💔Egypt: Between Timeless Beauty and Harsh Reality!

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, Egypt is nothing like we expected.

When you watch documentaries, you see majestic temples, ancient archaeology, and stories of pharaohs, kings, and queens. What you don’t see is real life - the streets of Hurghada, Luxor, Edfu, and Aswan. We haven’t visited Cairo yet, but I can only imagine that life there must feel even more intense than in the cities along the Nile.

As first-time visitors, we naturally had high expectations - not only because of Egypt’s extraordinary history, but also regarding modern infrastructure and urban development. And in some ways, we were genuinely surprised: the highways cutting through the desert are cleaner and smoother than many roads in Europe. No bumps, perfect asphalt, calm and almost surreal drives.

But then you enter the cities.

And everything changes.

There is trash everywhere. Dirt, unfinished buildings, neglected streets. It is shocking - and honestly heartbreaking - to see places of such historical importance in this awful and shameful condition.

At the same time, the scale of tourism is overwhelming. The number of visitors, the endless Nile cruises, the buses lining up at every historical site - it feels like controlled chaos. Yet somehow, it is incredibly well organized.

Egypt’s economy generates roughly $400–450 billion annually, with tourism playing a visible but not dominant role. The sector contributes around 8–12% of the country’s GDP, supported by approximately 19 million international visitors each year, who generate an estimated $14–18 billion in revenue.

However, Egypt’s economy is far more diversified than it may seem. Key sectors such as oil and gas, manufacturing, and agriculture form a substantial part of the economic foundation, while the Suez Canal alone brings in over $8–10 billion annually as one of the world’s most strategic trade routes.

In addition, billions of dollars are sent home by Egyptians working abroad, making remittances another crucial pillar.

And yet - despite all of this - the reality on the streets tells a very different story.

We saw unfinished high-rise buildings along the Red Sea in Hurghada that looked like abandoned shells. Entire areas felt forgotten, almost ghost-like. It raises a difficult question: why does a country with such economic inflow still struggle with visible neglect in its urban spaces?

But beyond infrastructure, there is something even more painful to witness.

The animals.

In no other place have we seen so many stray dogs lying in the burning sun — without food, without water, clearly ill and exhausted. It is a reality that is hard to ignore and even harder to accept. In a culture where charity and giving are deeply rooted, this contrast feels especially striking.

And then, there was one moment I will never forget.

From our cabin - number 414 on the Nile Story - while we were docked in Aswan, I was looking out of the window. A man, maybe in his forties, stopped in the street and spent time with a group of stray dogs. Not just a minute - at least 20 to 30 minutes. He brought them food, gave them water, and gently stroked them.

For a brief moment, those dogs experienced something they may not have felt in a long time: care, attention, maybe even love.

I wanted to run downstairs and hug that man.

That image stayed with me. Because it reminded me that even in difficult conditions, compassion exists - quietly, without recognition.

And it made me realize something else: there must be a way to help.

My book Storytellers are dogs, and their stories carry exactly this message. And if I find a publisher for my upcoming work, I will dedicate part of the income to supporting animal welfare - especially in places like Egypt, where even small contributions can make a real difference. Compared to Europe, the cost of helping is minimal, but the impact can be life-changing.

Sometimes, change doesn’t start with governments.

Sometimes, it starts with one person stopping in the street… and choosing kindness. Choosing not to look away and ignore. Choosing to act with love and compassion.

Also, if Egypt were to invest more of its resources into completing the many unfinished buildings - these ghost-like structures scattered across cities like Hurghada - and shape them with the same care and vision seen in the touristic boulevards, lined with well-designed hotels and supported by a modern, efficient airport, the transformation would be remarkable. It wouldn’t take much to elevate these places into something truly extraordinary. 

Because the truth is, Egypt is already breathtaking. It doesn’t need to be reinvented - just completed, cared for, and respected. With thoughtful development, this country could easily feel like paradise, not only in its history, but in everyday life. 

If the pharaohs, kings, and queens who built these magnificent temples thousands of years ago could see today’s unfinished and often chaotic architecture, they would probably be both astonished and embarrassed - and then quietly wonder how a civilization capable of building the pyramids ended up leaving so many projects… permanently under construction. And then immediately ask who approved these projects… before ordering them to be finished by sunset! It's really a shame! I'm glad that they don't witness what we have seen! 

UPDATE: This mini-album marks my first step - and the foundation of a charity project dedicated to the often-overlooked, unloved street dogs of Egypt. Through this music, I hope not only to raise awareness, but to turn compassion into real support - providing food, water, and care for those who need it most.

💔Ägypten: Zwischen zeitloser Schönheit und harter Realität!

Wie ich bereits in meinem vorherigen Blogbeitrag erwähnt habe, ist Ägypten ganz anders, als wir es erwartet haben.

