Don’t Miss Karina Fabian!

“Wisdom of the Ages, Knowledge of Eternity, and I end up a babysitter at the Smart Humans Convention.” Vern, Dragon Detective, Quote from Magic, Mensa and Mayhem.

 

Magic Mensa and Mayhem front coverWhat’s Magic, Mensa and Mayhem? This is how author, Karina Fabian, describes the story:

It should have been a cushy job: Vern, the dragon detective, and his partner, the mage Sister Grace, are given an all-expense paid trip to Florida to chaperone a group of Magicals at a Mensa convention. Then the pixies start pranking, the Valkyrie starts vamping and a dwarf goes to Billy Beaver’s Fantasyland to be “discovered”. Environmentalists protest Vern’s “disrupting the ecosystem,” while clueless tourists think he’s animatronic. When the elves get high on artificial flavourings and declare war on Florida, it turns into the toughest case they aren’t getting paid for.

 

What does it take to write such humorous fantasy? Drop by Ascroft, eh? on Friday, April 17 when author, Karina Fabian, will share her secrets for writing humorous fantasy. She’ll tell us about her new book Magic, Mensa and Mayhem and how she gets the ideas to write such wacky stories. Also find out how to enter her contest to win a copy of Magic, Mensa and Mayhem.

 

Don’t miss Karina Fabian’s visit to Ascroft, eh? on Friday, April 17.

Posted in April 2009 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Janet Elaine Smith chats with Dianne Ascroft

Ever wondered how readers learn about a new book? With publishers concentrating their marketing budgets on their best known authors, it’s hard for new books by unknown authors to gain attention. On Tuesday I’ll be chatting with Janet Elaine Smith on her radio show, Marketing for Fun and Profit, about my novel, Hitler and Mars Bars, and how I’m telling potential readers about it.hitler-and-mars-bars1Janet Elaine Smith likes to explore topics thoroughly so you never know where the discussion will lead. But I’ll bet she’ll ask me about my novel’s title….

Join us at

 

www.internetvoicesradio.com/home.htm

  on Tuesday, May 14 at 4.30pm EST (9.30pm in the UK/Ireland). Click on the live streaming link to listen live. If you miss the live show, it will be available to listen to at

 

www.internetvoicesradio.com/home.htm  by the end of the week. Click on Janet Elaine Smith’s name in ‘archives’ or ‘hosts’ and you will find the list of her past shows.

Hope you can join us on Tuesday!

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Metro Eireann reviews ‘Hitler and Mars Bars’

I just read Metro Eireann newspaper’s review of Hitler and Mars Bars and thought I’d pass on the highlights to you.hitler-and-mars-bars

Hitler and Mars Bars was praised for being “tightly written, and the characters very much believable” by Irish newspaper Metro Eireann’s reviewer, Jeanette Rehnstrom, in her review last week. She says “the evocative language is seemingly effortless; one has an easy time going with the flow and living the lives of the characters”.

 

While the newspaper review is not available online, the full review will be re-printed soon on the Irish Writers Exchange at: http://irishwritersexchange.com/news.html and on their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/irishwriter39sexchange.

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Amazon Top Reviewer’s praise for Hitler and Mars Bars

This morning I was delighted to discover that Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer, Lesley West, has posted a review of Hitler and Mars Bars on Amazon.

 

In her review, Hitler and Mars Bars is described as “an engaging novel with a feisty and determined young hero, and one well worth your time”. She says “the novel is well written, and all of the characters are well depicted” and that the portrayal of “everyday post war Ireland is engaging and realistic”.

 

Read the full review here.

Posted in March 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reasons to Celebrate!!!

I’m celebrating today! Spring has sprung and Hitler and Mars Bars is leaping into its second year.

