Wednesday 18 December 2013

Introducing...Sylvia Petter

Today - we've got Sylvia Petter telling us about herself.

What was your favourite book when you were a child?
The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

What did you want to be when you grow up?
A vet.

Which children’s books have you read recently?
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

What’s your favourite snack?
Miso soup.

If you could be any character in a book, who or what would you be?
Peter Pan

What do you do when you’re not writing?
Reading, hanging out with mates, pottering in the garden.

Is there anything that scares you?
Nightmares

What story are you working on at the moment? 
A family saga set during and immediately after WWII

Monday 16 December 2013

Introducing...Britta Jensen

Time to find out a bit more about Britta Jensen...

What was your favourite book when you were a child?
I loved Little House on the Prairie, I must have read the whole series at least three times.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was also a frequent re-read as well as A Wrinkle in Time. 

What did you want to be when you grow up?
I wanted to be a “triple threat” otherwise known as a Broadway actor, singer, dancer.  I was always trying to organize the neighborhood kids, as well as my siblings, for dance-offs.  No one was quite as interested in being “seen” by agents as I was.

Which children’s books have you read recently?
Mondays are Red by Nicola Morgan, the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, and I am currently reading Disconnect by Imran Siddiq

What’s your favourite snack? 
Chocolate covered ginger biscuits and a German delicacy called Hoernchen 
(a chocolate dipped crescent biscuit made out of almonds and pastry dough). 

If you could be any character in a book, who or what would you be?
I would want to be a combination of Katniss Everdeen, from Hunger Games, Alexia, from my book The Curse of Beal Atha. I like the idea of having bravery, incredible strength and endurance, as well as serious intellectual prowess. 

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I dance Argentine Tango, knit, sketch oil pastels, and hike through the hills behind my flat.

Is there anything that scares you?
I am terrified of spiders. I grew up in Japan where there are all varieties of creepy crawlies. (We even have hammerhead worms!) Since I’m surrounded by woods where I live in Bavaria, there are these enormous spiders that like to torment myself and my cats Nina and Shiva.


What story are you working on at the moment?
I’m editing my debut novel, The Curse of Beal Atha, and getting ready to start the second book in the series.  

Friday 13 December 2013

A TEST OF TIME: Donation to FOODBANK

Today, I did a quick calculation on the eBook and paperback sales made so far from A TEST OF TIME and realised we had approximately £50 (subject to exchange rate when payments come through).

Since I wanted to help prior to Christmas I decided to spend the money before amazon pay up... and got in touch with FOODBANK. It's fantastic to go in person and see the storage facilities they have and the work they do. The paperbacks have also arrived so I have stocked at GURNARD'S NEWSAGENTS, and given some to Foodbank to sell.

So, I managed to buy the entire stock Sainsbury's had of Steamed puddings, Tinned potatoes, and 27 cans of canned spaghetti... these are the items they most needed. So, here is a picture of me holding the book, whilst showing the food bought and donated. Next to me is Hannah King, the manager of the Cowes Foodbank branch on the Isle of Wight.

I spent £68.15 - confident that we will reach and surpass that target!

Please download the book as an eBook if you have not done so... at under £2 this is a great price - and 70% will be donated (thank you Amazon KDP).

Or, if you prefer paper... please buy the book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, where over a £1/ $1.50 will go towards this worthy cause.

The website for FOODBANK gives more information on the charity.

I consider myself to be extremely fortunate compared to the hardships other families face and hope that this small donation goes a long way.

Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS.

All the best,

Vanessa Wester

LINKS

Amazon UK

Amazon US

SMASHWORDS - Download available for PC, iPad, Nook, eDiesel, etc...

KOBO

Barnes & Noble

Coming soon to Sony, eDiesel...