Wenn man Dokumentationen schaut, sieht man majestätische Tempel, antike Archäologie und Geschichten über Pharaonen, Könige und Königinnen. Was man nicht sieht, ist das echte Leben - die Straßen von Hurghada, Luxor, Edfu und Assuan. Kairo haben wir noch nicht besucht, aber ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass das Leben dort noch einmal um ein Vielfaches intensiver ist als in den Städten entlang des Nils.

Als Erstbesucher hatten wir automatisch hohe Erwartungen - nicht nur wegen der beeindruckenden Geschichte, sondern auch an die heutige Infrastruktur und das Stadtbild. Und in gewisser Weise wurden wir sogar positiv überrascht: Die Autobahnen durch die Wüste sind sauberer und besser ausgebaut als viele Straßen in Europa. Keine Schlaglöcher, perfekter Asphalt, ruhige und fast surreale Fahrten.

Doch sobald man die Städte erreicht, verändert sich alles.

Überall liegt Müll. Dreck, unfertige Gebäude, vernachlässigte Straßen. Es ist schockierend - und ehrlich gesagt auch traurig - Orte von solcher historischer Bedeutung in diesem Zustand zu sehen.

Gleichzeitig ist das Ausmaß des Tourismus überwältigend. Die Anzahl der Besucher, die unzähligen Nilkreuzfahrten, die Busse an jeder Sehenswürdigkeit - es wirkt wie kontrolliertes Chaos. Und trotzdem ist dieses Chaos erstaunlich gut organisiert.

Ägyptens Wirtschaft erwirtschaftet jährlich etwa 400–450 Milliarden US-Dollar, wobei der Tourismus eine sichtbare, aber nicht dominierende Rolle spielt. Der Sektor trägt rund 8–12 % zum Bruttoinlandsprodukt bei, gestützt von etwa 19 Millionen internationalen Besuchern pro Jahr, die geschätzte 14–18 Milliarden US-Dollar einbringen. Gleichzeitig ist die Wirtschaft Ägyptens deutlich vielfältiger, als es auf den ersten Blick scheint. Wichtige Bereiche wie Öl und Gas, Industrie und Landwirtschaft bilden das wirtschaftliche Fundament, während allein der Suezkanal jährlich über 8–10 Milliarden US-Dollar als eine der wichtigsten Handelsrouten der Welt generiert. Hinzu kommen Milliardenbeträge, die von im Ausland lebenden Ägyptern in ihre Heimat geschickt werden.

Und trotzdem - trotz all dieser Einnahmen - erzählt die Realität auf den Straßen eine ganz andere Geschichte.

In Hurghada haben wir entlang des Roten Meeres viele unfertige Hochhäuser gesehen, die wie verlassene Rohbauten wirken. Ganze Gegenden erscheinen vergessen, fast wie Geisterorte. Es wirft eine unbequeme Frage auf: Wie kann ein Land mit solchen Einnahmen gleichzeitig mit so sichtbarer Vernachlässigung kämpfen?

Doch neben der Infrastruktur gibt es etwas, das noch schwerer zu ertragen ist.

Die Tiere.

Nirgendwo sonst haben wir so viele Straßenhunde gesehen, die in der brennenden Sonne liegen — ohne Futter, ohne Wasser, sichtbar krank und erschöpft. Es ist eine Realität, die man nicht ignorieren kann und noch weniger akzeptieren möchte. In einer Kultur, in der Spenden und Hilfsbereitschaft fest verankert sind, wirkt dieser Kontrast besonders stark.

Und dann gab es diesen einen Moment, den ich nie vergessen werde.

Aus unserer Kabine - Nummer 414 auf der Nile Story - während wir in Assuan angelegt hatten, schaute ich aus dem Fenster. Ein Mann, vielleicht in seinen Vierzigern, blieb stehen und widmete sich einer Gruppe Straßenhunde. Nicht nur für einen Moment - mindestens 20 bis 30 Minuten. Er brachte ihnen Futter, gab ihnen Wasser und streichelte sie ganz sanft.

Für einen kurzen Augenblick haben diese Hunde etwas erlebt, das sie vielleicht lange nicht gespürt haben: Fürsorge. Aufmerksamkeit. Vielleicht sogar Liebe.

Ich wollte am liebsten sofort runterlaufen und diesen Mann umarmen.

Dieses Bild hat sich eingebrannt. Denn es hat mir gezeigt, dass selbst unter schwierigen Umständen Mitgefühl existiert - leise, ohne Aufmerksamkeit.

Und es hat mir noch etwas klar gemacht: Es muss einen Weg geben, zu helfen.

Meine Bücher und Hunde-Erzähler tragen genau diese Botschaft in sich. Und wenn ich einen Verlag für mein kommendes Buch finde, werde ich einen Teil der Einnahmen spenden - besonders für den Tierschutz an Orten wie Ägypten, wo schon kleine Beiträge einen echten Unterschied machen können. Im Vergleich zu Europa sind die Kosten gering, aber die Wirkung kann enorm sein.

