Friday, September 21, 2018

Wild Horse Rescue Release September 21, 2018 Happy Book Birthday! by Nancy M Bell

Today is Wild Horse Rescue's book birthday! I am very proud of this book. It's the first book in a new series set in Alberta. Wild Horse Rescue is Book 1 in The Alberta Adventures. Click on the cover to find out where you can get your copy.



Alberta's wild horses are near and dear to my heart. Ever since I was a kid I've loved wild horses. The first ones that came to my attention were the ones in British Columbia and I poured over magazine articles and books back in the days before the internet. I fed my dreams on books by Walter Farley, and others. My favourite one was Beyond Rope and Fence by David Grew and also Smokey, the story of a cow horse, by Will James. I have Fred Remmington and Charlie Russel calendars pasted on my wall and only recently did I throw out decades worth of Western Horseman magazines. (they were old and musty but it still was a wrench)

This is White Spirit, the Alberta wildie that inspired the story and who the stallion Coal is modeled on. Photo credit to Darrell Glover


Below is a short excerpt from Wild Horse Rescue to whet your whistle:

The Dedication:

To all horses and beasts of burden, both wild and domestic, may you live in Peace as the Universe intended.

Wherever man has left his footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization we will find the hoofprint of the horse beside it. John Moore


This is from part way through the story:

“I mentioned the horse trap to my dad,” Joey remarked.
Laurel and her two friends rode side by side across the short grass, heat waves shimmering over the prairie. The smell of curing hay mixed with the faint sent of crushed wild flowers under foot and dry dust blown by the hot wind.
“What did he say about it?” Laurel twisted in her saddle to see him better.
“He wasn’t too happy to hear about it. You know he loves those horses as much as we do.”
“Did he have any ideas?” Coll frowned into the distance.
“No. He wasn’t too happy about me getting involved with any tearing down of other people’s property.”
“But it’s illegal! Or it should be,” Laurel exclaimed. “He won’t say anything, will he? Dad would kill me if he knew I was involved with sabotaging Mr. Cullen’s trap.”
Joey shook his head. “Nope. He hates how those horses get treated. I think he might be willing to help us, if we need it.”
“Really? He’d really help us?” Laurel’s heart leapt in excitement. If Harry would help them, maybe there was something they could do about the situation. Harry Good Smoke was aware of the young people’s obsession with the wild horses and encouraged it. Maybe there was hope for Coal and his band after all.
“He said to wait and see how things shook out. Maybe the government will change their mind about the cull.” Joey shook his head and clucked to his stocky pinto gelding. “This one came from Coal’s band, you know. The mare got killed and Pa found this little guy by her body. Brought him home and we raised him. Pa let me help break him.”
“He was born wild? That’s brill!” Coll exclaimed turning to take a better look at the horse walking calmly by the side of his horse.
“A horse is a horse. Treat ’em right and gentle them without scarin’ the crap out of them and the wildies are the best horses you could ever have.” Joey ran a hand down the thick neck and tossed the long mane all to one side.
“That’s true, Joey. But I’d rather see them stay wild, the way they were born. Iinii is different, he was an orphan and he’d never have survived on his own,” Laurel said.
“That’s an odd name. What does it mean?” Coll reined his horse closer to Joey.
“Iinii is buffalo in my language,” Joey told him.
“Well, I never! That’s right brilliant,” Coll exclaimed. “What’s the word for horse?”
“I know that one.” Laurel laughed. “Ponokaomitaa. Translated it’s elk dog.”
“Elk dog?”
The Cornish boy’s expression made Laurel giggle.
“When the Blackfoot first saw a horse the closest animal in size they knew was an elk, but the horse was used to carry things the same way we used big dogs at the time, so…elk-dog,” Joey explained.
“I guess it’s kind of like the way we still call the old tin mines wheals and stuff. And your grandfather the selkie calls rocks karrek,” Coll mused.
“Wait! What? Your grandfather was a what?” Joey pulled his horse to a halt and stared at Laurel.
Coll flushed with guilt and shrugged at Laurel. “Oops, sorry.”
Laurel sighed. “You have to promise not to breathe a word of this to anyone. Dad would literally kill me if this ever got out. Promise?”
“Sure. You know I can keep a secret. What’s a selkie?” Joey persisted.
“Coll, you want to explain? You probably know more of the old stories than I do,” Laurel said.
They set their horses in motion again, following the wide trail toward the river.
“Cornwall is full of old legends and myths, but like my gramma says, most of them have a grain of truth to them.”
Joey nodded. “The old aunties and uncles say that about our stories too.”
“A selkie is a shapeshifter…” he paused to see how Joey was taking his words.
“Like Napi the trickster. He is sometimes a coyote.”
Encouraged, Coll went on. “Laurel’s Gramma Bella lived in Cornwall when she was a girl and was friends with my gramma and Sarie. They met a handsome man and didn’t know he was a selkie until later. His name is Vear Du…that means Great Black in old Cornish. Anyway, I don’t know all the details but Bella and Vear Du got…you know…close…and anyway…Laurel’s dad was the result.”
“No shit?” Joey turned to Laurel. “That’s pretty hard to believe.”
“It’s true. But Dad won’t ever admit it. I’d be grounded until I’m ninety if he ever finds out anybody else knows about it.”
“Who knows?” Joey frowned. “More than your family…and him?” He nodded in Coll’s direction.
“Yup. People in Cornwall, but only close friends of Gramma Bella. Mom, Dad, Coll’s gramma, Sarie, me, Aisling and Gort, I think that’s it,” Laurel replied.
“Don’t forget that old guy, Red, your gramma told you about. The one that used to work for your Grampa D’Arcy,” Coll reminded her.
“Yeah, but that was a long time ago. He’s gone now, but he was there when Dad was born,” Laurel agreed.
“Wow! Like a legend come to life. That’s pretty cool.” Joey shook his head.
“Just remember you can’t breathe a word of it. To anyone,” she cautioned him.
“No worries. I sure don’t want your dad mad at me,” Joey agreed.
“Me either, so let’s keep mum about me opening my big pie hole,” Coll worried.
“I’m just glad him and Gramma Bella are speaking to each other again,” Laurel remarked while her horse picked his way down a steep slope toward the river.
“I thought your gramma was staying in England?” Joey said.
“She is. But her and Dad saw each other for the first time since I was a kid when we were there last Christmas. I have no idea what they said to each other, but he hugged her before she left, and he even agreed to meet Vear Du and be civil to him. It took a lot for him to swallow his anger and do that,” Laurel said.
“You mean old Mr. Rowan really wasn’t his father, right? Wow…” Joey stared off at the horizon. “I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I found out Pa wasn’t my dad, let alone that some Napi character actually was.”
Laurel snorted. “As far as Colt Rowan is concerned D‘Arcy Rowan is his dad and nobody is ever going to know any different around here.” She nudged Sam with her heel and urged the gelding into a lope along the grassy river valley. “C’mon, let’s go see if anybody rebuilt that trap.”
“Maybe we’ll see that stallion again.” Coll loped easily beside her.
“The foals will be gettin’ big, and I bet some of those bachelor stallions will be getting pushed out of the band. That’s always exciting to watch.” Joey caught up to Laurel and Coll.
A quick check satisfied Laurel the horse trap in the cottonwoods near the river was still dismantled. They rode a kilometer or so further up the valley to ease her mind further that there were no more traps in the vicinity. The sun was lowering in the western sky when they came up out of the coulee onto the rolling prairie. Joey waved a hand in farewell and loped off toward home while Laurel and Coll jogged toward the Rowan homestead.
“What does that mark on the cows mean?” Coll wondered when they passed a herd of red brockle-faced cattle.
“That’s our brand. Grampa D’Arcy’s dad registered it way back in the forties, I think. It’s how you can tell who owns what cattle. Every rancher has his own unique brand.”
“How do you read it? Looks like random marks to me.” Coll frowned and turned his head sideways trying to make sense of the marks.
“Take it apart. The thing that looks like a roof? That’s a ‘rafter’, below that is a reversed R. So, you read it as ‘rafter, reverse R’ on the right rib.
“You mean it matters where you put the brand?” Coll turned his attention back to Laurel.
“Of course. When you buy and register your brand the Livestock Identification Service checks no one else within a certain distance has a similar one already registered and where you can place the brand on the animal. The symbols also have to meet their standards.”
“Sounds complicated. I don’t think we have anything like that at home.”
“Race you home!” Laurel leaned forward and urged Sam into a gallop.
“Hey!” Coll yelped from behind her. “No fair!” He sent his mount after her, blinking against the dust raised by Sam’s hooves.

Monday, January 8, 2018

His Brother's Bride is now available in French ~ Nancy M Bell



I am excited to announce the release of His Brother's Bride in the French edition. This is the first title of mine to be translated and released in another language, so I'm a little chuffed. You can click on the cover to see it.

This has been a busy year with His Brother's Bride releasing in March of 2017 and then I was asked to take over the creation of the Manitoba book for this collection. I partnered with Margaret Kyle as my research assistant and go to source of all things Mennonite in southern Manitoba. Landmark Roses is the result of that collaboration and the title released in November of 2017.

