Margaret Rodeheaver's Blog, page 4

Christmas Reading Magic - Free Kids Book and More Gift Ideas

Give the gift of reading!

Spark some Christmas magic for middle grade readers. Buy early and get in the holiday mood! This list offers 19 books to choose from, including one of mine - Haunted Holiday.  Click here to see them all, or read on to learn about Haunted Holiday, and find out how you can get a copy for free!

...

Romance ebook give-away - 16 authors to choose from!

Let the summer romance begin!

Start with one, and come back for more. There are sixteen free ebooks in all, including one by me - Hidden Treasure:

Laurie has a craving for coffee and a nose for news. But sometimes she forgets to ask the most important questions of all, like “Are you single?”  and "Where did all that money c...

Buy online and support local bookstores

Artwork by K. Rodeheaver

Visit my bookshop

Hey, friends. Good news!

You can now buy books from me, and support local indie booksellers.

I’m an affiliate of bookshop.org, and will earn a commission if you purchase through my shop. But a matching commission will be shared ...

Kids’ Summer Adventure E-books - 13 Free Series Starters!

Middle-grade book lovers, prepare to embark on a summer adventure!Thirteen middle-grade adventure books are ready to be downloaded to your e-reader for free!

These books are just right for readers ages 8 - 12, but they’re also terrific for anyone who loves fun and exciting reading. You’ll find pirates, animal adventures, mystery, fantasy, and lots of other great stories - enough for a summer full of reading. There’s even one about a pig who turns into a human - and then gets kidnapped! (Seriously if you haven’t read Porkington Hamm, now is a great time to get it for free!)

And the best news is, these books are all first-in-series. That means when you find stories you can’t get enough of, you can look for the next book and keep on reading.

Click the link to see what adventure awaits, and choose as many books as you like.

The link for these free books is valid from May 22 through June 22. Share it with your friends!

Happy Reading

New kid on the block

My awesome cover artist has sent some preliminary sketches for book three in the Porkington universe. What do you think? Any guesses as to what’s up with the knife? And the mallets?

I am so excited!! The book should be available in June, so I’d better get a move on!

If you’ve read Porkington Returns , you can probably guess the name of the lead character in my new book. Send me an email with the correct name between now and June 1, 2020, and I’ll send you a paperback copy of the new book as soon as it’s out! If you’re having trouble guessing, you can still buy the Porkington Hamm and Porkington Returns ebooks for just $3.99 each on Amazon. Why wait? Order yours today!Happy ReadingPorkington Hamm - buy nowPorkington Returns - buy now

Kidlit News - ebooks on sale

Porkington is on the move!

The best uncle a kid ever had

Hey, Porkington Fans,I’m hard at work on the next adventure in the Porkington universe, with a new character in the lead. She’s young, she’s talented, and she’s going places. Can you guess who it is? If you’ve read Porkington Returns, you probably can! If not, you’ll have to wait until summer of 2020. Meanwhile, you’re in luck, because now the Porkington ebooks are on sale.Porkington is back for more action and adventure in "Porkington Returns." And great news, the ebook is on sale for only $3.99, available everywhere ebooks are sold.

Ready to hear more?

Swinson has a new job in the city, and Porkington is doing his best to help him settle in, but there's nothing he can do about  Swinson's vicious co-worker , who is determined to get him fired.

Meanwhile, Porkington is struggling with the loss of someone close to him, and memories of Rainbow Acres. Can his friends help him put the past behind him? Maybe a new pet will be the answer.

Porkington finally finds out what vacations are supposed to be like when he goes on an adventure with Ray. But he also learns that  Swinson has a secret: he left a brother behind, and his brother is no longer safe . Now Swinson and Porkington must embark on another adventure, and this time  it's a matter of life and death .

Get your ebook now from Amazon or one of these other online retailers. 

What's that you say? You haven't read “Porkington Hamm"??

You're in luck, because now you can get the ebook for $3.99!

Life is not easy when you look one way on the outside and feel another way on the inside. But that's just the way it is for Porkington Hamm after he gets a dose of Doctor Morty's experimental stem cell serum.

Thinking, feeling, and (mostly) looking human, Porkington makes friends, develops his culinary talents, and explores the city. He loves the library, the farmer's market, and the local cafe.

But someone is stalking Porkington,  and when his best friend Tom leaves town she makes her move. Is it the same person who got Doctor Morty in trouble at the university? Will her "conversion therapy" turn Porkington back into an ordinary pig? 

Porkington Hamm and Porkington Returns are fun reading for fans of kids' fantasy and magical realism. Get Porkington Hamm now from Amazon or any of these other online retailers.

If you love Porkington, please write a review, and share him with your friends! 

Stay well, and happy reading.

Two of my favorite people

Tea and Gossip

Here’s a short story I wrote for a Reedsy contest. If you enjoy reading it,

hop on over to Reedsy here and give me a thumbs up.

(The prompt for this story was “Write about a person who meets with the ghost of an old friend for tea every so often.”) 