Manchmal beginnt Veränderung nicht bei Regierungen.

Manchmal beginnt sie bei einem Menschen, der auf der Straße stehen bleibt… und sich für Mitgefühl entscheidet.

Wenn Ägypten mehr seiner Ressourcen darin investieren würde, die vielen unvollendeten Gebäude - diese geisterhaften Strukturen, die sich durch Städte wie Hurghada ziehen - fertigzustellen und sie mit derselben Sorgfalt und Vision zu gestalten wie die touristischen Boulevards, gesäumt von gut designten Hotels und ergänzt durch einen modernen, effizienten Flughafen, wäre die Veränderung enorm. Es bräuchte nicht viel, um diese Orte in etwas wirklich Außergewöhnliches zu verwandeln.

Denn die Wahrheit ist: Ägypten ist bereits atemberaubend. Es muss nicht neu erfunden werden - nur vollendet, gepflegt und respektiert. Mit einer durchdachten Entwicklung könnte sich dieses Land nicht nur in seiner Geschichte, sondern auch im Alltag wie ein Paradies anfühlen.

Wenn die Pharaonen, Könige und Königinnen, die vor Tausenden von Jahren diese beeindruckenden Tempel erbaut haben, die heutige, oft unfertige und chaotische Architektur sehen könnten, wären sie vermutlich gleichermaßen erstaunt wie beschämt - und würden sich leise fragen, wie eine Zivilisation, die die Pyramiden erschaffen hat, so viele Projekte… einfach dauerhaft unfertig lassen konnte. Und im nächsten Moment würden sie wahrscheinlich fragen, wer das genehmigt hat - bevor sie anordnen würden, dass alles bis zum Sonnenuntergang fertiggestellt wird.

Ehrlich gesagt: Es ist wirklich schade. Und vielleicht auch besser so, dass sie nicht sehen müssen, was wir gesehen haben.

UPDATE: Dieses Mini-Album ist mein erster Schritt - und das Fundament eines Charity-Projekts, das den oft übersehenen und ungeliebten Straßenhunden in Ägypten gewidmet ist.

Mit dieser Musik möchte ich nicht nur Aufmerksamkeit schaffen, sondern Mitgefühl in konkrete Hilfe verwandeln - in Form von Futter, Wasser und Versorgung für diejenigen, die es am dringendsten brauchen.

✨Legacys Zeitreisen Hörbuch Serie und Musik

Es gibt etwas an Weihnachten, das die Zeit langsamer werden lässt.

Lichter leuchten wärmer.
Erinnerungen rücken näher.
Und selbst die stillen Momente tragen plötzlich Bedeutung.

In dieser Weihnachtszeit möchte ich dich herzlich in eine Geschichte einladen.
Oder besser gesagt: in mehrere Geschichten – verbunden durch Güte, Neugier und einen kleinen Hund namens Legacy.

Legacys Zeitreisen ist eine Hörbuchreihe für Kinder und Erwachsene. Sie beginnt in einer mondhellen Bibliothek, in der Bücher sanft leuchten und die Vergangenheit flüstert. Von dort springt Legacy – ein kleiner King-Charles-Spaniel mit einem sehr großen Herzen – mutig in die Seiten der Zeit, um Menschen zu treffen, deren Leben die Welt auf stille, aber kraftvolle Weise verändert hat.

In den ersten drei Hörbuchserien begegnet Legacy außergewöhnlichen Persönlichkeiten:

• Ernst Jakob Christoffel, der den Blinden Licht schenkte

• Maria Montessori, die an jedes Kind glaubte

• John Lennon, der sich Frieden wünschte

• Mutter Teresa, die Liebe in Taten lebte

• Jesus, dessen Botschaft von Hoffnung und Vergebung bis heute wirkt

• Elvis Presley, der Freude durch Musik brachte

• Maria, die Mutter, die Ja zur Liebe sagte

• Saint Nikolaus, der im Stillen Gutes tat

• und Santa Claus, der uns daran erinnert, dass Freude geteilt werden will

In sanften Gesprächen, mit leiser Humor und ehrlichen Fragen, erkennt Legacy etwas sehr Wichtiges:
Vermächtnis hat nichts mit Ruhm oder Macht zu tun.
Vermächtnis ist Liebe, die weitergeht – von Herz zu Herz.

Begleitet werden die Geschichten vom Musikalbum Legacy4Love.

Die Songs sind inspiriert von der emotionalen Essenz der Hörbücher und im Stil der 80er-Jahre produziert – unserem liebsten Musikjahrzehnt, voller Wärme, Melodie und Gefühl. Jeder Song ist wie ein Nachklang, etwas, das bleibt, wenn die Geschichte längst zu Ende ist.

Weihnachten ist eine Zeit des Gebens, des Zuhörens und des Erinnerns an das, was wirklich zählt. Ob du die Geschichten mit Kindern teilst, sie still für dich selbst hörst oder sie als Geschenk weitergibst – ich hoffe, Legacys Reise bringt ein wenig Licht in deine Wintertage.