Click on the cover for the buy link.

Elsie Nuefeld loves to sit on her porch and watch the children grow in the Mennonite community near Landmark, MB. Returning to the area after moving to Paraguay for a time, Elsie is happy to be living on the wild rose dotted prairie of south-eastern Manitoba. Her granddaughters are growing up and getting married, it's an exciting time. Secure in her long standing marriage to Ike, Elsie is content to observe the community from the sidelines and rejoice in the joys of the young ones. She often walks with her daughters and granddaughters through the graveyard abloom with wild roses and shares the stories of the ancestors sleeping there. It’s important, she feels, for the younger generation to feel connected to those who went before. Elsie hopes when she joins those resting beneath the Landmark roses the tradition of honouring the memory of the forebearers continues.

Then I also had a hand in the New Brunswick title, On A Stormy Primeval Shore. Partnered with Diane Scott Lewis, I served as research assistant and alpha reader for this title. It was a wonderful experience and everyone I contacted for obscure information was very helpful. We are hoping to do some events in New Brunswick this June. On A Stormy Primeval Shore just released on January 1, 2018.

Click on the cover for the buy link.

In 1784, Englishwoman Amelia Latimer sails to the new colony of New Brunswick in faraway Canada. She’s to marry a man chosen by her soldier father. Amelia is repulsed by her betrothed, refuses to marry, then meets the handsome Acadian trader, Gilbert, a man beneath her in status. Gilbert must protect his mother who was attacked by an English soldier. He fights to hold on to their property, to keep it from the Loyalists who have flooded the colony, desperate men chased from the south after the American Revolution. In a land fraught with hardship, Amelia and Gilbert struggle to overcome prejudice, political upheaval, while forging a life in a remote country where events seek to destroy their love and lives.

All the titles in this series have been well received and garnered excellent reviews.

And to top it all off, my very first translated work!

until next post, stay well, stay happy, stay healthy

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Northern Lights Library System Author Tour


I am pleased to announce I will participating in an author tour of northern Alberta libraries. I hope if you're in the vicinity you'll come out and say hello.

Monday October 2, 2017

Rochester Municipal Library 3:00 pm
Redwater Public Library 6:00 pm

Tuesday October 3, 2017

Radway and District Municipal Library 2:00 pm
Newbrook Public Library 5:00 pm

Wednesday October 4, 2017

Thorhild Library 1:00 pm
Bonnyville Municipal Library 6:30 pm

Thursday October 5, 2017

Wainwright Public Library 1:00 pm
Chauvin Municipal Library 4:00 pm

Saturday October 7, 2017

Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives Athabasca 11:00 am
Morninville Public Library 2:00 pm

Tuesday October 10, 2017

Edmonton Garrison Community Library Lancaster Park, AB 2:30 pm
Boyle Public Library 7:00 pm

Wednesday October 11, 2017

Tofield Municipal Library 3:00 pm
Viking Municipal Library 7:00 pm

Thursday October 12, 2017


Vegreville Centennial Library 10:00 am
Innisfree Public Library 3:00 pm

Saturday october 14, 2017

Cold Lake Public Library - South Branch 11:00 am
St. Paul Municipal Library 3:00 pm

Tuesday October 17, 2017


Plamondon Municipal Library 10:00 am
Stuart MacPherson Public Library Lac La Biche 2:00 pm

I will be speaking on a number of topics about the craft of writing and about my books in general.


Monday, June 13, 2016

Wonderful New Book from Penny Lockwood. Ghostly Visions,a dual offering of Ghost For Lunch and Ghost for Rent.

The lovely and talented Penny Lockwood is my guest. I know you'll enjoy getting to know her better and exploring her newest offering Ghostly Visions.


Wendy Wiles attracts ghosts, first in Ghost for Rent, when her parents separate and she, her brother, and mother move into a haunted house. The story begins in Portland, Oregon and quickly moves to small town, Scappoose, Oregon. Miserable at leaving her friends and beloved Portland behind, Wendy meets her neighbor Jennifer who tells her the house Wendy’s mom rented is haunted. After two of them appear to Wendy, the girls find themselves tracking down the mystery of who the ghosts are and why they "live" in the Wiles' home.

In Ghost for Lunch, Wendy’s friend, Jennifer, moves away, leaving Wendy sad until new neighbors and their restaurant in St. Helens bring ghosts back into Wendy's life. She, her brother, and their new friend discover the two cases are connected. Once again, the young sleuths use clues and lots of brainstorming to figure out who is haunting the restaurant.

