Hello, bloggers!
I am pleased to welcome RRBC Member & Author, Maretha Botha to my blog today. I’m excited to hear more about her newest book! And, I do believe, we have an extra special guest that Maretha will introduce us to. So, as always, enjoy…
Thank you so much for featuring me on your blog, Marlena! I feel most privileged to be here. Today, I would like to tell you a bit more about Fauna Park Tales, specifically my latest project, Book Four, Trails and Trials: An African Adventure. I’m doing it in the form of an interview. Flame, or Jack Old Boy – Protector and V.I.A. of Molodi – is barking a few questions for my consideration.
Flame – Protector and V.I.A. of Molodi
Flame: Biao-biao, Maretha! Why did you think my readers needed to see what we, furry and feathered friends look like? Have they no imagination?
Maretha: You’re so forthright, Flame, but many young readers, even the better readers, like to see their friends by means of a clear picture – I beg your pardon, pic’tree, as you call it in Faunalang. So, even though I had to use a lot of imagination and do some research, I painted each of your friends, including you, just as I imagined. I’ll let you into a little secret. I might be . . . e-r-r older, but even I like to see a few e-r-r pic’trees of my favourite character now and then, whichever children’s book I read.
Flame: Oh, interesting. I didn’t know that, but do you have a pic’tree of the porch animals?
Maretha: I do indeed and I hope you like it!
Katse Kitten, Rocksy and RatX
Flame: I don’t see Dolly the cat – only Katse Kitten, Rocksy and RatX. Have you forgotten about her?
Maretha: No Flame. Don’t you remember that she’s in Chestnut’s saddlebag, facing the great Kalughari wilderness with you, Spike-BullT and your scouts, Mars, the martial eagle, and Vera, the eagle owl? I’ll show you their pic’trees.
Chestnut with Dolly in her saddle bag, and Spike-BullT
Mars, a French-speaking martial eagle
Vera, an eagle owl
You might remember that I’ve been trying to get your readers to also tell us what they think about our Fauna Park Tales. So, I’m introducing your exciting and dare I mention, sometimes dangerous venture, to the supportive members of Rave Reviews Book Club. Some of them have reviewed you, and your furry and feathered friends’ earlier adventures.
Flame: Woof! I’m glad! Do they know about the orphans? And do they know that is why my friends and I are facing the unknown, great Kalughari?
Maretha: Yes, some of them have read The Orphans’ Plight: An African Adventure, but I’ll add their book cover by way of reminder. Do you agree?
Flame: Biao-biao! Of course, I agree.
TRAILS AND TRIALS: AN AFRICAN ADVENTURE
“Four trails – one destination – the waterhole closest to the best place to cross the Tukani River into a neighbouring country. This adventure takes Flame and his furry friends on a thrilling, dangerous quest, but they always have hope. Were it not for the help of a meerkat clan, a gripe of sandgrouse and other feathered friends such as Mars, a martial eagle and Vera, an eagle owl, their trail might have had a different outcome. This fast-paced adventure takes place during one week and is told from four different viewpoints, because friends as well as foes race to get to the waterhole, and in striving to do so, experience their own personal adversities and trials.
Trail One: Cattle thieves and their hostages are confident that their venture will succeed and make them very rich;
Trail Two: Flame, and his furry and feathered friends are determined that Tall Leader and his gang of cattle thieves will not succeed to cross the border. So, they intend to find their small hostages and drive the stolen cattle back to Molodi. They are in hot pursuit of their enemies, despite experiencing hunger and thirst;
Trail Three: An elderly tracker and his companion take a risky short-cut, starting on the other side of the Llokodi Hills, traversing a salt lake, grasslands, treacherous dunes and rocky spaces. They keep going non-stop, using knowledge of the harsh environment to survive, because failure is no option. The elderly tracker also has a familial interest in the small hostages’ welfare;
Trail Four: Chief Monametsi, John James and their party, are at least twenty-four hours behind their quarry and have no idea that Flame and his friends are ahead of them. Their sole hope lies in the fact that those on Trail Three reach Tall Leader in time to thwart his plans;
These illustrated adventure stories will provide endless hours of reading pleasure to better readers who also enjoy seeing some illustrations of the characters, increasing overall reading pleasure. Book Three and Four should ideally be read in sequence and are most suited to readers 9-13 (Middle Grade).”
