Meet Our Sheroes

1910, South America. A time of racial tension and poverty. A time where forbidden love must remain a secret.

Winnie Cox lives a privileged life of dances and dresses on her father’s sugar cane plantation. Life is sweet in the kingdom of sugar and Winnie along with her sister Johanna, have neither worries nor responsibilities, they are birds of paradise, protected from the poverty in the world around them.

But everything can change in a heartbeat… When Winnie falls in love with George Quint, the post-office boy, a ‘darkie’ from the other side, she soon finds herself slipping into a double life. And as she withdraws from her family, she discovers a shocking secret about those whom are closest to her. Now, more than ever, Winnie is determined to prove her love for George, whatever price she must pay and however tragic the consequences might be.

A breath-taking love story of two people fighting to be together, in a world determined to break them apart.

Acclaim for Sharon Maas:

‘A terrific writer’. Barbara Erskine

‘A page-turning story, full of humanity, crossing cultures and continents, reminiscent of Andrea Levy.’ Katie Fforde

‘A beautiful story about tragic love and ultimately about forgiveness… with powerful messages about love, life and learning to let things go in order to be happy.’ Life With Joy

‘Rich in detail and emotion and has the most beautiful and real description of loss I have ever read.’ Shaz’s Book blog

Four diamonds-the Stone of Fire, the Stone of Water, the Stone of Air, and the Stone of Earth-have all been stolen. Their absence could lead to the mass destruction of Iliana’s dimension and the mortal world. Can Iliana alter the dangerous path of the world’s most certain future? Fifteen-year-old Iliana’s to-do list did not include being sucked into another dimension called Airafia with a guy named Stephon. When she’s asked to go on a mission with him to save the four diamonds, she isn’t sure what to do. Does she want fire to dance across her fingertips? And what is this heated tension she feels between her and her rescuer, Jayden? It seems like everyone in Airafia has a secret, and even though she isn’t sure that she wants to, Iliana is about to discover everything. She and Stephon are the chosen ones to save one of the most powerful items in Airafia-The Stone of Fire. Will they succeed? The first book in the Secrets series is a ride through dimensions where intense battles that secure the well-being of the mortal world rage on. Unbeknownst to some, they are all too real for others like Iliana.

For any woman who’s ever wondered where all the good brothers have gone, The Black Man Drought is a bold exploration into the disappearance of Black men from the lives of their women and children. Upfront about the issues; from drugs to jail to interracial dating and homosexuality, this sometimes funny, sometimes serious, sometimes sassy in your face narrative forces an internal look into the choices of Black men and how they affect the whole community.

Turtle News from the Thatch Patch is a true story of how, as a family, we use the animals we see in our backyard to teach and learn. Our backyard is a wonderland for teaching and learning across the K-12 curriculum. On any given day, there are turtles, armadillos, foxes, many different kinds of birds, squirrels, cats, dogs, many different kinds of frogs…scampering around in our yard in Valparaiso, Florida. So, we have started naming and writing about them! Science is Live in the Thatch household! Come read about them…

This book is a must read for all children! It sheds light on how you can overcome challenges at school as well as, home. Explore a different culture and dive into a world of realistic fiction.

JUMPING SHIP
An Introductory Novella (0.5)

~ When the pursuit of love trumps obligations ~

On the 3rd of June 1975 in New York, Edward and Pearl Riley receive the ultimate give of love – a newborn baby, wrapped in a blanket and stuffed in a burlap bag. The child’s name, Sakkara, is written out on a torn sheet of paper, and immediately fills every void the married couple has ever had.

Pregnant seamstress Petrina Dugal becomes a runaway at the age of twenty-six. She flees the claws of a brutish husband, despite her adoration for a well-loved South American country known as Guyana. At the heart of the rebellion resides an enigmatic lover named Michael Chen. The journey to escape their choices lead the couple through the Caribbean’s treasure trove of islands:
Trinidad & Tobago
Grenada
Barbados
St. Lucia
Martinique
Antigua

The journey of the young couple from Guyana to New York is chronicled in very specific clues, left with baby Sakkara. But as she comes of age and begins learning the truth of her abandonment, the Caribbean calls out to this love child. Sakkara is set to unravel the mystery of her true heritage, and hopefully reunite with her long-lost parents.

Jumping Ship is the introductory novella to the Island Hopping series. This explosive collection boasts the rich culture of the West Indies, deep love, and a mystery unlike any other.

B.G. is British Guiana; Bhagee is a fiery local stew. Philippa was the second daughter in a family of six children growing up in mid-20th century in colonial Guyana. She recounts her Sisyphean trials growing up a Carrington in Lot 10, First Street, Georgetown — from the women’s battles to the neighbours that never wore clothes to the relatives who walked with their shoes in their hands. Her stories come from a lost civilization of pre-independence stability just as the anarchic blessing of democracy came to the Caribbean. Her escapes came by winning scholarships — first to Bishops, the prestigious girls’ school where new trials and adventures awaited her, and later to Connecticut College.

My memoir is laced with nostalgia and at the same time it is my sincere intention to portray the true essence of the Guyanese culture without offence. Keep in mind that this is not based on the experience of every Guyanese. This was the way I saw and experienced things back then. The use of colloquialism is of utmost importance; it is the vernacular we understand. It may sound like another language so unless you were born and bred in Guyana you will need to refer to the glossary provided. Folklore and mothers preaching life lessons through proverbs played a large part in Guyanese life. This is not only an account of the first twenty-one years of my life in Guyana; it also contains anecdotes of visits back to my homeland. You will also find a sprinkling of information pertaining to my new life in Australia. Before immigrating to Australia I believed the sun only rose and set in Guyana; I never imagined another paradise existed on the planet. There is a saying that most Guyanese use to identify their roots after they have voluntarily immigrated or simply fled to another country. When we say, “My navel string is buried in Guyana” we simply mean: ‘My roots are there’ It’s a place where true and enduring friendships were formed forever. We will meet one another decades later and feel as if it was yesterday, reminiscing about our beloved land; lapsing into the language only a fellow Guyanese can understand. A famous Australian crooner said “I still call Australia home” and I can assure you that saying applies to Guyanese who have immigrated to every corner of the globe. Navigating the labyrinth of family secrets was my one mission in life; I just had to know.

Coined as “the board woman’s bible”, 7 Traits of Highly Successful Women on Boards – views from the top and how to get there is an essential read for women on boards, and those aspiring to get there, not only in the private, but also public, charity and Sme sectors. It delves into the hearts and thoughts of 22 highly successful women on corporate boards in the Uk, sharing gems of advice, tips, traits and their essential characteristics that will help you chart your journey to the room at the top. If you want to get on a board your journey starts here. Know what you are signing up to and enjoy the ride. Find out, for example: What Heather Rabbatts, the most powerful woman in football, thinks about being the first woman on the board of The Football Association. Which leaders do women on boards get their inspiration from and why. How Paula Vennells, the Ceo of the Post Office, one of the largest organisations in the Uk, achieves her work/life balance. How Fiona Cannon at Lloyds Banking Group will achieve 40% gender diversity at senior level by 2020. How Toni Belcher, Partner at Mhbc, cuts male tittle tattle when she walks into the boardroom. Find out the answers to these and many more questions, designed to give you an insight.