Today’s the Vernal Equinox – and therefore the first day of spring in the Northern hemisphere. After the past winter, I’m glad to see it arrive. Aren’t you?  

hitler-and-mars-barsIt’s also the first anniversary of Hitler and Mars Bars’ release.  This time last year I was sending out press releases to announce the book’s publication. Since then word about the novel has been spreading far and wide. Here’s some of what’s been happening:

– individuals around the world have bought copies of the book

– bookshops and libraries throughout Ireland have ordered the novel

– I’ve been interviewed on Irish and international radio stations  

– I’ve participated (being reviewed, answering interview questions and writing guest posts) in a two month Virtual Book Tour that included over 30 stops

– numerous reviews and articles about the book were printed in newspapers, magazines and websites

Here’s what several articles and reviews said about Hitler and Mars Bars:

“It’s a riveting story… As a novel it is extraordinarily well researched. It could form the basis of a revealing film script… Beautifically written with a strong human story running through it…”   Brian D’Arcy, BBC broadcaster, Sunday World columnist, author, journalist

“The novel does an excellent job of showing how the devastation of war continues long after the guns have been silenced… This book attempts to help us better understand the plight of one boy as he struggles with war and its aftermath.” Historical Novel Society Online Review, November 2008

 “Although writer Dianne Ascroft’s new book has only been released to the general public for little over a week, she has already achieved critical acclaim for the novel… The novel was recognised by the Ireland’s Own magazine’s book deal competition when Dianne won the best book section.”  Tyrone Constitution, 29 May 2008

“Ascroft, through her sensitive research, has produced an insightful novel which acknowledges the past, but also the strain of change that was present at the time… [She] has localised the global context of her subject matter, in this unique window into 1940s Ireland.”  East Cork Journal, 5th June 2008

“An endearing story… Ascroft is superb in telling the story from Erich’s point of view. It’s a poignant and nostalgic look at a bygone and more innocent age…. The story is both vivid and moving…”  News Letter (Belfast), 21st June 2008

“It is well produced, well edited and has an inviting cover.”  The Self Publishing Magazine, Winter 2008


So I have reason to celebrate. I’ve been thrilled by the response I’ve had from readers, bookshops, libraries, newspapers, magazines, radio stations and websites. Hitler and Mars Bars has had a great first year. I’m still brimming with ideas to help spread the word as I think there are many more readers who would enjoy this story.  I can’t wait to see what happens in this next year!

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St Patrick’s Day Around The World

HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY!!! 

 

It seems that people everywhere, with the slightest Irish connection, are celebrating this week. Besides the traditional pub crawl there are many diverse events on – from concerts to prayer services. And parades seem to feature everywhere.

 

Here’s a sampling of what’s been happening around the world:

 

Let’s start with Downpatrick, the place most associated with St Patrick. Their St Patrick’s Festival runs March 9-17.

 

For those who want to get away from the mayhem in Dublin today why not try Galway?

 

London’s Irish community enjoyed a day out on Sunday.

 

And they weren’t the only city in Europe to have a parade.  Copenhagen was one of a number of others that celebrated in the streets.

 

If you fancied some saki rather than green beer, Tokyo might have been the place to be. On Sunday they held their 18th St Patrick’s Parade.

 

The Irish community has always been strong in America. Check out some of their parades:

 

Boston

 

Sleepy Hollow 

 

Greater New Haven

 

And don’t forget Canada:

 

Toronto

I was on their first parade committee back in the early 1980s so this one has a special place in my heart.

 

If you fancied somewhere warmer,

Sydney would have been a good choice.

 

Or Montserrat in the Caribbean

 

 So you need not be in Ireland to join the festivities. No matter where you are in the world, there’s a good chance St Patrick’s Day will come to you.

Now that I’ve given you an overview of what’s happening around the world, maybe I’ll wash down my pancakes and maple syrup with some green beer….hmm….I’m not sure that’s quite the right combination. Oh well…Slainte!

 Beannachtam na Femle Padraig!!!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in March 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Women’s Millionaire Club

The Women’s Millionaire Club is an attention grabbing title for a book. Doesn’t it stir your curiousity? Let’s find out a bit about the soon to be released book, what it offers women and it’s author, Maureen Gail Mulvaney.

Mulvaney’s biography says:

 Born Maureen Gail Mulvaney, she certainly lives up to her initials MGM…a Big Production. MGM is the Author of The Women’s Millionaire Club and a multi-faceted Professional Speaker. MGM has spoken from Finland to Malaysia and has been the guest on hundreds of TV and Radio programs. She has shared the stage with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Ann Jillian, Lynn Sherr (60 Minutes), Mary Higgins Clark (Mystery Author) and others. Her passion is the study of successful women.

MGM wasn’t always a ‘Smashing Success’. After a devastating divorce, MGM arrived in Phoenix, AZ flat broke, with No friends, No Home and No job. During the height of the 1980 recession, with 11.5% unemployment, instead of returning to her job teaching special education, she took the biggest risk of her life, and launched her speaking career.

