Kapiti Teenage Author launches fourth book
 
Kapiti’s award winning teenage author, Ben Spies, is launching his fourth book next month.  Ben, who recently won a bronze medal at the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in the United States, has written three highly acclaimed children’s books.  His much awaited fourth book ‘2020’ is a science fiction novel and tackles the topic of climate change from a child’s perspective.
 
Ben’s passion for writing led him to become a published author at the age of nine with his first book, ‘Weirdo’. ‘The Magic Pencil’ followed soon after at age ten, and ‘The World of Greek Mythology’ at age eleven. Ben is thirteen years old now and is already planning his fifth book.
 
Ben puts his success down to his age. “I’m a teenager and I know what kids love to read and what makes them laugh.  I think that’s why my books have been so popular with other children.” 
 
This has been echoed by reviewers of his last book, ‘The World of Greek Mythology’.  The NZ Booksellers Association’s reviewer Rachel Moore says, “Spies writes in a lively, fast-paced style, with lots of jokes and asides to his readers. He knows his audience well”.  Alex Mitcalfe from NZ Reviews of Books writes, “The tone throughout is generally light, with a fair sparkling of humour. Spies tells jokes with far greater class than most adult writers for the upper-primary market.”
 
As a result of Ben’s prolific writing, his parents, Renata and Robert Spies from Raumati, have started an independent publishing company, Spies Publishing, which publishes the work of young authors.  Ben hopes his writing will inspire other children to follow in his footsteps. “I’ve always loved reading and writing and I hope that some kid out there reads this and thinks, ‘Wow, I want to do that too!’”
 
‘2020’ will be officially released on the 26th of October and there will be two book launches to celebrate the event.  It will be launched by Wellington children's author Helen Vivienne Fletcher on the 9th of November, at the Raumati South Hall in the Kapiti Coast at 3pm. And on the 16th of November at the Children's Bookshop in Kilbirnie, Wellington, at 5.30pm, there will be a combined book launch with author Isa Pearl Ritchie who will be launching ‘Awa and the Dreamrealm’, her first book for young people. Everyone is welcome and you can RSVP to [email protected].
 
‘2020’ is available from bookstores nationwide or online from Amazon, Book Depository or Ben's website: www.spiespublishing.co.nz
  
For further information contact:
 
Renata Spies
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0210 756 239

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Welcome to our Spring Newsletter! 

Spring is here! Well, at least in the Southern Hemisphere! It's great to see more sunshine and the days getting warmer! Love it!
We are so excited to have you as part of our journey! Our little business started as a way to inspire and celebrate my son's writing. When I realised writing was his passion, I self-published his first book when he was nine to give to him as a present, a reward for his efforts. Since then, Ben hasn't stopped writing and we are now about to publish his fourth book!! Woohoo!! 2020 is his first sci-fi novel. An action-packed science fiction for older children and young teenagers. The book is in the final stages of editing, proof-reading and printing, so once we have a date, I will send you an email with an invite to the launch. For now, keep reading our newsletters to catch up on what we've been up to, future events and the latest on our books!
Exciting times!!!

Your sincerely,
Renata Spies

PAST EVENTS
Thank you to everyone who came to our past events. We love meeting our readers and getting to know new ones!! Keep reading below to see our next events or like us on facebook and follow us on instagram to know about our next events!

Great turn out at the Paekakariki library and Island Bay library for
our workshop "Create Your Book" for the Beyond the Page Festival in libraries around the Wellington region.

Ben had loads of fun shooting for his campaign with Phantom Posters. Did you spot any of his posters in these locations: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin?

Last month, we had the pleasure of being interviewed by the lovely book blogger and American author Connie Dowell from Book Echoes. You can listen to the interview on her podcast here.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
On these school holidays our workshop will be delivered in partnership with The Roxy Cinema in Miramar at their holiday program - Roxy Rocketeers. 
Ticket prices:
$45.00 per child. Discounts apply when booking multiple tickets. 9:30am-1:30pm
Wednesday 9th October. Movie: ABOMINABLE. 
Activity: "Create Your Book" workshop with Spies Publishing, games and prizes.
Every ticket includes a film, games, snacks, prizes, face painting,
our workshop AND lunch! Limited places, first in first served.
Check more information and book directly with them in the link here.

FUTURE EVENTS
We will be at the fabulous Wellington Underground Market together with 12 other New Zealand authors at the Underground Bookstore stall! We will be there Saturday AND Sunday this weekend 28th and 29th September, 5th and 6th October and 12th and 13th October. Come and see us and other authors with books varying from children, romance, thriller, travel and more! More info here.

Another date for South islanders - on the 26th of October we will be at the Wham Bam Author Jam Christchurch!! An event with authors from New Zealand and abroad, book signings and lots of fun! Can't wait to see you there! More info here.
REVIEWS

We are so incredibly proud of Ben's book - The World of Greek Mythology! The book has been gaining great reviews from the industry! Highly regarded sites like the New Zealand Book Council, New Zealand Booksellers Association and the New Zealand Book of Reviews have issued fantastic reviews for the book. You can check all reviews on our site here. Reviews are the most effective way to get a book known to new readers, specially in Amazon. If you have read any of Ben's books and would like to support his writing, please leave a review for him on Amazon. You can find the link to his books under his author page and then click on the book you would like to leave the review: https://amzn.to/2kHACnb

NEW BOOK
Ben's new book is coming out soon! We're just in the final stages of editing before it goes to print. Will let you know as soon as we have a date! Very exciting!! :)
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 true 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?

ARC MEMBERS
Dear ARC members!! Check your inbox!! We have emailed you all with an advance copy of the new book - 2020!! 
If you would like to be an advance reader for Ben's books, send us an email to: [email protected]
We will be opening membership again soon for the club!! We're just getting set up in a new platform, so you can receive all info and a link with the new book in the same place! Easy as!

To see all Ben's books, follow his Author page in Amazon:
https://amzn.to/2kHACnb

Ben has been working on a new website for him! You can check it out his own site here and facebook page here. 
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Did you know we have created a platform for children who love writing like Ben? MY FIRST BOOK is a new service that transforms your children's stories into beautiful books. You can now upload the story and illustrations directly to our website! Check it out here!

Thank you so much for everyone who has been following our journey and supporting Ben's writing and books. You can find more information about us in our website www.spiespublishing.co.nz and purchase our books through Amazon or Book Depository clicking on images below.




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