A New Book is coming, yes it is!

Amazing that my last post was so long ago … yes, it’s been a wonderful but very busy summer. Robert survived his 6-month stint at the Bastion Square outdoor market as well as helping me at one of my markets in Sidney. Now it’s time to move on to our indoor shows … BCTLA on October 22/23 in Richmond, BC, and then Christmas Craft Shows in British Columbia. See our website for details under ‘Events.’

One of the reasons I’ve been so busy is that I’m trying to complete our new book … “A Collection of Short Stories” … it always takes more time than I anticipate and you just can’t turn on and off your writing abilities!!

I’m hoping it will be out early enough in December with at least time for people in Pacific NW and our last two local craft shows to purchase a copy for Christmas presents. At this point, I won’t take the time to give details but when I have more info or it’s finished and at the proofreader’s I will put purchase details on our website http://www.jrobertwhittle.com so keep an eye on that if you are waiting for the new book.

So today I am working on both the cover and one of the stories … no rest for this lady, but then my wonderful husband, Robert, did take me for a lovely cruise holiday to Alaska 2 weeks ago where I was pampered and waited on for a whole week … we won’t mention the two days I was seasick!!

So thanks for your interest … did you know we have another blog at http://twoauthors.wordpress.com

I need to get back to word, so until next time.

Keep reading!

Joyce Sandilands

Market Season is coming … brrr!

Horrors, the temperature has dropped and snow is falling on the daffodils in the green/warm belt of Canada! Worse, Robert and I are cringing at the news that this could last well into Spring … brrr. Yes, that’s what the weather forecast said yesterday.  As my husband / author’s stint at the outdoor market begins on April 4th (weather permitting), this is not the best news.

Last year it was the lack of tourists and the RAIN … until mid-June! I guess the only positive thing about that is the tradeoff between damaged books and a frozen author!! I wonder what IS in store for Robert this Spring?

We’ve had a good winter, got lots of work done around the house and yard, spent time with family and friends and now it’s time to start working on a new book. So my next post will be an announcement of just what that book is going to be. So I guess I had better get to work!

Before I do though, I need to clarify that despite the lousy weather and lack of American tourists to our fair city in 2008 (and 2007), Robert had an amazing Spring/Summer at the Victoria, BC Bastion Square market. When the year was over we realized that despite the failing economic situation, our book sales had risen to produce one of our better years. People still purchase our books for their families and we are so grateful.

“Whispers” delights a reader …

What a thoughtful phone call we just received … a local fan (who calls herself our ‘biggest fan’) holidaying in Ontario, just had to phone to tell us she had finished reading Whispers Across Time and had to immediately tell us her reaction.  Rather more amazing, instead of emailing us, she felt it deserved a personal conversation. Cindy said she didn’t normally like mystery novels  (which was one word Robert had used to describe it to her), but loving his other books, she allowed him to persuade her to buy our latest novel last summer at the Bastion Square Market in Victoria.

To quote Cindy, “This is a book you desperately want to know how it’s going to end, but yet you don’t want it to be finished!” Such an interesting statement and one that almost takes our breath away in its startling appraisal. She couldn’t say enough about it and says that even thought she has read all but one of our earlier books, this one was very special.  When we told her it had won a Gold IPPY Award, she said, “And so it should have!”  Thank you Cindy

A New Year!

Our Latest Novel

Well, the old year is finally over and although most of us took a hit financially one way or another in 2008, we must move on and work toward better things. Here at Whitlands, Robert again pulled off his Spring/Summer Season with great aplomb thanks in part to our 2nd award-winning book, Whispers Across Time,  Canadian readers (locals and visitors),  and an unusually high number of  International visitors who all purchased our books at Bastion Square Market. You all helped fill in for the hordes of missing Americans who usually buy our books and it was amazing! Also, our stand-alone books seem to be attracting many new readers eager to try our award-winning and family-friendly novels. We want to thank all these people as well as our fans from the USA who love Victoria and our books so much that they came back despite everything (or ordered via our website).  Thanks to  you all for making 2008 another special and rewarding year for us.

Our 2nd Gold Medal Winner!

Then there was our Fall/Christmas Season beginning with a teacher-librarian conference in October and ending 7 weeks later in mid-December with rough weather already upon us (at least weather was fine for our out-of-town shows!).  Readers (or those buying gifts) seem to be enjoying the fact that our books are no longer part of a series and response has been amazing introducing many of them to our books for the first time.  Thanks to everyone. We hope you’ve all enjoyed reading our new genres in Whispers Across Time and Race For A Treasure!

