Michelle L. Levigne's Blog, page 39

Upcoming release sample: DANCING ON MY GRAVE

 Monday, June 6

 

“All the indications are that there’s something federal involved in the mix,” Eden said. She kept her head bowed over the far-too-thin stack of printouts from all the research she’d been doing for Conrad and studied him from under her eyebrows.

She needn’t have bothered being so discrete. Conrad didn’t see her. He frowned, new furrows in his forehead and around his mouth, staring at a spot a few inches off the surface of the conference table between them. They were alone in the office upstairs from Book & Mug for the moment. Troy was due back in another half hour from a trip to Michigan. Eden looked forward to hearing if he had learned anything new from a tenuous lead about their hidden backgrounds.

“Most of what I’ve been learning has been the shadows cast by the information I can’t get at. Kind of like deciding the shape of something from the hole it left when it passed through other things. I thought at first the difficulty came from the adoption records being sealed. Now …” She slid the bankers clip back onto her copy of the reports and sat back in her chair. “Either your brother is involved in something dangerous, and he’s being protected --” 

“Or he’s dangerous in and of himself, and the further I have you dig, the more danger you could be bringing on yourself.” He nodded and only flicked his gaze up to meet hers for a moment.

Off the Bookshelf: NO HELP WANTED, by Margaret Epp

 

Blast from the past -- I read this book when I was in elementary school. It was a prize I won for memorizing Bible verses. Funny, how long it took me to read the book way back then ... and how quickly I read it now, when I managed to get a beat-up copy, and revisit a childhood favorite.

If our heroine, Shannon's story were told today .... wow, it would have progressed very differently. No cell phones, no email, no computers, no way to track people's activities, no social media to instantly look up people and find out, hey, that face doesn't go with that name!

Shannon, age 14, is living with her aunts and not happy about it. Especially when suddenly her father has stopped writing. She misses their regular weekend camping trips, but apparently her fussy aunt persuaded her father that he wasn't raising her to be a proper lady. When Shannon discovers that her aunt has been keeping her father's letters from her, and preventing her letters from being mailed to her father, she begins a series of questionable decisions. 

After Shannon discovers that her father plans on getting married, she decides to check out Jane, the woman who will soon be her stepmother. A series of helpful events and coincidences allow Shannon to sneak away from home, and using a false name go to work at the summer camp where Jane is working. Problems arise when a spoiled rich girl from the neighborhood shows up, using Shannon's name to hide out from her guardian and make trouble. The situation grows grim before everything is straightened out and all the lies are confessed. So many places along the way where Shannon could have told the truth, confronted people with their lies, and prevented trouble. But she didn't. 

This was quite an adventure and a little frightening for an eight-year-old reading the book for the first time. As an adult ... I wanted to take most of the characters and shake some sense into them! How perspectives change with the years. Still, it kept me reading, and that's the mark of a well-told story.

Upcoming release sample: DANCING ON MY GRAVE

“It’s bad enough that Radcliffe girl is dogging his steps. Sometimes I’m afraid Becca went to help with that school to get away from her.”

“Radcliffe?”

“Simone. The one who leads that tap dance club. Glittery little …” Sarah’s upper lip curled up for a moment.

“Simone. Right.” Eden had to think for a moment, before recalling a thin, sharp-faced girl who always had something glittery on her clothes, no matter the weather or season. She showed up in Conrad’s shadow more and more often lately, whenever Eden saw him. “I can’t imagine Becca running away from anyone, least of all a rival.”

“Oh, there was some nasty mess when they were in middle school, and Simone blamed her, brought it up constantly. Another girl was hurt by a boy who was trying to romance her and Becca andSimone, all at the same time. Now what was his name …” Sarah’s lips pursed as she thought. She sighed and shook her head. “He’s gone, the girl’s gone, and Simone keeps using the whole ugly mess to try to slap Becca around, even though it was never her fault. And Becca can’t seem to shake off the guilt that she never should have felt in the first place.”

“You really care about her, don’t you?”

