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ABOUT ME
Hello and welcome to my website! My name is Maricla Pannocchia, I'm the author behind "Letters from Afghanistan." This is my first book in English but I've already published three books in my home country, Italy, which got great reviews from readers, bloggers and professionals. They all talk about social issues such as WWII and teenage cancer. My books and short stories have also won some awards.
I started writing when I was a child and I've never stopped. I use my writing to shed a light on issues we don't often talk or hear about. I especially like writing for young people. 

In 2014 I've set up my own charity called "Adolescenti e cancro" (Teens and Cancer) to provide Italian teens and young people who have or have had cancer with free peer to peer support. I also work a lot to spread awareness about childhood and teenage cancer. Knowing these kids and young people and their families has changed my life for the better. I now see and live life differently. I see our time on this Earth is really short and I think we should do our best to help others, thrive and have a purpose.

​I work as a copy writer, ghost writer and reviewer. I mostly write about travel (yes, I love travelling!), books, news.... As a ghost writer I've been writing childrens' books. 

I've always been interested in other cultures. I sponsor and regularly write to children and young people in Cambodia and various African countries. I also have Skype calls with some of them. These kids and young people are supported by amazing NGOs which do a lot of great work in the field. 

"Letters from Afghanistan" has been written in Italian about five years ago. I then put the manuscript away and focussed on other books. At one point I felt the need to translate the book in English because I think this story has a lot of potential and I wanted it to reach as many persons as possible, especially young people. I can't imagine people reading about Olivia and Basya in U.K., USA, Australia and so on!
​I'm so proud of this book. It hasn't been easy to write a novel in a language which is not my own and that is one of the things that makes me proud. Another one is having created two characters I love and I strongly believe in. They both are amazing role models for young people and people in general and I hope they will guide readers to be the change we all wish to see in this world.

I try to enjoy my life as much as I can, doing things I love and spending time with the people I love, but I always take time to fight for what I believe in. I can't stand human rights' violations and I strongly believe each of us can and should do its best to make a change. I also write notes when I travel in places where there are human rights violations, poverty and so on so to use my writing to give a voice to those people and places and help readers see and understand what goes on there.
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I've decided to release the book for free to encourage more people to read it. I strongly hope many of the readers will be compelled to act once they will get an idea about how life is for girls and women in Afghanistan. This is a crucial moment for the country and we must stand by their side. People like Basya really exist and I hope my novel will help you to feel a little closer to them. 
With love,
​Maricla
"Letters from Afghanistan" is available for free because I want it to reach as many people as possible to encourage them to be the change they want to see in the world and to care for people living in other countries. If you want to donate some money as a "thank you" for the book, as you'd bought it, I'll surely appreciate it.
I always raise money to fund my next trips. I want to travel the world and write about all those amazing people and places and all that goes on around us. I hope to allow people to know more about others and to celebrate and cherish diversity.
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You can send your donation through PayPal

or through a bank account

Any donation will be hugely appreciated and any donation of $50 or more will receive an autographed PDF of "Letters from Afghanistan". Donations of 100$ or more will also receive a bookmark inspired by "Letters from Afghanistan" to download and they will be thanked in my trips's notes, which I'll publish online. 
If you are an organization, individual or business who'd like to invest more in supporting my trips please get in touch mariclapannocchia@outlook.it