Möge diese Zeit uns daran erinnern, dass Güte durch die Zeit reist.
Dass Liebe nie wirklich vergeht.
Und dass manchmal die kleinsten Pfoten die größten Spuren hinterlassen.

Frohe Weihnachten und willkommen bei Legacys Zeitreisen. 🐾✨

✨Legacys Time Travel Audibook Series and music album!

There is something about Christmas that makes time slow down.

Lights glow a little warmer.
Memories feel closer.
And even the quiet moments seem to carry meaning.

This Christmas, I would love to invite you into a story.
Or rather, into several stories – all connected by kindness, curiosity, and a little dog named Legacy.

Legacy’s Time Travel is a heart-led audiobook series for children and adults alike. It begins in a moonlit library, where books glow softly and history whispers. From there, Legacy – a small King Charles Cavalier with a very big heart – jumps into the pages of time to meet people whose lives changed the world in gentle but powerful ways.

Across the first three audiobook series, Legacy meets extraordinary personalities:

• Ernst Jakob Christoffel, who gave light to the blind

• Maria Montessori, who believed deeply in every child

• John Lennon, who dreamed of peace

• Mother Teresa, who lived love through action

• Jesus, whose message of forgiveness and hope still echoes

• Elvis Presley, who brought joy through music

• Maria, the mother who said yes to love

• Saint Nicholas, who gave quietly without applause

• And Santa Claus, who reminds us that joy is meant to be shared

Through warm conversations, quiet humor, and thoughtful questions, Legacy learns something essential:
Legacy is not about fame, power, or recognition.
Legacy is about love that continues – from heart to heart.

To accompany these stories, I created a music album called Legacy4Love.

The songs are inspired by the emotional essence of the audiobooks and produced in an 80s-inspired style – our favorite music decade, full of warmth, melody, and soul. Each song feels like a reflection at the end of a journey, something to carry with you long after the story ends.

Christmas is a time for giving, listening, and remembering what truly matters.

Whether you share these stories with your children, listen quietly on your own, or gift them to someone you love, I hope Legacy’s journey brings a little light into your winter days.

May this season remind us that kindness still travels through time.
That love never really disappears.
And that sometimes, the smallest paws leave the deepest footprints.

Merry Christmas, and welcome to Legacy’s Time Travel. 🐾✨

🐾 Turning the Gun: How a Scam Email Became My Best Book Promo (Harvey Specter Would Approve)

A few days ago, I received an email that almost made me spit out my coffee ☕.
The subject line?

🐶 “A dog survives 12 days of terror… but only 9 reviews? Sky deserves justice, Lily!”

If you know me, you already guessed what followed: paragraphs of emotional flattery, a sprinkle of fake urgency, and a bold promise to make my book Sky: 12 Days of Terror “soar through Amazon’s algorithm.”

As Harvey Specter from Suits would say:

“When you’re backed against the wall, break the damn thing down.”

So instead of ignoring it, I decided to turn the gun. 😎

---

🕵️‍♀️ Exhibit A: The Email (abridged for dramatic effect)

“Lily, you didn’t just write a story. You created a moral mirror… that should be carved into readers’ hearts.”

“How is a story this powerful not climbing the top of Amazon charts?”

“That’s where I come in. I work with a private circle of 3000+ genuine readers (real humans, not bots 😏)… steady, authentic reviews… boosted visibility… organic engagement that Amazon actually loves!”

Let’s pause right there, shall we? 😅

---

⚖️ The Verdict

Here’s the deal: Amazon doesn’t reward “engineered” reviews - it rewards honest ones.
And the moment someone promises “organic engagement” with a winky face, it’s not organic anymore.

Scam emails like this prey on authors’ vulnerabilities - our desire to be seen, appreciated, and heard.  

They weaponize flattery. They sound supportive, even poetic.
But behind all that sugar is the same old bitter truth: they want your money, not your art.

---

💡 My Light-Bulb Moment

Instead of deleting the email, I realized… it’s actually a perfect compliment.
Because to scam me, they had to read my book description.
They had to acknowledge the heart of Sky – 12 Days of Terror: love, loyalty, displacement, and hope through the eyes of a dog. 🐕

They called Sky “a philosopher in fur.”
And honestly? That line is good - I might even steal it for my next press release. 😅

---

✨ Turning the Gun

Here’s how you turn the gun, Specter-style 💼:

• Expose the tactic.
  Shine a light on what these “review specialists” promise versus what they actually do.

• Educate your peers.
  Many indie authors fall for this kind of “real reader” pitch - but “real” shouldn’t come with quotation marks.

• Use their own words to promote yourself.
  I didn’t have to invent a single compliment. Reid W. (let’s keep him anonymous) did the work for me.

• Redirect the narrative.
  Instead of paying for fake validation, I’m inviting real readers to share their genuine experiences with Sky.

