Month: January 2016

Day in the Life of a fledgling published Biographer

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Today, Friday 29th January.  Started quite normally. Met with Mayor of Thorpe St Andrew (home suburb) to have photo taken with him for the town newsletter.  Went into City of Norwich to have an afternoon off at our favourite watering hole – they are holding their annual Winter Beer Festival (enough said!)  On passing City Bookshop I spotted Escaping Hitler in their front window display.  Photo opportunity!  We then went into Smiths to buy a copy of Suffolk and Norfolk Life – I knew that it was promoting the book.  Sure enough, two page spread complete with photos.  We buy three copies!  On to lunch and beer tastings.  Lovely two hours chatting to a couple from Sheringham.  On way back to bus stop at 5pm (we know how to live!) we took a detour through Waterstones, UK’s leading bookseller, just incase they were stocking my book, but I did not hold out much hope.

We asked at the desk. Sure enough the young woman said they had bought in 10 copies and would I like to sign them!  No way had I expected that!  Gleefully we followed her up the stairs to top floor and there was my display!  She leant me a pen and I signed all ten copies, feeling a little shaky and overawed!  Such a thrill!  Then on the bus and home for a quiet night in.  Wow!  What a day.

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HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 2016

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Today is Holocaust Memorial Day.  This morning I attended the annual Civic Service at St Peter de Mancroft Church in Norwich.  The ancient church was full, with Joe Stirling as a special guest in the front pew.  The service, organised by the Council of Christians and Jews, took the traditional format and included the thought-provoking poem allegedly written by Pastor Martin Niemoller after WW2.

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.

Last year Joe Stirling was chosen to light a candle to commemorate 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.  Here is a photo recording that day.  This year instead, we had a display of Escaping Hitler at the back of the church and following the moving service we sold twelve copies and raised a lot of interest.  The book is dedicated to Alfred and Ida Stern, Joe’s parents, who were murdered in Sobibor Death Camp in 1942. Today in Church Joe and I honoured them.

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Introductory offer on Escaping Hitler ends soon!

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With my current stocks of Escaping Hitler now running low, I will soon be re-ordering from my publisher.  Unfortunately the price per copy to me has increased so from my official launch date of 4th February 2016 (10 days time) the price for a signed copy direct from me will be £19.50 plus £4 postage.  This is still well below the £25 recommended retail price as printed on the inside cover….  SO, if you would like to snap up your copy at the introductory price of £17 plus postage, now is the time. Full information of your options below….  

The book came in at number 9 in Jarrolds Book Department weekly Top Ten National Sellers list, as published in Saturday’s Eastern Daily Press in Norwich.  I could not be more delighted….  thanks to those who have already bought, I hope you are enjoying living Joe’s life alongside him…..!

1. U.K. FOLLOWERS: EITHER mail a cheque payable to Mrs P Scrivens at 7 St Lucia Court, 38 Yarmouth Road, Norwich NR7 0EQ along with your home address and telephone number and I will mail a book out to you along with a receipt. (Orders dated before 4th February will be at £17 plus £4 p&p, dated after 4th February will be £19.50 plus £4 p&p)

2. OR call me on 01603 300212 and quote me your credit or debit card details (just like you do when ordering tickets for the cinema!) I have a Paypal machine so I can take cards over the phone. I will then mail your book.

3. OR email me at phyllida.scrivens@icloud.com and I will email you my bank account details by return so that you can pay electronically. Once it is cleared I will mail your book.

All books will be mailed in a cardboard mailer which can fit two books. Postage the same price for two books as for one.

4. OVERSEAS FOLLOWERS: Unfortunately postage from the UK is very expensive in small quantities. I would advise you to order from either Amazon.co.uk or from Pen and Sword Books website at http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Escaping-Hitler-Hardback/p/11628. Pen and Sword can send out signed copies if you request this at the end of the online ordering process.

Happy Reading….

