Nancy E BlantonNancy Blanton's passion for Ireland's history comes from her father, who treasured his Irish heritage and loved everything about the people, the land, the pubs, the stories, the songs, and most especially the horses. Her first novel, Sharavogue, abou 17th century Ireland and the West Indies, won Florida's Royal Palm Literary Award for historical fiction. Her non-fiction book, Brand Yourself Royally in 8 Simple Steps, is a guide for authors, artists, and business consultants who need to establish presence and be memorable to potential customers. The book has become a basis for hands-on personal branding workshops. She wrote and illustrated a children's book, The Curious Adventure of Roodle Jones; co-authored the award-winning book Heaven on the Half Shell: the Story of the Pacific Northwest's Love Affair with the Oyster; and spearheaded production of Rising Tides and Tailwinds, a corporate history book for the Port of Seattle centennial. Her blog, My Lady's Closet, focuses on writing, books, history, book promotion and historical fiction-with a bit of research and travel thrown in for good measure. Nancy has worked as a journalist, magazine editor, corporate communications leader and author. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism, a master's degree in mass communications, and has won numerous awards for her products and professional leadership. She lives in Florida. Read More Read Less