Hope you're all well and safe!

​Dear readers,

I hope you and your family are doing well and looking after yourselves during this surreal time...

Here in New Zealand, we start lock down from today and we praise the government for taking this decision as social distancing is the best response to slowing the spread of COVID-19. But social distancing and self-isolation can be also difficult, especially when you have little ones at home to keep entertained.

So, Ben and I decided to put a list together for some free activities we've found on the internet. We were quite surprised by how many institutions, museums, schools, courses and people just like you and me are offering free services and ideas, all coming together in the difficult weeks and months ahead of us.

If you have any ideas too that have worked well for you and your kids at home, please reply to this email and I can share them with everyone in our next newsletter.

It's also important to remember to find time for physical activity too in your household and with the kids. Physical activity has proven benefits for mental health. At a time like this it is important that we look after not only our physical well-being, but also our mental and emotional well-being. 

First and foremost, look after your family during this time. We're in all this together. Be kind to one another.

Talk again soon and stay safe everyone.
We hope you will enjoy the list with links below that we have compiled for you:

Free science webinars for kids at home from Mel Science
Free audio books from Audible
Free courses from Free Code Camp
Free audio books by David Walliams
Free Opera from the Metropolitan Opera of New York
Free Concerts from the Berlin Philharmonic
FREE BOOKS

FREE BOOK
Ben's second book - The Magic Pencil - is FREE from today for 5 days at Amazon Kindle.
A great read for kids 8+.
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?
Click on image to get your copy

FREE BOOK!
 
"Author Jessica Renwick has crafted a highly engaging tale about the love of family and the true bonds of friendship. This enchanting tale offers a thrilling adventure for young readers who are sure to be entertained by this first book in the Starfell Series." -
Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews

Click on image to claim your copy

FREE BOOK
Fellow New Zealand author Rodney Strong's book - Poker Chips and Poison -  going to be FREE from 29-31 March in anticipation of the next book's release on 31 March - Hip Flask and Hanging. 
"If old age doesn't get her..the murderer will.
97 year old Alice Atkinson should be comfortably living out her days at the Silvermoon Retirement Village. But she's bored. A lifetime of living in the grey area between right and wrong means that winning money off her friends at poker just isn't satisfying. Then her friend is murdered, and she's the only one who thinks it's foul play. And even she has her doubts. With the help of Vanessa her newly appointed and occasionally reluctant sidekick, Alice is determined to find out the truth. One thing is for sure, Alice is going to need to dust off some old skills to come through this in one piece."
Click on image to grab your copy.
BOOK LAUNCH!!New Zealand author Vanessa Evetts launches her new book - Then She Roars - on the 31st of March!! Vanessa lives in Wellington and has written three novels. OUT OF THE ASHES and BEAUTIFUL FRAGMENTS were released in 2018. THEN SHE ROARS will be released in March 2020.  Her books are raw, honest, heart-wrenching and beautiful.
Vanessa will be giving a LIVE interview for the Underground Bookstore tomorrow night at 7.30pm (Pacific Time). You can listen to Vanessa's interview in their Facebook page here.

The children's books below are also FREE until 15th of April!!
Click on image to see collection

The other thing we've started doing during the lockdown was to re-visit our old toys.... I was surprised by how my 10-year-old still had fun playing with the train track and magic sand - toys I had already put away...
Best of all, was just watching him playing...  :)
So, check those boxes (I'm sure you still have them lying in the attic or rumpus room!) with toys you thought your children wouldn't play anymore!
Take the time to sit down and join them in the play.
Sending much love to you all.
Ben's books are available from Amazon and Book Depository.
You can purchase the e-books for as low as $2.99 from Amazon!!!
And Book Depository is delivering worldwide for FREE!!
Both retailers sell our paperback versions.
Click on your preferred retailer to get Ben's books now!


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. 

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: info@spiespublishing.co.nz
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!!

 A GIFT FOR YOU!!!
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!
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,