Maretha at Fauna Park Tales

Rave Reviews Book Club – “Book of the Month” Wow! Factor

From time to time, I ask myself why I took so long before joining Rave Reviews Book Club.  For almost a year before joining the club, I occasionally read WHO’S ON THE SHELF WITH NONNIE JULES, liking posts here and there, without realising that I needed support – I often felt isolated here in Lancashire, United Kingdom –  I was a recent immigrant from Southern Africa and still battled to find my way about Cyber Space.

This badge is part of my recent history and one of a few  I’ve acquired this past year. I’m very proud of this one!1YearBadge RRBC

Today, I’m not writing about the workings of a book club such as this one – reading, supporting, critiquing literary works – very important features; rather I’m giving the link to a previous post where I  gave more detail about the functions, opportunities, services offered and general information to do with Rave Reviews Book Club.

https://marethabotha2013.wordpress.com/2017/04/28/rave-reviews-book-club-a-place-called-home-2/

This post is about some of the members of Rave Reviews Book Club whom I got to know better: those who make up this incredible online community of writers, bloggers and illustrators. 

This good-looking badge however, reveals little about the people behind the badge – those who help with administration, arranging great events such as Book Tours, Expos and Conferences, and others  who help to bring members’ books to their full potential, making exceptional book trailers and writing professional blogs. Thank you, Nonnie Jules – Book Club President and her many helpers, John Fioravanti, Beem Weeks, Jan Sikes, Wendy Scott, Gwen Plano, John Howell, Marlena Smith, Jan Hawke and Patricia Green.  All these great members are also avid bloggers, BlogTalkRadio presenters and authors. I’m sure you would love to get to know them better.

I’m also extremely proud to have appeared as a guest on these awesome members’ blogs.

Gracie Bradford’s blog
Suzanna Burke

Thank you, Suzanna Burke https://twitter.com/pursoot for being a fabulous friend, supporter and tweeter! https://sooozburkeauthor.com/2017/06/18/author-showcase-featured-genre-for-june-childrens-books-featured-author-maretha-botha/

And Marlena Smith, Club Secretary, https://twitter.com/_MarlenaSmith_  blogger at https://mylife428.wordpress.com supporting authors at “MEET AUTHOR – Q&A” posts. https://mylife.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/meet-author-maretha-botha/. 

Marlena Smith

Karen Ingalls https://twitter.com/KIngallsAuthor gave me the privilege to appear as a guest writer on her blog, MIND, PEN, SPIRIT. http://kareningalls.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/writers-are-like-arborists.html

Karen Ingalls

Margaret Daly https://twitter.com/mdaly_margaret

I would like to specially mention those Rave Review Book Club members who took the time to read and review a few of Fauna Park Tales’ Books.  I’m sure you’ll recognise them and please remind me if I accidentally left someone out.

Jennifer Hinsman
Yvette Calleiro
Gwen Plano
DLFinn
Dawn Howard

Gracie Bradford literally walked three extra miles with me – reading and reviewing the first three books in Fauna Park Tales.  Thank you, Gracie!  Then there are the great Tweet Team supporters and amazing members who have written unforgettable memoirs, showing the strength of the human spirit when faced with challenging circumstances.

Suzanna Burke
DLFinn
Gwen Plano

So, if you had to ask me whether Rave Reviews Book Club has had a positive influence on me thus far, firstly as a person and secondly, as an author, I would say, “Yes!”  I’ve had opportunity to appear on BlogTalkRadio with Gwen Plano – BEHIND THE PEN WITH GWEN on the 4th of February this year; my books have been reviewed; I’ve hosted members of our book club on my blogs, as well as read and reviewed memoirs, children’s stories, thrillers and romantic novels, and enjoyed poignant poems about love lost and lifetime moments; I’m a member of the Tweet Support Team; I had opportunity to submit a few items for consideration for “Rave Soup for the Writer’s Soul” Anthology and this month, I had a wonderful surprise – “Flame and Hope: An African Adventure” was chosen as one of our clubs BOOKS OF THE MONTH! This honour opened the way for me to be on chat with Jan Hawke as host and my fellow winners, Joan Hall https://twitter.com/JoanHallWrites, Pamela S. Canepa https://twitter.com/PamSCanepa1 – we had great support from Michelle Abbot, Laurie Finkelstein, John Howell, Joy Nwosu LoBamijoko, Shirley Harris Slaughter, Gwen Plano, Staci Troilo, VashtiQ, Larry Hyatt, PeterW, AM Manay, Karl Morgan, DE Howard and more – sorry everyone – can’t remember all the names!

I’m sure that you’ll agree that I am a most satisfied and happy Rave Reviews Book Club member.  Whether you’re a reader or a writer, why not join our supportive online community today?

https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/join-here/

Thank you for visiting my blog today.  Should you wish to comment and or follow, you are most welcome!

Book 4 is on pre-order at present.

 

 

 

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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.

9 comments

  1. Reblogged this on MarethMB and commented:

    Thank you so much to Nonnie Jules and her team for this opportunity to have “Flame and Hope: An African Adventure” chosen as one of Rave Reviews Book Club’s three BOOKS OF THE MONTH. This is how I see this awesome opportunity.

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    • Thank you for your anniversary wishes, Traci! It’s hard to believe that a year can fly by so quickly and this month has been particularly hectic, trying to keep up my reading and tweeting processes as one of the RRBCMOM’s.

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  3. RRBC is a wonderful place with fantastic members who quickly become friends and supporters! 😀 We’re proud and delighted you’re with us Maretha ❤

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  5. Wow…what an extraordinary post! Thank you for the personal and collective acknowledgment. RRBC is a blessing for all of us – and you are a big part of that special blessing. 🙂

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