Author: cvegnad

Port of No Return by Michelle Saftich

Italy Book Tours

We enter into the lives of Italians during the Second World War and witness their daily struggle in Port of No Return.

Port of No Return

About Port of No Return

Contessa and Ettore Saforo awake to a normal day in war-stricken, occupied Italy. By the end of the day, their house is in ruins and they must seek shelter and protection wherever they can. But the turbulent politics of 1944 refuses to let them be.

As Tito and his Yugoslav Army threaten their German-held town of Fiume, Ettore finds himself running for his life, knowing that neither side is forgiving of those who have assisted the enemy. His wife and children must also flee the meagre life their town can offer, searching for a better life as displaced persons.

Ettore and Contessa’s battle to find each other, and the struggle of their family and friends to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a devastating war, provide a rich and varied account of Italian migration to Australia after World War II.

What can you do when you have nowhere left to call home? Port of No Return considers this question and more in a novel that is full of action, pain and laughter — a journey you will want to see through to the very end.

My Thoughts

What an incredible, heart breaking story Port of No Return tells. You cry, you smile and you sit in disbelief at the personal strength and perseverance these individuals had. I can’t even begin to imagine all that they witnessed and all that they had to go through in order to just survive.

Our two main characters, Contessa and Ettore, have a good life in Italy. This is quickly torn apart when the war reaches their village and destroys all that they have worked for. They find shelter with friends but are quickly torn apart by allegiances. This causes the family to separate and leads them down a dangerous path. One that with every turn of the page brought new fears and trials, that as a reader leaves you on the edge of your seat. Life is a constant struggle for them. You find yourself crying, praying, hoping and smiling with them.

Port of No Return was like opening an intimate journal, a struggle for family, for love, for rebuilding their lives and the immense strength each of these individuals had. At the end, this could very well be so many people’s life that we are reading. These citizens were displaced from their homes and forced to wait out immigration in camps, never knowing where or when they would find a home. It gives a sense of new respect and admiration for the generations that came before us and all that they struggled with to give their children freedom and a new life. I have since re-read this book several times, as well as borrowing it to a co-worker who also fell in love with the story.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Chapters.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Michelle Saftich is a first-time author who resides in Brisbane, Australia.  She holds a Bachelor of Business/Communications Degree, majoring in journalism, from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

For the past 20 years, she has worked in communications, including print journalism, sub-editing, communications management and media relations. She is married with two children.

The Giveaway!

My readers now have the chance to win their own copy of Port of No Return, enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview

What inspired the book?

My father was just a baby when his family had their house bombed and they lost everything during World War II. Their experiences in Italy’s Fiume and as displaced people in Europe inspired my writings about this time period and part of the world.

How did you do research for your book?

I interviewed my father and his family’s friends as well as reading online news articles, research papers, World War II refugee accounts and websites dedicated to Fiume and its history including those of Italian museums.

Your book is set in Fiume, Italy. Have you ever been there?

My family visited when I was a child of nine years. The city is now known as Rijeka, Croatia.

How long have you been writing?

I have wanted to be a writer since the age of six. I have always written stories and manuscripts in my free time. Working as a journalist, sub-editor and in public and media relations, I have come to learn many different writing styles. My debut novel took two years to research and write.

What is your next project?

I am writing a sequel to Port of No Return. I want to explore how the Italian family adapts to Australian culture after migration.

If you’re a mom writer, how do you balance your time?

During most of the writing of Port of No Return, I was working two days a week as a sub-editor and raising two young, school-aged boys. So three days a week, I would do housework for one hour each morning then write until school pickup time, a total of 15 hours a week.

Favourite childhood holiday spot?

I have wonderful memories of beachside holidays on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In particular, we stayed at a holiday apartment fronting the ocean at Burleigh Heads. I still recall when I was twelve years old, making my father carry a heavy typewriter up to the holiday apartment, so I could write on the balcony, while gazing at the sea.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Warm Up Your Fall Home Decor with Posterjack

Posterjack

Fall is such a beautiful time of the year with the vibrant colours in nature. Our natural environment makes for beautiful backdrops for family portraits and individual shots. I love heading out with the boys this time of year to catch them in motion against the gorgeous reds, yellows and browns. These photographs make the best home decor decorations, they are personal, have a connection and not to mention visually stunning.

Warm up Your Fall Home Decor with Posterjack

Finding a way to display these shots can be a challenge at times. You want your photographs to be displayed in a manner that encompasses their warmth and spirit without taking away from the natural elements of the shot itself.

So how do we accomplish this?

Posterjack has three simple home decor solutions for you to display your photography that includes canvas prints, mixed material and rustic mantels. Each of these items have their own unique element to help you tell your story.

Posterjack’s rustic mantels includes wood prints, barn wood prints and woodstand prints. Matching this to your home decor or even fall inspired theme decorations will really bring to life the decor while emphasizing the natural beauty of the outdoors.

Warm Up Your Fall Home Decor with Posterjack

Posterjack provides you with custom designed canvas prints that displays the rich colours in your photographs to their best advantage. Canvas prints are one of my favourite home decor items, can you honestly see anything more beautiful than the trees below? It is a starting conversation piece – even more so when you can brag that it is an image you caught yourself!