---

📣 The Real Call to Action

If you’ve read Sky: 12 Days of Terror or SKY – 12 Tage des Terrors, I’d truly love to hear from you. 💛

Leave a short, honest review on by using this link: for the English Version. Keep in mind that Skys story is also available in German and French. Italian, Spanish and Farsi will be available soon. 

👉 Amazon
👉 Goodreads
👉 or wherever you discovered Sky.

Even two sentences about what touched you makes a difference - and helps other readers find the story too. 

Because in the end, authenticity is the best marketing strategy. ✨

---

🎯 Final Thoughts

So, Reid W., wherever you are - thanks for the flattery.
You inspired a blog post, a laugh, and maybe even a few real reviews. 😉

And to my fellow authors: Stay sharp. Stay classy.

And when someone tries to sell you shortcuts, just remember Harvey’s words:

“I don’t play the odds, I play the man.”

Only in this case, I played the scammer- and turned the whole thing into promo gold. 💅🐾

---

💬 Your Turn

Have you ever received a similar “review offer”?
Share your story in the comments below!
Let’s expose these schemes and lift each other up with truth, humor, and integrity.

---

☕ Post-Credits Scene

Sky is out there, wagging his tail and waiting to be discovered - one honest review at a time.

Now that’s how you win like Harvey Specter - with coffee in hand and integrity intact. 😎

AND ENCASE YOU HAVENT SEEN IT YET, SKY'S STORY INSPIRED ME TO RELEASE THE MINI ALBUM TOOFAN (STORM) WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE TRACK 

"UNDER THE SAME SKY"

Lilys Ambassadors & Botschafter second-edition now available!

Dear Book and dog lovers, the second edition of my books LILYS AMBASSADORS and LILYS BOTSCHAFTER are now available! 

In 2022, I published these two books for the first and last time with BOOK ON DEMAND. It was the second-biggest mistake in my publishing journey. I'm now back to AMAZON and happy to have full control over my book prices and marketing. 

If you are new to self-publishing, stay away from BOD. Once you publish your book in print and e-book with this company, you have no say in pricing etc. And if you wish to update the files, you have to publish the book from scratch. They expect you to pay for every new edition! This doesn't make sense! Whenever you, the copyrighter of your work, have no say, you know you are not in good hands! Demand the respect your work deserves, and don't allow corrupt companies to take advantage of your cluelessness. 

For me, after 10 years, AMAZON is still THE best company to work with. Not only because of the full control that I have as the writer, but also because of the great quality they offer in print. The paper and colour are perfect! I couldn't be happier! :-)

ENJOY THE READ IN YOUR PREFERRED LANGUAGE! 

RIP Pope Francis!

Forcing an old, sick man to function despite his fragile condition, just for the sake of money and greed, is beyond disgusting. I hate the world we live in. It is revolting. I was worried this would happen, and it did!

I knew it! Seeing Pope Francis yesterday showed me how greedy the Vatican is. He needed rest. He needed to recover! BUT the church didn't care! Your greed for money is simply disgusting! I feel ashamed for your lack of humanity, kindness & care! I'm heartbroken! I hope the Vatican is happy! Did you make enough money over the holidays?

This poor, fragile and sick man needed rest, but you decided to torture him despite his weakness! You didn't respect his need for recovery! :-(

RIP Pope Francis :-( 

LEONARDO - Humans Just Dont Care!

Leonardo is a young and hopeless dog with a difficult life journey full of emotional and physical obstacles. After leaving an animal shelter he ends up in an orphanage in the heart of Florence. But the manager and the children treat him so badly that he runs away in the darkness of the night in hope of finding love and kindness. After a stressful journey filled with struggles, he ends up in the capital city of Italy, in Rome, and has only one goal. He wants to meet Pope Francis and ask him why he sees humans but not humanity. Why humans treat each other and him so badly and why they just don’t care!

My Voice for the Voiceless
During our many visits to major cities like Rome in Italy, we have experienced unfortunate people sleeping on the streets, while residents of the cities, national and international tourists walk by daily without taking notice and we’ve been wondering why. It is heartbreaking and shameful to look out of your fancy and warm hotel room with your comfy bed, while helpless humans struggling and surviving on the freezing cold streets just a few footsteps away and are only covered with newspapers. It is a tragedy of humanity how ignoring homeless people has become normality. It is a scandal how we look away and don’t act. Every single human being deserves a life of dignity. Every single soul deserves to be taken care of. Every single human being deserves to experience love and kindness, whether it is a child in an orphanage or homeless people and refugees on our streets. The story of Leonardo is my voice for the forgotten souls!

Lily’s Ambassadors Audiobook in American English!

We are happy and excited to start January 2023 with another highlight. Three of our adorable little dogs Lovely, Lucie, and Laila are now recorded as an audiobook in American English!

