MARSENA SHANE

Nicholas wrote under the pen name of Marsena Shane for work-for-hire romance, self-help books and biographies from 1988-1992. He briefly released a 2005 edition of 1988's Sweet Dreams, Lady Moon, then a definitive paperback release of it in 2025. Some of those works were lost and in published form became extremely rare. Nevertheless, in 2026, we've revived Marsena and restored/updated/re-invented most of those early works and even released some new ones, such as the Romantic Planets series. Watch this page for more re-issues and new releases, and check out Marsena Shane's page at Amazon (links below).

(Photo is a stock photo I purchased online as well as a few others depicting the same model/subject. Kind of like what Stephen King did when he was Richard Bachman (only he used a photo of a friend). I also use that image for her bios I created in the back pages of each book. Depicted in the photo to the right are examples of original Marsena Shane releases from decades ago. --NG)

JUNE PARK

June Park is a science fiction romance that takes place in June 1988 in Brea, California. Elara Rhodes spends every Tuesday afternoon (and some times other days) at June Park, down the street from the suburban neighborhood home she shares with her abusive husband Marcus and uses her visits to the park to get away from her frustrating, constantly disappointing housewife life there. And she is grief-stricken by the loss of her black cat, Bartholomew. One day at the park she encounters a mesmerizing and mysterious man, Kaelen, who's not just from out of town, but claims to come from beyond Earth. He also claims to be possessed by the spirit of her beloved cat. Is he insane? Yet, she continues to meet with him, hopelessly drawn to his charisma and charm. Her short-tempered husband finds out, and obsessive jealousy and rage ensues....

BOOK ONE of
ROMANTIC PLANETS

THE MARTIAN
COAL MINER

Grabowsky's first published novel (1988) as well as under the pen name of Nicholas Randers, which was at first what Grabowsky wanted to be known as until his Halloween IV novelization came along under his real name. An ancient predecessor of modern-day vampires casts its evil upon the peaceful Montana town of Bloomgarden circa 1980s, where high-schooler Chris Barrett, his friends, a mysterious old man and a self-righteous preacher must learn to deal with these formidable demons while wrestling with their inner ones. Celebrated as the author's first published work, this was also the first in a succession of early Nicholas Grabowsky horror-fantasies penned under the Randers name circa 1980s horror mass market paperbacks in the US and beyond.
(see below for purchase & links)

BOOK TWO of ROMANTIC PLANETS

THE JUPITER POSSUMS

On the first anniversary of her husband's freak death by lightning, Tabitha Barker sits in her quiet East Anaheim backyard, drowning her loneliness in red wine. A sudden, spectacular meteor shower lights up the 1985 California sky, signaling a bizarre global event that transforms common possums into four-foot-tall, bipedal, intelligent beings. Among them is Juniper, a possum Tabitha befriended, who has been inhabited by both a soul from Jupiter and the lingering ghost of her late husband. As the world grapples with this surreal alien contact, Tabitha finds herself falling in love with the creature who wears her husband's flannel shirts and shares his memories of 80s sci-fi movies. Their domestic bliss is threatened by a society on the brink of collapse and a neighbor, Augusta Crabwise, who views the evolution as a demonic infestation that must be stopped! From Marsena Shane, the author of The Martian Coal Miner, comes The Jupiter Possums, Book Three of her Romantic Planets science fiction romance series for all ages, and it is wild!

BOOK THREE of ROMANTIC PLANETS

LIZARD IN A MERCURY

Apple Ridge, 1976. The Mojave Desert. As Halloween approaches, thousands of lizards are crawling out of the sand, converging on a town that's about to become a cosmic battlefield. Marybeth Vargas is a sharp-witted bartender just trying to make it to her twenty-fifth birthday. When a handsome musician named Fred rolls into town in his yellow '69 Mercury Cougar, the attraction is instant and inexplicable. Marybeth's eccentric Uncle Al hides a secret that spans the solar system. He's not just a NASA engineer; he's a protector from a subterranean civilization on the planet Mercury, guarding the reincarnated souls of a forbidden King and Queen. Now, three reptilian assassins have hatched in a local orchard, determined to execute the lovers before they can reclaim their throne. From neon-lit bar brawls to a desperate stand at a fortified ranch, Marybeth and Fred must survive the hunt. In a world of classic cars, drive-in movies, and monster-filled nights, they'll discover that love is the most powerful force in the galaxy. The past is catching up, and the desert will never be the same.