Before long, MGM was known as the Super Star Speaker with a thriving home-based business and impressive client list AT&T, MCI, Greyhound, Best Western and hundreds of others. MGM spread her wings and penned Any Kid Can Be a Super Star and co-authored Chicken Soup for the Teacher’s Soul.

After 25 years of speaking to corporations and associations, MGM heard a startling fact that changed the trajectory of her life ~ “56% of the adults, living in poverty, over the age of 18, are women”. MGM wanted to create Recipes of Success that, with practice, anyone could model and achieve similar results.

MGM searched for successful women to model. She ruled out Corporate Women because not everyone could achieve the same results without specific education and years of experience. She ruled out Small Business Women because of the huge amounts of money needed to purchase and run a franchise.

Then she discovered the Home Based Business Entrepreneur—the fastest growing segment of the economy, no education or experience pre-requisites, a small start-up investment required and a business model that honored the traits of women.

MGM researched Why some women are so successful, making lots of money, while others aren’t? MGM surveyed, assessed and interviewed, twenty-one Top Performing Successful Women Millionaires, from various home based businesses. She discovered the Secret combination of lip-smacking Ingredients that created Recipes for Million Dollar Success.

The Women’s Millionaire Club author, MGM, is the nation’s top expert in the learned traits of successful women. As the founder of The Women’s Millionaire Club website her mission is to help Women become Millionaires by creating an Abundance Conscious Community to Support Each Other through Education, Empowerment and Energy.

 Drop by her website to learn more: http://www.thewomensmillionaireclub.blogspot.com/

Here’s how to buy the book and collect bonus items on its release day:
The Women’s Millionaire Club, by Maureen G Mulvaney, is being offered beginning on March 17th, 2009 at 12:01 am. We invite you to go to this page – http://mgmsuperstar.com/wjtc/exclusive.html – to access the order page and then go back to this page to access the bonus page. On the Exclusive Private Invite page, enter your order confirmation code. That will allow you to gain entry to the FREE Pot o’ Gold Bonus Items.
maureengmulvaneymgmwithbook
 
 
 
 

 

Posted in March 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Want to find out how to join the Women’s Millionaire Club?

Drop by here on Sunday, March 15 to hear about Maureen Gail Mulvaney’s new book, The Women’s Millionaire Club and to find out how you can join the club. As well as reading about her secrets of success, details about how to order the book and claim free bonus items will be posted.

 

Maureen Gail Mulvaney certainly lives up to her initials MGM…a Big Production. MGM is the Author of The Women’s Millionaire Club and a multi-faceted Professional Speaker. MGM has spoken from Finland to Malaysia and has been the guest on hundreds of TV and Radio programs. She has shared the stage with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Ann Jillian, Lynn Sherr (60 Minutes), Mary Higgins Clark (Mystery Author) and others. Her passion is the study of successful women.

 

Don’t forget to drop by on Sunday!

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Amazon Top Reviewer’s Comments About ‘Hitler and Mars Bars’

This week Amazon Top 1000 reviewer, R. DelParto, in her Amazon review of my novel, Hitler and Mars Bars, said that the novel is “a fascinating story that may touch the heart”. She also said “the one thing that stood out about the book is how the story captures the pure essence of the characters and their interactions with each other.”

Read the full review at http://www.amazon.com/review/RAGNAJFPEFU0V/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

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The Authors Show Interviews Dianne Ascroft

 

Stop by The Authors Show any time on March 10 to hear Don McCauley interviewing me, Dianne Ascroft, about my recent historical fiction, Hitler and Mars Bars. I’ll chat about everything from my advice to new writers (though I’m really one myself!) to how I chose the book title.  So drop by 

 

www.theauthorsshow.com on March 10. The interview is available all day. Just click my name on the navigation bar in the centre of the screen.

 

Hitler and Mars Bars, winner of Trafford Publishing’s 2004 Book Deal Contest, is the moving story of a remarkable child and era. It’s the story of Erich, a German boy growing up in war-torn Germany and post war rural Ireland. Set against the backdrop of Operation Shamrock, a little known Irish Red Cross project which helped German children after World War II, the novel explores a previously hidden slice of Irish and German history.

Hope you’ll drop by www.theauthorsshow.com on March 10!

Dianne

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