“Dear God…and Jesus and Mary…” Even though eleven-year-old Olivia is raised Southern Baptist, she likes to cover her bases when asking for a favor. Unlike her brother Oliver, she struggles with keeping her temper in check and staying out of trouble. But Oliver is different, and in the summer of ’72 he proves to Olivia there’s magic in everything. But it’s up to us to see it.
“Mandy Haynes takes me on a memory journey to the last great childhood of the South, a time when bicycles were a magic carpet that could take a child wherever she wanted to go. The joy of this novella is how easily I slip between the pages and live the adventures with Oliver and Olivia. Sibling love. Kindness. Good intentions gone awry and good deeds fraught with danger. This story echos with my past, and the past of many now homeless Southerners. Once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down.” Carolyn Haines, USA Today bestseller, is the author of over 80 books in multiple genres
“Mandy Haynes effortlessly and brilliantly writes children, a feat at which many writers struggle and fail. In Oliver, her uniquely, lyrical voice sings the reader smack dab into this heartwarming story inhabited by Oliver and Olivia, a brother and sister whose special bond is symbiotically balanced upon the other’s abilities and perspectives. I dare you to not fall immediately in love with these characters, and fret over them as I did as they make their journey through this poignant summer from long ago.”
Robert Gwaltney, author of The Cicada Tree
“A small-town story of childhood innocence, sibling admiration, blind optimism, and plenty of shenanigans, author Mandy Haynes has penned an incomparable narrator in Sissy, who tells a multifaceted story highlighting the altruistic plans of her remarkable brother, Oliver. The Southern jargon in this charming novella is character defining, the precocious mood insightful. Oliver is about bringing out the goodness in people, even if it takes a bit of magic.”
Claire Fullerton, author of Little Tea
OLIVER
If y’all think I’m exaggerating about how smart Oliver is, I’m going to share a story and you can see what I’m talking about. Something happened last summer that proves Oliver is special. And I don’t mean “special” like other people mean when they look at Oliver. I mean special like there ain’t nobody like him. 140 pages $15 + $4 s/h
$19.00
Can’t wait to read this! Might be the title (grandson is Oliver, too) but most likely it’s because I know how talented you are and the promise of how good this story will be!
I just finished Oliver this morning. The love that pours out of that book is phenomenal. The magic that made it happen is extraordinary.
I’m so glad you liked it – thank you!
How do I order it with a credit card and not PayPal
You don’t need a PayPal account to use your credit card…I believe. 🤔 would you rather use Venmo or send a check?
Mandy, I had the same question. I don’t use PayPal, but I would really like to order it through you and support one of my favorite authors rather than through Amazon. Is that possible?
You can send a check or use Venmo…:) OR you can use bookshop.org
I look forward to ANYTHING Mandy Haynes writes, edits or designs!
Thank you Betty Koval! Much appreciated.