(The black and white illustrated paperback is already uploaded to CreateSpace, awaiting a proof copy).
Maretha: Thank you, Flame. I’m sure your readers will be happy that you took some time off from your important working-dog duties to interview me. I’m asking all the readers whether they would like to receive a copy to read and leave us a review on amazon as soon as I release book four.
Flame: Biao-biao, everyone! Don’t forget to let us know if you want to read and review book four. I’m sure your children and even grandchildren will enjoy our adventures, even though they’re happening far from our beloved Molodi valley.
Follow the Author:
Amazon Author Page
Twitter
Facebook Book Page
Facebook Author Page
Blog (1)
Blog (2)
Thank you so much for visiting with us today. I encourage you to continue supporting this fabulous author with shares, comments and likes.
Until next time…………Happy Reading & Reviewing!!
Thanks so much, Marlena! The furry and feathered friends look great!
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🙂 My pleasure, Maretha!!
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Reblogged this on Fauna Park Tales and commented:
We here at Fauna Park LOVE an awesome shout out. MARLENA IS A LOVELY HUMAN! Biao-Biao!!
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I thoroughly enjoyed this interview, Maretha. Your artwork for your books is wonderful – so much talent! Thanks for hosting, Marlena!
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Thank you, John! I’ll keep trying with the art work as long as possible, but these days I seem to have a slight “shiver” when doing the finer detail, but I hope to finish all the illustrations for at least book five. I certainly get so much support from everyone that I’ll have to push on! Have a blessed day💐
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You’re welcome, Maretha. I hope you can continue with your fine artwork for a long time to come!
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Amazing art! Well done! Brightened my day and piqued my interest. Love the porch animals.
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Thank you, Jena! I’m glad you like the porch animals, especially since they brightened your day. 🤓Reading your kind comments spur me on to keep going, despite the intensity of the job – sometimes more exhausting than the writing! I hope your day remains bright and sunny.
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This was a creative way to introduce your story, Maretha! Great interview. Thanks for hosting, Mar!
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Thanks so much for popping in, R. I appreciate your positive comment. Enjoy the rest of your day🤓
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A lovely post, Marlena. It is so nice to learn more of Maretha and her art. Congrats Maretha.
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Thank you for popping in John. I appreciate your kind comment. 🤓
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🙂
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Such a whimsical and clever post! Maretha your artwork is delightful and I love the charming series name. Congratulations on your books and your art (how nice to be multi-talented).
Marlena, thanks for hosting today. You do a wonderful job in introducing authors to others!
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Thanks so much, Mae Clair! I appreciate Marlena’s efforts on behalf of Fauna Park’s furry and feathered friends so much. It has been a long road for them and me.
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I loved the interview with Flame, Maretha! I adored the first book, and want to read the rest of series. I will be sharing with my grand kids, too! Beautiful artwork, too.
Thanks for hosting, Marlena😀
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Thank you so much, DL! I hope to have a combined volume of 174-pages ready for the book and blog tour in April. At present there are still a few small glitches I’m working on. I’m also preparing a few of the illustrations as possible pictures for younger readers’ rooms. I just find, as I’m sure you do too, that there are not enough hours in the day when one does the illustrations as well. I hope you are keeping well.
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Oh, how exciting you are combining them! I will be sure to pick that up! How cool your pictures are being used in a young reader’s room!
There are definitely not enough hours in the day to get everything done with writing, and you add in illustrations, too. I am doing well, just sure busy at the moment. Sounds like it is going well for you. I look forward to seeing you on the blog tour:)
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A big THANKS to everyone for stopping by today. I’m always grateful for everyone lending support to my guests. 🙂 You guys rock!!!!!
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Special thanks from me, Marlena! You have a lovely website. All the best with setting up the rest of your guests😍😍😍
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Thanks DL! I suggested the 22 or 29 April, but I’ll see which day gets assigned to me.I think the blog tour is such a great idea, even though it keeps one busy, but I’ve got to know so many authors a lot better!
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What a delightful and imaginative post – I adore your animals.
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Thanks so much for your kind comments about the illustrations, Wendy. I appreciate your visit. I hope you have a pleasant day!
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This was such a fun interview, Maretha! And I just adore your illustrations. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. 🙂
Thanks for the warm welcome, Marlena, as always!
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What a charming post! I love your paintings, Maretha, and your stories are beautiful. Thank you, Mar, for featuring Maretha. 🙂
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