dressing
in front of a horse. What if Evan was at the window? Would she scream, cover
herself, or ask him in?
“I
shall never know. ‘Tis only the horse. Evan be not here.”
A
knock at the door heralded a visitor. She had neglected to bolt the door after
Orin had left, and she watched in shock as Evan walked in, as if conjured out
of thin air.
“By
the expression on your face, I be less than welcome.”
She
shook her head, grabbed her dress from the chair, and held it to her chest.
“Nay, only surprised. After Toal and his men, I should know better than to
leave a door unlocked. You, however, be always welcome.”
He
smiled, and her breath lodged in her throat. Shivers ran down her back, and she
couldn’t blame the cottage’s cool environment. She was barely dressed, yet she
warmed from the top of her head to her toes.
“I
could not wait to see you again. So much has happened, these past few days, and
I have come to care for you.”
“And
I you,” she answered. Did he see the desire in her eyes? Were her cheeks as red
as they felt? What would he do next? She hoped it began with another kiss.
“Vika,
when you struggled with Toal, you were injured. How do you fare?”
His
concern was admirable, but he acted as if she was simply a friend. “Me ribs
feel bruised. I had a restless night, but have not had a moment to check them,
so…”
He
smiled. “May I?”
Before
Vika could think up a witty answer, he was beside her, and she smelled the
sunshine on his skin. She dropped the dress she’d held in front of her like a
shield. Disarmed, yet fearless, she reached up and touched his shoulders.
Nervousness had flown away like a dragon, yet she wished to end the sudden
silence between them. She wished to know his hopes and dreams. She could start
a conversation with something neutral.
Although
she had walked outside to bid Orin good travels, if he had traveled during last
night’s storm, how could his skin and plaide
be dry? A simple question popped into her head.
“The
weather. ‘Tis better?” What a silly
question! I was just outside with Orin!
“Aye,
blue skies, and the sun be rising fast.” His face lowered.
Her
body trembled with anticipation. When she could sleep last night, her dreams
had filled with images of his mouth on hers, and his hands roaming over her
hips, breasts, and heart. Her dreams were about to come to life, but when he
leaned closer, he didn’t kiss her mouth or slip his tongue between her lips.
Instead, he sniffed her.
“What…?”
“You
remind me of the sea. Must be the salt on your skin from your recent dip in the
ocean.” He licked her bare shoulder.
Vika
couldn’t move. How could he know about her latest adventure? “Have you been
following me? There was no one but Orin, pirates, and a dragon on the beach.”
About
the Author:
Nancy Lee Badger loves
chocolate-chip shortbread, wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a
Scottish Highlander, the clang of broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the
air. After growing up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in
New Hampshire, Nancy moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time.
Nancy is a member of Romance
Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic &
Paranormal Romance Writers, Triangle Association of Freelancers, and the Celtic
Heart Romance Writers. Nancy and her family volunteer each fall at the New
Hampshire Highland Games surrounded by…kilts!
Website http://www.nancyleebadger.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/NLBadger
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NancyLeeBadgerAuthor/
Tour
giveaway
(brand new, cat not included) as
well as Shortbread Scotties,
Purple Jelly beans, a Pirate
Pencil, and a Visit Scotland brochure
*international winner will instead
receive ebooks from Nancy's backlist
Giveaway Ends August 21st
Thank you for hosting me today and allowing me to share a photo from a Highland games I attended. What better way to spend the day...staring at men in kilts!
ReplyDeleteNancy Lee Badger
Wow, this story sounds like it will be a winner! Loved the excerpt. Sounds like you have had some fun writing this book. I've got my order in all ready.
ReplyDeleteWow, this story sounds like it will be a winner! Loved the excerpt. Sounds like you have had some fun writing this book. I've got my order in all ready.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. The series is turning out to be a lot of fun. Dragons, kilts, and the Island of Skye work well together!
DeleteThank you for all the kind words, and congratulations to Renee G, the winner of my Scottish prize package!
ReplyDelete