Tea and Gossip By Margaret Rodeheaver

Kendra hurried in from the garage and put the bakery box on the kitchen counter. She shrugged off her spring coat, hung it on the peg by the door, and glanced at her watch. She just had time to put the kettle on.

The kitchen table was already set with Staffordshire teacups and saucers, and a blue and white transferware sugar bowl. Kendra filled the little matching pitcher with milk, arranged the bakery cookies on her prettiest tiered tray, and placed everything on the table.

The teapot was ready. All she had to do was wait for the kettle to boil. She grabbed her appointment calendar from the cookbook nook in the corner and double-checked the entry for today’s date. There in scribble-scrabble handwriting it said “Agatha tea 4:00.” Kendra took the calendar and placed it on the chair near the widow, and waited.

Just as the carriage clock in the living room chimed four clear tones to signal the hour, a hazy blue cloud shimmered over the spot where the calendar lay. A moment later it solidified into the figure of Kendra’s great aunt Agatha.

“Hello, Auntie. It’s nice to see you again,” Kendra said, and gave Agatha’s cool cheek a kiss.

“Kendra, dear. I’m happy to be here as always. I’ve been so eager to hear how everything’s going. Ooh! Don’t these look delicious!” Her great aunt smiled happily as she reached for a Russian tea cookie from the tray.

“I got your favorite kind. Though I still don’t know how they can ever compare to the things you have to eat up there.”

“One day you’ll understand that there’s such a thing as too perfect. I always felt that way about housework, if you’ll remember.” There was a twinkle in Agatha’s eye, and Kendra recalled how the old woman would happily let sleeping dust-bunnies lie if she had a good book to read.

Agatha contemplated the cookie in her hand. “I love these because they’re a bit too crumbly and a touch too salty and I like the way the powdered sugar gets everywhere. They’re just fun to eat!” She took a bite and half of the cookie crumbled in her hand, raining a dusting of powdered sugar onto the lace tablecloth.

Kendra carried the teapot to the table, poured two steaming cups of tea, and sat opposite her great aunt. “So,” she began, eyes shining, “I got the job!” A smile stretched across Kendra’s face as she sat back in her chair and waited for her Auntie’s reaction.

“Of course you did.” Agatha smiled smugly. “I knew you would. I had it from an inside source. I told you your prayer would be answered. The question is, is it as wonderful as you hoped it would be.”

“Better,” Kendra answered, and told her Auntie all about her new job at the house museum, how much she loved working in the wonderful old mansion surrounded by beautiful antiques, and how interesting she found all the visitors.

“You always did appreciate the finer things. And I thought that was a new suit you had on.” Agatha nodded approvingly. “Wish I could do something about this!” She pointed at her own outdated blue frock. “Why I left instructions to be buried in this old thing, I’ll never know.”

“Oh, you know why. Because you knew Grandma could get some use out of your best suit, and you wanted to leave something for her. It was sweet of you. And she wore it for several years.” Kendra looked thoughtful a moment. “Do you think Grandma will ever want to visit here?”

“That sister of mine is still too dazzled by the pearly gates and the crystal sea and everything. Typical ‘nouveau mort.’ After a while she’ll probably have a craving for Angelo’s pizza or some fair food or something, and pay you a visit.”

“I sure do miss her. Tell her I said so.”

“Of course, dear.”

Kendra heard a little ping, and looked around for her phone, then gaped as Auntie pulled a glowing object from the pocket in her dress. “Auntie, when did you get a cell phone?” she asked.

“Isn’t this something, Kenny? I never thought I’d be caught dead with anything as newfangled as this.”

Kendra laughed. “That was me. My friends teased me for the longest time about my flip-phone. I finally got a smart phone and now I wouldn’t give it up. But what do you use one for up there?”

“At first I couldn’t imagine what I would do with it, but now I can see how handy it is. This is a text from Mori. He says Trudy made it at last. I’m really looking forward to chatting with her.” She read the message on her phone again and nodded. “Do you remember Gertrude Wallace?”

“I think I’ve heard you mention her,” Kendra said uncertainly.

“My old friend from school. I never saw her after she moved to Indiana, but we exchanged cards every Christmas. Mori texted me last week that Trudy wouldn’t be much longer. She made it home today.”

Kendra knew that by “home,” her Auntie meant “up there.” “Do you get messages about everybody who’s on their way … home?” Kendra asked.

“Oh, no. That would be billions of people! And before you ask, I can’t call anyone who is alive on this thing. I’ve already tried. No, we just get messages about people we’ve known and care about. Well, messages about celebrities too. Maybe you heard about Clive Cussler. He came home fairly recently. What a fascinating man! And he sure loves to talk.”

The two chatted for the better part of an hour. Then Kendra took her Auntie out to see her garden. “Look how your azaleas are blooming,” Agatha said. “It’s so delightfully ragged out here! I just love it.” Kendra was embarrassed by all the fuzzy yellow dandelions thriving under her benign neglect, and was glad someone besides the bees appreciated her yard.

They continued talking as they strolled around the garden. “How’s your mother doing, dear?” Agatha asked.

