Michelle L. Levigne's Blog, page 14

Excerpt: CONFESSIONS OF A LOST KID, Neighborlee, Ohio, Book 1

 

From Ye Olde Dragon Books:

Sylvia left me alone forthe first week of school, until Miss Underwood let us move our nametags. She marchedover to my table, ripped my nametag off the table, tearing it halfway through betweenthe N and the I, then slapped her nametag down in my place. By this time, I hadreceived plenty of advice from Kurt and Mrs. S and Miss Abby for how to handle evenworse bullies than Ricky and Donny. I picked up my nametag off the floor where shetossed it and moved over to the table she had just left.

The funny thing was, everybodyat my table pulled up their nametags and moved to other tables, leaving Sylvia completelyalone. That worked out, because there were six places at each table and four tables,but only eighteen students in the class.

Sylvia didn't even noticethat she had the fourth table entirely to herself until she looked up from tapingher nametag down again. Her mouth dropped open and she looked around the room. Thenshe stomped over to Clarice O’Donnell, who had been sitting next to me at my firsttable and had taken the same spot at our new table.

"What are you doingover here?" she demanded.

"I want to sit overhere," Clarice said, her voice barely above a mumble.

"But I want you tosit next to me." Sylvia reached over to pull up Clarice's nametag, which shehad just finished taping down.

"Sylvia, what didI just tell everybody?" Miss Underwood called.

"You said we couldsit wherever we wanted now, we can sit by our friends. I want Clarice to sit nextto me." Again with the little stomp for punctuation.

"I also said thateveryone could make one move. You've already moved to a new table, and Clarice hasmoved to a new table. No more moving."

"But Miss Underwood,I want—"

"Clarice, do youwant to sit next to Sylvia?" Miss Underwood asked.

"Yes, she does,"Sylvia said, while Clarice hunched her shoulders and shook her head. Everybody hadbeen watching in silence until that moment. Then they burst out laughing. Sylviaturned red, darker than her blood-red nail polish.

"The rules are therules," Miss Underwood said. "Go back to your table, Sylvia."

"But I'm all alone!"

"Yes, and why don'tyou think about why you're alone?"

"Clarice is stupidand didn't do what I told her, that's why."

"No one is allowedto call anyone stupid in this classroom."

Sylvia spent the restof the morning standing in the corner, doing her addition worksheet against thewall, with her back to the rest of the room.

VIDEO: This month's featured book: CONFESSIONS OF A LOST KID

 

 

Check out excerpts from the book every Tuesday and Friday this month.

You can buy the book in paper, ebook and audio from Ye Olde Dragon Books, just go to the website and click on the storefront!

Firsty Freebie: DIVINE'S EMPORIUM

 

To launch the start of 2025's focus on the Neighborlee, Ohio fantasy series, today's free book is an interactive story to read and choose your path in ebook format.

Divine's Emporium is the heart of the magic and wonder and strangeness and a little bit of scary stuff in Neighborlee. It's bigger inside than it is outside, with a doorway into a midnight garden through the wallpaper on the second floor, an attic full of paintings that drop you into other worlds, and a vintage clothing room that sends you into another time and place if you don't follow the warnings from Angela, the proprietor.

Here's the link for your Firsty Freebie download for January.

Go to YeOldeDragonBooks.com and check out the Visitor's Guide page, to find out all the fun things you can investigate, to learn more about the weird and wonderful town of Neighborlee, Ohio.

And come back tomorrow for the first excerpt from this month's focus book: CONFESSIONS OF A LOST KID.

VIDEO: Neighborlee Visitors' Guide

 What's ahead in 2025 in the strange little town of Neighborlee, Ohio -- the weirdness capitol of the state, maybe the country -- maybe the world?

The first of every month this year, listen to the first chapter of that month's featured book on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast.

January 1:   CONFESSIONS OF A LOST KID

February 1: SEMI-PSEUDO-SUPERHEROES

March 1: VIRTUALLY LONDON

What's Ahead for 2025?

 

Starting January 1,we're going to explore the weird and wonderful town of Neighborlee, Ohio. Thereare 13 books total, so it's going to take all year, focusing on 1 book a month,with a grand wrap-up in January 2026.

We're starting offwith the Firsty Freebie of January being DIVINE'S EMPORIUM, aninteractive story, where you get to explore (and maybe get into some serioustrouble) the shop called Divine's Emporium, which is the heart of the weirdnessand wonder and magic that is Neighborlee.

Check out YeOldeDragonBooks.com or right here on January 1 for the link for the free download of DIVINE'S EMPORIUM.