“Lilys Ambassadors” will be available by end of January in all major audiobook shops. Three charming characters share their emotional and unusual life experiences with important messages. Acceptance and tolerance as well as anti-discrimination, anti-racism, anti-bullying, love, and loyalty are the most important topics in this entertaining audiobook for children from eight years and adults.

This inspiring audiobook is dedicated to all the hopeless and helpless refugees worldwide, who dream of a free and independent life in dignity and those who have lost their lives during their escape to freedom.

We are more than happy to do a giveaway to our loyal friends and followers. If you like to win a gift code, please don’t hesitate to send me a DM on Instagram @lily4refugees or @lily.amis or on Twitter @nassimadesign and answer the following question.

“Why should you win a gift code?”

Good luck everyone.  All winners will be contacted by the end of January with a personalized code for Spotify! 

Lovely is a little spoiled Chihuahua living in the heart of Paris. The little dog’s life is perfect until her owner Josephine decides to move permanently to London. Lovely is heartbroken and desperately unhappy about the upcoming changes. What happened? Where is Josephine? Will the two ever be reunited?

Lucie shares her life story while she is stuck in a rescue boat crossing the ocean from the Middle East to Europe after she has lost everything back home because war has destroyed her life overnight. Fleeing from a war zone, there is only one thing that keeps the little dog looking forward: hope and a strong belief in a better and safer future!

Laila is a young orphan Dalmatian living in a refugee camp in Greece. She often feels like an outsider and isolates herself from everyone because of the colour of her white fur, marked with black and brown-coloured spots. But everything changes when a foreign lady opens an art workshop for refugee children. That’s the beginning of a joyful life for little Laila and all the refugees. All of a sudden, their gray and hopeless lives find some colour of happiness, and life-changing events are around the corner…

Written by: Lily & Sima Amis

Narrated by: Sharda Laskowski

Duration: 1:10 minutes

Language: American English

Release: January 2023

Cover by nassima-design

EU, why don’t you treat the Refugees like dogs?

As you know from my previous blog post, last Saturday we finally sent out my petition letter #HumanityB4Nationality to Missis Ursula Von der Leyen, the President of the EU commission in Brussels.

On our way back home from the post office, we saw a lady walking by with her adorable little dog. I was very curious about the dog’s race and started a conversation. It turned out that the puppy was only five months old. Her owner explained that she had asked a friend who lives in Spain to contact her as soon as her dog was having puppies, so she would fly over and pick up her new baby dog. Nice story, right?

Well, that’s not the reason why I’m sharing this today! What she said next was mind-blowing! She told us how easy it was to get her puppy from Spain to Switzerland. After getting vaccinated and getting a vaccination certificate, she also applied and got an EU PASSPORT!!!

Yes, an EU Passport! Can you believe it? And when they landed at Zurich Airport, no one even cared to control and the little dog was welcomed in Switzerland with open arms and no hassle at all!

WOW! This got me thinking! A little dog has an EU Passport and is allowed to travel wherever she wants. She is allowed to live freely wherever she desires. What a privilege it is to be a DOG and enjoy all the freedom in the world, while innocent refugees are help- and powerless over their own destiny and life choices! Some of them are recycled in refugee camps. Others are stuck in refugee shelters in EU cities without any chance to improve anything in their life, because of a piece of paper.

It took me 27 years, almost three decades to be a naturalized Swiss and be finally free to travel wherever I want without Visa hassles at the Embassies. We couldn’t move from one city (Lucerne) to another (Zurich) for seven years, because of bureaucracy and the awful refugee law. We lost so many precious years, opportunities, and possibilities because we were permanently reduced to a piece of paper! And that’s the misery that all the refugees have to deal with. Some of them for years and some even for decades!

So, I’m just wondering why the EU can’t treat refugees like dogs? Why don’t you give the innocent victims of the war a fair chance to integrate and become independent members of the European countries? Why? It could save us all so many problems if every single human would be treated like a dog. It would be so wonderful if every single refugee could live a free life without racism and discrimination because of nationality, religion, and race!

Just give it some thought and imagine... 

For the love of God, if you are not willing to give the refugees a proper residency and work permits and allow them to contribute to your country with knowledge and skills, at least give them the chance to educate, because Education is the passport to life! Don’t punish and recycle the refugees like a disease in refugee shelters and refugee camps for years! 

My petition #HumanityB4Nationality!

I like to remind you that my online petition #HumanityB4Nationality is coming soon to an end. And this was my last blog post on the petition page before I send out my letter to the President of the EU Commission Ursula Von der Leyen. 

Dear #HumanityB4Nationality Supporter

This is my last blog post here before I send my online petition to the EU Parliament in Brussels next month. God is my witness, I have tried everything in my power to get more signatures. Unfortunately, we only got 59 supporters to this date!

It has been very challenging to get more signatures. Not necessarily because people don’t care about the right and plight of refugees, but mainly because they have lost their trust in our governments. Most people that I have contacted or spoken to, have a negative view of online petitions because of our world leaders, lawmakers, governments, and politicians. And let’s be honest, who can blame them?

