Over $1,000 Raised!

When we first started the journey to publish a book highlighting the best parts of Commissioner Fiala’s effect on East Naples and Marco Island, our goal was to raise $100 and donate those proceeds to the East Naples Kiwanis Foundation.

On Thursday, April 13, 2017, on Commissioner Fiala’s birthday, in just two short hours, the readers supporting the commissioner, the mission of the event, and the book helped raise over $1,000!

Thank you a thousand times over!!!!

I am so completely honored to have been given the opportunity to work with Commissioner Fiala, Chief Stephanie Spell, and Lynn Alexander in publishing a book highlighting the best parts of the commissioner’s effect on East Naples and Marco Island.

To read about the journey, please click here.

Check out some of the fun photos from the event! Super THANKS TO Artistic Imagery and Normand Giguere for covering the event!

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The People’s Commissioner: Donna Fiala

Happy Birthday, Commissioner Fiala!!!!

 

This book, The People’s Commissioner, is meant to be a fun and fast read highlighting the best parts of DONNA FIALA and her journey as the only commissioner in recent Collier County history to serve more than four terms.

I was delighted to work with Lynn Alexander and Stephanie Spell to co-author the vignettes, and we couldn’t have found a better editor than Carole J Greene. These women donated countless hours and immeasurable talent to make this production a success.

The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. Because when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back. Commissioner Fiala has given her life to her family, her friends, and her community.

When I met her, she seemed so genuine, so willing to take the time and make the effort… It really only took one dinner before I knew she was the real deal – a true role model. My husband and I met her at some tiny place on Isle of Capri – and she told us this story, this absolutely captivating tale that ended with how she couldn’t just sit by and do nothing when she had the ability to do something.

And I thought, just for a moment, that here was a woman who could change the bad into good, the negative into positive.

We left dinner, and I made this remark to my hubby about how all her stories ended with her doing something to make others’ lives better, and he said I should write them down.

I thought it was an unrealistic idea that someone so amazing would allow me to try and document her achievements, but she said yes.

Of course, then I panicked that I wouldn’t do justice to the book, but with an amazing team in place, I think we created a fun and fast, positive read, and I’m so grateful for everyone who has ever given their time to help better this community.

And the best part? The proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the East Naples Kiwanis Foundation, putting money in the heart of Commissioner Fiala’s district.

So, thank you, Donna, for giving your one valuable life to improve the lives of others, for sharing your stories, for making room for me on your calendar, and for being real.

Thank you for taking the time.

xox ~ Marisa

*Cover Design by Tonia Spangler

Vicki Tracy and her company, Naples Event Divas, are the sole sponsor for the dedication and reveal of The People’s Commissioner: Donna Fiala. Proceeds from the book release event and from the sale of the book benefit the East Naples Kiwanis Foundation in perpetuity.

 

Hit a List – or Two!

The act of writing is such a solitary journey, but publishing an anthology with other amazing authors was a remarkable adventure.

On June 2, 2015, Julie Cross, along with 16 other amazingly talented authors, released their first boxed set together: the Dirty Boys of Summer anthology including 16 full-length sweet and sexy young adult and new adult novels.

On June 10, 2015, sometime in the late afternoon and early evening, the ladies received the news that their anthology had hit both the New York Times and the USA Today bestseller lists!

We are beyond thrilled to announce that Tamara Mataya and Marisa Cleveland were part of that anthology.

 

* * * The Books * * *

About Tamara’s The Sowing:

Twenty-first birthday? Check. Strange new powers? Check. Getting through this heinous WTF-ery alive? I’ll get back to you.

 

About Marisa’s Accidental Butterfly:

Dead at sixteen. She was just another statistic. Until she became a guiding angel.

 

* * * The Readers * * *

Here’s what Amazon reviewers are saying about the novels:

“I was so excited for this anthology! Tamara Mataya and Marisa Cleveland in one project together! Tamara’s raw, edgy voice really stands out in The Sowing, and Marisa’s sweet teen romance about redemption touched my heart.”

“I absolutely loved this book! Tamara…wrote a fantastic urban fantasy book that I couldn’t put down!”

 

* * * The Buy Links * * *

Don’t miss your chance to capture this great deal and support these amazing authors!

Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble   |   iTunes

 

Congratulations!!!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tamara Mataya

and

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marisa Cleveland

 

Pre-order and Parties for Dirty Boys of Summer

Alphas, Billionaires, Bikers, Bad Boys, Stepbrothers, and Jocks

We’re so excited to announce that The Sowing by Tamara Mataya and
Accidental Butterfly by Marisa Cleveland are part of this summer’s hottest
new adult/young adult boxed set, including a total of 16 full-length novels!
The official release date is June 2nd, and it’s only available until July 5th, 2015.

 

PRE-ORDER NOW

Amazon     |     Barnes & Noble     |     iBooks

DON’T MISS THE RELEASE DAY PARTY!

Facebook Party: June 2nd, 3 – 11 p.m. EDT

Click HERE to RSVP for the Facebook Party on June 2nd. It’s going to be epic.
These authors are gifting books, Starbucks gift cards, and more during the party, so it’s an event you don’t want to miss!
There’s even an entry on the giveaway just for you if you RSVP for the party!