Ghostly Visions is available direct from the publisher 4RV Publishing LLC for $15.99 including shipping and handling. It can also be ordered from your local bookstore with the following ISBN numbers: ISBN-10: 0982642326, ISBN-13: 978-0982642320, or through Amazon,

I've had the pleasure of working with Penny and I can tell you she is an excellent author and a fine person, to boot. If you have young people in your family or in your circle of friends be sure to augment your library with all of Lockwood's works. You won't be sorry. Money well spent! If you're looking for some summer romance reading, be sure to get your copy of Love Delivery, Lady in Waiting, and Mirror, Mirror.

Penny Lockwood (Ehrenkranz) has published over 100 articles, 75 stories, a chapbook, and her stories have been included in two anthologies. She writes for both adults and children. Her fiction has appeared in numerous genre and children’s publications, and non fiction work has appeared in a variety of writing, parenting, and young adult print magazines and on line publications. She is a former editor for MuseItUp Publishing, 4RV Publishing, and Damnation Books. Visit her web site at http:// pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com and her writing blog at http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/.

4RV Publishing has joined her two middle grade novels (Ghost for Rent and Ghost for Lunch) as Ghostly Visions. She recently released Boo’s Bad Day with 4RV Publishing and has one other children’s picture book under contract with them: Many Colored Coats. She has three romances published by MuseItUp Publishing: Love Delivery, Lady in Waiting, and Mirror, Mirror. Her short story collection, A Past and A Future, is available through Alban Lake Publishing and Smashwords.



Tuesday, March 15, 2016

I have an exciting new opportunity!

I've been offered an exciting new opportunity by my publisher, Books We Love. A terrific author who we have lost, Pat Dale, is being kept alive by his literary executor. Pat's wife has agreed to let me revamp and re-release Pat's work. Currently, The Last Cowboy is available on Amazon and where good books are sold. This is the first of the re-releases.
Here's the cover by Michelle Lee. You can click on the cover to be taken to a buy link.



The next book will be The Teddy Dialogues. Pat has created a wonderful character. Teddy is dog with a unique voice and personality who lives with his person and takes fixing up her love life into his own paws. He has a pararmour of his own as well, much to the dismay of the poodle's owner. Pat's original short story will form the basis for the dialogues and I will create two or three stories gleaned from Pat's work. It promises to be an entertaining and excellent read.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Fun Interview hosted by Steve DeWinter of Old Dog New Trx.

I just had the pleasure of being a guest on Steve DeWinter's YouTube channel. It's called Old Dog New Trx and features authors from all walks of life. I had a blast and the hour just flew by. We talked about my books and the writing process as well as the amount of research that goes into writing a well grounded and accurate story. I won't go on and on about it, I'll just sit back and let you watch the interview and make up your own mind. Although I do think I look like an evil elf, the camera is not my friend. No not at all! LOL

Click here to view the interview.


If you're looking for great Christmas gifts, my books are available at Books We Love. Just scroll down, click on a cover and it will take you to the book store.

Don't forget to pick up the five Christmas novellas which just released on November 1, 2015. My contribution is A Longview Christmas. It's Christmas Eve at Mary and Luke Cassidy's and match making Mary is in fine form. Don't miss out on the hilarious goings on.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Welcome Rave Reviews Book Club Spotlight Author TC Booth!



TC Booth

Rave Reviews Book Club

Spotlight Author

TC Booth


Teen Bullying

I rocked big hair and spandex as a teenager. My vocabulary

contained the phrases like totally, no duh, phsyc, take a chill

pill, and I’m sure. Gotta love the 80’s. Things have changed

since then, but one constant the remains a constant among

generations of teens is bullying.

While writing To Be Honest, I researched how bullying today is

different from the days I remember.  The main difference I found

is that today rumors and nasty comments meant to humiliate you

can be posted online for all to see.

Both boys and girls experience bullying.  There are

differences in the way they're bullied, but the outcome is the

Here’s what I found out:

 Boys are more likely to be bullied physically, but girls

are more likely to be bullied by rumors or being left out.

 Girls bully to feel a sense of importance and control.

 Boys usually get bullied by other boys, whereas girls tend

to get bullied by both boys and girls.

 Girls experience bullying on school property more often

 81% of teens say it’s easier to bully someone online than

 70% see frequent bullying online

 90% of teens who have seen bullying online say they ignore

 Girls are more likely to fall victim to online bullies than

The good news is that there is more of an awareness of the

seriousness of bullying today. Dosomething.org is an excellent

resource for teens who need support. My character Starla had a

good support system otherwise she may have needed to check it

To learn more about TC Booth or to purchase her books, please visit:

Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/TCBooth

Website http://www.tcbooth.com

Twitter handle: @BoothTammi