Michelle L. Levigne's Blog, page 25

November 3, 2023

Storytellers Episode of Ye Olde Dragon's Library: Chat with author PHYLLIS WHEELER

 

Today's chat is with author Phyllis Wheeler about her brand-new release -- this week!-- SECRET OF THE LOST DRAGONS, Book 2 in her Guardians of Time series. This is a chapter book series, for younger readers.

Eleven-year-olds Jake and Ava are seasoned time travelers babysitting their four-year-old cousin, DeeDee. DeeDee stoops to touch a strange coin in their driveway—and vanishes! 


Twins Jake and Ava and friends from present-day St. Louis rescue others lost in time. They aren't doing it alone—they have the help of a 700-year-old alchemist from the Guardians of Time Guild.


Book 1 in the Guardians of Time series, The Dog Snatcher, tells the story of Jake and Ava who crisscross time and space chasing the thief who stole their dog. Book 2, Secret of the Lost Dragons, takes the twins and their cousin on a journey to a mysterious canyon, home to five hungry dragons. 

Guardians of Time, an award-winning action-packed illustrated series for ages 8-11, focuses on geography, history, and personal responsibility. Author Phyllis Wheeler brings the fantasy tale to vivid life.   


Special offer: Get Book 1’s ebook for just 99 cents for the month of November, at a variety of retailers. The audiobook for Book 1 is now available as well. Sign up for the author’s email newsletter and get an exclusive copy of the short-story prequel for The Guardians of Time at https://www.phylliswheeler.com


You can find Phyllis online and sign up for a free short story at her website:

www.PhyllisWheeler.com

Or find her elsewhere on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/phyllis.h.wheeler

https://twitter.com/PhyllisWheeler

https://www.instagram.com/phylliswheelerauthor/

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Published on November 03, 2023 23:00

November 2, 2023

A new Adventure -- for the AFV Defender, and for me!!!

 


INQUEST: AFV Defender Book 4

Signals are coming from beyond the edges ofcharted space. All indications are that they are being generated by the brokenpieces of a Gate, used by the ancient Gatekeepers to scatter all the Humanraces across the universe.


Except that as far as anyone knew, nothing coulddent a Gate, forget break it. Yet the legendary warrior, Etrusca, scatteredpieces of broken Gate across known and unknown space. Now, a response is comingin. As one of the top E&D (Exploration and Diplomacy) ships in the AllianceFleet, the Defender heads across the galaxy to find out just who or what issending the signal.


Except this time, they've been partnered with theInquest. The only ship in the Fleet with a stranger reputation and record thanthe Defender. The notorious Captain Illean Shryne and her crew of rule-breakersand miracle-workers always manage to escape from the jaws of death and returncovered in glory. Unfortunately, the ships sent on missions with them don'tfare so well ...


CHECK OUT THE CAMPAIGN BEFORE IT LAUNCHES

Sign up for updates, and learn about discount prices on other Defender stories during the campaign

https://kickstarter.com/projects/mll04def/inquest-afv-defender-book-4


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Published on November 02, 2023 09:04

October 20, 2023

Storytellers Episode of Ye Olde Dragon's Library, the storytelling podcast: Chatting with author Beka Gremikova

 

Today's Episode: Chatting with BekaGremikova, who has 4 stories in various Ye Olde Dragon Books anthologies, andhas 2 new books coming out in October. Look for her brand new book, UnexpectedEncounters.


Encounters. Whether with magic orscience, expected or unexpected, they can change our minds, our destinies, evenour world…

Inthis collection of twenty-two short tales, journey across multiple genresalongside various characters, including:

~amother who gathers dragon scales to provide for her family despite a perilousjungle and her own self-doubt;

~ayoung half-human, half-mermaid girl on the search for her father with murderoussoldiers on her heels;

~anopera singer-turned-ghost-hunter attempting to thwart a Phantom who just won’tstop interfering with her act;

~afamily at risk of losing their humanity to the Moon as its magic wreaks amonstrous change within them;

~andan alien on a rescue mission to save her best friend’s children from those whowish them harm.