THE GIVEAWAY

These authors are doing an amazing Rafflecopter giveaway! The more entries they get, the more prizes the authors add to the winner!

To enter the giveaway, click here.

AUTHORS/BOOKS

Teaching Roman by Gennifer Albin

The Academy by Evangeline Anderson

Love, Lex by Avery Aster

Lost to Me by Jamie Blair

Taken by Storm by Opal Carew

Accidental Butterfly by Marisa Cleveland

The Halo Chronicles: The Guardian by Carey Corp

Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross

Unspoken by Jen Frederick

Bet on Us by Rachel Higginson

The Sowing by Tamara Mataya

Crushed by Dawn Rae Miller

Before Someday-Part One: The Wait by Julie Prestsater

Kiss the Sky by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Frostbite by Lynn Rush

Liar: The Scarab Beetle Series #2 by C.L. Stone

Donations that Make a Difference

This year’s Big Wigs Night at the Museum chairwoman, Vicki Tracy, orders a chocolate chip cookie and looks at everyone sitting around the table. With a THIS-IS-BIG-NEWS grin, she claps her hands and bounces in her seat (like a BIG kid with exciting news).

 “Marissa Collections is donating an Arunashi piece to the live auction!”

This is BIG! Way bigger than anything else that could have come out of her mouth in that moment. ARUNASHI, a combination of his and his wife’s first names, has come to “symbolize the realization of the romance and creativity that inspires their work together.”

Arun just happens to be an eight generation jeweler, and each piece is a statement all their own. With his pieces spanning the globe, it’s a fabulously generous gesture for both Arun and Marissa Collections to donate a piece to the live auction.

But more than the donated piece, Marissa Collections is donating 10% of every Arunashi piece sold between now and February 7, 2015 to The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples.

As if you needed a better reason to stroll down Third and do more than window shop!

Please visit Marissa Collections and the landing page of designer Arunashi here: http://www.marissacollections.com/shop/designers/arunashi.html

Please call 239-260-1714 or visit cmon.org for tickets or sponsorship information for Big Wigs Night at the Museum.

Are you on Facebook?

“Like” the Children’s Museum of Naples’ Page

Global Heart Venture

Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala Joins
New Global Heart Imprint Venture

The Seymour Agency, in collaboration with Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala and Simeris Alliance, has announced the publication of a series of books under a Global Heart imprint. These books are the first in a sincere movement to provide residual income to non-governmental organizations, B-corps, and L3C entities designed to promote positive community involvement.

The first book, The People’s Commissioner: one woman’s quest toward change, will be a collection of vignettes documenting Commissioner Fiala’s effect on East Naples and Marco Island. Proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the East Naples Kiwanis Foundation, a 501(C)(3) qualified nonprofit organization. 100% of the donations will be used 100% toward children’s programs benefiting underprivileged children in the East Naples area.

“Have you ever been excited yet humbled at the same time? That’s what I feel now,” said Commissioner Fiala, during discussions regarding the book’s content.

The Seymour Agency’s senior literary agent, Nicole Resciniti, spearheaded the Southwest Florida office. “We’re proud to work with local community leaders, to help share their stories and create opportunities to inspire and educate.”

The Seymour Agency is a leading literary agency based in New York representing over one hundred authors, many of whom are New York Times and USA Today bestsellers.

 

A Plain Malice

We have the best job… ever! Yes, it’s true. Every day we comb through manuscripts, chat with authors, develop relationships, and build a community of creative artists. It’s wonderful!

The best part?

Reading manuscripts from authors with the end-game for publication.

Author Amanda Flower wrote her fourth and final book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series, and we were fortunate enough to get the sneak peek, to assist with the edits, and to gain bragging rights that we were one of the first readers!

Now, here’s a great part straight from Amanda’s blog: “Preorder or purchase any edition of A Plain Malice between now and Thursday, November 27, 2014, and 100% of my royalties will go to a local food pantry.”

How amazing is Amanda? Talented and generous!

Here’s the blurb from Amazon:

“Flower has hit it out of the ballpark with this series and continues to amaze with her knowledge of the Amish way of life.”- 4 1/2 stars Top Pick RT Book Reviews about A Plain Disappearance

The Amish community in Appleseed Creek’s new bishop believes the best way to help his district in the struggling economy is to increase tourism. He invites Blue Suede Tours from Mississippi to visit the community and asks his district to host the southern visitors. The Troyer family agrees to participate in the tour with an old-fashioned milking demonstration on the family’s dairy farm. But when two Mississippians die during the milk taste test, the local police chief believes someone poisoned them, and Timothy Troyer’s father is her number suspect. Computer whiz, Chloe Humphrey, jumps onto the tour bus as an undercover tour guide in order to prove her boyfriend’s father is innocent despite the Troyer family’s reservations about her and Timothy’s relationship. If they solve crime, will Chloe and Timothy finally prove that they belong together or will the investigation be the final act to tear them apart?

About Amanda:

Amanda Flower, an Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Her debut mystery, Maid of Murder, was an Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel. Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland. She also writes mysteries as Isabella Alan.

Amanda is represented by Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency.

Connect with Amanda through her website: http://www.amandaflower.com.

Pre-order A Plain Malice on Amazon