There will beexcerpts from the featured book throughout the month, a free audio download ofthe first chapter (check out Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast), some quizzes to earn points toward free books, PLUS adiscount on the print, e, and audio versions of that month's book. Book 1 is CONFESSIONSOF A LOST KID.

If you've read any ofthe Neighborlee books, and you've posted a review on Amazon or Goodreads or anyother site for reviews, PLEASE let me know -- because that will earn you pointstoward free books too!

Ready for a guidedtour of Neighborlee? It all starts New Year's Day!

Merry Christmas!

 

A New Enchanted Castle Archives Story -- Just in Time for Christmas -- and FREE!

 

Just in time for Christmas, a new short story about the adventures of Smedley and 'Na.

You can get it FREE for ONE DAY ONLY. This Sunday, December 22, my gift to loyal followers and readers is a free ebook or audiobook download of IN THE GARDEN OF ALWAYS WINTER. Just follow the links at the bottom of the page ...

What's it about?

IN THE GARDEN OF ALWAYS WINTER

Growing up in the enchanted castle with a pet dragon named Smedley is always an adventure. Especially when sleeping magic wakes up and tries to cause trouble.

'Na was given a snow globe full of magic at her christening. Her parents didn't know who sent it to her, so they knew it had to be dangerous. They locked it away until they could find answers. Then one fall day, the snow globe wakes up and shows a door to a garden at the enchanted castle: The Garden of Always Winter, where snow covers everything.

'Na's parents make her promise not to go through the gate into the garden without them, because it could be dangerous. She really did want to obey them.

But … First the gate opened. Then the snow ogres came through. Then Smedley picked her up and threw her on his back, and he raced through the gate to get away from the ogres.

What is hiding under the snow? Is it dangerous?

What can a little girl and her dragon who is still learning how to use his fire do to break a curse hundreds of years old?

Your links to claim your book (and sign up for my newsletter, if you already aren't ...):

Audio    https://dl.bookfunnel.com/x4g6gidxxr

Ebook  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/jpwb4q2bt5

It's a BOOK FAIR!!

 

Ready for another book fair?
How about a Christmas craft/art fair, along with the book fair?

If you're in the southern Ohio area, I would love to have a chance to meet you face-to-face TOMORROW, Saturday, December 14, at the Dairy Barn in Athens, Ohio.

11am to 4 pm.

Another author from Mt. Zion Ridge Press will be there with me, KIM GAREE, signing copies of her newest release, PACKED TOGETHER, Book 2 in the Buckeye Lake Together Series. You'll love this Christmas romance. Guaranteed!

Lots of authors! Check out the Hocking Hills Book Fairs on Facebook. Or just Google the Dairy Barn in Athens, for directions. It's going to be pretty straightforward for me, most of the trip down I-77.

Hope to see you tomorrow!
Books make great Christmas gifts!

ADVANCE NOTICE: FIRSTY FREEBIE FOR DECEMBER

 

Welcome to December! (okay, a day early... but around here it sure FEELS like December!)This month's Firsty Freebie is a short story, in audio and ebook, from the Guardians of the Time Stream steampunk series. It wraps up a few minor storylines left open at the end of Music in the Night.

You can follow these links to download the ebook or audiobook, with an option to sign up for my newsletter, where you'll get advance notice of releases, freebies, sneak peeks of cover art, and if everything goes according to plan, excerpts of new releases or works-in-progress. Note I said "option," so you don't have to sign up for the newsletter, if you're already a subscriber, or you just don't want to at this time. But please consider? Could be fun!

REMEMBER: Firsty Freebies are only available on the FIRST day of the month. Get it while you can!

Audiobook: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/arwzxu0e60

Ebook: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/opt1oklshd

Christmas approaches, despite illness sweeping through 1870s Cleveland. Carmen, Brogan and the underground community struggle to protect the orphans and destitute who shelter with them, and find ways to celebrate, despite the dangers. Hidden Mountain becomes a haven and a source of miracles, far from the blizzards and dropping temperatures.

Brogan and Carmen help Ransom prepare a special gift for Ess: a crystal ring, and a proposal. Carmen is happy for her childhood friend, but she can't help wishing Brogan would make a crystal ring for her, too.

It's BOGO Week!

 

Why wait for Black Friday?

Treat yourself to some fresh new reads for those long, cold winter nights lying ahead.

Just go to the Ye Olde Dragon Books website and click on the storefront, and find your new adventure!

https://yeoldedragonbooks.com/its-bogo-week/