“I adore the girl. If Conrad ever slows down enough to figure out what’s good for him, I’m hoping those two make a permanent partnership. They’re good for each other.” She nodded for punctuation. “And then he found out he was adopted, from that idiot, Frank.” She sniffed. “That’s one of my three stubborn, self-righteous sons. The nerve of them, waltzing in a week after their father’s funeral and declaring themselves in charge, I should just step aside. And then stopping just short of threatening legal action when Conrad stood up for me and wouldn’t let them in the office, much less hand over the passwords and keys and checkbooks.” She shuddered, visibly shaking off the icy fury that cracked some of her usual sweet serenity. “I’m worried for Conrad. You’ll help me look out for him, won’t you?”

“You know I will.” Eden grasped Sarah’s hand and squeezed it.

Ye Olde Dragon's Library: Episode 02

 

In this episode:

Lathia makes so much noise, Lord Winston and Lord Digory come running. She accuses Ash of attacking her, which Ash denies. Justiciar Camwell gets involved and convenes an inquiry into the incident.

Listen to this week's episode on your favorite podcast app, or go to my website and listen there:

www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

So, what do you think will happen next? Will Ash get a fair trial? The justiciar doesn't seem to have much sympathy for Lathia, but at the same time he's ignoring what others say about her record and reputation. What should Ash do? Run for it, or stand and fight?

Remember to check back next week for Episode 03 -- it's going to get really interesting ....

Of course, I hope you already think this is interesting!

And please consider joining the Ye Olde Dragon's Library Patreon group, to help support this podcast, pay for the production and distribution costs, and get some goodies along the way!

Upcoming release sample: DANCING ON MY GRAVE

 Tuesday, May 10

 

“Eden?” Sarah Fontaine rested a thin hand on Eden’s elbow, just as she reached for the bag left on the end of the counter at Book & Mug by the delivery girl from Celestial Dragon.

“Hi, Miss Sarah.” Eden smiled despite the sudden electric zing of apprehension that shot through her at the elderly woman’s composed, delicately regal expression and posture. “Something I can do for you?”

“Could we talk? Privately?” Sarah looked around the coffee shop, four-fifths empty just before the afternoon rush began.

“Sure.” She took a firm grip on the handles of the bag and gestured with a tilt of her head for Sarah to follow her to the brass cage elevator around the corner from the front counter.

The metal gate rattled open, Eden gestured for Sarah to step in first, and in moments they were riding up to the second-floor office. She didn’t try to disguise the searching look she gave the woman. Something was gnawing at her. Sarah hadn’t so much recovered from the loss of her husband, Albert, as she had simply carried on. Eden wondered now if that resilience and serenity she envied in Sarah was more mask and determination than reality.

“What can I do for you?” Eden led her guest over to the seat next to her workstation.

“I’m not as sure as I would like to be, of the answer you’ll give me …” Sarah settled into the swivel chair and rested her tapestry handbag on her lap. “Conrad has been meeting with you quite often, over the last few weeks. I hope – please tell me it has to do with business and not personal reasons?”

“Uh … it’s entirely personal for Conrad, but not for me. And that’s about all I feel comfortable telling you. I’m sorry,” Eden hurried on. Something skipped in her chest when Sarah closed her eyes. She reached to lightly grasp the elderly woman’s wrist and was relieved when Sarah opened her eyes and smiled. 

 “I won’t press you. I hoped he had hired you to do some investigative work for him, and not … well …” She shrugged. “Honestly, I was worried he had given up waiting for Becca to come back to town.”

“Me and Conrad? No.” She tried not to laugh, sensing it would insult the woman. After all, Conrad was really the only grandson she had. He had confided in Eden about the reconciliation efforts of one of his Fontaine cousins, but until that actually happened, Conrad was pretty much all she had. One daughter was dead, the other lived in Montana, and whatever had caused her sons to turn their backs on her and Albert so many years ago, it couldn’t be gotten over and healed in a matter of a few days.

Off the Bookshelf: WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON, by Grace Lin

 

Audiobook

Narrated by Janet Song

(For those who are paying attention, yes, I've changed my book review day from Sunday to Thursday. Sundays now are for new episodes of my storytelling podcast, Ye Olde Dragon's Library. I hope you'll stop in and listen!)

