Tag: Lions Intenational

SIX MONTHS ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLICATION OF ESCAPING HITLER

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SIX MONTHS AGO today, 5th January 2016, my debut biography Escaping Hitler (foreword by Shirley Williams) was published by Pen and Sword Books.  I will never forget the incredible moment when my first 200 copies arrived in six boxes at my house! And when I first presented Joe Stirling with his personal copy!  Since that date so much has happened to me and to the book that I felt this was an appropriate moment to share the phenomonal achievements so far.

Over 30 published articles and reviews including local Archant publications, the Journal from the Association of Jewish Refugees, Lion Magazine and the Rhein Zeitung, regional newspaper for the Rhineland around Koblenz.

Grand official launch at Jarrold Department Store in Norwich on 4th February with 220 people in the audience.  We signed over 50 books that night!

Appeared in Jarrold’s National Bestsellers lists for five weeks running, including No.1 during week of February 13th 2016!

29 Public and private talks and powerpoint presentations including two in Germany (Koblenz Federal Archive and the village of Nickenich).  Seven more in the diary between now and July 2017.  More welcomed!

Escaping Hitler appears in Norfolk Libraries. Waiting lists build up to borrow copies.

403 followers on Facebook and 112 on Twitter

542 copies sold directly from me and Joe, 297 of them signed and sold at our speaking engagements.

From the initial 1300 print run Pen and Sword is now down to the final 200 in the warehouse.  Plans for a further hardback run and a little later for a softback.

In March this year New York Publisher Skyhorse bought the option to publish and distribute Escaping Hitler onto the U.S. market. Projected date for this is January 3rd 2017. I have recently received my Authors Questionnaire in order for us to work together on a marketing plan.  (This was beyond my wildest expectations!)

Escaping Hitler entered for two major Book  Awards – watch this space!

And finally, as a result of the marketing successes so far, I am now contracted to Pen and Sword for a second biographical book: My Lady Lord Mayor: The Seventeen Female Lord Mayor of Norwich 1923-2017.  Estimated publication end 2017/early 2018.

So more work ahead!!

My sincere thanks to everyone who follows this blog, my Facebook page and my Twitter feed, and especially those who have already bought and read the book!  Without your support the statistics would not look nearly as good!

Don’t forget – by clicking on the menu at the top of this page you will find full details of how to order your personally signed copy directly from me. The book makes a great gift!

Our first joint talk at the Soroptimists club in Norwich

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect Father’s Day Gift

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Sunday 19th June is Father’s Day in Great Britain so there is still time to buy your signed copy of Escaping Hitler as the perfect gift for Dad. A boy’s own story of despair in Nazi Germany which changes to one of hope and determination, success against all the odds. Joe Stirling’s full life has been dominated by family, his pioneering travel business, community work, his year as Sheriff of Norwich and his 50 years plus with Lions Clubs International.  The book also includes many anecdotal details of the history of Norwich over five decades.  I have been touched and delighted with people’s comments about this biography of a Kindertransport refugee who escaped Nazi Germany and finally settled in Norfolk.  It is available on Amazon.co.uk, from Pen and Sword Books, from Jarrold Book Shop in Norwich or to buy a signed copy (by both the author and Joe Stirling) take a look at the instructions on the Menu tab on this website. £19.50 plus £4 postage (U.K. only)  I look forward to hearing from you.

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Joe Stirling reading his own biography!

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….

 

FOOT STEPPING JOE IN UNITED STATES!

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Not content with foot stepping the life of Joe Stirling in Germany, Holland and the UK, during our recent holiday to California my husband and I made a point of visiting two spots that feature in my forthcoming biography Escaping Hitler.  Whilst in Las Vegas we took a bus to the historical end of the city where it all began and to where Joe took a group of UK Lions to their first International Convention in 1971.  The city has now placed a roof over Fremont Street and turned it into a retrospective tourist destination but the original icons such as the huge cowboy sign and the Golden Nugget Casino are still there.  A week later we went to San Francisco, our hotel being on Market Street, the very street where the Lions Parade of 1984 marched in celebration of the first UK International President Bert Mason.  We sought out the prestigious Sir Francis Drake Hotel in the heart of the city, where Joe booked a penthouse suite for his daughter Jane and secretary Anne, along with their husbands in order that they could use the facilities as an office during that enormous convention.  We met with the doorman who still continues the hotel tradition of dressing like a London Beefeater!  These stories are covered in detail in the book to be published by Pen and Sword Books in January 2016.  Please visit my Facebook page and ‘Like’ the page if you would like to be kept informed of events surrounding the publication.

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SAN FRANCISCO WITH THE LIONS 1984

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I spent a delightful afternoon with Ann Godfrey yesterday talking about Joe Stirling’s escorted trips to Lions International Conventions.  Ann was Joe’s PA in Stirling Holidays from 1981 for eight years. I sat open mouthed as she told me how she had to take last minute responsibility for travelling with the record number of 247 delegates from the UK, to San Francisco in the summer of 1984.  The attraction that year was because the incoming International President was from Northern Ireland, Bert Mason, and everyone here wanted to support him.  Having never travelled overseas before, Ann found herself taking a splinter group of seventy Lions (including wives) to Las Vegas for a few days excursion trip.  It was not plain sailing by any means – the full details will be in the book!!!

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Meeting the President of Norwich Lions Club

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This afternoon I spent three and a half hours at the Norwich home of Dr John Jones, current President of Norwich Lions Club who has known Joe for over forty years. I did not know until I walked into his living room that he has possession of a fifty year old scrap book about the Norwich Club which includes many items and photos relevant to Joe.  I will spend the next couple of days transcribing our conversation from my tape recorder.  John had some excellent stories to share.  Many thanks to him for his time and memories.  This photo shows Joe during Spring 1971 when he had just been appointed as a District Governor, a high ranking position in the Lions.  Currently there are only thirteen in the UK.  Loving this research!!IMG_3966