Maria Savva's Blog, page 18

BBC 2015 Children in Need Appeal - Book Auction

Three of my books are up for auction alongside some brilliant novels by some of the best contemporary authors.

Follow the link below to see the books and other items donated by authors, and for information as to how to place a bid: http://fundraiserpaddy.myfreesites.net/

There is a Just Giving account set up to receive payment for the books, and where you can donate towards the BBC Children In Need appeal: https://www.justgiving.com/paddy-heron

I have donated signed copies of my latest version of A Time to Tell, Delusion and Dreams, and Far Away in Time.



Other authors who have signed and donated books include: Neil Gaiman, Joanne Harris, Ian Rankin, and Lynda La Plante.

Follow the organiser of the auction on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FundraiserPaddy

Find out more about Children In Need: https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/f...

New release: Fooling Around With Cinderella, by Stacy Juba

FOOLING AROUND WITH CINDERELLA


AUTHOR: Stacy Juba
GENRE: Chick Lit/Sweet Romance
COVER DESIGNER: Mark Juba






Dylan wheeled his chair around and pointed to the castle poster. She followed his thumb toward the girl in an elegant white and gold gown. “I need a Cinderella.”

Jaine stared at Dylan to gauge whether he was kidding. Oh God, he wasn’t kidding. As he lowered his hand, tightness lodged in the pit of her stomach. “Cinderella?”

“Since you’ve been coming here for so long, you probably realize Cinderella is our centerpiece character. She sits on her throne all day, posing for pictures. She leads story times in the castle and appears during our weekend Meet and Greet Fireworks Gala.”

“What happened to the regular Cinderella?”

“She didn’t work out.” He fiddled with the pens poking out of a ski boot-shaped shot glass. “One of my cousins plays the part a couple days per week and fills in when she can, but her schedule doesn’t allow her to fulfill our full-time needs. It’s the middle of July and I’m tired of fooling around with Cinderella.”

He grinned, his dimples diverting her from the princess problem. “That didn’t come out right. But you know what I mean. It’s getting frustrating, Jaine. I’m having a hard time finding someone reliable.”

She bet that Cinderella wouldn’t get tired of fooling around with him.



What happens when the glass slippers pinch Cinderella’s toes?

When Jaine Andersen proposes a new marketing role to the local amusement park, general manager Dylan Callahan charms her into filling Cinderella’s glass slippers for the summer. Her reign transforms Jaine’s ordinary life into chaos that would bewilder a fairy godmother. Secretly dating her bad boy boss, running wedding errands for her ungrateful sisters, and defending herself from the park’s resident villain means Jaine needs lots more than a comfy pair of shoes to restore order in her kingdom. First in the Storybook Valley series, a blend of sweet romance, chick lit, and fairy tale fun.







Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1l2HbLB
Smashwords: https://goo.gl/79JTSy
iTunes: https://goo.gl/yd6zv1
B&N: http://goo.gl/3NcJzO
Google Play: https://goo.gl/I9L87G
Kobo: https://goo.gl/J1uQRK
Nook: http://goo.gl/vM2i2w





Stacy Juba got engaged at Epcot Theme Park and spent part of her honeymoon at Disneyland Paris, where she ate a burger, went on fast rides, and threw up on the train ride to the hotel. In addition to working on her new Storybook Valley chick lit/sweet romance series, Stacy has written books about ice hockey, teen psychics, U.S. flag etiquette for kids, and determined women sleuths. She has had a novel ranked as #5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. When she’s not visiting theme parks with her family, (avoiding rides that spin and exotic hamburgers), or writing about them, Stacy helps writers to strengthen their manuscripts through her Crossroads Editing Service. She is currently writing the next books in the Storybook Valley Series, Prancing Around With Sleeping Beauty and The Cinderella Curse.


Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Stacy-Juba/e/B0...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stacyjuba
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/

A Soldier's Story: A Film with a Cause - Indiegogo campaign

I've just heard about an Indiegogo campaign that has been launched to raise awareness about PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). The campaign hopes to raise funds for the UK charity Help for Heroes. Many soldiers return from war with symptoms of PTSD.

