I’m delighted to have Nancy Lee Badger as my guest today. Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win in her great giveaway!
An Author’s Hero Talks Back
I caught up with Jake Jameson. He’s reading a book while propped against a pine tree at the New England Highland Games. Wearing leather trews, protected by a heavy apron, I also notice he is…um…shirtless. Yum.
Nancy: “Hi, Jake. What are you reading so secretively?”
Jake: “It’s a bit embarrassing. I snuck this book of poetry into the historic village.”
Nancy: “Poetry? Since we are surrounded by thousands of kilted visitors, might I assume the author is Robert Burns?”
Jake: “Nope. Robert Frost. He used to teach around here.”
Nancy: “He taught at my college in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Will you recite something?”
Jake: “I’ll share a short verse.” He stubs a toe in the dirt. “I want to whisper it in the ear of the woman I love…I mean…never mind.”
Nancy: “Spill!
Jake: “Fine. ‘Some say the world will end in fire’…” He coughs, and runs his fingers through his long, black hair.
Nancy: “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Maybe Skye Gunn will enjoy it.” I giggle when his eyes widen.
Jake: “I doubt it,” he says when he finds his speech. “Besides, I haven’t seen that witch for five years.”
Nancy: “Right. I forgot. But, isn’t she worth a jump back in time to early 17th century Scotland to find out?”
Jake: “Maybe I should, but she got mad, last time we were together, and sent me home. I could have helped battle the sorcerer.”
Nancy: “That’s right. A time-traveling witch can make life tough…or interesting.”
Jake: “Quiet! Any rumor of witchcraft or time travel could get us killed.”
Nancy: “Nonsense. This is the 21st century.” A laugh escapes, but Jake isn’t smiling.
Iona: “Never you mind. I have to get back to my furnace.”
Nancy: “Where you pretend to be a blacksmith?”
Jake: “I AM a blacksmith. Comes in handy when I play-act as a 17th century smithy, here at the games.”
Nancy: “What are you making today?”
Jake: “Swords.”
Nancy: “Swords? In this day and age?”
Jake: “Sure. Why dress in a kilt without a sword on your back or a dirk at your hip?”
Nancy: (looking around) “I see what you mean. The Highland Games are full of good looking men in sexy kilts. What about that guy?”
Jake: “That’s Bryce Buchanan. He turns the caber, and throws the hammer. People call him Bull.”
Nancy: “He is quite…large. Handsome, too. Maybe he can help you keep the witch busy so you can—”
Jake: “No!”
Hmm…sounds like jealousy has raised it green, scaly, fire-breathing head!
Readers…have you ever attended a Scottish Highlands games or festival? If not, why not? If you did, what part did you enjoy the most?
Blurb:
Skye has spent the last five years trying to forget the blacksmith who followed her back to 16th century Scotland, to help fight evil. Sending Jake Jamison home against his will was a disastrous mistake. Stealing his heart was not part of the plan.
Jake must share his secret, Skye must give her heart fully, and both must dare to love in the time they have.
More About the Author
She 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, she 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 Area Freelancers, and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers.
Connect with Nancy:
Blog http://www.nancyleebadger.blogspot.com
Website http://www.nancyleebadger.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/NLBadger
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/nancy.l.badger
Goodreads http://bit.ly/Vd1Usg
Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/13ICHLq
MY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER buy links
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00DEQKPY8
Amazon PRINT: http://amzn.com/1490532781/
NOOK: http://bit.ly/16a7lim
Barnes & Noble PRINT: http://bit.ly/10UQa3Z
KOBO: http://bit.ly/12lX2V5
AllRomance: http://bit.ly/19aBsI6
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/11DtTDE
iTunes: http://bit.ly/12Ic1bl
One lucky person will win a tote filled with autographed paperback books by the following authors. Nancy met up with them at last month’s Romance Writers of America Conference. The tote includes:
A LADY BY MIDNIGHT by Tessa Dare
A JACKSON HOLE HOMECOMING by Cindy Kirk
WORTH THE CHALLENGE by Karen Erickson
A BREATH OF SCANDAL by Elizabeth Essex
MY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER by Nancy Lee Badger
All in a Cloth Tote -courtesy of Sophie Barnes
Nancy will pick a winner on Thursday, September 5, 2013.