BOOK FOUR of ROMANTIC PLANETS

SWEET DREAMS, LADY MOON

Fantasy romance author Marsena Shane shines in this new 2025 edition of her 1988 mass market paperback novella about a young woman frustrated with her life who dreams about a mysterious love interest until he manifests into her real world. From the author of June Park, The Martian Coal Miner and The Easy Way to Great Legs (and other entries in her Body Dynamics series).

This is a revised and updated edition of the original 1989 romance novel published by Critic's Choice Paperbacks, now from Black Bed Sheet Books!

Includes the introduction by Nicholas Grabowsky, "Being Marsena Shane."

"Marsena Shane rocks!" ---Francy Weatherman, host of Francy & Friends and author of Wherewolf

THE EASY WAY
TO GREAT LEGS

The Easy Way to Great Legs is designed for women about how to shape your legs into great-looking and healthy legs through diet and exercise and mental and physical discipline, ready to impress in as little as six weeks. Also, dive into a brief world history of mankind's obsession with women's great-looking legs throughout the ages, and all the different fashion methods and ways women have dressed their legs, including helpful hints and advice as to how to present your legs in contemporary times to feel great about yourself and impress in many business and social situations.

BODY DYNAMICS VOLUME ONE

YOUR HEART
BELONGS TO YOU

Your Heart Belongs to You is a definitive guide to cardiovascular health written with the high-energy, authoritative spirit of the early 1990s. This book takes you on a journey from the ancient myths of the heart as the seat of the soul to the modern cutting edge of aerobic science. You will learn exactly how your heart functions as the engine of your body, working in tandem with your lungs and muscles. The guide provides step-by-step exercise routines designed to get your pulse into the target fat-burning zone. It offers a comprehensive dietary plan focused on low-fat, high-fiber eating and cholesterol management, which were the hallmarks of 90s health wisdom. Readers will discover how to dismantle old habits and replace them with heart-smart lifestyle choices. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast or just starting out, this book provides the motivation and information you need to thrive. Welcome to your new life of heart-healthy living.

BODY DYNAMICS VOLUME TWO

NANCY:
A REAGAN BIOGRAPHY

Nancy Reagan's story is one that traverses the gilded dreams of Hollywood, the high-stakes arenas of national politics, and the deeply personal challenges of family and health. From her early struggles to establish herself as an actress to her transformation into a poised and influential First Lady, Nancy Reagan's life offers a compelling narrative of adaptation, determination, and a profound sense of purpose. Nancy, A Reagan Biography explores her Hollywood career, the development of her relationship with Ronald Reagan, and the dynamics of their partnership. We will analyze her tenure as First Lady, her impactful "Just Say No" campaign, her role in White House dynamics, and her sophisticated approach to diplomacy. This biography aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of a woman whose quiet strength and unwavering commitment left an indelible mark on American history.

The 1989 once-lost work-for-hire biography originally titled "Nancy: Biography of the First Lady," resurrected, revised and updated in 2025 to get it back out into the world after all these years!

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Marsena Shane

MARSENA SHANE

Buy JUNE PARK here:

Buy THE MARTIAN COAL MINER here:

Buy THE JUPITER POSSUMS here:

Buy LIZARD IN A MERCURY here:

SWEET DREAMS, LADY MOON

"Marsena Shane rocks!" ---Francy Weatherman, host of Francy & Friends and author of Wherewolf

Buy SWEET DREAMS, LADY MOON here:

Buy THE EASY WAY TO GREAT LEGS here:

Buy YOUR HEART BELONGS TO YOU here:

-Biographies-

Buy NANCY: A REAGAN BIOGRAPHY here: