Must reads, giveaways and much more!

​Hello readers and welcome to our July newsletter!

How are you all doing? New Zealand has done really well on "eliminating" the virus from our country with only a few cases detected at our borders from citizens returning home who are now in isolation facilities provided by the government. We are extremely lucky to be living in a COVID-free place and not one day goes by where I don't pray that other countries follow this same path soon.

My heart breaks to see so many countries struggling with the COVID situation, and others that seemingly had it under control and tried to return to normal activities too soon, just for the virus to spread way to quick again. I hope you are well and safe wherever you are. My beloved country, Brazil, is going through one of its worst moments in its history. They haven't reached the "peak" yet and numbers are still rising. Although the situation there is really bad, and it will be for a while, I did promise you I'd write a few travel tips in this newsletter. (Thanks for reaching out!) So scroll down to find my favourite places in my country and here is to hope, that you will be able to visit it there in the not too distant future...

We also have giveaways and must-reads in this newsletter. Read on!

Be kind to one another. Stay safe and look after yourself.

Talk again soon.
CAN YOU HELP?
Dear Kindle Unlimited readers! We need your help! Ben's book - The World of Greek Mythology - has been getting great reviews in the industry (have a look here), but we would love to have some reviews in Amazon too!! Can you help? If you are a Kindle Unlimited member you can download the book for FREE. If your children enjoyed the Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan or if they are interested in learning more about Greek Mythology, this is a great book!!
Click on image below to get yours.

We have a new giveaway happening on our Facebook page!! To celebrate school holidays in New Zealand, we're giving you a chance to win:
* a signed copy of THE MAGIC PENCIL by Ben Spies (8+)
* a copy of WAATA THE WETA by Josephine Carson Barr (5+)
* Whittaker's JELLY TIP chocolate. Yum!!
* a silver fidget spinner. Fun!!
TO ENTER:
- LIKE our Spies Publishing page on Facebook
- LIKE the post
- COMMENT in the post with your favourite holiday destination in New Zealand with children. (Yes! Let's support NZ businesses on your next trip!!)
Entries close 5pm, Sunday, 2nd August 2020. Winner will be randomly drawn and notified on this post. Open to New Zealand residents ONLY.

Thank you for following Ben's journey! Ben has published four books so far. His first book - Weirdo - was written when he was nine years old. Ben's books not only make a great gift, but can also show a child that dreams can come true with continued dedication and hard work.
Ben writes with an original and authentic voice that other
young people can connect to and be inspired by.
Learn more about Ben's books below:
WEIRDO
Meet Ugine. He is a right, proper weirdo. But with great weirdness comes great responsibility...
Ugine recently lost his parents. He now lives by himself. He has no friends at school, and everyone thinks he is weird... but when a school trip to Brazil ends in disaster, Ugine's weirdness might just come in handy. Will Ugine save his classmates? Or will they all be lost in the jungle forever...
'Weirdo' was written when Ben was just nine years old. Ben started writing his own stories to entertain his peers with the authentic, peculiar and hilarious voice only a child can have.
If your children love the funny stories by Dav Pilkey and the Tom Gates series they will enjoy this book.
Buy Ben's first book 'Weirdo' here!
Ages: 7+
THE MAGIC PENCIL
A school boy. A magic pencil. One chance to save the world.
When Bob finds an innocent-looking pencil on his way to school, little does he realize his life will never be the same again. Anything it draws magically comes to life.
Unknown to Bob, a dangerous gang of villains are not far behind. Desperately searching for the Magic Pencil, the Fakeys want to use the power of the pencil to take over the world, and they will let nothing stand in their way.
In a race against time, can Bob and his friends stay one step ahead of the Fakeys to save the world?
'The Magic Pencil' is an extraordinary adventure full of action, unexpected time-travel and imaginative scenarios.
If you like Roald Dahl and David Walliams' books, then you'll love this novel by Kiwi young author Ben Spies.
'The Magic Pencil' is written by 10 year old author Ben Spies. The true point of difference in Ben's books is that they are written by a child, for children. Through a child's eyes and with a child's voice.
Order your copy of 'The Magic Pencil' here and embark on Ben's latest adventure.
Ages: 8+
THE WORLD OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Ever wondered what the Greek myths look like through the eyes of a child?
Eleven-year-old author, Ben Spies, writes his version of some of the most thrilling tales from Greek mythology.
From Titans to Olympians, 'The World of Greek Mythology' delivers an action-packed retelling of the myths, from how the world was created to a personal take on some of the greatest and mightiest gods and goddesses.
Ben adds his quirky humour to each chapter as we follow the drama of the legendary Trojan War and the epic voyage of Odysseus.
But be warned: the gruesome world of Greek mythology is not for the faint of heart… get ready for bloody battles and horrible deaths.
If you love Greek mythology, or you’re keen to learn more, this book is sure to delight and captivate your imagination.
The World of Greek Mythology was the bronze medal winner for the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards in 2019.
If your children enjoyed the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan they will love this book!
Get your copy of 'The World of Greek Mythology' here.
Ages: 10+
2020
Earth's orbit is moving closer to the Sun and our planet is heating up at an alarming rate.
The spacecraft sent by NASA to find a new home for the human race has been destroyed by an alien force.
Twelve-year-old Jacob and his mother Susan are fighting for survival while witnessing the horrors of an apocalyptic world. With so many threats to our planet, the enemy may not come from outer-space, but from right here among us.
Susan and Jacob are quickly running out of time. However, hope might be on its way after all... just not from where they expected.
Will Susan and Jacob survive? Or will they fall prey to this dreadful, chaotic world?
'2020' is the fourth novel from teenage author, Ben Spies.
If you like heart-pounding action, high-stakes drama, and all things alien and sci-fi, you’ll love Ben’s new book.
Get your copy today here!
Ages: 11+
MUST-READ SCIENCE FICTION!!