This doesn’t change anything for me personally. I will continue to be the voice for the voiceless, and I make sure that we don’t receive a standard letter from the EU. I will list questions and I expect honest and useful answers!

So if you have any questions that you want to be answered, this is the time to be active. Please don’t hesitate to send me your questions and I will add them to my own before I send out the letter next month!

BTW: I have also contacted big and no-name non-profit organizations and charities worldwide who work WITH or FOR refugees and guess what, no one showed any interest in supporting my mission to this date! Precious hours of long and exhausting Zoom conversations and email communications back and forth were all for nothing!

However, my main goal with #HumanityB4Nationality has always been bringing awareness about the obstacles and horrible living conditions of refugees from the point of view of a former refugee who has suffered and struggled for decades because of the refugee law regarding education and integration.

This online petition even made me release two songs. “80 Million People!” and “Blood is always red!” The lyrics are powerful and a clear statement. Releasing my new book “Lilys Ambassadors”, in German “Lilys Botschafter” is my final initiative for this petition even though it will officially end in July 2022 here on openpetition.eu.

Be assured that I will continue to be the Voice4refugees regardless of the outcome of this petition. Thank you again for your support. My next blog post here will be my open letter to the EU. Stay tuned!

Best wishes,

Lily Amis

Lilys Ambassadors, The Four Paw Memoirs

Lily's nine Ambassadors are Lucky, Lovely, Lucie, Lemon, Leonardo, Laila, Ludwig, Louise, and Lennon. The adorable storytellers were born during and after the lockdown in 2020 and 2021.

Everything began with Lucky. Meanwhile, eight more enchanting characters are sharing their amusing and inspiring life stories with important messages. Integration, Acceptance, Tolerance as well as anti-discrimination, anti-racism, anti-bullying, friendship, humanity, empathy, and education are the most powerful topics in this entertaining book for children from eight to adult readers.

Available in print and as e-book in all bookshops!

Lilys Botschafter, Die Vier Pfoten Memoiren

Lilys neun Botschafter sind Lucky, Lovely, Lucie, Lemon, Leonardo, Laila, Ludwig, Louise und Lennon. Die süßen Hundekinder wurden während und nach dem Lockdown im Jahr 2020 und 2021 geboren.

Alles begann mit Lucky und inzwischen teilen weitere acht bezaubernde Charaktere ihre humorvollen und inspirierenden Lebensgeschichten, die wichtige Botschaften beinhalten. Integration, Akzeptanz und Toleranz sowie Anti-Diskriminierung, Anti-Rassismus, Anti-Mobbing, Freundschaft, Menschlichkeit, Empathie und Bildung sind die wichtigsten Themen in diesem unterhaltsamen Buch für Kinder ab acht Jahren und Erwachsene.  

 Jetzt erhältlich I'm Buchhandel!

Lilys Ambassadors! - Lilys Botschafter!

 

Super excited to inform you that all my nine little and adorable Lily4Refugees Ambassadors are finally available in print in ONE BOOK! 

The English title is “Lilys Ambassadors, The Four Paws Memoirs”. 

The German title is “Lilys Botschafter, Die Vier Poften Memoiren”. 

The book in print and e-book are available worldwide! Get your copy in print or download the ebook in your favorite book store! 

The English Book blurb: Lilys nine Ambassadors are Lucky, Lovely, Lucie, Lemon, Leonardo, Laila, Ludwig, Louise, and Lennon. The adorable storytellers were born during and after the lockdown in 2020 and 2021. 

Everything began with Lucky. Meanwhile, eight more enchanting characters are sharing their amusing and inspiring life stories with important messages. Integration, Acceptance, Tolerance as well as anti-discrimination, anti-racism, anti-bullying, friendship, humanity, empathy, and education are the most powerful topics in this entertaining book for children from eight to adult readers.

German Book blurb: Lilys neun Botschafter sind Lucky, Lovely, Lucie, Lemon, Leonardo, Laila, Ludwig, Louise und Lennon. Die süßen Hundekinder wurden während und nach dem Lockdown im Jahr 2020 und 2021 geboren. 

Alles begann mit Lucky und inzwischen teilen weitere acht bezaubernde Charaktere ihre humorvollen und inspirierenden Lebensgeschichten, die wichtige Botschaften beinhalten. Integration, Akzeptanz und Toleranz sowie Anti-Diskriminierung, Anti-Rassismus, Anti-Mobbing, Freundschaft, Menschlichkeit, Empathie und Bildung sind die wichtigsten Themen in diesem unterhaltsamen Buch für Kinder ab acht Jahren und Erwachsene.

Lennon, Das Wunder der Musik is out now!

Right on time for Christmas 2021, my lovely Ambassador LENNON is now also available in German. 