I loved the first book I discovered by this author, When the Sea Turned to Silver, so yes, I had to snatch this one when it became available on Audible.

Our heroine is Minli, a young girl who believes in wonder and magic and dreams, despite growing up in a sad, mud-brown village where everything is a struggle and there seems to be little reason for joy. One day, she dares to take a chance. First, she buys a goldfish, to bring good fortune into her home. Her mother only sees the waste, spending coin on a fish that needs to be fed, when they barely have enough to feed themselves. Minli decides to set the fish free -- and when she does, her adventure begins. The fish tells her how to find someone who might be able to help Minli change her family's fortune, and bring joy and color to her village. Minli sets off on a journey, with no guarantee and little hope that she will return, much less succeed.

Along her journey, Minli faces danger and fear with courage. She tries even when the situation seems hopeless. She shows mercy and sympathy. She can see what few around her notice. There is magic everywhere, and her faith and her courage encourage others to help her.

At every step of her journey, a new story rich with Chinese mythology is related to the readers, and eventually all the stories tie together. This is a lovely, rich tapestry of history, culture, and imagery, heroism, sacrifice, and faith.

My only complaint? The story ended far too quickly!

Upcoming release sample: DANCING ON MY GRAVE

Book & Mug Mysteries #2

Becca Sheridan comes home from overseas with big hopes, but Conrad Price, the center of those hopes, has changed. For one thing, he has kicked her square dancing club, the Four Corners, out of Windows on the River, the venue they have used for years. It's little comfort that he also kicked out the Tippy Toes tap dancing club, led by Becca's high school rival, Simone Radcliffe -- because now Conrad and Simone are an item.

 

Or are they? Over the months that follow, Conrad seems to be two people. His grandmother, Sarah Fontaine, grows afraid of him. Then estranged Fontaine relatives return to Cadburn Township, wanting to take away the family busines. Is Conrad trying to fix the family rift, or make it worse? Is he trying to get back together with Becca, or does Simone still have him wrapped around her glittery fingers?

 

When Sarah dies on vacation, and there is no body to bury, Becca starts asking questions she should have asked months ago. A Fontaine uncle vanishes, then there's a dead body in Cadburn Creek. Is Conrad trying to make things right with Becca or not? And just what is in the letters Sarah left behind, to be read at the settling of the family trust?

 

When Four Corners is allowed to return to Windows on the River, Becca should be dancing for joy. But something just doesn't feel right. What else will she uncover as she and friends from Book & Mug dig into what has been hidden all these months in Cadburn Township?

 

Ye Olde Dragon's Library: Episode 01

 

WELCOME to the first episode of the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast -- and welcome to the New Year!

LIAR'S QUEST, the book you will be hearing for the next few months, is based on the short stories that have appeared in the Fairytale and Classic Monster anthologies published by Ye Olde Dragon Books.

Funny thing -- and you'll be hearing bits and pieces of back story during the run of the podcast -- but I had notes for a book variously called The Beastly Beauty or The Beastly Beauty and the Disenchanted Prince and other ideas for several years. When we decided to do the first Fairytale Anthology, When Your Beauty IS the Beast, I pulled out the notes and decided to write the story of the daughter of the heroine, hence the title, Daughter of the Beastly Beauty. What followed were more short stories of Belladonna, known as 'Na, and the friends she's picked up along the way -- starting with Ambrose and Fang the Bunny. Coming this spring is Fairytale Anthology #3, Perchance to Dream, with stories based on Sleeping Beauty. 'Na's newest adventure will be titled either Beauty in a Box, or Box of Beauty. (cue: evil laughter)

So ... now it's time to tell the story of 'Na's parents, and how they became Lady Ashlyn and Lord Zared. It's shaping up to be a really loooong story. Like maybe 3 books, by the time they're allowed to settle down in their happily ever after ... if not peaceful domestic bliss. Because face it folks, they're living in the enchanted castle, in the enchanted forest, and the castle is full of temperamental magic books and rooms upon rooms full of troublesome magical artifacts. Think Warehouse 13 without the purple goo that deactivates the really problematic items.