Warm Up Your Fall Home Decor with Posterjack

For some added variety and depth, try using mixed art materials that includes metal, acrylic and photoboards to display your work. We have a display above our television and this concept works really well for us. You can also add in some natural elements with fall decorations, pinecones, woods, animals and so on.

Warm Up Your Fall Home Decor with PosterjackWhichever way you decide to warm up your home decor with, Posterjack is there to help you create a unique and meaningful design to complement your home and life.

How do you add warmth to your home decor in the fall?

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My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games DVD Review and Giveaway

Shout! Kids Factory

The ‘mane’ six are back in this highly popular television series, with a full length DVD on October 13th, Friendship Games.

Friendship Games: Review and GiveawayIn My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games, Canterlot High meets its rival school, Crystal Prep Academy, in a competition that is a long-standing tradition: The Friendship Games. The Friendship Games are a series of competitions that include archery, motocross and roller skating! Sunset Shimmer is charged with keeping magic out of the games to keep things fair, while her and her friends compete against Crystal Prep’s top students who also have an interest in the Equestrian magic, the Twilight Sparkle.

The Friendship Games DVD Review and Giveaway

This DVD has all your little one’s favourite Equestria characters and is full of incredible graphics. The colour and design are adorable, and one that many young girls will love. The Friendship Games also teaches an excellent lesson to young children of building trust, friendship and respect. So it is so much more than just a cute movie!

Check out this trailer of the new movie:

My Canadian readers can now enter to win their own copy of The Friendship Games on DVD using the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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World’s Best Story Contest

iRead Book Tours
 
 
2015
CONTEST!
Writers submit your Story
Enter for a chance to join
the House of transmedia stories company

What is World’s Best Story?

“This is not just a literary contest, we’re looking for stories that will be consumed in multiple media formats – from books to the big screen and beyond,” says Vincent Salera, founder of World’s Best Story. “Our goal is to revolutionize the traditional literary contest and identify a story with blockbuster appeal. We’re looking for a story that audiences will love and help authors turn that story into trans-media franchises, which is why we’re empowering readers to judge the contest.”

How does it work?

Readers will vote for stories and awarded judges will declare the final Top 10 winners.

2015 Judges: Warren Adler, Victor Malarek, Tamarra Kennelly, Brooke Burgess, Samreen Ashan, Alistair Cross, Rhonda Hayter

Timeline:

Entry Period Closes/Public Voting ends. (November 8)

Top 10 Winners Announced! (November 8)

Professional Review/Voting (November 8 – December 8)

Winner and Top 10 Ranking Announced (December 8)

What are the prizes?

The top 3 winners will receive a full publishing package by FriesenPress, trademark protection in the U.S. and Canada by IP agency Benoit & Cote, a virtual book tour by Laura Fabiani of iRead Book Tours as well as consulting/marketing services with book expert Anne Chaconas of BadAss Marketing. Busbud and YoDough will be providing lots of goodies for both writers and readers.

How do I submit my story?

To learn more about World’s Best Story, including how to enter, please visit World’s Best Story.

World’s Best Story : info@worldsbeststory.com

See what’s buzzing at World’s Best Story:

How to Get Readers Buzzing About Your Book: Secrets from the World of Book Blogging

Viral campaign with famous characters:

What if Oscar Wilde wrote Sex and the City? (series of posts)

What if Lady Gaga wrote Gone With the Wind? (series of posts)

The Current Top 10 Most Voted Stories

Connect with World’s Best Story:

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Pinterest

Enter your story today!
 
 

 

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Thirteen by Shannon Peel

Thirteen

Thirteen is an action packed blockbuster, Red Dawn meets 1984. The perfect book for kids 10-14, even those who don’t like to read!

thirteenAbout Thirteen

Jack wants to hang out with his friends but his Mom’s rules keep him grounded. Until one morning, when they wake up to gun fire and their whole world changes. Foreign soldiers have invaded his home cutting off power, knocking down communication and restricting travel. To make matters worse he does not know if is Dad is alive, wounded or dead. He needs to find out but his Mom doesn’t care, the soldiers are in his way and the cop in his life won’t help him.

My Thoughts

I love youth novels, they are always full of adventure and with a different viewpoint that gives great insights to youth and how they connect with their peers. Thirteen is a very age appropriate novel for youths that I believe they can easily relate to (wanting to do more than their age allows them to, wanting and needing to contribute and understanding of world events).

The plot really makes you think, could something like this happen in present day Canada? We are accustomed to our security and safety but will this always be the case? Jack struggles in this novel with wanting independence but wanting security from his Mother, wanting to help but the terrifying reality of war scares him. He is a young man who is almost lost in how he should behave and how he can protect his Mother. Throw in a divorce and separation from his Father and you have a young man who many youths could relate to. He is confused, proud and wants to enjoy his social life.

Shannon writes very well and the novel is easy to follow from start to finish. With the adventurous and thought-provoking plot line, it was easy to not put my book down!

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Shannon grew up in Enderby, BC where her family roots run deep. She relied on books and imagination as a child to escape the world beyond. She went to UBC and earned a BA with a concentration in Political Science and Economics. World events, social justice and human motivations became a passion of hers. This passion is a driving force in all her stories.

After a career in the financial field, she decided to stay home and raise her two children until school age. She currently resides in BC’s Lower mainland with her two teenage children. Thirteen is her debut full size paperback novel.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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