On the #ninthdayofchristmas, nine ladies dancing, plus one leaping lord. With my two ballet-adjacent novels: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘺𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥, a retelling and reimagining of 𝘎𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦 (international award finalist), & 𝘚𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, a London-based contemporary. 🩰 #christmastide #ballet #dancers #dance

White #ChristmasEve.

Launch Day for 𝙁𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙮 𝘿𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙄𝙄: 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙨. Twenty-five tales to transport you far afield in time and place. Congratulations to my fellow contributors, and the diligent, gifted editorial team. #FeistyDeedsII #HistoricalFictionAnthology #WomensFictionAnthology

It's tree day! 🌲 Skillfully felled by my husband, atop a blustery mountain peak. 🌲Gracie's reaction: "What's this all about?" #christmastree #christmastreefarm #smallbusinesssaturday

I'm pleased to share my participation in this forthcoming short story anthology, now available for early review on NetGalley. All royalties support the @wf-writers scholarship program. My story is set on the magical (my ancestral) Isle of Man in the 18th century. netgalley.com/catalog/book/754796

I really needed this today. #lakelife #sunset

Here comes the weekend, and if you want a lighthearted and entertaining summer read, BookTrib has suggestions! Thanks to Women's Fiction Writers Association for putting together this collection--and including 𝘈 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. Link to info booktrib.com/2025/07/23/7... 🧳🇬🇧🎬🎥✈️🇺🇲✈️🇬🇧

Three of my historical novels, representing three different genres and three different eras, in the #HNS2025 on-site conference bookshop. #mynovels #historicalnovels #histfic #biographicalhistoricalfiction #17thcenturyfrance #18thcenturyengland #goldenagehollywood

Dot loves our annual Rose Party!

Dinner at the Ritz in #London to celebrate 𝘚𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. Drinks in the Rivoli Bar, where Ellie and Dan meet the first time--and return later in the story. The pink roses decorating the lobby are approriate--Dan's father grows them.🥂 🌟🇬🇧💃🩰🎭🧳✨ #AuthorLife #NewRelease #NewBook

Seven eggs in the chickadees' nest, seven in the wrens'. #birds #birders #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #chickadees #wrens #PhotographersOfBluesky #photography #birdnest

Recognition by the Eric Hoffer Award (for books from small, academic, or independent presses) is definitely a career highlight. I'm delighted that 𝘈 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is one of the two Honorable Mention recipients in the Romance category. 🧳🇬🇧🎬🎥✈️🇺🇲✈️🇬🇧 #BookSky #AuthorLife #BookAward

Publication day activities: stopping at the bookstore, where 𝘚𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 is stacked on a front table. On to the TV studio for an interview by my own show's co-host. A glass of 🍾 to celebrate. Today: carry on researching and writing novel Number 18! 🖋️🖥️ #booksky #writesky #authorlife

It's publication day for 𝘚𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, my 17th novel and 2nd contemporary. “Porter writes in a clear and appealing manner that makes the complicated world of dance accessible and attractive .… always keeping the reader hooked." 𝘒𝘪𝘳𝘬𝘶𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 "A compelling story" 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 🌟🇬🇧💃🩰🎭🧳✨

Two weeks from today, on 6 May, 𝘚𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 is released. I'll be sharing images & info about locations & other story elements--starting with the Ritz Hotel in London & its Rivoli Bar. Important plot developments happen there! As in the prior novel, 𝘈 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 🌟🇬🇧💃🩰🎭🧳✨

A happy and blessed #Easter Day to all who are rejoicing and celebrating. The Easter Bunny brought sweets. My pysanky eggs were purchased in Warsaw 🇬🇮, made in Ukraine 🇺🇦

I was aware nest-building had begun. When I looked inside to check progress, I found lady bluebird at work. She carried on as if I wasn't invading her space. 🐦

Hosanna! My palm tree is flowering on Palm Sunday! 🌿

At this latitude, the chance of mid-April snowfall is never zero. ❄️

Two days left to enter this Goodreads giveaway. Follow my website link in my bio for details and entry.

Readers active on Goodreads are invited to enter this giveaway. Website link in my Blue sky bio, contest link on the homepage.

