A Time-Sensitive message originally posted by Vicki Werkley on MAY. 07, 2013 at 12pm PDT
Apologies if you receive this more than once.
<>NOTE: If you want to REPLY to just Vicki about this message,
please do so OFF-LIST at <starwerk@gmail.com>.
If you just hit REPLY, your message may post to all of STARMANET.
<> STARMAN FAMILY-CON (SFC) -- a biennial (in even-numbered
years) “Family Reunion” of those who created/appreciate
STARMAN -- is an international convention of STARMAN’s cast/
crew/staff/fans, hosted by Spotlight Starman International (SSI).
<>StarStaffer or Staffer = a member of STARMAN's
cast, crew or staff
<>VIP = not strictly a Staffer but an important supporter
<>Spotlighter = member of Spotlight Starman International
(SSI), which formed when the show was cancelled in May, 1987
<>StarFolk = any and all of the above
<>Extra-Statesider = person residing outside the USA
<>(NCA) (SCA) = U.S. States are abbreviated to show members’ residence
These two differentiate between
Northern & Southern CA (California)
Greetings, All -- and Welcome, Newbies!
Below you’ll find a special offer (May 9 thru 12, 2013) from STARMAN VIP Mara Purl.
Many of you have met her at past FAMILY-CON BookNights, where she participated in 1998, 2002 and 2006. (The first two times, she attended with “Jenny Hayden” Erin Gray, Mara’s co-author for Act Right, a guide for screen actors; this book was edited by Spotlighters Vicki Werkley and Jean Laidig.) Since 1997, I’ve been working with Mara on her Milford-Haven series. Perhaps you’ve purchased/read early editions of these, but in 2011, the series was discovered by a major New York publishing hub, and now the MH saga has undergone an exciting renovation and redesign and is being published by Belle keep Books. The first book is still called What the Heart Knows, but the second is now Where the Heart Lives, and the third (which Mara and I are working on now for publication in JAN 2014) will be Why Hearts Keep Secrets. The storylines you may remember have been wonderfully expanded and enhanced, and the novels themselves are complimented by prequel short stories. I’m also pleased and relieved to say that, as a result of my visual challenges, my editing buddy. Jean Laidig, joined the MH team in 2012 as our peregrine-eyed proofreader, beginning with Book Two, Where the Heart Lives (WTHL). (Jean’s now also editing titles by other authors at Bellekeep.)
Incidentally, those of you who’ve attended SFCs since 2008 may be interested to find our Hacienda Hotel in Where the Heart Lives, along with the city of El Segundo, CA and information about the “Official STARMAN Insect”: the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. The MH series combines not only a murder mystery & investigation, several hot romances & personality conflicts among the complex and sometimes quirky characters, but also a wealth of information/insight into environmental & wildlife issues. Very STARMAN!
Beyond my “signature,” you’ll find a message from Mara and, at the very bottom, a copy of a press release from Bellekeep’s Publicity Dept. I hope this gets to you in time, though, of course, Mother’s Day isn’t the only reason to be interested in Mara’s books and the nifty gifts she’s offering us. Enjoy!
And HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to whom it may apply!
---Vicki
P.S. You don’t have to be female to love these books! ;-)
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Here’s Hoping There Can Be A . . .
STARMAN FAMILY-CON 2014 (SFC’14)
13th biennial "Family Reunion" of
those who created/appreciate STARMAN
April? October? 2014
including: Reunion Party with Cast/Crew/Staff
Most Probably . . . El Segundo, California
(1 mile south of LAX)
No planning/details yet. Might YOU be interested?
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Co-organizers: Vicki Werkley & Liz Turner
Contact Vicki: starwerk@gmail.com
or STARMAN.Family@gmail.com
16563 Ellen Springs Rd / Lower Lake CA 95457-9477
707-995-1228 (any day: 7am-4pm; 5-9pm Pacific)
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Spotlight Starman International:
"We're not history yet!"
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------ Forwarded Message
From: Mara Purl <MaraPurl@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 6 May 2013 23:37:06 -0400 (EDT)
To: Vicki Werkley <starwerk@gmail.com>
Subject: Mara Purl's special Mother's Day promo
Dear Vicki,
I wanted to let you know about a special offer for the wonderful people of Spotlight Starman International.
As you know, on Mother's Day 2011, book one of my series, "What the Heart Knows", became an Amazon best-seller. (Wahoo!) This Mother's Day, my publishers and I are running a special promo: both book one, and book two, "Where the Heart Lives," will be just $.99 for all e-readers!
My publishers have agreed to let me offer this special gift to my readers partly because of the synergy between my books, with several mother-daughter storylines, and this special holiday; but also because my own mother is ill and we're delaying publication of book three so I can spend extra time with her. She's always been a tremendously enthusiastic supporter of my books, has helped me host and plan special events, and tells ANY and EVERYone about my books. (No one loves us like our mothers, right?)
