Michelle L. Levigne's Blog, page 29

COUNTDOWN UNTIL RELEASE DAY

 

Countdown!!

LIARS' QUEST releases June 30, in print, ebook, and audiobook.

I'm near the end of the first draft of BEASTLY BEAUTY, the next book in the Enchanted Castle Archives. It's a lot of fun, but you'll need to read LIARS' QUEST first.

Still looking for reviewers for this book. Anyone interested? Message me and I'll send you the Book Funnel link ASAP.

What's the book about?

Two maidens, spoiled lady and clever servant, accuser and accused, are sent on a quest to prove who is innocent. Awakening magic and quirky companions make the journey … interesting.

From YeOldeDragonBooks.com

Oh, and did I mention that right now you can pre-order the book at a discount?

Storytellers Episode, Ye Olde Dragon's Library, featuring Cassandra Hamm

Today we chat with author Cassandra Hamm, who has stories in multiple anthologies, and is the coordinator as well as contributor for the upcoming anthology, THE SUN STILL RISES, in honor of the late fantasy author Lani Forbes. 

She has two stories in anthologies by Ye Olde Dragon Books:

SHADOW OF THE CINCHONA GROVE, in When Your Beauty IS the Beast

OCEAN SHACKLES, in Tales From The Tower

Here are some of her covers.

After you've listened to the podcast, either on your favorite podcast app or on the Ye Olde Dragon Books site:

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

and you'd like to find her and learn more about her and her books, here's where to look:

Instagram: @cassandrahammwrites

Facebook: Cassandra Hamm, Author Website:  https://www.cassandrahamm.com

New Release: PLANTWISE

 

NOW AVAILABLE

In paper, ebook and audiobook.

PLUS, if you'd like to get a taste of the story before buying, check out the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast, and listen to a few chapters.

2 chapters of PLANTWISE are released each week. If you don't want to wait to hear the end of the book, you can buy the book in all three formats from your favorite online bookstore or audiobook app or at Ye Olde Dragon Books -- www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

What's Steward's World? What's the story of PLANTWISE?

STEWARD'S WORLD

 

Magic can be learned, earned, or Gifted -- given to a person withmagic potential, along with all the experience and wisdom of the one who Giftsit. Sometimes, magic-users forget the first and most important rule: Yeshenmade magic to be shared, used for good. If it is stolen, hoarded, and boundwith lies, it turns to poison, ruining one kingdom after another.

 

In this world of many kinds and strengths of magic, a war has beensimmering for centuries, waiting to break out. Durmad waits, exiled beyond theCascade Mountains, sending his agents into multiple kingdoms, to steal magic,enslave magic-users, and corrupt kings to serve him and his plans.

 

Steward stands against him, the duty and the magical ability passedfrom father to daughter, mother to son. The tides of magic and powers and thestrength of kingdoms are shifting, as allies and pawns move into place inpreparation for what could be the war to decide the fate of the world.

  

 

PLANTWISE

 

On her christening day, Princess Arden was Gifted with plantwisemagic, a blessing to her father's farming kingdom of Westerland. Immediately,schemers began working to arrange a marriage between her and Maddix, prince ofStonemount, the neighboring kingdom and ally of Westerland.

 

Guided by agents of the despot, Durmad, Maddix grew up preparing totake over multiple kingdoms, by any means necessary. Arden was the first ofseveral targeted brides, to marry, give him sons, and use those sons to takeover their grandfathers' kingdoms.

 

Just in time, Arden resisted and escaped Maddix's schemes. To punishher, he stole the magic apple tree she created to defend Westerland, then heset out to destroy those she loved. With her daughter's life in the balance,Arden devised a desperate scheme to humiliate Maddix and save her child.

 

Her mentor warned her many times not to play by Maddix's rules, or shewould risk losing everything.  What wouldit take for Arden to learn that lesson -- and would she learn it in time?

 

 

Princess Wronged seeks justice against PrinceNot-so-charming, and learns revenge is a dish best served … not cold, but bysomeone else.

 

 

NOW AVAILABLE!

 

From Ye Olde Dragon Books www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com
In paper, ebook and audiobook.What's your listening pleasure?We've got it!

Off the Bookshelf: THE WIZARDS OF ONCE: TWICE MAGIC, by Cressida Cowell

 

Audiobook

Narrated by David Tennant

Xar is a boy wizard, Wish is a girl warrior. They're friends, but wizards and warriors aren't supposed to be friends. They're supposed to hate and fight and kill each other. However ... Xar has broken a few important magical rules, and he's a trial to his father, the king of the wizards. Wish has a magic eye and has the power of magic that affects iron, which is supposed to be able to fight magic. She's clumsy and messy and accident-prone, and an embarrassment to her perfect, regal, icy mother, the queen of the warriors.

