.png)
Multi-published and award-winning Raleigh author, Nancy Lee Badger, presents a paranormal romance set in North Carolina filled with a fabulous art museum, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the terror of the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Hatteras. A love of art, especially the bronze sculptures by the French master, Auguste Rodin, helped give her ideas that brought this story to life. Although previously published by a small publishing house, this series never had a chance to get into the hands of many readers. She has re-edited the book and will widely distribute the series. This is a stand-alone full-length book is the first book in the Warriors in Bronze novels to be followed by Heaven-sent Highlander.
Asleep inside a bronze statue, a naked Frenchman wakes a century later to save a half-Fae, museum curator from a demon bent on ruling our present-day world.
Interview
- When your publishing house closed, what were your first thoughts about the future of your books—and what inspired you to take the leap into self-publishing?
- How did the editing process change for you as an indie author compared to when you were traditionally published? Do you work with freelance editors, critique partners, or handle revisions solo?
I tried my hand at self-publishing a novella after taking a class with a local author. The story, Dragon in the Mist, made some money then won an award. I was hooked! Self-publishing requires editors (I paid some and used volunteer family members) cover making (luckily, I know how to make covers) and promotion. Small publishers don’t help with the last one. Since this series had been published by a publishing house, they were close to perfect. I still edited them.
- Cover design plays such a huge role in the romance genre. Can you share what the process has been like recreating your covers? Did you work with a designer, or did you take on that creative task yourself?
I make many of my covers myself, but constantly looked at others to see the best methods. When people shop for a book on their phones, the cover looks tiny. You need the theme, colors, title, and author name to work in a small space. A historical novel’s cover is different from a contemporary or paranormal cover. I loved the original covers in this series, but the ones I made are different…cleaner.
- What has surprised you the most about managing all the pieces of publishing on your own—from formatting to marketing?
There is not enough time or money to get it right, it seems. My husband’s support has been critical. He is my rock and a pretty good Beta Reader. Formatting can be intense, especially when things look wrong. At times I think “I’d rather be writing!”
- Has your writing process evolved now that you’re in full control of your publishing timeline? Do you find more creative freedom, or are there new challenges?
Nothing has changed, since most writers work on their stories before considering how they will ‘sell’ them. I submitted a recent short story to be included in a fundraiser for my local writer group. They will release a book filled with short stories and poems in September. Once I have enough of my own short stories, I plan to put them together in one anthology and self-publish that. Writers generally write because they want to. Not just for money (although money helps!)
- What advice would you give to other authors facing similar circumstances—especially those thinking about re-releasing their backlist independently?
Do it! Letting the stories die would be a sin. A writer works hard to create the stories and goes through all the publisher’s rules, so take some time to re-read it, make notes, update timelines. Don’t just slap a new cover on the old manuscript. For example: Heaven-Sent Warrior has my couple driving over a bridge. It’s a good thing I realized that since originally published, the bridge had been damaged in a hurricane and was replaced with one named something else.
- Looking ahead, are there any exciting new projects or stories you’re working on that your readers can look forward to?
The two other books in the series are Heaven-Sent Highlander and Heaven-Sent Flame. They are edited, new covers are made, and both are available for pre-order on Amazon. They will be released in May and June. I keep going!
Nancy Lee Badger grew up in Huntington on New York’s Long Island. After attending Plymouth State, in New Hampshire, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree and met and married her college sweetheart. They raised two handsome sons in Rumney, New Hampshire while she dreamed of being a writer. When the children had left the nest, and shoveling snow became a chore, she retired from her satisfying job as a 911 Emergency Medical Dispatcher and moved to North Carolina, where she writes full-time.
Nancy is a former member of Romance Writers of America and its local chapter, The Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, as well as the Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers. She is currently a member of the Triangle Association of Freelancers based in the Raleigh area. She finds story ideas in the most unusual places.
More books coming soon!
.jpg)
.jpg)
