About the Author

Alan R. Roy
Retired architect Alan R. Roy grew up in Cornwall, Ontario and lives in Victoria, BC. He now focuses on developing rural primary schools in northern Tanzania with his charity Primary Schools For Africa Society. (www.PrimarySchoolsForAfrica.com)

About The Book

Unaware of each other's existence, Canadian lawyer Robert McBride and his illegitimate African daughter Oliva lead parallel lives. McBride, who suffers a heartbreaking loss, eschews his lacklustre legal career in Canada for a more purposeful life as a primary school teacher in the safari tourism mecca of northern Tanzania. Adopted Oliva journeys from determined, scrawny, myopic student to become a top international model, determined to find her birth father and understand the circumstances of her conception.

OLIVA & McBRIDE is a story of endearing love and enduring family ties. Retired architect Alan Roy draws on his personal experience developing rural schools to provide realistic insight into the lives of modern-day rural Tanzanians.

Read an Excerpt

Download this PDF sampler of the book.

Buy this Book

• Get the paperback edition at Amazon.com: Oliva & McBride
• The PDF eBook edition is priced at US$7.66. You can download it and begin reading it immediately: https://www.lulu.com/en/ca/shop/alan-r-roy/oliva-mcbride/ebook/product-qj5w8p.html?page=1&pageSize=4.
• The ePUB eBook edition is priced at $4.99. You can download it and begin reading it immediately: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1031952, and at the iBookstore, Kobo, Nook and other outlets.
• The Kindle edition is available. You can download it and begin reading it immediately: Oliva & McBride on Kindle.

About the Author

Alan R. Roy
Alan R. Roy grew up in Cornwall, Ontario. After graduating from Royal Military College, he spent four years in various Canadian and overseas postings. His architectural degrees from the University of New South Wales and RAIC Syllabus preceded 32 years in the architectural profession, the last 15 with his own firm. His previous most memorable humanitarian experience was working with ex-president Jimmy Carter in the Lower East Side Habitat For Humanity project in New York City. He lives with his wife Maureen, a nurse clinician, in Victoria, B.C., where he has established the office for the new charity, Primary Schools For Africa Society.

About The Book

In September 2010, Canadian architect Alan R. Roy left for Tanzania to realize two long-held dreams -- climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and build a school. He accomplished both, and ended up building two schools, in five weeks! One school is in the impoverished district of Majengo in Arusha, and the other in the village of Gongali, on the doorstep of Tanzania's world-renowned safari country.

This is the story of Roy's amazing adventure, a journey of discovery, full of colourful insights and amusing incidents that expose the charm and friendliness of a struggling people determined to educate their children. Roy balances the serious business of construction with an open-minded willingness to learn and celebrate the local culture, and takes from this experience a renewed determination to make a significant improvement to the lives of a growing number of African children.

More info at Primary Schools For Africa Society.

Read an Excerpt

Download this low-resolution PDF sampler of the book.

Buy this Book

• From Clay To Classrooms, paperback edition from Amazon USA store
• From Clay To Classrooms, paperback edition from Amazon UK store
• The PDF eBook edition is priced at $4.99. You can download it and begin reading it immediately: https://www.lulu.com/shop/alan-r-roy/from-clay-to-classrooms-an-architects-dream-to-advance-education-in-africa/ebook/product-15983338.html?page=1&pageSize=4.
• The ePUB eBook edition is priced at $4.99. You can download it and begin reading it immediately: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/65463, and at the iBookstore, Kobo, Nook and other outlets.
• The Kindle edition is priced at $2.99. You can download it and begin reading it immediately: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055DK5BQ.

Reviews/Appearances

• READ the media release.
• Please the Primary Schools for Africa Society's Facebook page.

RECENT AND UPCOMING APPEARANCES

To arrange an interview with the author, please contact Alan directly at aral@shaw.ca.