This Indiegogo campaign is asking contributors for funds in exchange for perks, and the aim is to produce a short film.

"A Soldier's Story" was written by Rob Shannon, an actor who will also play the lead role in the film.



Bio:

Rob has over twenty years' experience working in the film industry on both sides of the camera. His experience spans starring in television, independent features and Hollywood films in both the UK and the US, as well as producing and developing feature projects he personally believes in. One of his most recent notable accomplishments was starring in the BBC’s "The Coliseum".

He has worked along side some of the best British talent, as well as internationally acclaimed stars like Jude Law, Ray Winstone, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbach, Michael Gambon and Billy Crudup.

Rob has close friends who served in UK Special Forces and he has trained along side them to experience the grueling physical demands of a soldier. Robert has been personally affected seeing friends who suffer from PTSD and wanted to tell the story that is often never heard. He brings these soldiers’ perspective and well as his own experiences to the role of Ryan Manning in "A Soldier’s Story".

The film is all about a soldier returning from war in Afghanistan after witnessing the death of his best friend. The story highlights the effects of war and in particular this soldier's own battle with PTSD.

The director of the film will be Ben Mole.

Bio:

Ben is an award-winning Director who began his career after earning joint honours degrees in Philosophy and Psychology from Oxford University. He started as a lighting and camera technician on Hollywood studio movies, indie films, and Television series in the UK and Los Angeles. He then progressed to directing his own work in music videos, and commercials; and then shifted into writing and directing US and UK television drama-documentary productions. His work has won and been nominated for awards on both sides of the Atlantic.

Find out how you can contribute to this worthy cause by following the link to the Indiegogo page where you can learn more about the film and discover the perks on offer: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-...

By contributing to the campaign you'll be supporting servicemen and women and helping to make a meaningful film that raises awareness about PTSD and the work of Help for Heroes.



Links:

Indiegogo campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PTSD_Film
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASoldiersSto...
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ptsd_film/
Official website: http://www.asoldiersstoryfilm.co.uk
Help for Heroes: https://twitter.com/helpforheroes

New interviews

I was recently interviewed by author Jo Lambert and also had a feature on Terry Tyler's blog where I wrote a bit about my zodiac sign. You can check those out at the following links:

Interview on Jo Lambert's blog: https://jolambertwriter.wordpress.com...

Zodiac files post: http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/20...


My latest novel, "A Time to Tell" is available for Kindle and in paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Time-Tell-Maria...



You can now pre-order "Tales From the Cacao Tree" at the special price of 99p/99c (price goes up to $3.99/£3.99 on publication - 16th November 2015) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-From-Ca...

New Release: The House Of York, by Terry Tyler

One of my favourite authors has just published a new book!

Terry Tyler writes fabulous contemporary fiction. Her writing is always entertaining and the characters seem very real. "The House of York" is Terry's ninth full length novel.





About the book:

The House of York ~ a contemporary family drama, spanning the years 1993 - 2014.

Widowed single mum, Lisa Grey, and wealthy businessman, Elias York, are young and madly in love. A recipe for happiness? But Lisa is marrying into a complicated family. Her new sister-in-law doesn't want to know her. Middle brother Gabriel's marriage suffers under a cloud of infidelity and gambling debts, while the youngest, Richard, keeps his dark secrets well hidden—and his wife suffers in silence.

Lisa and her mother are bonded by their powerful intuition, but dare not voice their fears about York Towers—or certain members of the family...

Love and loss, abduction, incestuous desires and murderous intent form the basis of this compelling saga in which horrors float just beneath the surface, to bring forth a shocking outcome.

History lovers may be interested to know that The House of York is loosely based on events during the era of the Wars of the Roses.


You can get a copy from Amazon (worldwide) on Kindle.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Book Review: Those Pesky Rabbits, by Ciara Flood

Those Pesky Rabbits by Ciara Flood

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a wonderfully illustrated children's story with a great message. The bear doesn't want to get to know his new neighbours and tries his best to avoid any interaction with them. By the end of the book, though, they end up friends. It's a fun story that I'm sure children will enjoy.


