Michelle L. Levigne's Blog, page 137

Book Trailer: ZYGRADON

From the Arthurian Fantasy series published by Uncial Press.

Off the Bookshelf: BLOOD FOR BLOOD, by Ben Wolf

Okay, here's the deal -- I don't do vampires. Or zombies. They both have too much of the "ick" factor, you know? Yes, I enjoyed "Buffy" when it was first on the air, and I don't mind catching reruns when I'm feeling nostalgic and too brain-dead to write. And yes, "Van Helsing" is always fun to giggle through. But get the picture? Vampires are the BAD guys. They need staking and dusting.

So for me to read a book where a vampire is the hero? That's really out of my comfort zone. Like, double ick. So why did I read this vampire book? Well, Ben Wolf is a fellow Realmie, as well as the mastermind behind Splickety Magazine (there are three "flavors," so if you want to try flash fiction, there should be something for your taste). Reason enough to trust him.

Interesting take on the whole conundrum of what exactly a vampire is, if there is a soul left, or if the vampire has to regain his soul, and just how do you develop a 12-Step program to get off the addiction to blood? (Besides the abstinence program advocated by the vampires in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series?)

Then there's the long-lasting effects of seeking revenge, learning to forgive, doing what is right no matter how much it hurts, and ultimately trusting in and obeying God. Then there's the concept of Jesus' blood being enough to overcome a vampire's bloodlust. Quite enough twists and turns and "hmmmm" moments to make up for the ick factor. Even if you're not into vampires, you might just want to investigate this story that steps back a century or so, and investigates what happens when a lonely, desperate, hungry vampire runs into an old-school Italian evangelist and his family.

Book Trailer: THE HUNT, YA Fantasy series

The Hunt, YA fantasy series published by Writers Exchange.

Note that the cover art has been changed since this video was created. It'll be updated one of these days ...

Off the Bookshelf: WRITE YOUR NOVEL FROM THE MIDDLE, by James Scott Bell

Haven't read many books lately on writing. This has been my "book to read while waiting" book on my Kindle.

James Scott Bell bids fair to be the writing guru of this generation, with all his books on so many aspects of writing.

This short and sweet little book is quick and to the point, with a surprising number of examples to illustrate and prove the point he's making.

Writing from the middle involves answering some specific questions about the main character, the goals and problems and background and reactions. When those questions are answered, you know how your character will react to whatever situation -- good or bad -- you throw at him or her. In a sense, the story writes itself. At least, it will if your character stays true to himself.

Honestly, this is such common sense, and it's useful for the plotters as well as the pantsers. If you know your character, how he thinks, how she feels, her hopes and dreams, his secret fears, then figuring out all the other questions about the plot, the "dark moment," the resolution, the climbing action, and all the other pieces-parts of the writing craft become just that much easier.

Book Trailer: QUARRY HALL

Special shout out today to the people participating in the giveaway at Desert Breeze Publishing. This is for those who are sticking around long enough to try to win my "To Infinity and Back Again" travel bag full of goodies for summertime reading!

"To Infinity and Back Again" giveaway .... continued!

How about some SF Romance?
Have you read any of my SFR titles? BLUE FIRE, STARBLUE -- novels -- and the novella that is part of the Borealis universe, THAT SYNCING FEELING?
They’re a series, which is always fun for me. I like knowing what happens to other people I’ve met in a book, and what happens to their children.
In BLUE FIRE, Captain Rhianni Day returns to her homeworld, a colony that was invaded during a terrible war with alien hive-mind creatures. Her job is to investigate what really happened when most of the adults were killed, and a group of children were rescued by the native canines called Shadows. Her childhood best friend, Petroc Ash, is the leader of the rescued children -- now adults -- called the Taken. Rhianni needs to investigate all the secrets and lies and uncover a terrible conspiracy that threatens the fate of the Human race, before time runs out.
In THAT SYNCING FEELING, Rhianni’s friend, Nureen, is a hotshot pilot in a bad mood. She wants to help Rhianni on her assignment, but her ship has been sent to the other side of the galaxy. When she gets pulled through a vortex into the Borealis universe, Nureen is forced to team up with a shapeshifting creature and a man who claims to be a missing war hero, Tedrin Creed -- but Creed supposedly died fifty years before, and this man definitely does not look like he’s in his eighties! The three have to break free of the Borealis and get back through the vortex before it closes.


STARBLUE explores the sacrifices friends will make for each other. Starblue Ash is the daughter of Rhianni and Petroc. Her best friends, Neona and Keegan, are the twin son and daughter of Nureen and Creed.  Blue has vowed never to leave her homeworld, but when Neona is captured by aliens that pretend to be the friendly Shadows of her homeworld, Blue willingly teams up with Keegan to rescue his twin, and they head off across the galaxy.


