Maretha at Fauna Park Tales

#RRBCSpotlightAuthor in May – Maretha Botha

I would like to use this opportunity to thank Nonnie Jules, President of Rave Reviews Book Club and her awesome team for taking such great pains to give me such a wonderful month in the spotlight.  You are AWESOME!! Here is the link to all the activities which were planned for me – a grateful #RRBCSpotlightAuthor in May.

https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/spotlight-authors/

I was on the hot seat with Nonnie Jules this month. Here is the link where you’d be able to judge whether I did okay. https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/2018/05/25/maretha-botha-in-whos-on-the-shelf-w-nonnie-jules-rrbc-marethmbotha/

I would like to mention that it was this particular feature of Rave Reviews Book Club which hooked me to join the club.  This month, I’ve been a happy member for TWO YEARS. In an earlier blog post I tried to express how I feel about a quality book club such as Rave Reviews Book Club in a post called:  https://marethabotha2013.com/2016/09/27/rave-reviews-book-club-a-place-called-home/654FA5B5-DD94-4DF9-853F-F275C832C6A6

Here are photographs and a little bit more about my awesome blog post hosts, whose blog links appear here. Please visit each one if you’ve not had a chance to do so already.

Blog Tour: 5/6/18 – 5/12/18

Sunday, 5/6/18

Marcha Fox - Author

Marcha Fox

Be sure to visit her post every week where she gives useful tips about our writing: https://marcha2014.wordpress.com/2018/05/31/todays-writing-tip-91/

Micki Peluso kindly reblogged Marcha’s post to: mallie1025@wordpress.com and also Gracie Bradford.  Thank you so much ladies!

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Monday, 5/7/18

Nia Markos

Nia Markos

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Tuesday, 5/8/18

Patricia Guthrie Member of RRBC

Patricia Guthrie

Waterlilies Over My Grave by [Patricia A. Guthrie]

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Wednesday, 5/9/18

Marlena Smith

Secretary at Rave Reviews Book Club – Thank you for always trying your best – doing an awesome job!

Marlena Smith

Here are a few images of the red sand dunes of the Southern African desert, specially for Natalie Ducey and Jan Sikes who were so captivated by their vastness and colour.

Namib Desert, Sossusvlei, Namibia Royalty Free Stock Photography

Namib Desert, Sossusvlei, Namibia Royalty Free Stock Image

Namib Desert, Sossusvlei, Namibia Stock Image

Red sand dunes in Sossusvlei, Namibia – Images courtesy of https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-red-sand-dune-sossusvlei-namibia-image27706599

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Thursday, 5/10/18

Laura Libricz

Laura is not only an author of #HistoricalFiction – IN THE HEAVEN’S POND TRILOGY – she is also a keen hiker and mountaineer, as is Wendy Jane Scott, my host for #RRBCBlogTalkRadio.

Laura Libricz

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Friday, 5/11/18

Marjorie Hembroff

M. E. Hembroff 

An author/illustrator. Here is one of her books.

Bess's Magical Garden by [Hembroff, M. E.]

Saturday, 5/12/18

Ron Yates

Ron Yates

Award-winning author of THE BILLY BATTLES #TRILOGY

Book: The Improbable Journeys of Billy Battles by Ronald E. Yates

And #RWISA Rising Writer For May! And KCT INTERNATIONAL LITERARY AWARD GRAND PRIZE, GOLD “TREAT” Award Winner!!! 

I’m sure that you would want to join our awesome club as soon as possible. Here is the link and some information you may need.

TO PAY YOUR  NON-REFUNDABLE $25.00/ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE for Authors OR your $10/ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE FOR READERS, please click the link below. (The button on the PayPal page will read as Donation, but this is not a donation; this is payment for an annual membership.  We are working to get this error corrected thru PayPal)

1 paypal-button

Please feel free to comment/follow after the About Me section. Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!

Published by Maretha at Fauna Park Tales

Maretha is a South African Italian, born in a small town called Montagu. She grew up in nearby Worcester in the Western Cape – a town reminiscent of living in Switzerland among the snow-capped mountains. Worcester had a small library. Young Maretha’s visits were limited to three times a week, because the librarian told her, “You spend too much time with your nose in a book and neglect your school work.” Nothing much has changed, because she's still a confirmed bookworm who constantly strives to raise more bookworms who enjoy reading, not just as a pleasant past-time, but as an excellent tool to be used when grown-up. Before immigrating to the UK to settle in Lancashire, Maretha worked as a librarian in a private school in Botswana, where one of her tasks was to encourage children to enjoy reading. That was a labour of love for this bookworm, providing valuable help in carving her own career as a children's author/illustrator. It brought her face to face with the literary industry’s toughest critics – children and preteens. She saw that many students also enjoyed reading about birds and animals, their care, habitats and general well-being, especially when a few added catchy rhymes here and there made reading sessions interesting and alive. In 2012 her job was localised and as things often happen, this unforeseen occurrence led to a new chapter in her life. To remain motivated, she wrote down everything she could remember about her family's pets – their little habits and characteristics. For example, the character of the working-dog hero in Fauna Park Tales is based on the different traits of every single dog her family ever owned. Researching habits, habitats and interesting titbits about martial eagles and eagle owls, as well as many smaller birds such as crimson-breasted shrikes and hoopoes,made it easier to illustrate them and tell a believable story. Her illustrations appear throughout Fauna Park Tales. Maretha Botha admits to being a chocoholic and unreformed coffee addict, a keen gardener and bird watcher, who likes to walk on the moors where the stiff breeze coming in from the sea, quickly clears her head, making way for more inspiration.

7 comments

  2. Maretha, YOU did a super job summarizing your spotlight and an excellent job introducing readers to your books as well as the person you are. I especially liked how you mentioned authors, #RRBC leaders, and staff who sponsored, hosted, and guided you through this month. Well done! #RRBC

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Thank you for your encouraging words, Gracie! I had to give this post a good hard look to make sure I’d got it right, and still I couldn’t find where I saw that Nia Markos was mentioned in connection with the KCT International Literary Award. I think my brain is somewhat fried. Tomorrow, 1st of June will be another month and another day to face challenges. 💐🌺💐Best wishes for June. 💐🌺💐

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  3. Thanks to all the wonderful hosts! Congrats on two years, we must have joined the same month! Must deserved and so happy you enjoyed it!

    Liked by 1 person

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