*an international winner will receive a selection of ebooks instead.
**please leave contact information
Photos: Nancy Lee Badger
babettejames.com 
Good morning All! Please answer my question (in Blue, above) for a chance to win my tote filled with books. Thanks, Babette, for hosting me.
The winner is Debra G!
Fun interview, Nancy, and thanks for the giveaway! I have yet to attend the Scottish Highland games or a festival, even though I’d love to. It seems I always see the notice or flyer after the fact, or time constraints, yada yada yada–always some reason I can’t go. Definitely on my bucket list, though!
Great interview, Nancy, and your giveaway is a wonderful bounty of good. I know I attended a Highland games at some point in my life (I can remember the big telephone poll toss), but I can’t tell you where or when. It was probably back in the days when I was more interested in grog than games.
I love reading character interviews. They give some insight and make the reading more fun.
YOU ARE THE WINNER!
What a fantastic interview! I enjoyed this so much.
Yes, I have attended a Scottish Highland Games Festival! Rather unfortunately, it was long before I could appreciate the beauty of a man wearing a kilt. What I loved most about it was the crafts and it was part of a living history museum, so there were kitchen displays and I loved watching the women in full dress make pastry and cut out cookies! I just wanted to stand at that part all day long. But I was soon dragged off to the field.
Hmm..I think I should attend one soon! :o)
I agree! Anyone would enjoy the sounds, smells, tastes as well as all those hot guys in kilts! Fall is the best time of year to experience one. Type in Google and your state and you will be surprised!
I have not as yet attended a Highland Games Festival. They were not held in any area where I lived. Oh well, maybe someday in the future. I would love to sample those pies I’ve heard about.
Great interview Nancy 🙂
Jake sounds AW$SOME (drooling at the thought of a shirtless blacksmith, all those hawt muscles and a kilt too 😉
I havn’t gotten to a Scottish Highlands game yet. I’ve been to PA Renn. Faire a few tims & LOVED it. Maybe once I retire I’ll get to do those awesome things.
Mindy 🙂
Birdsooong@comcast.net
I hope you will check out a Scottish Highland Games or festival. I am heading to one next month in NC where admission is only $10. A lot to see and experience.
Thank you, Nancy Lee Badger, for your recent trilogy of Scottish Highland Games and romance. I was VERY caught up by My Honorable Highlander, My Banished Highlander, and My Reluctant Highlander. I have not attended “the games”, but I go to attend some day. I did find out that Scottish Highland Games are popular in several places in the U.S., including mountainous New Hampshire ( http://www.nhscot.org/the-games.html held in Sept ) , North Carolina mountains ( http://www.gmhg.org/ held in July), and even low-lying FLORIDA! ( http://www.flascot.com/ held in January – for obvious reasons… wool kilts in FL !) Love the stories, Nancy!
I have never attended any Highland games or festivals, I don’t believe I have ever noticed any being held locally. Thanks for the fun interview and the giveaway!
Would love to read all of these!
Attended a small festival years ago in Panama City Fla. really enjoyed the genealogy tent. Learned so much that day! 🙂
I have never been able to attend a Highland games but I would love to. I fell in love with Scotland while reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon so I have a soft spot for feats of strength being executed in a kilt. Very soft indeed.
Hubby & I went to our first festival by accident. We were traveling in Nova Scotia, Canada and stopped at a street festival in Pugwash, Nova Scotia. Bagpipes, kilts, food, and fun!
I’ve never had the pleasure of attending a Highland festival, but I sure would love to!
The winner of the tote filled with autographed books is Debra G. Thanks for all your comments.