Now remember, this is all part of the "To Infinity and Back Again" giveaway that is going on at Desert Breeze Publishing this week. You need to go to the Facebook page for Desert Breeze and find out what the rules are, and what questions you need to answer, then come back here and respond in the comments section. You can also ask me questions -- in fact, extra points toward the prize package if you ask me questions!
Ready?Go!

Book Trailer: TABOR HEIGHTS SERIES, Year Two

Titles and cover art for Year Two of the Tabor Heights series, published by Desert Breeze Publishing

The "To Infinity and Back Again" Giveaway at Desert Breeze Publishing

This week, you need to check out the Desert Breeze page on Facebook.
Why?

Because I'm doing a giveaway and you have homework to do all week, to earn points to win the "To Infinity and Back Again" summer fun tote.

See what you can win? (this picture does not feature the 2 books you can win -- your choice)

Part of your homework is to answer questions and then talk to me, right here in the comments section in the blog. I'll be monitoring what's going on and keeping track of who participates, and the winner will be announced to the people in charge at Desert Breeze. You'll get these goodies pictured here -- a tote bag, journal, travel mug, travel toiletries kit, pens, candy pen, 2 reading rubber duckies and 2 faerie bear finger puppets. PLUS your choice of 2 books. First, your choice of any Tabor Heights Year Two or Quarry Hall title, and second, your choice of either Starblue, Blue Fire, or Odessa Fremont.

My venture into steampunk starts with the prequel to the series, Guardians of the Time Stream: ODESSA FREMONT.

Ess at fourteen is not happy to be left behind at boarding school when her archaeologist grandparents
go to South America. Then she realizes her headmistress is up to no good when her grandparents are reported missing, presumed dead, and it looks like the evil woman is trying to confiscate Ess's inheritance. What does she do? Ess runs away, but not before turning the woman and her traitorous brother over to the Secret Service. The next couple years are full of adventure for her, including saving President Lincoln's life and joining the circus!

The next book -- actually Book 1 in the Guardians of the Time Stream, to be released in October -- starts up several years later. Ess is now a Pinkerton agent, and assigned to protect a traveling exhibition of Egyptian artifacts on loan from the Cairo Museum and the British Museum. A late-night encounter with alleged thieves lands her in the middle of the Blue Lotus Society -- and their leader claims to be not just friends with, but associates of her missing grandparents. Ess hesitates to claim her heritage and answer many questions she has had about her grandparents and their secretive lives, but hesitation just escalates the danger she faces when her heritage includes vicious enemies who have fought her family and their allies down through the centuries.


So, do you know what to do? Go check out the Desert Breeze Publishing page on Facebook, learn about the contest and the rules, and then start playing. Come back here to comment and ask me questions in the comments sections. Can't wait to see who wins this prize package!

Off the Bookshelf: EMISSARY, by Thomas Locke

My pursuit of reading all fellow Realmies' books in my possession before arriving at Realm Makers takes me to our keynote speaker's book, EMISSARY, Legends of the Realm Book 1.

Thomas Locke turns out to write "other" books under another well-known name, but since it's not SF/Fantasy ... meh, not gonna mention it. You can find out for yourself!

Must admit, this one had me neglecting my writing so I could keep devouring the book. I just wanted to know: What happens NEXT? And considering this is Camp NaNoWriMo month, that's saying something! I mean, I have multiple deadlines and goals this month, but when you need to finish reading a story, it's better just not to resist.

Hyam is our hero, a farmer who has just lost his mother to illness. He goes to deliver a message to fulfill his mother's last request, and what he is told in return turns his world upside down. Hyam isn't who or even what he thought he was, and then he isn't even permitted time to consider all the ramifications, because big trouble is coming against his friends and the kingdom. The worst part is, the trouble originates from within the kingdom. What do you do when there's rot at the heart of the kingdom? Well, sometimes you have to break some laws.

Slowly and surely, Hyam does what he knows is right -- he makes some mistakes along the way -- and puts himself on the line for truth and life. He's the quintessential hero with an agonizing secret and shame. As he lets magic work through him, he is changed, and so are the unique and admirable cast of supporting characters who gather around him.

If this sounds like I'm holding back a lot of details, I am, because that would ruin the story. Doggone it, another series I'm going to be following. When am I going to have time to write?

Up next -- because I'll be reading and finishing it before Realm Makers, even though this report will come out afterward -- BLOOD FOR BLOOD, by Ben Wolf. Why I am reading a vampire novel, I have no idea!

Book Trailer: THE COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSE

An overview of many of the storylines and series and covers in the Commonwealth Universe series from Writers Exchange.

Please note, some of the covers have been updated, while this trailer has not!!