Michelle L. Levigne's Blog, page 57

Upcoming release sample: CADETS, Young Defenders Book 1

That night, Jorgan couldn’t sleep. Despite his parents reassuring him several times that the fight at noon and the rebukes on his record had nothing to do with their transfer off the planet, he worried. He was grateful Professor Alyss and Healer Sweetbriar and several other teachers had made their own report about what happened, and had sent that recording of the things Superintendent Daran had said. He was grateful his parents were angry for him and didn’t blame him at all. They commended him for stopping to help the two younger boys. Then they reminded him that he had been scolded by several teachers the last time he had tried to help someone with his “tinkering Talent,“ as Tila called it. Jorgan thought they were admitting that part of the trouble was his fault, until they told him that made them even more proud. He had done the right thing by using the gifts Enlo had given him to help someone, even though it would cost him in trouble.

Jorgan was glad he didn’t have to go back to school in the morning. He just wished that people would know the real reason why he wasn’t going back there. The other students, and the teachers who didn’t like him, would tell everyone he was staying home because he was a big baby and his feelings were hurt, or he was a coward. What he cared about was that he had no one to tell the incredible news: soon he would be living on an E&D ship, and prepare to go to the Academy.

“I shouldn’t care what any of those bokraks think of me anymore,“ he muttered.

In the room across the hall, Shayn sighed and rolled over. Jorgan flinched and held his breath. He hoped he hadn’t awakened his brother. If he couldn’t sleep, it would probably be smart to get out and away from the bedroom end of the house. 

He rolled out of bed and padded down the hallway in his bare feet. The rain had stopped during dinner, leaving the garden softly coated in damp that glistened in the starlight. He slid the door open and stepped out into the garden and left the door open.

 

Off the Bookshelf: DEAD AND BREAKFAST, by Kate Kingsbury

 

A Merry Ghost Inn Mystery

Audible/Audiobooks

Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

 Melanie and her grandmother, Liza, have bought an allegedly haunted mansion to turn it into a bed & breakfast. Renovations screech to a halt when removing wallpaper reveals a hidden doorway -- with a skeleton sitting behind it.

The ladies can't continue renovations until the death is investigated, so they get involved learning about the history of the house. Which leads to investigating the family who lived there before them, and asking questions about the ghost that laughs quietly at inconvenient times. Then things get even more tense when a woman is killed on the beach nearby -- and she looks like Melanie. 

Looks like it isn't just the local cops who are irritated by the women sticking their noses into the investigation. 

Will Melanie and Liza survive to get their answers, and finally get the house renovated so they can take guests? Or will the murderer triumph? And what exactly makes the ghost laugh?

Looking for Audiobooks?

 Yep.

I got 'em.

Look for audiobooks at your favorite store online -- Audible, Amazon, Authors Direct.

What? You never heard of Authors Direct?

Go here: www.Authors-Direct.com 

What titles do I have available now in audiobook?

A Match (NOT) Made in Heaven (Match Girls Book 1)

Confessions of a Lost Kid (Neighborlee Book 1)

Living Proof (That No Good Deed Goes Unpunished) (Neighborlee Book 4)

Allergic to Mistletoe (Neighborlee Book 10) -- Newest release!!

Friendly Fire (AFV Defender Book 1)

The Kindness Curse (Magic to Spare Book 1)

And lots more coming!

Right now I'm working on editing/formatting CADETS, Young Defenders Book 1, which I hope to have ready for the print and ebook release of CADETS on December 1.

Stay tuned!!

New release sample: ALLERGIC TO MISTLETOE

 

They -- whoever "they" were -- lied.

It was not lonely at the top.

Bethany Miller found it danged crowded. The number of people who gathered around her growing stardom made her feel downright claustrophobic. What had made her think she wanted this?

Oh, yeah. To show all those idiots in school who made her feel invisible. Other than a few friends, starting with Athena Longfellow, it was like an invisibility cloak had been wrapped around her all her life. Except when she got on stage. Then she became visible, and audible -- everybody watched her, everybody listened. Meaning no sense of privacy. Sometimes she felt like her godmother, Angela, was a faerie godmother who had gone too far with a spell designed to protect her. The same sense of "go away, we don't like you here," that drove most troublemakers away from Neighborlee seemed to make her invisible to everyone in town.

When she won a talent competition, got an agent, started doing commercials and small recurring roles on networks like Nickelodeon, then she became visible.

Which wasn't all it was cracked up to be. 