 

First ‘reader review’ received for Escaping Hitler

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This morning I was delighted to receive my first ‘reader review’ on Facebook from a lovely lady who bought a book direct from me earlier this week. The review was actually from her husband and it reads:

“My husband managed to nab our copy before me. He keeps relaying little snippets so I know he is enjoying the book.
When I asked him about the style of writing he said he was finding it an easy read and a real page turner.”

As a debut biographer I could not have been more delighted. That is exactly what I set out to achieve when I knew I had to share Joe’s story.  Thank you Mary.

To receive your copy of Escaping Hitler, the biography of Norwich man Joe Stirling, kinder transport boy, former Sheriff of Norwich, senior member of Lions International and pioneering Travel Agent, refer to the previous blog posting with your options.  Looking forward to signing and mailing it out to you (U.K. only)

It is also available from Jarrold’s Book Department in Norwich,  Pen and Sword Books and Amazon.co.uk.

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Joe Stirling reading his copy of Escaping Hitler!

HOW TO BUY YOUR COPY OF ESCAPING HITLER, a Biography signed by both author and subject…..

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No harm in a  reminder to my UK readers of how to order your signed copy of Escaping Hitler direct from me.  

1. The Recommended Retail Price on the cover is £25 but I am selling signed copies at £19.50 plus £4 postage and packing (within the UK) making a total of £23.50

2. EITHER mail  a cheque payable to Mrs P Scrivens at 7 St Lucia Court, 38 Yarmouth Road, Norwich NR7 0EQ along with your home address and telephone number and I will mail a book out to you along with a receipt.

3. OR call me on 01603 300212 and quote me your credit or debit card details (just like you do when ordering tickets for the cinema!) I have a Paypal machine so I can take cards over the phone.  I will then mail your book.

4. OR email me at phyllida.scrivens@icloud.com and I will email you my bank account details by return so that you can pay electronically. Once it is cleared I will mail your book.

All books will be mailed in a cardboard mailer which can fit two books.

Do share this information with your friends.  My debut book is now just over one year old and has recently been published in the U.S. by Skyhorse Books.  The interest in Joe’s remarkable story continues to grow – be a part of it.  jacket jpeg

Thanks in anticipation.  Joe and I hope you enjoy reading it.

Phyllida Scrivens, Norwich

200 copies of Escaping Hitler arrive in Thorpe St Andrew

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Today counts as one of the most exciting of my life, alongside two marriages, two births and two graduations… 200 copies of my debut book Escaping Hitler arrived from Pen and Sword Books at my Norwich home.  I love it!  The cover is glossy, the scent of ‘new print’, evocative photographs and foreword by a national figure.  It is everything I dreamed it would be, my debut book, a proper hardback with my name on the spine… I could not be happier.  Within two hours of the delivery van arriving here, Victor and I drove over to Joe Stirling, the subject of the biography, where he was patiently awaiting our arrival.  Joe is also thrilled with how the book looks and I signed a copy for him.  We left him embarking on a marathon read – I doubt he will not go to bed tonight!  Here are some photos so that you can share this special day with me.  Tomorrow we will set up an online store from this site – hopefully from the weekend Escaping Hitler will be open for business!

Norwich reads about Escaping Hitler

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Today, January 5th 2015, Eastern Daily Press and Evening News both carried a two page article about Escaping Hitler and its launch on 4th February.  Written by leading journalist Rowan Mantell, the piece is extensive with many photographs of the Kindertransport boy who became Sheriff of Norwich.

The timing is fitting, for today Pen and Sword Books advised me that the book is now published and ready for sale on their website.  The review copies will be sent out very soon and I should receive my first box of books by the end of this week.  Cannot wait!

Try this link to see the article, but I do fear it may not work.  Apologies. Look out next week at this blog for the new online store where you will be able to buy your signed copy of Escaping Hitler.

Thanks for your patience

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=fae16c66-1773-4723-b08a-d26acfe26255

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