I have a new guest author this week – the wonderful Nancy Lee Badger! She’s here to talk about her recent release and the Scottish Highland Games. I’ll hand things over to her now…

A strange thing happens when the weather across the United States of America warms up…out come the Scottish plaids! Men in kilts join women is gauzy Highland dresses to listen to bagpipes, sample Scottish fare, and toast another year with a dram of whisky. Many American and Canadian citizens can trace their roots back to Scotland. In fact, more people of Scottish descent reside in the Americas than in Scotland. As a fairly young country (not quite 238 years young) our citizens, and those of our neighbors to the chilly north, celebrate this knowledge by organizing, volunteering at, and attending Highland games.

My husband and I have attended the New Hampshire Highland Games from the time they started back in 1975, even before we married. In the early 1980s, my husband became a volunteer. Once our youngest son was old enough, I joined the crew. While assisting visitors in finding out what time the next bagpipe-playing rock band was performing, to where the heavy athletics were being held, we enjoyed listening as dozens of marching bands passed our information tent. Taking breaks to dine on meat pies, fish and chips, and shortbread amid the spectacular fall foliage of the New Hampshire’s White Mountains, makes for a memorable day.

Many states, communities, and organizations host their own Highland games and Scottish festivals. Our most recent travels brought us back to the Loch Norman Scottish Games held every April at the Rural Hill Historic Site in Huntersville, North Carolina. Its located about 12 miles north of Charlotte, and about three hours away from our home. We arrive Friday night, enjoy two days surrounded by clan tents, fabulous food, and fantastic music. Dance and bagpipe competitions are a big draw as is their large and airy historic village that consists of a dozen or so tents where you can find knives, fairy headdresses, pottery, and candy. There are displays of broad swords, muskets, weaving, and a blacksmith…or two.

Highland cows munch on grass and hand-shucked corn. Children are encouraged to run the cobs through a machine that removes the kernels, then feed the cows. Inside the cabin, ladies dressed in homespun attire stuff a rabbit and bake bannock, a type of bread. The garden sports flowers and herbs. The air is filling with the aroma of corn dogs and pulled pork. Southern cooking slips in, again.

I try to share the experiences you will feel walking around the parade grounds, visiting the clan tents, and watching the athletes turning the caber by including similar scenes in my books. I write Scottish time travel romance and portions of the stories are held at Highland games. My latest book, My Lady Highlander, is the first book in the Kilted Athletes Through Time. Where can you find kilt-wearing athletes in America? At American’s Highland games!

When you discover that you share hereditary lines with many others is the icing on the …shortbread. The games can be found in nearly every state in the U.S., and in many Canadian Provinces. These festivals welcome everyone…a Scottish lineage, or kilt, is not required! If you enjoy harps, bagpipes, Highland dance, wonderful food and a sea of brightly colored wool (and is there anything more sexy than a man in a kilt?) please travel ‘across the pond’ and visit a Highland games or Scottish festival on American soil.

My Lady Highlander
Kilted Athletes Through Time, #1
by Nancy Lee Badger

Isobel MacHamish escaped a betrothal in ancient Scotland. She rebuilt her life in present-day New England, yet something-or someone-is missing. Arson, thievery, a stalker, and a handsome caber-tossing athlete turn her world upside down.

Bryce Buchanan saves a pretty woman-twice. Sent back to ancient Scotland-again-he is trapped between the skittish woman, and a man pressuring her into marriage. Battles, swords, a Scottish brownie, and a power-hungry laird make ‘Bull’ want to head home to New England.

To escape her former lover, and his murderous, father, Izzy finds her inner warrior. And, when the handsome athlete shows her what falling in love can bring, she is torn, because keeping her hands to herself, is one battle she will never win.

BUY LINKS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1i72gLV
Amazon Print: http://amzn.to/QKTP2Q
NOOK: http://bit.ly/1j9Eu51
Barnes & Noble Print: http://bit.ly/1qdbe0n
(also available from Amazon.com/UK)

My Honorable Highlander, Nancy’s first book in her Highland Games Through Time series is part of 10 Timeless Heroes: magic & destiny unite lovers across time and space in this epic collection of award-winning, chart topping tales. From sweet to sizzling romances, 10 Timeless Heroes has a little something for everyone. Over fifteen hundred pages!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/RuFTub
NOOK: http://bit.ly/1ntUSi5
KOBO: http://bit.ly/1iydpJu

Author Bio

Fourteen books later, Nancy Lee Badger still loves chocolate-chip shortbread and wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a Scottish Highlander. Her stories tempt you with 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.

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