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...

Wednesday, 27 November 2013

More new authors!

The publication of A Test of Time has meant even more authors joining the short stories group...

We couldn't let that go unmarked, so we'll be sending them the same questionnaire we sent to the authors involved in Reading is Magic.

Keep your eyes peeled if you want to find out more about some of the writers of this brilliant collection of short stories!


Tuesday, 26 November 2013

A TEST OF TIME

The wait is over - I bring you the latest Charity Fundraising Anthology. Suitable for all readers...


Please support this latest edition download now - or even better yet, buy paperbacks as a gift for Christmas.

Thank you so much & enjoy...

Vanessa Wester
 
A TEST OF TIME is a fantastic anthology of short stories inspired by the theme of past, present and future.
Lose yourself in stories that bring together different generations through time travel as well as exploring futuristic ideas. Explore worlds where determination and resolve overcome impossible feats.

Let your imagination go as you read about adventures under the sea, a magician's chair, dragons, and mischievous girls on a mission to prank their teacher.

All in all, a wonderful collection for children who are mature readers and adults.

Dip into our world of short stories...

All monies raised from sales of this book will go directly to Foodbank, which provides emergency food for local people in crisis.

LINKS

Amazon UK

Amazon US

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

KOBO

Coming to APPLE, Barnes & Noble, Sony, eDiesel, etc soon...

Friday, 27 September 2013

Donation to the NSPCC - £134.88 raised to date!

I am pleased to say that a profit of "£134.88" has been raised so far on sales of the paperback and ebook of... READING IS MAGIC


This money has now been handed over to Mandy Finch, coordinator for the NSPCC on the Isle of Wight.
Jean Harrison, Vanessa Wester (ME!), Mandy Finch
This has been my best fundraiser to date and I could not have done it without the support of Katherine Hetzel, and the authors who submitted their stories for the cause - THANK YOU!

Please join us for the next adult collection - details on www.shortstoriesgroup.blogspot.com - this time raising money for FOODBANK on the Isle of Wight.

Thanks for reading,

Vanessa Wester

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Donation to Gurnard Primary School

I am pleased to say that a profit of "£67" has been raised so far on sales of the paperback and ebook
of...

GURNARD'S BOOK OF DELIGHTS

This money has been given to Gurnard Primary School on the Isle of Wight to help buy new books for the school library.

The paperbacks are still being sold by the Gurnard's Newsagents - I'm extremely grateful to Chris & Brian for supporting this cause!

Gurnard's Newsagent - we sell real books!
Newsagents are under a lot of pressure to stay alive these days, especially since supermarkets take a lot of their business away.

I like to think that by stocking the books there, and giving them a small donation per sale, I am also helping a local business.

Thank you for reading and please take a look at this anthology and let me know what you think of the idea...

Best regards,

Vanessa Wester

My daughter with her certificate for entering the literacy competition