Episode 01: We meet Ash, a servant girl who's been passing herself off as a boy, because face it, boys get much more sensible clothes and they get to have a lot more fun in a semi-medieval world. However, things are about to change, and Ash is about to be catapulted into an adventure she doesn't really want. All thanks to that spoiled brat, Lathia, who needs some serious hormone therapy ...

PLEASE COME BACK and comment, ask questions, chat, right here in the blog. This story is in the process of revisions, so if I use your suggestions -- and if I ask for help with things like finding better names for people and places -- your name will go in the acknowledgments section of the published book.

If you don't have a podcast app, or your podcast app isn't carrying Ye Olde Dragon's Library yet, you can listen to the podcast on the Ye Olde Dragon Books website: CLICK HERE.

Short Story Excerpt: FOR THE BIRDS

 Culver took position behind M'kar, one hand gripping her shoulder, ready to offer psi energy to brace her if necessary. The fact that she didn’t feel that humming sense of his presence and psionic strength encouraged her. It meant he trusted her to handle this without his help.

Greetings in Enlo’s peace, she called, making it a prayer as well as a gesture of friendship, and slowly lowered her outer mental shield.

Her first impression was of rising fury and terror in the birds, conflicting waves of icy, jagged teeth and scorching thorns. All that jangled and twisted sideways when the subliminal clang of the airlock opening vibrated through the ship. Taking a deep breath, she reached for memories of the floating sensation that came from entering the mind-circle with her Infrenx classmates, to spread through the mental contact and calm and sooth the birds. She needed them to accept her alien touch as friendly before she could penetrate their panic and jealousy and convince them it was good for Shay and his people to return to their own nests.

Her mental barrier sifting out the negative "blips" from the birds shuddered when it slipped, just for a moment, allowing more than their emotions through. The stench that reached her through the birds' noses was thick and gritty and pungent. The birds considered it normal, and even liked it. She fought not to let her initial nauseated reaction slip and undo all the good she was somehow managing. A friend who was sickened by their ordinary, comfortable world wasn’t a friend. Birds were especially sensitive to those who camouflaged themselves; bodies, scents, sounds, and minds.

Liars.

M’kar knew right then the ambassador hadn’t revealed even a fraction of a percent of the situation. These birds were too highly aware and intelligent, if they could grasp the concept of lies and liars and betrayal.

And still that stench thickened and coated her throat and reached down to her stomach. She tasted the fetid thickness and grit in the air.

Her throat ached with the effort not to gag and heave.

A single sharp thread wove through her brain, threatening a strain headache. M’kar reached into the center of calm she had learned in Infrenx class and pushed it out to share with the minds swirling all around her.

The churning of the bird minds smoothed out and calmed in spreading ripples. 

They were listening to her. They were aware she was something new.

This story is available as an ebook download from Ye Olde Dragon Books.

Short Story Excerpt: FOR THE BIRDS

 

M’kar was stunned when Captain Hollis revealed she was part of the reason the Defender had been assigned to assist the ambassador’s party. Shay had sent to the Academy, requesting the immediate assistance of a strong animal-focused Talent, able to endure difficult and uncomfortable environments, handle large numbers of strong-willed animal minds simultaneously, and impress a culture that admired agility, strength, and skill with knives. He didn’t ask for a recommendation, however. He wanted verification that the Talent he was requesting could handle the task.

“I don’t understand, sir,” she said, when Captain Hollis revealed that information in the privacy of his ready room. “It’s a migrant fleet, with people living on ships for decades, generations. I’ve seen some of the stats and specs for the fleet and –”

“How?” Her captain closed his eyes and shook his head. “Dumb question. Forget I said that. Of course, Lore is going to have his connections and get data that isn’t supposed to be released for general knowledge yet.” He sighed and opened his eyes. “I imagine he was babbling when he got hold of the report, and you were there with Treinna and overheard more than you wanted to.” 

“Pretty much.” M’kar decided her captain didn’t need to know that Lt. Genys Arroyan and Medic Tahl were present as well. They were visiting Treinna when Jasper returned to their quarters after duty shift, babbling pure exasperation and disbelief at the engineering impossibilities present in the Banscraqi fleet.