Naturally, the two misfit children would find each other and cause all sorts of havoc. That was in the previous book. Now they're both in trouble, locked up one way or another to protect them and try to straighten them out. Xar escapes an inescapable prison against all logic, and breaks into the warrior fortress to fetch Wish to help him on a mission to destroy the witches that have returned to the Badwoods. Hunted by witch sniffers and warriors and Droods and angry wizards and all sorts of nasty creatures who want to steal Xar and Wish's magic, the children are on a quest to get the magical ingredients for a spell that will save their world. If their parents will let them.

Delicious fun and silliness. It sounds like a cast of thousands, but this is only the amazing vocal range of David Tennant playing all the characters, creating sound effects, and even singing some extremely silly songs.

Thank goodness there's another book  in the series waiting in the queue!

Upcoming release sample: PLANTWISE

 “What is this world coming to, when healers are attacked withimpunity?” Glynna’s light dimmed and she floated away from Arden and Dylon afew steps. “What kind of a fool is Durmad, that he thought his magic was strongenough to overpower Yeshen’s laws, and his tools wouldn’t suffer?”

“He doesn’t care about his tools. Grandfather is convinced theattack was to kill him, perhaps us both, not to capture and enslave us.”

“Perhaps …” Arden shuddered and the grass under her feet wavedas if a breeze blew hard against it. “Auntie, what if that was the goal, tokill Prince Ambrose? What if there was someone waiting to take his Giftingbefore he died? Can someone steal a Gifting, if the holder is so badly injuredthey’re about to die, and … I don’t know … they’re tricked into giving theGifting to the wrong person?”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing, but that sounds likesomething Durmad is nasty enough, desperate enough, arrogant enough, toattempt.” Sparks snapped around her and she shuddered. “What is this worldcoming to?” She reached out to Dylon again. “Tell Ambrose to be doubly careful.Not just of himself, but you. After all, you are his obvious heir, and whoeverwants to claim his Gifting when he is gone has to get you out of the way. Ifnot kill you outright, then at the very least separate the two of you longenough to finish their plan.”

“I will never leave hisside,” the young man promised.

Book Trailer: PLANTWISE

 

Storytellers Episode, Ye Olde Dragon's Library podcast, featuring OHIO TRAIL MIX authors, part 2

 Today's guests are Ohio authors who participated in theOhio Trail Mix anthology: Adventures and Inspiration along the Ohio LiteraryTrail.

Have you listened to thepodcast yet?

If not, LISTEN first, thencome back here for information on how to find the authors and learn more abouttheir books!

Go to your favorite podcast app, or visit the Ye Olde DragonBooks website:

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

 

If you'd like to learnmore about the authors and what they've published, what they're working on now,and what's coming up, here are some of the ways to find them and get to knowthem:

 

Betty Kulich

 Website:Transformed-Image.com, Facebook: Transformed-Image, Instagram:Transformed_Image, Email:Contact@Transformed-Image.com, Amazon:   https://rb.gy/50eibc

 Titles:

The River: A Spiritually TransformingJourney (Christian Fiction& Book One of a Apocalyptic Trilogy: The Coming Darkness & This PresentEvil Age

El Rio (The River inSpanish)

Radical Abundance: MoreThan We Can Ask Or Think (Anthologyof 50 Devotionals, purchased through the author's website)

Ohio Trail Mix

  

Rebecca Waters

 Website: www.WatersWords.com, Amazon Author page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00IJZM63M?ingress=0&visitId=a4e7dbbd-71f7-4260-ab25-3d6e43463025

 Titles:

Libby's Cuppa Joe (2019)

Breathing on HerOwn (2014)

Learn more! Visit my site & Readmy blog  

Let's connect! Follow me on Twitter & Like me on Facebook

 

JPC Allen

Website/blog: https://jpcallenwrites.com, Sign up for newsletter insidebar:  https://jpcallenwrites.com/about/, Amazon author page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/JPC-Allen/author/B08X1Y6FMH?

JPC Allen started her writing career insecond grade with an homage to Scooby Doo. She’s been tracking down mysteriesever since and written mystery short stories and a novel. Her Christmasmystery. A Rose from the Ashes, was a Selah-finalist at the BlueRidge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2020. Her first novel, a YAmystery, A Shadow on the Snow, released in 2021. Online, she offerstips and prompts to ignite the creative spark in every kind of writer . Shealso leads workshops for tweens, teens, and adults, encouraging them todiscover the adventure of writing. Coming from a long line of Mountaineers, sheis a life-long Buckeye. Follow her to the next mystery at Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon.