With shooting wrapped on her third feature film, she looked back on those days of invisibility and anonymity with nostalgia. What insanity had driven her here? She could be perfectly happy right now, flipping burgers at her father's diner, being a perpetual student at Willis-Brooks College, clerking for Angela, spending her weekends hanging with Athena and her gang of computer geeks. And yes, trying not to be jealous that Athena was now engaged and deliriously happy. But no, she had taken the path that meant she couldn't even walk to the corner drugstore to get the paper without being recognized and mobbed.

Upcoming release: CADETS, Young Defenders Book 1

 

COMING DECEMBER 1

MIDDLE GRADE SCIENCE FICTION

Set in the AFV Defender universe

Behind every legendary ship are the little people who make the incredible discoveries possible.

 

In the case of the AFV Defender, they really are little -- the children of the crew, growing up below decks, learning lessons on faith, honor, loyalty, and what it really means to be a hero. No matter what it costs.

 

Cadets long before they go to the Fleet Academy for official training, they are preparing for the day the fate of the Alliance, and maybe the Human race, lies in their hands.

 

Jorgan -- a new kid on the ship, an orphan adopted by Fleet doctors, with a talent for gizmos and secret fears.

 

Tress -- leader of the gang by default, with special talents ready to bloom, and a gift for attracting trouble, no matter how hard she tries to be careful.

 

Elli -- raised by her older brother, and tormented by a new crop of bullies just when she's earned her place in Tress' gang.

 

Bo -- musical prodigy with brittle bones and unsure if the Fleet or Enlo can use a boy without real legs.

 

Dafna -- her love of solitude and dark, hidden places turns into the needed advantage when the Defender is invaded.

 

Kati -- her blooming talent isn't "cool" like everyone else's, and needs to learn the hard way that Enlo gives gifts to those who are willing to obey, no matter what.

Off the Bookshelf: MY NAME IS MARKHAM and THE STEAM-PUMP JUMP and SHIPS AND STINGS AND WEDDING RINGS, by Jodi Taylor

 

Audible, Audiobooks

Narrated by Piers Wehner and Zara Ramm

The Chronicles of St. Mary's series

Three more shorts from the Chronicles of St. Mary's -- because it's time travel, when you get down to the bottom line.

Lots of fun!

First: My Name is Markham, in which Mr. Markham reports on an assignment in his own inimitable style, and unique opinion on time travel and historians and administrators and getting a really difficult assignment at Christmas, which he has to pull off between rehearsal for the Christmas party and participating. Poor Markham, so misunderstood, and always trying to save the day. In this case, he gets to dress up as yet another servant and investigate the legend of Alfred and whether or not he really burned the cakes. In this case, the historians might just be changing history by the "simple" act of observing. And then of course, getting in trouble with their boss when they return just in time to perform the Christmas play.

Then in the Steam-Pump Jump, Max is out of commission, seriously injured, and she has to rely on Markham to help her play matchmaker during a mission. Markham is at his commonsense snarky best as he carries out his assignment with much grumbling and exasperation, when the targeted lovebirds don't seem to be cooperating, technology fanatics are out of control, and political differences lead to more grumbling and sniping than Markham can handle.

Finishing up with Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings, Max, Markham and Peterson are on a rescue mission -- in this case, rescuing one of their own, who broke a cardinal rule and left a dangerous modern item behind in Ancient Egypt. They need to retrieve it before chaos ripples down through the centuries. Problem: it's hot, there are a lot of bugs, Max is uncomfortably pregnant, and just when victory is in their hands, disaster strikes.

And that's all I'm gonna tell you -- except that yes, as usual, all three stories are lovely, fun, snarky British humor that will keep you in your car or taking your walk long enough to finish the story and get to the final snark and grumble -- and grinning all the while. I'm addicted!

New release sample: RETURN OF THE LIVING PROOF

 

"Just some old beads." I shrugged and turned the key in the ignition.

"Would you mind?" She stopped just short of pressing her hand against the glass.

"Sorry, we're really running late. You can see it tomorrow when we come back."

"That would be great. You … you wouldn't happen to have any more of those beads, would you?" She chuckled, but the sound had lost its warmth and sounded brittle, and somehow chilly. "I collect beads. Especially unique old ones like those."

"I don't think so." I put the Jeep in reverse, and she finally got the hint and backed away. "See you tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow." Kerri bared her teeth in a thin smile and backed up to the sidewalk of the building. She stood there, watching us, holding onto that smile that made me think of sharks ready to go into a frenzy, until I had backed up and turned and drove out of the parking lot.

Pete watched her in the rearview mirror and didn't move, and maybe didn't even breathe, until we had put the Neighborlee Schools property between us and her.

"We are not going back, are we?" he muttered.

"Our folks didn't raise no dummies." 