Fullof comedy and tragedy, heartache and hope, monsters and magic, these storiesare an encounter that just might change you too…

 

 

You can find her online at:

Website: www.bekagremikova.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/beka.gremikova

FacebookPage: www.facebook.com/bekagremikova

FacebookGroup, "Beka's Books":   https://www.facebook.com/groups/317018483906447

Twitter: @DreamofWriting

PurchaseLink for Unexpected Encounters:

https://books2read.com/UnexpectedEncountersofaDraconicKind



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Published on October 20, 2023 23:00

October 14, 2023

Off the Bookshelf: NO GOOD DRAGON GOES UNPUNISHED, Rachel Aaron

 

Heartstrikers Book 3

Narrated by Vikas Adam

One evil dragon seer dead. Evil mother dragon overthrown. Friendly dragon apparently, temporarily in control of the Three Sisters clan and willing to be an ally. Mating flight completed. Friendly siblings supporting him.

You'd think everything would be looking up for Julius, the runt of the litter and nice dragon. Nope. Human politics are bad enough, but dragon politics make Washington look like a bunch of kindergarteners with dirty diapers. And then there's the water spirit, Algonquin, who has destroyed the newly awakened Three Sisters and declared war on all dragons. And Algonquin's territory sits in the middle of Heartstriker territory. Not good. Then there are all the assassination attempts and threats on Julius.

All he wants is to spend time with Darcy, but both of them keep getting dragged away by opportunities and duties. Suddenly, Darcy has a chance to be the first Merlin. She's being targeted by a supersoldier with Raven for an advisor, and a snotty mage who considers himself a better choice for that plum role and title.

Warning: you won't like what happens to some of your favorite characters, dragons and humans.

But I've started listening to Book 4, and there's light at the end of the dragon tunnel. Maybe. Of course, with Book 5 waiting ... that might just be a dragon-sized train coming!

Can't wait to find out how this all gets resolved....

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Published on October 14, 2023 23:00

October 13, 2023

Storytellers Episode: Ye Olde Dragon's Library Storytelling Podcast -- Chat with author CJ Milacci


 


Today's Episode: Chatting with CJMilacci, author of the Talionis books, about her series, upcoming release onOctober 21, and working with Kickstarter.


Listen to the podcast the website:

https://yeoldedragonbooks.com/ye-olde-dragons-library-storytelling-podcast/

 

You can find her online at:

Website: www.cjmilacci.com

Instagram: @cjmilacci

To purchase Recruit of Talionis: 

 https://books2read.com/recruitoftalionis

Kickstarter for Recruit of Talionis:  

 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cjmilacci/recruit-of-talionis

Kickstarter for Fugitive of Talionis: 

 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cjmilacci/fugitive-of-talionis-a-young-adult-sci-fi-dystopian-novel

 

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Published on October 13, 2023 23:00

October 7, 2023

Off the Bookshelf: ONE GOOD DRAGON DESERVES ANOTHER, Rachel Aaron

 

Heartstrikers Book 2

Narrated by Vikas Adam

Julius and Darcy have settled down to a pretty satisfactory life, dealing with magical creatures, making a living, and staying out of the reach of his clan. Because you know, dragons, are pretty intimidating and selfish and demanding and kind of hard to live with. Especially when you're like Julius, not just the runt of the litter, but sealed so he can't access his dragon shape and magic.

Then things start getting tricky. Because Bethesda, his mother, has got more plans in the works, and she's decided Julius is useful.

Between two dragon seers manipulating fate and fighting each other, and all that dragon arrogance causing trouble, Darcy and Julius have very little opportunity to make progress on their relationship. The daughters of the Three Sisters seem to be having internal problems, and then some of the most powerful members of the Heartstriker clan suddenly start acting strangely. Julius finds it harder and harder to stay in the shadows, unnoticed by the clan, and ignoring all the scheming and injustice that has been going on for centuries.

How's a nice dragon going to win?

Well, strong hint ... there are 5 books in the series, and this is #2, so it ain't gonna be over for a loooong time.

Which is really good when you think about it, because I love this series!

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Published on October 07, 2023 23:00

October 6, 2023

Storytellers Episode of Ye Olde Dragon's Library: CHAT WITH KATHLEEN BIRD

 

This week's guest is KATHLEEN BIRD, author of the Adven Trilogy and the Isles of Miadhra series, as well as author of 2 stories in the Fairytale Anthologies published by Ye Olde Dragon Books.

Her newest book is #2 in the Isles of Miadhra series, THE HEART OF A THIEF. Releasing on October 11

What's it about?

He needs to pull off the biggest con of his life…but he can’t do it without her.

Elian never wanted the life of a petty thief and con man. He’s desperate to quit. But there are people depending on him, and he can’t let them down. This new job could buy his freedom; but it requires a partner he doesn’t have.

Jaida is used to being just a pretty face. What she wants is to be truly helpful to those in need. When a young man asks her to play the role of his wife, she sees an opportunity to finally be useful. But will he turn out to be more than just a perfect partner?