 

Bettie Boswell

Website: bettie.boswell.author@gmail.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettie.boswell.9, Twitter: https://twitter.com/BboswellB

 Titles

Coming July 2023-Hopingfor Treasure-a Christian split timeromance set during present day and post WW2

Lucy and Thunder-a picture book about overcomingfear-Mt. Zion Ridge Press

Coming sometime in2023-Dottie's Dream Horse-achapter book set during WWII-Elk Lake Publishing

Coming December 2023-Novella for MT. Zion RidgeChristmas in Ohio Anthology

Coming in 2024-Hidden Names, 3Guidepost devotional contributions, Caleb and Great-GrandpaFred,  My Mother

Ohio Trail MixAnthology-A Mazza Mystery- acollection of short stories involving literary sites in Ohio (2022) Ye OldeDragon Books

Free to Love-Prequel toOn Cue-Christian HistoricalRomance, split time (2022) Mt. Zion Ridge Press

On Cue-A Christian Romance with heart andhumor! (2020) Mt. Zion Ridge Press

Skateboarding- non-fiction-Apex/North Star Editions(2022)

Kaleidoscope: A Collection of Standards Based Lessons, Alfred Pub.2017-Contributing Author and illustrator

From the Lake to theRiver: Buckeye Christian Fiction Anthology 2018, Fred's Gift, Mt. Zion Ridge Publishing-Author and cover artist for1st ed.

Teacher CreatedMaterials: social studies worksheets and a leveled reader, Sidetracked, publishedin December 2019

Devotional contributorfor publications by Southern Christian Writer's Conference: ChristmasBlessings-2019, Day by Day-2020, A Memoir ofMothers-2022

Orff Echo MagazineArticles: Don't Let Science Bug You; Drums, Drums Everywhere and Nota Music Room to Spare; A Medieval Masterpiece

The Christian StandardMagazine Articles: Chester Bullard: Restoration Pioneer; BrokenWindows, Closed Doors, Lighted Windows

 

Michelle L. Levigne

 www.Mlevigne.com, www.MichelleLevigne.blogspot.com, www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com, www.MtZionRidgePress.com, MichelleLevigne@gmail.com

 Over 100 publishednovels, novellas, and short stories in SF, fantasy, romance, suspense, cozy --YA, Middle Grade, adult, and women's fiction.

 

Upcoming Release: LIARS' QUEST

[image error] THE START OF A NEW SERIESHave you heard the episodes on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library podcast?Plenty of time to catch up!!

THE ENCHANTED CASTLE ARCHIVES

 

The enchanted castle lies somewhere in the enchanted forest, whichtouches all kingdoms.

At one time or another. There's no predicting when the portal into theforest will open.

Getting in is difficult.

Getting out is even harder.

The castle moves about in the forest, needing an anchor. And aprincess.

The forest moves from kingdom to kingdom.

Until two wanderers stumble inside, and meet in their separate queststo break curses and find answers.

 

 

LIARS' QUEST

 

An orphan servant, Ash successfully masqueraded as a boy until she wasnearly 15 -- then a spoiled brat nobleman's daughter accused her of assault.

A quixotic justiciar got involved, and with both girls revealed asliars, sentenced them to a quest. Ostensibly, the one who succeeded inaccomplishing the list of deeds would be proven the innocent, injured party.

Ash fled to avoid being captured by the spoiled brat's servants andforced to do all the quest work for both of them. Along the way, she stumbledin and out of trouble and learned a great deal of magic -- including the magicborn into her blood.

Her traveling companions: Fang the bunny, who complicated things whenhe was only partially turned into a vampire, and a spirit ring, to allow thejusticiar to spy on her adventures. When the ring decided to become Ash'sfriend, then things got interesting.

Off the Bookshelf: THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON, by Kelly Barnhhill

 

Narrated by Christina Moore

Audiobook

Delightful. Beautiful world building and word weaving. Touches of wry humor, and clever commentary on the tragedy that takes over when the people who are trusted to watch out for us aren't worth that trust, and the suffering of those who are willing to say no to the status quo.

More than that, this is a beautiful story of family, no matter how odd and unlikely. Xan the witch, Glerk the swamp monster, and Fyrian the tiny dragon find themselves raising Luna, a child who was taken from her parents to offer as a sacrifice, the payment for the safety of the people in the gloomy, shadowed village called the Protectorate. 

Luna was accidentally fed moonlight as a baby, and filled with magic. Xan took extreme measures to bind the magic until Luna was old enough to control it, and not accidentally destroy or remake everything around her. When that day came, the lives of the people most intimately involved with that long ago useless sacrifice all came together. How did the story end? Read it, or listen to it. And be ready to cry and laugh and sigh.

Tragic and beautiful and whimsical and finished far too soon.