Maretha at Fauna Park Tales

Happy Clubaversary to me! – FIVE Years’ Membership #RRBC

This is just to say a BIG “THANK YOU!” to Nonnie Jules, President of the Rave Reviews Book Club and her equally awesome team. I’ve been a member for the past five years and it has been a pleasure. If you want to be part of something special, and if you are looking for real support as an author, I can heartily recommend that you join our book club where you give to receive and vice versa.

ONE YEAR AT #RRBC
TWO YEARS AT #RRBC
THREE YEARS AT #RRBC
FOUR YEARS AT #RRBC
FIVE YEARS AT #RRBC

During this time, I’ve been privileged to be #SPOTLIGHT Author in May 2018. I’ve been on RADIO twice – what a time we had – and most of my books in the Fauna Park Tales Series have been books of the month. I’ve had great reviews and some not so great, but all in all it has been a journey and an excellent learning experience. Then I would also like you to have a look at a few of the widgets on my blogs where you will see many of Rave Reviews Book Club’s awesome members who have made a big impact on me and my writing, as well has become wonderful friends, albeit virtual. This is by no means a complete gallery. Unfortunately, I don’t have photos to hand, but I would like to mention a few others such as Wanda Fischer, Linda Mims, Heather Kindt, John Fioravanti, Rhani D’Chae, Marie Drake, Robert Fear, Vashti Q, Bette A. Stevens, Mark Bierman, Linnea Turner, PTL Perrin, Eichin Chang-Lim and so many more who have been faithfully sharing my books on Social Media when I was not able to do so.

  • Suzanna Burke
  • Dawn Howard
  • DLFinn
  • Gwen Plano
  • Yvette Calleiro
  • Jennifer Hinsman

    Thank you for popping in. Please stay safe and best wishes for the weekend. Don’t forget to like, comment and/or follow us.

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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.

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