A clean romance retelling of Aladdin set in a brand-new steampunk world.
Buy link below:
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Thief-steampunk-retelling-Aladdin-ebook/dp/B0CHPRJKY9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21PKN90T31YHX&keywords=the+heart+of+a+thief+kathleen+bird&qid=1694929150&sprefix=the+heart+of+a+thief+kathleen+bi%2Caps%2C331&sr=8-1
Check out her covers:

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Published on October 06, 2023 23:00

October 5, 2023

Goals -- a lovely thing in theory....

 Here is the dry erase board with all my project goals for October.

Books, short stories, podcast work, education, and editing/formatting work for Mt. Zion Ridge Press.

Kind of overwhelming, huh?


Well, aim HIGH and you'll hit something, at least!

Book projects, including formatting, uploading for print and ebook, narrating for audio/editing for audio, uploading for audio, creating cover art or requesting a wraparound cover:

Sanctuary, Common Grounds, The Beastly Beauty, and Inquest.

Turning several published short stories into audiobooks and offering them for sale.

Interval: rough drafting my first Commonwealth Universe book in a couple of years (that sound you heard was my publisher in Australia having a heart attack at the news ....)

Creating short story files and uploading as ebooks, as well as creating audiobooks, or editing the rough drafts I've had in my computer for a while: Ash, Bread, and the Boy -- an Enchanted Castle Archives story; Cocooned -- an AFV Defender story; Tower to Tower -- an anthology story/Enchanted Castle Archives story, to be released as a single.

Editing an author interview to post on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library podcast, and recording another author interview.

Do another newsletter.

And edit and format several books for Mt. Zion Ridge Press. Did you know we'll have a NEW Christmas anthology out this year? Christmas In Ohio -- which means all stories are set in Ohio. Which we, the authors who live in Ohio, think is pretty cool!


So .... check back for updates and see if I actually accomplish these goals.

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Published on October 05, 2023 10:34

September 30, 2023

Off the Bookshelf: WRAITHWOOD, Alyssa Roat

 

Wraithwood Trilogy Book 1

This is one of those books -- series, actually -- where you'll need to reread it several times to get through all the layers, unpack all the hints and images and suggestions, and probably have some interesting arguments with fellow readers over what's implied and promised and should have happened and didn't happen, but might in future books. With very strong Arthurian fantasy overtones.

Yeah, lots of fun.

Once I started reading, I had to keep reading.

Brinnie is not happy to be sent to visit an uncle she didn't even know she had, when her parents don't want to include her on a trip to see her sister. The sister who has always been the favored one. She doesn't get along with her mother at all. It's like she can't seem to do anything right.

Until she struggles through the woods to Wraithwood, her uncle's estate, and odd events start to pull back the curtains of her life and give hints that there is so much more to her world, her family, herself, than she could ever have guessed. Suddenly, her mother is the rebel, not Brinnie, and she is far more like her mother than she could ever have guessed. She faces incredible danger as well as incredible opportunities, if she makes the right choices.

Her family is part of a secret society, perhaps a secret, magical race, perhaps part of mythology, part of a battle between unnatural or supernatural forces. Who can be sure? Because she doesn't get many straight answers.

And worst of all, at the end of the summer, she is sent home and expected to basically act as if the summer never happened, she never learned anything about herself, she never learned to control the unusual gifts she possesses. How can she forget what happened at Wraithwood?

Read the book, and you'll never be able to forget, either. Wow ... well deserving of the nominations and accolades from Realm Makers.

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Published on September 30, 2023 23:00

September 29, 2023

Storytellers Episode of Ye Olde Dragon's Library: JENELLE LEANNE SCHMIDT

 

This week's guest is Jenelle Leanne Schmidt, talking about her series, the Turrim Archives, as well as her participation in a brand-new series, A Classic Retold.

Nine authors take nine works of classic literature, including Dickens and Shakespeare, and retell them in fantastical new settings.

Jenelle's book which released brand new yesterday, September 29, is STEAL THE MORROW, and retells Dickens' Oliver Twist.

You can find her online at these URLs:


https://www.jenelleschmidt.comhttps://www.facebook.com/JenelleLeanneSchmidt
https://www.instagram.com/JenelleLSchmidt
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3636.Jenelle_Leanne_Schmidt

https://www.amazon.com/author/jenelleschmidt
And check out just a few of her covers!
 





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Published on September 29, 2023 23:00