Book Blurb: Lennon ist ein kleiner empathischer Hund, der in einem Waisenhaus in Bayern lebt. Seine Besitzerin Claudia ist eine liebenswerte Dame in ihren Fünfzigern und kümmert sich seit Jahren um Waisenkinder jeden Alters. Im Sommer 2015 ziehen ein paar Flüchtlingskinder, die im Krieg alles verloren haben, in das bereits überfüllte Haus ein, und das bringt Schwierigkeiten und Herausforderungen mit sich. Unterschiedliche Kulturen und Sprachen erschweren das Leben und die Kommunikation unter einem Dach. Claudias beste Freundin Christina hat aber für Weihnachten eine schöne Idee, die die Waisen- und Flüchtlingskinder vereinen und etwas Frieden und Harmonie ins Hause zurückbringen soll und dem kleinen Lennon ein unerwartetes und lebensveränderndes Wunder schenkt.

Meine Stimme für die Stimmlosen
Die Kraft der Musik vereint die Menschheit, während Politik und Religion uns trennen. Wenn die Menschen lernen würden, mehr auf das zu achten, was andere fühlen, als auf das, was sie sagen, wäre unsere Welt ein viel besserer und friedlicherer Ort. Mit ein wenig Liebe, Empathie, Verständnis und emotionaler Unterstützung können wir kleine und große Wunder bewirken!

Louise, Liebe auf den ersten Blick is out now!

Right on time for Christmas 2021, my lovely Ambassador Louise is now also available in German. 

Book Blurb: Der Duft von Schnee und Weihnachten liegt in der Luft, es ist die turbulenteste Zeit des Jahres für die exklusive bayerische Bäckerei und Konditorei im Herzen unseres Dorfes. Alle sind so aufgeregt wie die kleine Louise, die Bäckerei- und Konditoreihündin. Besucher aus aller Welt kommen vorbei, um die Schönheit des Schlosses Neuschwanstein im verschneiten Winter zu erleben, aber auch um die berühmten Bäckerinnen und Bestsellerautorinnen Louisa, Suri und Dunia persönlich zu treffen.

Bonus: Die kleine Louise verwöhnt dich mit zwei salzig und süßen Rezepten für dich und deine Liebsten. Genieße den Duft von italienischen und Weihnachtsmuffins. Frohe Weihnachten!

My Voice for the Voiceless: Flüchtlinge sind nicht deine Feinde! Veränderungen sind nicht immer einfach im Leben, aber sie geben dir die Chance für einen Neuanfang. Es kann überraschend belohnend und erfreulich sein, Menschen aus anderen Ländern und Kulturen in deinem gewohnten und vertrauten Umfeld miteinzubeziehen. Hab keine Angst vor dem Unbekannten! Eine kleine Prise Salz, Zucker und Gewürz in deinen Alltag einzubringen, ist geschmackvoller, als du dir vorstellen kannst. Die Freude darüber wird deine kühnsten Vorstellungen und Erwartungen übertreffen.

Lennon, The Miracle of Music is out now!

Just in time for Christmas 2021, my lovely Ambassador Lennon is available in English in all download stores. This heartwarming story will also be available in German in late November 2021! 

Lennon is a little empathetic dog living in an orphanage in Bavaria, Germany. His owner, Claudia, is a lovely lady in her fifties and has been taking good care of children of all ages for years. In summer 2015 a large number of refugee children, who have lost everything in war, join the already overcrowded house and this brings some difficulties and challenges! Different cultures and languages make living and communication under one roof much harder. Claudia’s best friend, Christina, has a brilliant idea for Christmas which unites the local and refugee children and brings back some peace and harmony and an unexpected and life-changing miracle for little Lennon.

My Voice for the Voiceless: The power of music unites humanity, while politics and religion divide us. Also, if humans would learn to pay more attention to what others feel than to what they say, our world would be a much better and more peaceful place. With a little bit of love, empathy, understanding, and emotional support, we can create miracles!

Louise, Love at First Bite is out now!

Right on time for Christmas 2021, my lovely Ambassador Louise is available in English in all download stores. This salty and sugar sweet story will also be available in German in November 2021! 

Book Blurb: The smell of snow and Christmas is in the air, and it is the busiest time of year for the exclusive Bavarian bakery and pastry shop in the heart of the village. Everyone is as excited as little Louise, the bakery and pastries dog. Visitors from all over the world come to experience the beauty of the Neuschwanstein Castle in snowy winter, but also to meet the famous bakers and bestselling book authors, Louisa, Suri, and Dunia.

Bonus: Little Louise is spoiling you and sharing two salty and sweety recipes, for you and your loved ones. Enjoy the smell of Italy and the smell of Christmas muffins. Happy Holidays!

My Voice for the Voiceless: Refugees are not your enemies! Change isn’t always easy, but it gives you the opportunity for new beginnings. Letting people from other countries and cultures into your known field can be surprisingly rewarding. Never be afraid of the unknown! Adding a little pinch of salt, sugar, and spice to your daily life is tastier than you might think. The joy goes beyond your wildest imagination and expectations.