Now Robert takes a physical rest for 3 months (time to write!) and we have to quickly decide what we are bringing out for 2009 … we think it will be that book of short stories we’ve been talking about for a few years.  We’ll keep you posted on the what and when!

We also have a lecture with a local Mother-Daughter Bookclub coming up in January … PLEASE NOTE, we offer bookclubs a 15% discount when they purchase more than 3 copies of any one of our books in a single order.

As you have no doubt noticed, Joyce is switching several of our websites and an old blog over to WordPress blogs in a cost-saving effort. Our main blog will be http://twoauthors.wordpress.com  This Whitlands blog will remain for awhile, at least, as our business website. See the list at right for links to all our blogs and websites.

So enjoy your reading time as winter continues to be upon us.  To order our books go to:  our main website

If you live on Vancouver Island, you can find our books in select Victoria stores (Bolen, Munro’s, Cadboro Bay), Sidney  (Tanners),  Ladysmith (Salamander), Chemainus (Toad),  and Nanaimo (Falconers). Please support these bookstores as we are so grateful that they support us.  We also sell our books from our vans or our home, so feel free to contact us especially if you would like your books autographed to someone special (tel: 250-477-0192).

Best wishes from all of us,

Joyce, Robert and Tara

Whitlands Publishing Ltd.
J. Robert Whittle, bestselling / award-winning author
Joyce Sandilands, award-winning author/publisher
Tara Poilievre (our wonderful OA)
Victoria, BC Canada
www.bestsellingbooks.ca

New Novel … Race For A Treasure now available!

Our Latest Novel

From award-winning authors J. Robert Whittle and Joyce Sandilands comes a new international adventure and mystery novel.

Race For A Treasure has a myriad of wonderful characters and events move along as all of the Whittle’s page-turning novels tend to do. The novel uses Spains well-known habit of suing anyone who locates an old Spanish shipwreck hoping it contains treasure.

The Coolridge Family is not about to let them in on their secret, however, and try desperately to outwit them as they travel halfway around the world to Vancouver Island, BC. Adding a little romance to the plot adds a different twist as the family confides in several people willing to help them along the way. Travelling across the South of England and then to Spain turns it into a rollicking cops and robber-type mystery. Tossed into the mix is a generous amount of history and international locations.

Again, a Whittlesque novel that will be enjoyed by young and old alike.

Order on our website or at select bookstores on Vancouver Island, BC.  See our website for a list.

Welcome to the new home of Whitlands Publishing

“Life is either a daring adventure or it is nothing.” Helen Keller

It’s been a busy and exciting year and now our 11th book, Race For A Treasure, has arrived to an exciting reception at our Christmas Craft shows. This is also the year we won our 2nd GOLD MEDAL in the IPPY Awards. Loyalty’s Haven won the same award in 2007 … this year it’s for Whispers Across Time.

Meet Joyce Sandilands, publisher, editor, webmaster and author of award-winning novels with my bestselling author/husband, J. Robert Whittle.  I am presently in the process of moving our business website (Whitlands Publishing) to this blog. This is going to take awhile, no doubt a couple of months as I find the time. I hope you’ll visit us often and discover all our popular, family friendly books. Our main website is here where you can order all our books through Paypal and credit card. You can also phone us through that website.

Robert has been writing for a mere 14 years, with his first novel published in December 1998.  By 2006, Robert was a 3x bestselling author and by 2008 together we had won 2 Gold Medal Independent Publisher (IPPY) Awards for best novel in Canada: West.

Here are some of our books:

Lizzie Series

“Whittle’s “Lizzie” is captivating, inspirational, and
totally enjoyable reading for all,” say thousands of fans.

Click on cover for synopsis, excerpts, testimonials BUY BOOK(S)

Victoria Chronicles

“Mr. Whittle makes history come to life.”
“You find yourself living the story.”
“Best books I’ve ever read.”
Book 3 won an IPPY Gold Medal in 2007!

Recommended by thousands plus many Air Canada pilots and crew who visit Victoria, BC.

Moonbeam Series

by Joyce Sandilands

Chapter books for ages 4-9 years … more info or buy them today!

Please note:  If you are a writer searching for a publisher, we’re sorry but we do not accept manuscripts.