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Your Nineteenth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts

Produce Your Audiobook Secret Supers in Space

Your Nineteenth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts to Christmas. Come along as we ride at Coaster World, where the Secret Supers are enjoying their summer vacation from seventh grade. It’s a good thing the part can accommodate four disabled teens. This excerpt is from my Villain’s Vacation novel.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Your Nineteenth Literary Gift: From Secret Supers in Space

Your NIneteenth Literary Gift

 The Secret Supers met at the rocket launch field after lunch. Only Dancer wore his orange-and-black uniform, complete with a black mask. We discovered wearing the uniform under our coveralls was too hot in the Alabama sun. Even the coveralls were discarded for shorts and T-shirts for this occasion.

“You ready, Dancer?” I held him in my lap on my chair.

Dancer stood and saluted.

“Here we go.” I picked him up and carefully placed him in the rocket payload section. I put my eye up to the tinted porthole in the passenger section and saw Dancer inside, looking back at me.

“Now the phone.” I pushed the phone into the clear tube above the passenger section. It had a round black bulkhead with controls that allowed Dancer to use the phone from his capsule. Then I fitted the nose cone on.

I double-checked the igniters on the three engines that powered the rocket. The nichrome wires were bent and fit into the engine nozzles and held in place by tape.

“We’re all ready, gang. Whoa, feel how heavy this is, Dan.” I handed him the rocket.

“Sure this will fly, Jeremy?” Dan hefted the rocket in his hands.

“Oh, yeah. Those engines pack quite a punch. There’ll be a total of forty newtons of thrust.”

“What’s a newton, Jeremy?”

“That’s a measure of force, Aubrey. Forty newtons is like ninety pounds.”

“So even a one-pound rocket will take off like you hit it with a sledgehammer.” Aubrey whistled. “How high will Dancer  go?”

“According to my simulation program, about one hundred and eighty feet.”

The public address blared: “NEXT ROCKET: DANCER EXPRESS. PLEASE MOUNT IT ON THE LAUNCHER.”

“Here we go! Dan, you mount it. You’re taller, so you can get it on the launch rod.”

Hamster into the Blue

Your Nineteenth Literary Gift

Dan and Aubrey walked over to the launch rack together. The rail had room for six rockets, each with its electrical clips for ignition and a blast deflector. The frame was three feet tall, with three-foot launch rods to guide the rockets after ignition.

Dan lifted the rocket over the launch rod and threaded it through the launch guides. Aubrey attached the alligator clips to the ignitors Jeremy had rigged. Jeremy and Kayla checked everything.

Aubrey peered into the porthole on the rocket.

“Dancer is waving!”

You might want to keep it quiet. Someone might get suspicious.

“Oh, right. Thanks, Kayla.”

“Countdown, rocketeers,” said the launch controller over a loudspeaker. “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1—ignition!”

Six rockets flared on the launching rail and leapt into the blue sky.

As the largest and heaviest rocket, the Dancer Express was the slowest. We could see the rocket reach apogee and arch over. The rocket broke apart with a puff of smoke as the parachute ejected. One rocket part floated on a big orange-and-black parachute, and the other fell to the Earth.

“Oh no! The recovery cord broke!” I cried as I looked through my binoculars.

Oh No!

Your Nineteenth Literary Gift

“Is Dancer in danger?”

“No, Aubrey, the payload tube is coming down slowly with the parachute. He should be okay. But the engine tube broke away from the parachute and is falling. Watch out, team!”

“Stay clear, everyone! Falling rocket,” the launch controller announced.

“I’ll go get it, Jeremy.” Aubrey ran to pick up the fallen rocket part.

“Uh-oh.”

What’s up, Jeremy?

“The wind’s picking up, Kayla. He’s worried about recovering Dancer,” Dan frowned, putting his hand on his head.

It’s not too high, only about a hundred feet to go.

“But it’s blowing right into the woods!” I began driving my wheelchair over the grass to the woods. I bumped crazily, but I didn’t care. Dan and Kayla followed. Kayla hung on to his arm.

Aubrey ran back with the engine tube and caught up to them. “I got it. Now let’s get Dancer.” She put the tube in the rocket holder I had rigged on the back of my wheelchair.

We followed the drifting rocket right into the woods. Then we lost sight of it in the trees.

“I’ll find it!”Aubrey ran ahead of us.

Help is Coming!

Your Nineteenth Literary Gift

“I’m so worried we’ll lose Dancer,” I said.

Don’t worry. We’re the Secret Supers. We can find him.

“Thanks for reminding me, Kayla. You’re right. I’m my fillings are falling out on this rough ground.” I unbuckled my seatbelt and floated into the air.

“Whoa, Jeremy. I know we’ve got to find Dancer, but there are people behind us coming into the woods.”

“Thanks, Dan. At least I can make my wheelchair smoother.” I floated back into my seat, and the whole chair lifted a couple inches off the ground. “Tell me if anyone can see me and I’ll let it down.”

“Will do.”

“I see the rocket!” They heard Aubrey’s voice several hundred feet ahead of them.

“We’ll just stay ahead of the other people.” I floated Dan and Kayla in the air beside me,and we zoomed through the woods.

Ooh! This is like the chase through the woods in Endor.

“What’s Endor?”

That’s a scene in Star Wars, Return of the Jedi.

“I’ve got to catch up with all these movies I’ve never seen.”

Oops. Sorry, Dan.

“No problem. I’ve been blind since birth, and I’ve missed a lot of the movies you guys know. Now we can watch it together, and I can watch it through your eyes.”

Let’s make that a date!

“There’s Aubrey,” I said. We slowed down next to a large pine and settled in the fragrant needles beneath it. Fifty feet up, we saw the parachute and the payload section snagged in a branch.

Your Nineteenth Literary Gift Concludes

What do you think of your latest gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like Secret Supers in Space you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here right now to find out how.

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Your Eighteenth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts

Villain's Vacation cover What is it like?

Your Eighteenth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts to Christmas. Come along as we ride at Coaster World, where the Secret Supers are enjoying their summer vacation from seventh grade. It’s a good thing the part can accommodate four disabled teens. This excerpt is from my Villain’s Vacation novel.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Your Eighteenth Literary Gift: From Villain’s Vacation

Your Eighteenth Literary Gift Villain's Vacation cover What is it like?
Villain’s Vacation cover

 “Mac’s coming here now.”

He came in the door, walked to our table, and sat. “Sorry, but we weren’t able to find the kidnapper. We found the radio transmitter on the roof of the hotel. It had been left on to lead us there. We went through the hotel registry, but no one was on our list of terrorists or criminals in the country or the world. We talked with all the hotel residents, but everyone had an alibi when the kidnapping occurred.”

“That cuts it,” said Dad. “The villain is loose. We’re going home.”

“You might be safer here,” Mac said.

“What? How could that be?” asked Mom.

“We’re getting more Special Forces and plainclothes operatives here. We’ve got to get this criminal. What’s to stop them from following you back to Maryville and kidnapping you there?”

We sat silent, digesting our meal and this news.

“Crap. We can’t be safe in Maryville?” Dad looked Mac in the eye.

“I don’t think so. The Secret Supers destroyed a criminal hideout there this spring, sponsored by an international gang of criminals. This may be the same gang.

“I feel sick.” Mom covered her face with her hands.

Dan joked, “Maybe because the hamburgers were greasy?”

An Interruption

Your Eighteenth Literary Gift

Just then Mrs. Robinson scooted up to our table in her walker. “There you are! I haven’t seen you since the boat ride. I’ve had so much fun with you, I wondered if you’d like to take the tour plane around the park and Lake Erie with me tomorrow. It’s about an hour tour.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Robinson, but we’re in the middle of a family planning meeting now. Could we get back with you?”

“Of course, Mr. Gentle. I’m sorry to interrupt. Do you have my cellphone?”

“I do,” I said

“Me too,” Dan added.

“I’m always misplacing my cellphone, so I don’t usually get people’s numbers,” said Aubrey.

“We’ll call you back when we’re free,” came Kayla’s response from her tablet.

“I’ll wait to hear from you.” She rolled away with one wheel on her walker squeaking.

The Security Plan

Your Eighteenth Literary 2021 Reviews
Villain’s Vacation Audio book

“I have a security plan for your family and the Secret Supers,” Mac told Dad.

“What?”

“We’ll provide an escort for each of you. That’ll leave me with other squad members to watch the area and the crowds around you. We should be able to catch the criminals if they try anything.”

“Will these guys go in the restrooms with us?” asked Aubrey.

“We have female operatives for you, Kayla, and Mrs. Gentle.”

“Let’s do it! I don’t want to go home,” Dan punched his fist into his palm.

“It doesn’t look like we have much choice,” said Dad.

“I would feel better having everyone escorted. I think we’ve given you children too much freedom,” said Mrs. Gentle.

“Nah, there we disagree, Denise. Some crazed criminal is not a usual danger. Our kids have been very responsible. So far.” Dad looked at all of us with narrowed eyes.

“Still, you should have told us after the first kidnapping,” said Mrs. Gentle.

“You’re right, Mom. No more Secret Supers to you and Dad,” I held my right hand up and the other over my heart.

Dad smiled. “We can be Alfred to your Batman, Jeremy. In on your secret, but discreet.”

“Let’s try this security arrangement out on the Galactic Black Hole. I want to ride that again,” Dan said.

“Okay,” said Mrs. Gentle, “but we’re going too. I want us all to stick together. I haven’t been on a coaster for ten years.”

The Galactic Black Hole

Your Eighteenth Literary Gift quasar tsunami
quasar tsunami

We got into the coaster line like the animals going onto Noah’s ark: two by two. I barely needed to use my cane. I could read the mind of my agent next to me. He was worried about attack vectors. I asked him, “What’s your name?”

“Ed.”

That was all I got out of him. He didn’t want to talk. I skimmed the minds of the others in our group: Ann was with Aubrey, Barb with Kayla, Chip with Jeremy, Don with Mr. Gentle, and Fran with Mrs. Gentle.

I whispered to Kayla as she stood in front of me in line. “Their names are alphabetical.”

I think those are just code names.

“Mac too?”

Probably.

There’s another limitation of mind reading. I couldn’t delve into memories. The person had to recall the memory. If they used a code name I couldn’t tell.

We jumped into the coaster. “I had the front car the first time. This time, I want to ride in the back. I want to get the full experience,” I said to Ed as he settled next to me.

“Uh-huh.”

Roller Coaster

Writer's Block: My Experience
Chapter icon from Villain’s Vacation

Great conversationalist. But the ride was even better than it had been the day before. A couple of times, even Ed was surprised by a dip or turn that hurled us against the lap restraint. Kayla screamed her head off, as usual. I used her eyes to get a view of the stars and galaxies displayed around us.

We went around a turn and everything went black. I knew a big dip was coming. I was wrong. A huge hand encircled my chest. I felt the restraint fly off my lap as I was jerked into the air.

I took a big breath to yell, but the hiss of gas was the last thing I remembered.

Your Eighteenth Literary Gift Concludes

What do you think of your latest gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like Villain’s Vacation you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here right now to find out how.

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Your Seventeenth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts

Your Sixth Literary Gift Love These Superheroes

Your Seventeenth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts to Christmas. Today we’ll look at my second series, Secret Supers. My campaign to give you 25 literary gifts by Christmas continues. This blog will give you a short excerpt from my Secret Supers novel.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Your Seventeenth Gift: From Secret Supers

Your Seventeenth Literary Gift Interesting Links
Secret Supers – click for free audiobook.

When the Secret Supers met at Jeremy’s home after school the next Monday, Jeremy said, “I’ve found four or five card tricks that’ll be great for Dan to do.”

“I thought of something too,” said Aubrey.

What’s that? Kayla thoughtcast.

“Dan can do the floating woman trick with Kayla. Jeremy can make her float, and Dan can use my old hula hoop to prove she’s not held up by wires.”

Why don’t you do the trick?

“You’re a lot better looking than I am. Whoever heard of a big burly girl working with a magician?”

“You’re not bad looking, Aubrey,” Jeremy said.

“Thanks, Jeremy, but I prefer weight lifting to being on stage.”

“How about weight lifting on stage?” asked Dan.

“Sounds weird. How would we work that into a magic act?”

“After we do the levitation trick, we go outside and you can pick up a car, with Jeremy’s help.”

That would be pretty spectacular. People would think the levitation trick was the grand finale and then you’d top it with the car. Kayla thoughtcast.

“It’d have to be a pretty small car. I can only lift about a thousand pounds. I tried again today, and that seems to be my limit.”

“Yeah, but my telekinesis seems to be getting more powerful as I use it. I picked up one end of our family’s car the other day.”

“Wow, Jeremy! Let’s try to lift it together, right now.” Aubrey got up and marched up the stairs, followed by her friends. Jeremy floated behind them, excited to try it.

Planning the Magic Show

Your Seventeenth Literary Gift

Jeremy sat in his wheelchair in front of the elevator. He’d left it there when he floated downstairs.

“Mom’s making dinner, but I don’t want her suddenly seeing me floating around.”

“I’ll let you know if she comes looking for you,” Dan assured him.

“Thanks, Dan. Well, here goes.” The back end of the car came up about six inches.

“That’s great, Jeremy! Let’s see if I can hold up my end of the bargain.” Aubrey squatted by the front bumper, grabbed it firmly in her hands, and slowly straightened her legs.

“You did it,” shouted Jeremy.

“Yeah.” She gasped. “But only for a short time.” She put it back down. “Whew! That was my limit.”

“That’s good,” said Jeremy. “You want to give the impression of it being very difficult.”

Now, what we need is a script.

“What do you mean, Kayla?”

These magic shows are carefully planned for drama and anticipation. We’ve got to plan and practice every word.

“Who can write a script like that?” wondered Dan.

I can. It’s just like an English assignment: ‘Write your own magic show, like Penn and Teller.’ I’ve watched them on YouTube.

“Suppertime!” Jeremy’s Mom called from the door to the garage.

“Great! I’ve worked up an appetite,” said Aubrey.

“It’s chili and cornbread today,” said Dan. “My mouth is already watering.”

Show Time

Your Seventeenth Litrary Gift Aubrey Wilcosky
Aubrey, super powered heroine.

The four friends worked on their script and show until Saturday came. Kayla’s mom made a black magician’s robe for Dan and sparkling tights for Kayla. Aubrey wore black tights trimmed with glitter. Jeremy would be the emcee and had a top hat and coat like a circus ringmaster.

People packed the City Hall meeting room. Right in front was Rich Vandemere with his dad and Betty Jones.

“Hi, Mrs. Jones, Rich. You must be Mr. Vandemere?” Jeremy greeted them from his wheelchair.

“Yeah, that’s me,” said the big man gruffly. “Call me Bob.”

“Thanks for coming out and supporting our fund-raiser.”

“It’s the least we could do,” said Mrs. Jones. “We don’t want to see you out of school any more than you do.”

“Uh, Mrs. Jones, are you friends with Rich and Mr.Vandemere?” asked Aubrey, who walked up next to Jeremy

She laughed. “We’re married. Rich is our son. I just kept my name from my first marriage. I was grief-stricken when my husband George died. Then I met Bob. I kept my first husband’s name in memorium.”

“O-o-o-h. I didn’t know,” said Aubrey, turning red.

“Have a good show!” she wished them.

The Show Begins

Your Seventeenth Literary Gift Your Sixth Literary Gift Love These Superheroes
Dan Elanga – He can read minds and sensory impressions.

Seven o’clock came. Jeremy went behind the curtains they’d fixed at the back of the room. Dan, Kayla, and Aubrey were there.

“Ready?” he asked.

We’re all ready and excited!

“Break a leg!” said Aubrey. “That’s the traditional show business wish.”

“I can’t say that to you, Aubrey.” Jeremy looked at her artificial legs, covered by the black tights.

“I’m sure I could break them if I put my mind to it!”

“Get going already, Jeremy. I’m all antsy,” Dan said.

Jeremy cut the lights to the room. He’d rigged a remote lighting control next to his wheelchair joystick. He touched a button and one spotlight lit the stage and then turned on his lapel mike.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Maryville Middle School charity magic show!” he announced, bowing from his wheelchair and doffing his top hat. “Prepare to be dazzled by displays of legerdemain never before seen or performed!

Behind the curtain, Aubrey whispered to Kayla, “What’s legerdemain?”

It’s just a fancy term for magic. Jeremy’s showing off.

Card Tricks

Your Seventeenth Literary Gift

“From the depths of deepest, darkest Africa, I present to you, the soon-to-be world-famous magician, Daniel Elanga!”

With calm aplomb, Dan strode to the middle of the stage. “Greetings, friends! It’s traditional to begin a magic show with card tricks.” He produced a deck from his pocket, started to shuffle it, and fumbled it all over the floor. The audience broke into laughter.

“However, I am terrible with cards.” More laughter ensued. Dan tapped his dark glasses with his white cane. “Blind, you know. But I’m great at reading minds. Now, everyone knows how magicians do these mentalist tricks. They have plants in the audience and marked cards and substitute decks. So I’ll break all the rules. First, I’ll have my assistant, Kayla Verdera, present an unopened deck of cards.” Kayla walked out with her walker, flourishing a plastic sealed deck.

“Kayla, please give that deck to one of the audience members. I promise not to look.” The audience twittered with nervous laughter.

Jeremy assumed they weren’t used to blind people joking about their blindness.

The Cards Revealed

Your Seventeenth Literary Gift

Kayla gave the deck to a startled Mrs. Jones. Jeremy wheeled up to her. “Thank you, ma’am. Would you give us your name?”

“Betty Jones.”

“Have you ever seen this deck before?”

“No, I haven’t”

“Please open the deck and fan out the cards.”

Betty did so and showed them to the audience.

“Do they look perfectly normal to you?”

“Sure.”

“Let me look. I’m more familiar with cards,” said Mr. Vandemere. He peered at them and felt them carefully. “They don’t seem to be marked. They’re just a new deck.”

“Now, Mrs. Jones, please pick a card and don’t show anyone.”

“I’ll pick one too,” said Mr.Vandemere. “You pick one too, Rich.”

That’s not how the script is supposed to go!

“Great idea,” said Dan. “I’ll tell you what each of you has.”

“This I gotta see,” said Mr.Vandemere. He switched cards with Rich, and then again with his wife.

Dan, they all switched cards!

“Now, I must open my inner eye to see.” Dan paused dramatically, his hands on his temples.

”I see the three cards. But they’ve been switched.” The audience gasped. “Very clever of you.”

“Rich Vandemere, please stand.”

He’s improvising!

“You have your Dad’s original card, right?”

“Right.”

“It’s the seven of spades, isn’t it?”

“I’ll be—”

“Please show the audience.”

Rich held up the card, the seven of spades. The audience applauded.

Your Seventeenth Literary Gift Concludes

Applause!

“Bob Vandemere, please stand.”

He stood, looming taller than them all.

“You have your wife’s original card?”

“Yeah.”

“Isn’t it the jack of hearts?”

“I don’t believe it.” Mr.Vandemere held up the jack of hearts for the audience to see.

Louder applause filled the room.

“Finally, Mrs. Betty Jones, please stand up. You have your son’s card, I believe?”

“Yes.”

“Please confirm it’s the ten of clubs.” Betty gasped and held the ten of clubs aloft. The crowd cheered, giving Dan a standing ovation.

Your Sixteenth Literary Gift – What do you think?

Andy Zach Your Seventeenth Literary Gift
Andy Zach in repose

What do you think of your gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like Secret Supers you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here to find out how.