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"Those Pesky Rabbits" is Ciara Flood's debut children's book, and I am told that her second will be released next April. She's currently working on her third book. Ciara writes the stories and does all her own illustrations.

Keep up with her news:

Website: http://www.ciaraflood.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ciaraflood

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TinyFlood

Join the Thunderclap campaign for Tales From The Cacao Tree!

We have set up a Thunderclap campaign to help promote "Tales From The Cacao Tree".

If you'd like to help us, please follow this link and add your support: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/3...

It only takes a minute and there's no cost. When you support on Thunderclap, you will be allowing the app to use your chosen social media site/s to promote the book on the day of release: 16th November 2015.

This will be the message posted on your Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr page:

#NewRelease If you like chocolate, you'll love "Tales From The Cacao Tree" #fiction #poetry #photography #chocolate

It will also include a link to the book's Amazon page.

The campaign will only go live if we reach our target of 100 supporters, which is where your help is so important.

You can support using your Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr account - or if feeling generous, all three :)

The website will ask you to authorise the app, but that is only so that it can post the tweet/post for you on the day of release.

Thanks in advance for any support!

Tales From The Cacao Tree - Book 4 - Mind's Eye Series!

The fourth book in the Mind's Eye Series is now available to pre-order on Kindle!

This series has been a lot of fun to work on. I've been lucky enough to be involved from book one and we've had lots of fab contributions from talented authors, poets, and photographers.



"Tales From The Cacao Tree" is a collection of short stories and poetry, inspired by photographs of chocolate!

Follow this link to my UK Arts Directory blog to find out more about it: http://ukartsdirectory.com/cover-reve...

You can pre-order the book now at the special price of just 99c/99p. It will go up to $3.99/£3.99 on the release day, 16th November 2015.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Cacao-Tre...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-Cacao-T...

You can now purchase A Time to Tell on Kindle!

It's release day! You can now get A Time to Tell on Kindle. It's free to read for a limited time on Kindle Unlimited.



About the book:

A family saga spanning fifty years and three generations...

Cara fell for the tall, dark, handsome stranger, fifty years before. Now Frederick is about to return to her life. Can true love stand the test of time?

When Cara’s granddaughter, Penelope, flees her home to escape a violent husband, Cara’s world is turned upside down. She returns to Huddlesea, the town she grew up in. Her estranged sister Gloria is less than happy to see her again. Can they rebuild their relationship after the tragic circumstances that tore them apart?

Benjamin, Cara’s eldest son, has been missing for sixteen years. She longs to see him again. Will their reunion be everything she had hoped for?

In this romantic drama, history repeats itself for a family lost in secrets.

After the lies, the TIME has come to TELL.


***********************

I'd like to thank everyone who supported my Thunderclap campaign for this title. It's been great to see so many tweets on Twitter about the release today!

Follow this link to watch the book trailer, if you haven't already seen it: https://youtu.be/v2aCcN51FM4

All the purchase links are below:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Time-Tell-Maria...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Tell-Mar...
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/Time-Tell-Maria-...
Amazon JP: http://www.amazon.co.jp/Time-Tell-Mar...
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/Time-Tell-Ma...
Amazon IN: http://www.amazon.in/Time-Tell-Maria-...
Amazon BR: http://www.amazon.com.br/Time-Tell-Ma...
Amazon MX: http://www.amazon.com.mx/Time-Tell-Ma...
Amazon IT: http://www.amazon.it/Time-Tell-Maria-...
Amazon ES: http://www.amazon.es/Time-Tell-Maria-...
Amazon FR: http://www.amazon.fr/Time-Tell-Maria-...
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/Time-Tell-Maria-...
Amazon NL: http://www.amazon.nl/Time-Tell-Maria-...

For those of you who prefer paperback,you can get that from Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mariasavva

It will also available in paperback on Amazon worldwide soon, and other retailers. You can order it from any bookshop/library using the ISBN: 978-0992834517

A big thanks to all my readers for your continued support.

New interview!

Head over to Darcia Helle's blog today where you can check out an interview I did recently: http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/friday...




In the interview, you can find out more about the inspiration behind the story.





Pre-order the book now on Kindle:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...