I took the last possible street to turn left and head for Divine's. Something in me didn't want friendly little Miss Kerri to get the slightest hint of where I was going. If I could have, I would have taken the long way around, but gut instinct was insisting I had to get to Divine's and show that contract to Angela ASAP.

Upcoming release sample: ALLERGIC TO MISTLETOE

 

"Ken--" Jo choked, and pressed trembling hands to her face as it flushed cherry red.

"Say yes?"

Everyone cheered as Jo held out her hand, and he slipped the ring on her finger.

Maurice cheered with the rest of them, but it was an effort. The sound caught in his throat and he wilted a little inside. He retreated to the edge of the counter, to sit and kick his legs and watch the decorating party turn into an engagement party.

"Maurice." Lanie wheeled over and pivoted her chair so she could watch everyone else gathered around Jo and Ken. With all the noise of talk and laughter, it was a given no one could hear her talking to him. "Tell me something."

"Sure." He could barely tear his gaze away from Holly, who had her arm around Jo and nearly bounced up and down with excitement, chattering away.

"How serious are you about Holly?"

He thought about making a joke, but that defense no longer worked. He wilted a little more. "Serious enough to hurt."

"I think you're just what Holly needs."

"Hah! Five inches tall, invisible and impossible to hear, and we can only talk four times a year, if we're lucky. Yeah, she needs me like a..." He couldn't think of something miserable enough to compare himself to.

"Holly needs an enchanted prince, and you're pretty close. The question is if you'll stick around after you get your size and your magic back. I don't want you hurting her."

"Never!"

Lanie studied him solemnly for several long moments, then a slow smile graced her face. She nodded. "That's good enough for me. Let's see what we can do to get the two of you together."

"It's gonna take a miracle, that's all I can say. "

"Maurice..." Mischief lit her dark eyes. "It's Christmas. It's the season of miracles."

Off the Bookshelf: AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT and THE GREAT ST. MARY'S DAY OUT, by Jodi Taylor

 

Audible, Audiobooks

The Chronicles of St. Mary's series

Narrated by Zara Ramm

Two more "short" stories about the time-traveling historians of St. Mary's.

First is a totally new take on time travel -- when it involves a trip to Mars. The Time Police are on the verge of a coronary, as they get a verbal report and try to give a dressing-down to the director in their timeline, who includes our friends from the more familiar "first" St. Mary's group, including Dr. Maxwell, in a jaunt to Mars to witness the first Mars landing. And of course get involved and almost mess up -- or perhaps save the day -- when history doesn't seem to be going the way it should.

'Nuff said! (meaning you need to listen, not just let me tell you about it)

Then, the gang from St. Mary's is granted a holiday, when they get a chance to witness the very first performance of Hamlet, with Shakespeare playing the ghost of the murdered king. It's supposed to be just a fun day out, but of course, anything that can go wrong will and does .... and Mr. Markham, our unlikely Shakespearean fanatic, jumps in to save the day. Maybe ... Well, what are you going to do when the Bard is set on fire and then gets knocked loopy so he can't deliver his lines?

Listen to this one and find out!

Major fun. As usual.

New release sample: RETURN OF THE LIVING PROOF

 

"We've never had anything happen like that before. Totally inexcusable. I can assure you, we don't run our business like that." She tried to laugh, and brushed some hair out of her face, which had come loose from the immaculate, businesslike chignon.

"Well, I should warn you, since you're setting up business here." I paused to smile and try to read that flicker of something in her eyes. Something dark. Maybe anger? Or apprehension? "This is Neighborlee, the weirdness capital of the state, if not the country. Your realtor should have warned you that odd things happen on a regular basis. Maybe you can get out of the contract if you claim that vital information was withheld." I laughed, and she laughed with me. The sound was brittle and I swear there was an odd sensation of an echo, muffled almost the moment I heard it. "Sorry to take off like that, while you were running around. We really have to get to that appointment before we get in more trouble than we already are."

"Right. Right. So, you'll come back tomorrow? Any time is good. No need to make an appointment. Or you could come back after your appointment, this afternoon."

"Tomorrow is great." I nodded and looked pointedly at my door, to warn her, before I pulled it shut.

"See you tomorrow!" She gave me a chipper smile and backed up a couple steps until she was on the sidewalk in front of the door. Then she loosely wrapped her arms around herself and stood there, watching us, until I put the key in the ignition.

"Oh, wait -- could I see that?" She darted back across the crumbling blacktop, holding out her hand.

I was suddenly very glad the window was rolled up, even though the day was so humid.

"What is that? On your keychain." Her smile widened a little more, and honestly, with the weird vibrations I was getting, I wouldn't have been surprised if her teeth were pointed.