Amazon.com on Saturday listed the newly released memori by Maria Pappas, “Maria the Pappas’ as the “#1 New Release” in sales and popularity in the category of “Public Affairs and Administration.”

Pappas addressed a packed crowd at the Printers Row Lit Fest (Book Fair) on Saturday and sold many books on site and through online purchases on Amazon.com, leading sales for more than 100 other books, including several that were released in prior weeks.

“This is phenomenal for a new release. People were very excited about purchasing the book today at the Printers Row Lit Festival, and they started buying the book online on Amazon.com beginning this weekend when the book began its distribution,” said Urban Strategies Group CEO Ray Hanania, an award-winning syndicated columnist.

“The memoir, Maria the Pappas, provides a fascinating story that many people in Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois that they have never heard before. Most only know Maria in her capacity as a former Cook County Commissioner and as the current Cook County Treasurer, someone who has championed taxpayer rights and initiated millions in refunds to property owners who have overpaid their taxes, something unheard of in Chicagoland government.”

Hanania, a former Chicago City Hall Reporter, said Maria is a charismatic independent public servant who has challenged the system, making her one of the top vote-getters in the region.

Mark Eleveld, the award-winning author and co-writer of the memoir, said Maria’s story is compelling and is drawing a lot of attention from the public because of the depth that it offers of her well-known personality.

“I couldn’t be happier that the readership for Maria’s story has launched. The trajectory for Maria the Pappas, like MARIA herself, is up, up, up. She was a best-seller before the first word was even written,” Eleveld said.

Pappas said she is working on more appearances to further promote the book sales and spread the word on her fascinating story.

“I am humbled by the great response we are getting. I want to thank the public for the interest in this story and I am glad that it inspires their interest,” Pappas said.

To order from Amazon.com CLICK THIS LINK.

Photo: Maria Pappas, Eckhartz Press co-owner Rick Kaempfer and co-writer Mark Eleveld following Maria’s presentation at the Printers Row LitFest on Saturday at a packed main stage.

Visit www.MariathePappas.com for more information.