What's in a name?

I am very proud of my name. Even so, someone (many someones if memory serves) suggested I use different names when writing different genres. A genre, a writer term, is the type of story: paranormal, fantasy, Science Fiction, Women's Literature, Gothic, contemporary romance, and so on.

When I sold my first manuscript, a contemporary romance set mainly in New York City, I decided to write as Nancy Lennea, my pen name. Besides having written and sold SECRET LOVE MATCH, I was also writing and shopping a paranormal story set in historical Scotland that I called DRAGON'S CURSE. I didn't want my readers to be confused when they looked for a title.

Well, here it is six published stories later and I am living with a split personality! Nancy Lennea has published a contemporary romance and two romantic suspense novels. Nancy Lee Badger (the real me) has published two historical fiction and one contemporary military romance. See the problem?

If you look up either name on Amazon's author page, all you see are three books each. I am in the process of gathering all my titles under the Nancy Lee Badger name and author page. I am also waiting for my real name to replace my pen name on my latest release, LOVE TO THE RESCUE. My publisher, Red Rose Publishing, is with me. Some great things are happening concerning this book (currently an e-book) and I will explain more when I can go public.

For now, enjoy LOVE TO THE RESCUE and my other titles under either Nancy Lee Badger or Nancy Lennea and watch for my latest release SOUTHERN FRIED DRAGON.

Hello, Twitter!

Since we are already 15 days into the New Year, I decided I do two things:

#1-Gain Twitter followers, and
#2-Give away a beautiful 2012 Calendar.

WIN THIS CALENDAR!

I am honoring 2012 as the year of the Olympics, which will be held in London, England. I will award a beautiful full-color Official 2012 Road to the Olympics Calendar to one lucky person who

(1) follows me on Twitter (if you are already following me, that is great) AND
(2) who leaves a comment below.

Please include an e-mail so I can contact the winner.

Available in e-book
http://amzn.to/AE07jW

I am a proud sponsor of USA Olympics Teams. In fact, the heroine of my book SECRET LOVE MATCH, is trying to earn a spot on the USA Tennis Team. Her dream is to represent her country at the next summer Olympics. will she do it? Guess you will have to read it to find out.

Nancy
Twitter me @NLBadger

Have a Happy Friday the 13th

Did you know that 2012 is LUCKY enough to celebrate not one, not two, but THREE Friday the 13ths? Three happen every few years, actually. The last was in 2009, and the next is 2015. 2012 is extra special because it is a year where something will not re-occur until 2040: three 13ths landing on a Friday during a leap year.

The number 13 and Friday, found mentioned in mythological, spiritual and religious tradition, means something different to me…and my mom. She delivered me, her first child, around 8 o’clock, at night, on Friday the 13^th in the dark and dreary month of November.

For many pagans, 13 is a lucky number, because it corresponds with the number of full moons each year, but I celebrate them as extra birthdays. Birthdays I do not need to count toward my age. The older you get, the more you will understand. Trust me.

Friday the 13th can feel special, say some people. (scientists, I hear) Supposedly, during a 400-year period, the 13th falls on a Friday more than any other day: 688 times.

Whatever you believe, know that I am embracing the day and using the vibrant energy to clean out my files in preparation for filing my taxes. I believe there is a much scarier date in America…April 15^th!

Me, Lori Keizer, & Sarra Cannon at play.
(Trust me, we are very busy writers)

Nancy

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I quick note to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my friends and relatives around the world.

Love y'all,

Nancy

A Southern Christmas

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

While visiting my folks in Florida this month, I snapped this photo of Holiday decorations, Florida style. This home is on Country Club Drive at the Spruce Creek Fly-in, a gated community with its own airport, in Port Orange.

Click on the photo for a closeup of all those BALLS....
Ho, Ho, Ho!
Nancy

Family Diaries & a 1925 Meteor Sighting

Rediscovering old, musty journals of long-dead family members was a treat. You never know what you will find!
Nancy

Dec. 8, 1885

Cold & pleasant. H* gone to Hardwick. Wm** don’t know where to go, but goes to the Bend this afternoon pleasant & cold. I iron, cut R*** a shirt, sew some. H comes home.
*H might be her son Harvey by Joseph Bean **Wm is her 2^nd husband William Folsom. ***R might be her son Russel.
Lodema Kingsbury Bean Folsom (age 58)
*she remarried after Joseph Abner Bean died fighting in the Civil War

Dec. 8, 1925 South Fairlee, VT
32˚ a. Cloudy, some sun at noon, spit snow p.m.  F.* & R. go to woods with both horses. I wash, mop, and help H. with barn chores, saw. Write to Willard J. Fisher, Harvard College Observatory about meteor.** Write to John C. Badger about our branch of family.
*F is her husband Frank (actually Benjamin Franklin Badger) R is her son Ralph.  **newspaper clipping attached earlier where she wrote to paper about seeing the meteor on Nov. 5

Eva Bean Badger (age 62)

Dec. 8, 1932 Pittsfield, NH

Doctor calls to see Paul. Says he is overtired.
*Paul is my late father-in-law
Lester Bean Badger 

Dec. 8, 1971 Peterboro, NH

Tommey ‘17* 24˚. Sunny. Change my bed & wash. Vac & dust mop all around. L** writes, does dishes & dusts. Cloudy in p.m. After naps L writes & I fold & put away clothes. Address some more cards.
*This is Dorothea Sawyer Badger, their daughter-in-law & it is her birthday. (my late mother-in-law) Her nickname is Tommey Sawyer. **L is his wheelchair-bound wife, Lillian Robinson, my husband’s grandmother.
Lester Bean Badger

TIME MARCHES ON

The dairies and cash expenditure booklets came to us through my husband's family, and when our son visited the other day, he and I started sorting them. The astonished look on his face as he read the writer's name and the date, made me realize we'd found treasure!

I want to share these snippets of daily life, mostly in northern New England, and far from the 'easy life' we live today. Enjoy! Comments welcome.

Nancy

Spinning yarn

Nov. 30, 1887

I go to see G, have a minute to spin 2 skeins. Beautiful day, would like to go.
Lodema Kingsbury Bean Folsom (age 60)
*she remarried after Joseph Abner Bean died in the Civil War

Nov. 30, 1923 South Fairlee, VT

Began raining middle of night and poured all day. R. & H. got breakfast & all churn 33# butter. I help & clean up things. Lester*, Lillian, & Paul drive up from Windsor in the rain, get here at noon. Awfully glad to see them. I mend & c. an keep H’s room. Nice letter from Jessie.
*Lester is her son, Lillian is Lester’s wife, & Paul is my late father-in-law
Eva Bean Badger (age 60)

Nov. 30, 1937 West Fairlee, VT

24˚a. Pleasant. R.* goes out with rifle in a.m. I sweep & dust mop. Jessie, May & daughter Rachel drive in just before 11, find me ironing curtains. They help me get them up. They bring tripe, angle (sic) cake, pt. oysters & crackers. Also grapes, go with venison, potatoes & pie & bread so we have plenty to eat. Have nice visit. Company leaves about 3:30. So glad to see our dear friends.
*R is her son Ralph.
Eva Bean Badger (age 74)

Nov. 30, 1971 Peterboro, NH

We get meals & that is about all. Get nice letter from Paul. 40˚ max. (note on this date printed in diary says “Have you ordered your diary for 1972?’ Have it.
*Paul is my late father-in-law.
Lester Bean Badger (age 78)