Along with the drastically reduced prices for the e-novels, I wanted to share another gift -- and this one is free. I've created some downloadable/printable "tiles" on Pinterest. These are beautiful, original watercolors of hearts that I commission from artist Mary Helsaple, who does my cover art. Each watercolor image contains a quotation from book three, which will be titled "Why Hearts Keep Secrets." There are three Mother's Day tiles which you can print as postcards, greeting cards, magnets . . . whatever strikes your fancy. Just click on http://pinterest.com/marapurl/milford-haven-heart-quotation-tiles/.
To find links to download the $.99 novels, click on http://www.bellekeepbooks.com/order/milford-haven.
In case Spotlighters would like to read the stories and novels in chronological order, here's how they fit together:
1 - When Hummers Dream (short story, prequel)
2 - What the Heart Knows (novel, book one)
3 - When Whales Watch (short story, prequel)
4 - Where the Heart Lives (novel, book two)
And book two contains a visit on the part of protagonist Miranda Jones to Los Angeles, including a stay at a hotel with which you'll be familiar. . . .
To all Spotlighters: If you do buy the books and enjoy what you read, my only request is that you post a nice comment on Amazon, or bn.com, or GoodReads.com, or your favorite spot.
Thank you so much and Happy Mother's Day!
Mara
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
May 1, 2013
Los Angeles, California
Author/Actress Mara Purl honors her own mother by reaching out to mothers and daughters with her haunting, evocative small-town saga. The perfect Mother’s Day Gift for just ninety-nine cents.
Nothing touches the heart of a woman like a good story. Best-selling author Mara Purl proved this last Mother’s Day when book one of her series skyrocketed on Amazon. Now she’s offering books one and two of her acclaimed titles as part of this year’s Mother’s Day Special, May 9th, 10th, 11th and Sunday the 12th. Both novels will be available for $.99 on all e-readers, including Kindle (Amazon.com), Nook (BN.com), and Kobo (libraries & independent bookstores.)
Purl, who has risen to become a leading voice in Women’s Fiction, has multiple story-lines about mothers and daughters that touch the hearts of her readers. “Nothing involves the core of a woman’s life more than her relationship with her mother,” the author commented, “and nothing is more complex. Some of my female characters have great mothers and great relationships; some don’t. As we work through our life-issues, no one can provide more dynamic insights and keys to our self-understanding. And nothing is more indestructible than real mother-love.” Her story is made all the more poignant, as Mara has delayed publication of book three in order to care for her own mother, now facing a serious illness. “My mother and I always enjoy giving my books as gifts. This year, this is my way of honoring her.”
Best Selling Author Mara Purl’s novel soared to the top of the charts – Mara Purl’s “What the Heart Knows” sold 15,000 copies in one day.
Mara Purl’s critically acclaimed, award-winning novel, What the Heart Knows, went to Bestseller status with over 15,000 orders in one day—Mother’s Day 2012. The first novel in the Milford-Haven Series also hit the top of the 100 Contemporary Fiction List and climbed to Best Sellers in Family Saga Fiction. Even Purl’s short stories appeared in "Movers and Shakers" while the novel climbed the charts.
When Amazon searched through its vast list of books for the perfect pre-Mother’s Day selection, they chose Mara Purl’s What the Heart Knows. Accurately predicting that their readers might choose it as a gift, or for themselves, even Amazon couldn’t have forecast these results. The first novel in Purl’s Milford-Haven saga (Women’s Fiction) rocketed to number 5.
“In the book business, competition for positions on any Amazon.com top-ten list is keen. The list is almost always occupied by block-buster authors, or by super-hot trending phenomena,” said Margot Atwell, associate publisher of Bellekeep Books in New York City. “Mara has created a stunning success.”
Actress/Author Mara Purl launched worldwide book two of the Women’s Fiction Milford-Haven series, Where the Heart Lives last fall. The critically acclaimed novel offers readers a rich painting of cross-connecting storylines that trace across some of California’s most spectacular locations. Purl also serves up an array of themes … and each of them more moving than the next.
“My writing is romantic, which is why several of my awards are the Romance category. But my stories don’t follow a strict set of rules of a classic Romance Novel,” Purl said. “My concept of romance is a good deal more complex. And the romance storylines have thrilling and satisfying conclusions by the end of the Pentalogy. What, Where, Why, Who and When … the five questions of the heart asked in each of the book titles are answered.”
Purl says her story takes the reader through an expanded trip through her home territory. “I’d never written about my home city Los Angeles,” Purl admitted. “My readers get an in-depth look at the L.A. of the 1990s as my protagonist travels from the Palos Verdes lighthouse, to Hollywood, then winds her way through the Angeles Crest Mountains out to the Mojave Desert.
Purl’s books … part romance, part mystery, and part soap opera are considered in the Women’s Fiction genre, which includes Romance, but is larger in scope with room for Purl’s less predictable and more realistic plot and character development.
CONTACT:
Susan Griswold
Wilkinson Brown PR
719.685-1723
Susan_Wilkinson@gmail.com
http://www.MaraPurl.com
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