“Not bad. But not really good either. You know how the pollen always gets to her in the spring. This year it’s particularly bad. I talked to her on the phone the other day, and the way she was coughing, I told her if she didn’t go to the doctor I would drive all the way up there and take her myself. She promised to make an appointment soon.”

Agatha turned back toward the house. “Let’s get inside before my time is up. I want to put myself on your calendar so I can visit again. It’s so much easier this way than what I have to go through with your cousin April. And I’d much rather visit you. I like seeing my old china, and you know just the kind of cookies I like.” Agatha smiled and patted Kendra’s cheek.

While Kendra reached for the calendar and searched about for a pen, she heard Agatha’s cell phone ping again. “My electronic leash,” the old woman muttered. “I’m sure it’s Mori again.” Then her tone changed. “Oh dear,” Agatha said. “Oh, this can’t be.”

Kendra looked over at her Auntie and saw Agatha gazing sadly back. “What’s wrong, Auntie?” Agatha seemed not to hear her. “Aunt Agatha?” Kendra repeated.

Agatha breathed a slow sigh, glancing at her phone again. Then she slipped it in her pocket. “Oh, nothing. It must have been ‘operator error.’ I’m still not quite sure about this thing. Now let me see that pen.” In her spidery handwriting Agatha penned her name on a square in the following month in Kendra’s calendar.

“I can feel that my time is up, Kenny dear. I hate to leave you all alone.”

Kendra was touched. Her Auntie rarely seemed this sad when they parted. “I’ll look forward to seeing you next time, Auntie. I’ll have your favorite tea and cookies waiting for you.”

Agatha nodded. “And why don’t you just drive up and visit your mother sometime soon. I know she would love to see you.”

“Maybe I will,” Kendra said, as Agatha began to shimmer and grow hazy. Suddenly a thought occurred to her. “Auntie!” she cried. “Aunt Agatha, that message you just got…” But Agatha was already gone.

Christmas Book Give-away - "Haunted Holiday"

A typo on page one? I can’t sell these -- so I’m giving them away.

Oh, well. My loss is your gain!

“Haunted Holiday” is still an entertaining and interesting holiday ghost story for kids ages 8 - 11. And at 78 pages, this paperback would also make a nice stocking-stuffer for a child in your life.

Here’s all it takes to get your copy of “Haunted Holiday” —

Sign up for my email list.

Send me your mailing address. I’ll mail out your copy right away!

Click here to get your paperback copy of “Haunted Holiday.”“Haunted Holiday - A Christmas Cookie Ghost Story” by M. M. Rodeheaver

Calypso loves the new-old house where she lives with the two Mamas. She doesn’t even mind that a ghost lives there too — until the ghost ruins their holiday cookie party. Is there something he doesn’t like about parties? Or holidays? Or cookies?

Calypso is determined to find answers. And clues turn up in the most unexpected places — the library, her friend’s house, and even in the local cemetery.

But time is running out. With help from her cat Whiskers and her new friend Abbey, Calypso races to solve the mystery before the ghost can ruin their next party.

"Porkington Returns" for more adventure

Porkington has a new roommate! Swinson has a new job in the city! But Swinson also has a secret. How long can he keep it to himself?

You’d think life would be getting better for Porkington. He has a job he loves, a great new apartment, and a new roommate he has a lot in common with.

But life happens, and Porkington is haunted by bad memories.

It isn’t much easier for Swinson. You know how it always seems there’s one person who makes your life miserable? Someone wants to get Swinson fired! Not only that, Swinson is worried about something. And he finally has to tell someone.

But it’s not all doom and gloom in Porkington Returns.

Join Porkington, Swinson, and friends as they find out what a vacation is like. It’s just in time, because soon the’ll have to embark on another adventure, and this one is not fun and games, it’s a matter of life and death.

Click here for all the links you’ll need to get your copy of Porkington Returns.

Still haven’t read Porkington Hamm? Click here for more info.

If you’ve enjoyed reading about Porkington, please leave a review, and tell your friends!

Sneak preview of "Porkington Returns" Plus inspiration for Chinkapin fans

Hey Porkington fans —

Porkington and friend, ready to embark.

The cover for “Porkington Returns” is taking shape. Here’s a sneak peak of the work in progress.

Of course you recognize Porkington, but do you remember his friend’s name? And what’s up with the train?? Looks like a trip is in store!

Watch for “Porkington Returns,” available soon as an ebook from your favorite online retailers, and in paperback on Amazon.

If you haven’t read “Porkington Hamm,” here’s a link to find out more. And if you have, please share your thoughts wherever you find book reviews.

And now, a little something for romance fans —

I’m hard at work on book three of the Chinkapin series. Here are a couple of photos that have served as inspiration.

A lovely 1940’s diamond ring. An engagement ring, maybe??

Hmmm … I wonder what this unlocks? Think we’ll ever find out?

I originally envisioned the Chinkapin series as a trilogy, but who knows? With so many cool items being donated to the Treasure Chest Thrift Shop, and such interesting characters in and around town, the series could go on and on!

If you haven’t finished book one and book two, now’s the time to start! Here’s a link for more info.

Happy reading! Do you love to read? Here’s how you can support your favorite authors

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