Yes, it's sleeting. But my 𝘐𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 are beginning to bloom! March 2025 is going out like a lion, not as a lamb. 🦁 🐑 #sleet #march #authorgarden

🎭This is World Theatre Day. Some evidence (not all) of my life on stage.🎭 #WorldTheatreDay

She did it again. 💕 #authorfriendsrock #authorfriends #currentread

Another batch of Advance Reader Copies. #authorlife 🌟🇬🇧💃🩰🎭🧳✨

Yes, Dot. That 𝙞𝙨 snow. On 24 March. ❄️ #spring #snow

My snowdrops. In snow. ❄️

Gardenia flower.

For #TutuTuesday, the book trailer for 𝘚𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, my May release. Available for preorder. 🌟🇬🇧💃🩰🎭🧳✨ #NewRelease #Preorder #Ballet

SEQUINS AND STARLIGHT by Margaret Porter, Gallica Press, out 5/6/25. I adored the author's second contemporary romance novel set in England, with ballet, burlesque, and theater, as well as love bruised by family concerns. Delightful! @margaretporter.bsky.social #gallicapress

When your birthday falls in Carnival, and is actually on Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday, there's really no better option for the birthday cake! 💜 💚 💛

At the bookstore this week, I visited "my" shelves. If you're observing the Economic Blackout/Boycott, please be aware that supporting small local and independent businesses like Gibson's Bookstore is permissable--and recommended! 📚

🇺🇦 Steadfast support. 🇺🇦Слава Україні! 🇺🇦𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘢 𝘜𝘬𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪!

Lots of activity and colour at the feeders today...I don't know how these birds manage to fly in our gale-force winds. I'm sure that grumpy robin regrets wintering in this northern latitude.

💌💘 Happy Valentine's Day!💘💌

The joy of fresh snow on snow. ❄️

So much happening right now, live online. Dot watching agility trials at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Me (off or on camera) at History Quill historical fiction conference from London. Finals of the 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘹 𝘥𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦 annual competition for young dancers from all across the globe. 🐾 📚 🩰

“Porter writes in a clear and appealing manner that makes the complicated world of dance accessible and attractive. … The complex relationships are engaging throughout, always keeping the reader hooked. A page-turning romance.” 𝘒𝘪𝘳𝘬𝘶𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 Available for pre-order. 🌟🇬🇧💃🩰🎭🧳✨

Hyacinth blue.

Dressed for our annual #BurnsNight dinner, in my MaCallum Ancient tartan sash & MacCallum Modern plaid skirt--Dot the dog is quite impressed. On the menu: cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, neeps & tatties, & my Caledonian Cream. Our host read Robert Burns's "Address to a Haggis" before we feasted. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

What's for pudding at our #BurnsNight feast? Caledonian Cream garnished with shortbread and candied citrus peel. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

My 17th novel & 2nd contemporary is available for pre-order & will be released on May 6. "Porter's juxtapositions of personalities and worlds are nothing short of exquisite . . . A compelling story . . . Immersive descriptions, strong characterization, and challenges." 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 🌟🇬🇧💃🩰🎭🧳✨

Yesterday for our TV show 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴, Paul Brogan & I interviewed publisher Deirdre Randall about recent & upcoming titles. Millie Knudsen shared 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘩𝘦𝘮, her latest true crime release. When podcaster/author Laura Knoy (R) stopped by, of course we had to do our signature kick line!

I've got the blues. In the best possible way. 🐦

Fun at a recent book event featuring friends who write children stories about one of their black Scottie dogs. I was able to meet Jean Louise. And searched for my histfic and other titles in various sections of the bookstore.

My companion Snoopy ponders the inexplicable dread of snails--and the violence perpetrated against them--so frequently depicted in medieval manuscripts.🐌

2024...travelling countless miles, reasons for so many smiles. #yearinreview #goodbye2024

On 29th December we celebrate Dot Day. Today is the anniversary of receiving the best ever Fifth Day of Christmas gift. Six years ago tonight we brought our eight month old pup home, and ever since she has been a perfect companion. 💞

We'll definitely have a White Christmas. ❄️ Dot is delighted.

A wonderful evening with nearly 40 friends and neighbours. So much joy in gathering on a long Solstice Eve to eat, drink, and sing. Among the many holiday tunes, we sang "Let It Snow"--and it really did! Our best Caroling Party ever! ❄️🎶🎹🎷🎺🎄