Welcome to SMH!
Email: s.saer1@btinternet.com Tel. 01903884968
We have been publishing, promoting and marketing our unusual and worthwhile titles since 1987. But please note that
OUR PUBLISHING PROGRAMME IS NOW CLOSED. This is because, although I still have SMH books to sell, I have now gone back to my own writing.
THE PEOPLES' BOOK PRIZE - NEWS FLASH!
I have just received (1 May, 2013 ) another exciting email from the founder and administrator of The Prize, which reads as follows:
Delighted to confirm that Sandra Saer of SMH, as publisher of WITHIN THE GLADE, Finalist for The People's Book Prize in Fiction, and representing the author, the late Sir Patrick Moore, CBE, will be asked to say a few words about Sir Patrick and then read a poem from WITHIN THE GLADE – 'The Rat'- at the 4th Award Ceremony at Stationers' Hall on 29 May.
GOOD LUCK! as voting for the finalists (see www.peoplesbookprize.com) takes place between 21 and 29 May, when the winners in the Fiction, Non-Fiction and Children's genres, along with the Beryl Bainbridge Award for First-Time Author, and TPBP Best Achievement Award, will be announced in the presence of The Prize's Patron, Frederick Forsyth, CBE.
VERY SPECIAL NEWS!
As publisher of WITHIN THE GLADE Poems for Children - of all ages! by PATRICK MOORE, imagine my delight on learning the news that this title is one of the 36 finalists in THE PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE I am really proud of this achievement - especially when you consider that around 300 publishers - major and lesser - around the world, have sent in entries of one or more titles for the Prize.
A glittering Award Ceremony will take place in the Stationers' Hall of The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers in the City of London on 29 May. I shall be there, with guests, and no doubt Sir Patrick, although sadly unable to attend, will be twinkling down upon us from his place among the stars!
If anyone would like to consider WITHIN THE GLADE as their 'favourite finalist', please go to www.peoplesbookprize.com, between 20 and 29 May, and register either a single or a multi vote. The more votes I collect for Patrick and myself, the better chance we have of winning. How great that would be! A reason for partying!!
THANKS FOR THE MEMORY...
On Saturday (2 March), I was thinking about the late Sir Patrick Moore and, as ever, feeling grateful for our having been a close friend for so long. Today (4 March), he would have had his 90th Birthday...
Bored with being miserable, I turned on television - Channel 4 Racing. The runners for the 3.50 race at Newbury were being paraded. This good-looking Chestnut (I was married to a bloodstock breeder, so know something about horse flesh) was No.9 (my lucky number), and a large star was emblazoned on the front of the jockey's shirt. Well, I just had to!
The clock was ticking. I rushed down to the betting shop two doors away, placed a small bet, and tore back home to watch the race. 'My' horse ran a great race, and came in second. I was £2.40 in profit, but THAT WAS NOT THE POINT.
The name of the horse? BIG FELLA THANKS !!
S.S.
Sir Patrick Moore, CBE, FRS
Patrick, who died on 9 December, was a friend of mine for almost 40 years.
We met when I worked at BBC Publications. Together, we promoted two editions
of his book, The Sky at Night.
During that time, he invited me to take my four, then small, children over to Selsey
where, with great excitement, they walked with him among the telescopes in his
garden. He explained what they were for and invited the children to look through
them. A true Selsey Adventure! He never married and had no children of his own,
but he always loved their company and sharing things with them.
It was children who first inspired the poems he wrote for WITHIN THE GLADE.
Many tributes have been paid to him over the last few days, most connected with his
legendary position as ‘The Master Stargazer’ for all those decades.
My own memories are of Patrick as a man, with whom I could chat on many subjects,
usually unconnected with the stars! I remember he asked me recently: "Do you like
avocados?" "Yes," I said. “And what do you make your sauce with?" he enquired…I
loved his kindness, sense of fun, and the spirit of friendliness which never left him.
On asking him how he was in hospital, he said "Not too well" (an understatement, so
that one should not be worried), ending our conversation with "Goodbye, my dear".
I never saw him again. But, do you know, my sadness is tinged with relief, because
he knew it was time to go, and didnÂ’t really mind. We are the ones who minded.
On the night of 9 December (the news of his passing had come through that
lunchtime), I lay in bed, thinking of him. I looked up into the dark night sky and there
was the brightest star I have ever seen, flashing and twinkling joyously.
I said “Hello, Patrick” - because up there is where he wanted to be. S.S. x
2012 UNITED NATIONS YEAR OF THE CO-OPERATIVES
This year presents a golden opportunity to raise global awareness of the Co-operative MovementÂ’s pioneers.
My late brother, Roy MacGregor-Hastie, was one of them
In the early 1960s, Roy went to live for a while in the impoverished heartland of North-west Italy. There, despite political suspicion, and the hostility of the very peasants he wanted to help, he succeeded in bringing them real prosperity.
He became known affectionately as "Signor Roy", and wrote of his experiences in a captivating book - SIGNOR ROY.
I am looking for Sponsors to enable me to re-publish RoyÂ’s book; not for profit, but because I feel the time is exactly right for this valuable work to come back into print.
THE CO-OPERATIVE NEWS has a major, illustrated feature about SIGNOR ROY on its website
The link is: http://www.thenews.coop/article/signor-roy-english-pioneer-italian-co-operative-movement
S. M. H. S.
JOSTLING WITH THE PEARS, 27 years writings inspired by Sandra's living
at Pear Tree Cottage, Watersfield, in West Sussex, was happily launched during this year's Arundel Festival. This long-awaited third part of Sandra's Pear Tree Cottage trilogy, is now getting good media attention
CHRISTMAS PLAYS FOR CHILDREN, also published this year, has been promoted
well, in good time for family activities. A second edition, printed on recycled paper, is
also now available, at the same price of £12.00. (See VIEW OUR BOOKS, then click
for more information, to read the review by SUSSEX LIFE)
THE LUCKY ONES I am still looking for a TV or radio 'home' for these important Plays inspired by, and based on the Eight Beatitudes.
See NEWS FROM SANDRA AT SMH for more details of my own projects.
SMH DATES AND VENUES 2012:
Saturday, 16 March | Arundel FarmersÂ’ Market, 9 till 1 |
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Over more than twenty-five years we
established a
national and international reputation for the effective Script
Assessment, Editing, Publishing, Publicising and Marketing and Selling
of books. Ever-increasing enthusiasm and respect was
gained,
from
booksellers and readers alike, for publishing just a few lovely books:
memoirs, unusual anthologies, and poetry. We took great care in the making of a book,
through all
the
processes, from script assessment and editing to illustration research,
and ultimate overall presentation. Our bookjackets and covers have been especially
well-liked.
After
all, if
a book looks attractive from the outside, there's a
good chance the
potential buyer will want to look inside!
Window Space by Sandra Saer
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