We’re In The Running For An Award
‘Saving Maya’ has always been more than a book to me. It represents the combined efforts of many people to bring the truth about many puppies being sold today out to a younger audience. As a book that was written by me, illustrated by Annabel Wilson and made possible by our many valued Kickstarter backers, ‘Saving Maya’ is the result of a lot of people’s wishes to educate a wider readership. Within the pages of this book lie positive stories of pet adoption, the joys of living with dogs, and what our responsibilities towards them are. It’s much more than ‘just’ a book.
Since the official release on 28 September I’ve been bowled over by how well it’s been received. Reviews have all been favourable and endorse what I’d hoped the book might achieve – educating new readers about the puppy trade, encouraging pet adoption while engrossing them in an ultimately uplifting tale. As of today Amazon reviews are all 5* which is remarkable, and immeasurably pleasing. Dogs Today Magazine recently selected it as one of their Top Ten Books of 2016 and the Blue Cross Animal Rehoming organisation endorsed it with this wonderful review:
A great story for any dog-loving child to read. The story of Willow, the much loved pet and Maya who lives on a puppy farm will melt the heart of any animal lover. The book is packed with empathy and emotion and will teach the reader all about the hardship of life on a puppy farm. It shows how much patience and understanding is needed to accommodate a dog with a difficult past but that there are big rewards for the dog and the humans involved.
So, when I heard last week that ‘Saving Maya‘, my first children’s book has been entered into the prestigious People’s Book Prize awards I was not only super excited as a writer, but I was incredibly thankful for everyone who wants to see this book and its messages get out to the audience it needs to. Being in the running for the People’s Book Prize award will significantly help it reach out beyond readers who might be expected to pick up a book on this topic. It’s exactly the wider public, those who are not yet aware of puppy farming, or the rewards of pet adoption, that as campaigners we all need to connect with. It’s always been my hope that my writing will do this. Stories within book covers move out beyond the echo-chambers and gnat-like attention spans of those of us on social media.
But, to reach the fullest potential this golden opportunity offers, we need your help. The People’s Book Prize is a neatly democratic literature award. The books that reach the finals, and are eventually the winners are entirely voted for by the public. Voting is open to everyone and to get ‘Saving Maya’ into the finals next summer, we must ask you please to vote. And to ask your friends and family to do so as well. Looking at many of the wonderful comments from voters on our page so far, is incredibly moving. I’m grateful to everyone who sees this book as I do, a book with the power to change things for the dogs for years to come.
If my writing, and this book in particular, touches you in any way, if the plight of dogs is something you care about then please do spend a second or two to vote. Getting ‘Saving Maya’ into the finals of the People’s Book Prize will make a difference to real life dogs like Maya, as the truth about today’s puppy trade gets out to new readers and more widely known. The finals are televised on Sky Television next summer. That audience, that readership is one this book with its messages definitely has the potential to reach. If you vote now!
To vote:
- Register first on this link. VOTE HERE
- You will receive an email straight away (check your SPAM box if you don’t get it quickly) with a password.
- You use this password then to VOTE.
Thank you as always for your support, your interest in my writing, dogs, and right now, for your VOTE!