Here is another great Ben to read!! :)
 Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall
by Rae Knightly.
When UFOs crash into the fields next to his grandfather’s house, twelve-year-old Ben Archer becomes a cumbersome witness in the eyes of the government. Not only that, but Ben discovers he has been entrusted with an alien power, the significance of which could jeopardize human life on Earth.
Government agents rush in to remove all evidence of spacecraft and extraterrestrials. The media are led to believe meteors fell in the area and they dub the event The Cosmic Fall. But when Ben's involvement comes in the spotlight, he is forced to flee with the sole survivor of the crash: an alien man called Mesmo.
And while the destinies of boy and alien become inextricably linked, one question hovers above their unlikely friendship: why did the aliens come to Earth in the first place?
The Alien Skill Series is a science-fiction adventure series for teens. Readers who enjoy Percy Jackson or Crime Travelers will enjoy this fresh, age-appropriate story with a scifi twist the likes of A Wrinkle in Time and Animorphs. These middle-grade books have won the hearts of young and old alike, turning them into a best-selling, award-winning coming-of-age series filled with alien powers, hidden enemies, shapeshifters and a thought-provoking glimpse into the way we treat our planet.
A GREAT SERIES!!


Barbara J Gilbert is a new Science Fiction writer with a unique writing style that provides an easy reading experience for teens, young adults and adults. Future Apocalypse: Beginnings is the first book in the series and it follows Paulette Brown, a brilliant scientist who has discovered how to travel through time. Using her travel pod, she arrives in a post-apocalyptic future and now is desperately trying to return home, but a malfunction with her pod means she won't be able to. In the second book, Future Apocalypse: Journey to the City of Technology Paulette continues her saga counting on her friends in the present to help her. Will they succeed in finding and rescuing her or will their efforts be in vain? 
PROMO TIME
Check these children's books for FREE below!
Click on image

As promised, here are some of my favourite spots in Brazil with clickable links from the travel site Tripadvisor for more info. Praying that the world can be a safe place again for travels, so we can have holidays but most importantly, be able to see our friends and family across the globe.
For now, we can do a little dreaming of these beautiful places. :)
Corcovado - Christ The Redeemer - Rio de Janeiro
Sugar Loaf - Rio de Janeiro
Maracana Footbal Stadium - Rio de Janeiro
Buzios - Rio de Janeiro
Pelourinho - Bahia
Porto Seguro - Bahia
Amazon Forest - Amazonia
Pantanal - Mato Grosso do Sul
and of course, Foz do Iguacu - Parana
Ben's first book - Weirdo (part 2) - is set in Foz do Iguacu!!
Ugine and his friends have a great adventure fighting the poachers to save the endangered animals. You can get a free copy on link below. :)
 
Your FREE Weirdo
We value your support and Ben would like to gift you his very first book! You can now choose your favourite e-book format. PDF, E-PUB or MOBI. 
Weirdo is a great read for children aged 7 and older.
If you like his book, feel free to recommend it to your family and friends!!
You can join us on Facebook and Instagram to follow our news and events!
Join our ARC team and receive Ben's books first!
If you love reviewing and would like to receive free early copies of Ben's books, let us know! Reviews help our books get noticed and seen when people are searching on Amazon! We would love for you to review Ben's books!
Contact us at: [email protected]
If you have already read one of of Ben's books and enjoyed it, please leave a review on Amazon!!
Leaving reviews helps Ben's books get discovered in searches and it would mean the world to us!! 
Click on the image below and choose a book to review!!
Thank you!!

Spies Publishing fosters storytelling, creativity and pride.
Check our introductory video below for our new service
- MY FIRST BOOK - and contact us if you would like to create a book with your children's stories.

Thanks for reading and following our journey,