Ascot Media Group Blog
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Archive for July, 2013

In Cooking Your Way To Gorgeous, Scott-Vincent Borba Brings A Whole New Dimension To ‘You Are What You Eat’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paula Abdul: “Scott-Vincent Borba’s philosophy about treating your inner-health as much as your outer-health is paramount to healthy living.”

Mila Kunis: “Scott-Vincent Borba is so inspirational. I am very impressed with him!” 

Nancy O’Dell: “I absolutely love Scott-Vincent Borba!”

Deerfield Beach, FL – You are what you eat.  It’s an expression everyone has heard in relation to one’s waistline, but it also holds true for the complexion. In Cooking Your Way to Gorgeous: Skin-Friendly Superfoods, Age-Reversing Recipes, and Fabulous Homemade Facials (HCI – July– $14.95), skin-care expert to the stars Scott-Vincent Borba shares his philosophy that outer beauty often begins on the inside: When you feed your skin what it needs on the inside, you banish problem areas and regenerate healthier, younger-looking skin. In the quest for a radiant, lit-from-within-glow, skin is often overwhelmed with endless creams and serums; however, what we put in our body is an integral part of skin health and maintenance. 

“What we ingest, what we use on our skin and what ingredients are in our products must work in synergy to have the optimum effects,” Scott-Vincent explains. “When you eat nourishing foods and then apply products with those same key nutrients, you’re boosting the ingredients’ power and therefore the results are seen twice as fast!”

A pioneer in the super food arena, Scott-Vincent recognizes the healing power of ingredients and their benefits, both internally and externally. From years battling cystic acne and helping Hollywood’s elite red-carpet ready, Borba reveals the most powerful anti-aging foods for glowing skin, serving up a wealth of delicious skin-friendly recipes plus make-it-yourself facials and scrubs from items you probably already have in your fridge or pantry. Whether your skin problem is wrinkles, pimples, brown spots, or blackheads, Scott-Vincent Borba reveals hundreds of simple and effective techniques plus natural home remedies that are just as effective as an overpriced cream or lotion. His natural-ingredients recipe for exfoliating is wonderful for stimulating cellular turnover and smoothing skin’s texture. To create a natural face scrub, he suggests heading to the fridge and picking up some greens:

“Take a handful of kale and mince it finely. Mix this in a bowl with mint extract and plain gelatin or pectin,” Scott-Vincent advises. “Kale will gently slough off the dull, dead skin, while the mint opens the pores and the pectin helps the mixture to adhere. Skin will be left smooth and radiant!” 

With Cooking Your Way to Gorgeous, you can become a “beauty foodie,” indulging in amazing cuisine that makes you look truly amazing. Who knew that turning heads could be as simple as turning on your oven, blender, or stove top? Almond-Oat Shortcakes with Strawberries anyone? How about some Vanilla-Pumpkin Pudding, Sinful Skin-ful Nachos, or a Berry Blast Pizza? Or how about using the food for

Skincare never tasted so good! Call or email me to discuss a review, a cooking demo, an excerpt, author interview or to just learn more about the book at: (800) 851-9100 ex. 212 or [email protected] .

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Trisha J. Stevens
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Office: (281) 333-3507
Direct: (832) 334-2733
[email protected]
www.ascotmediagroup.com

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X That Ex: Saying Goodbye and Staying Gone

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alameda, CA – “This time it’ll be different…I’ve changed…Let’s give it one more try.” Most women are suspicious when they hear these promises but they often still can’t get him out of their system. X That Ex: Making a Clean Break When It’s Over (Hunter House) by Kristin Carmichael, LISW, is the long-awaited answer for women who have left a bad relationship and don’t want to go back.

It is incredibly common for women to leave partners who are emotionally unavailable, immature, disrespectful, selfish or even abusive, but then struggle to stay away. Women might be tripped up by their Exes’ schemes to get them back, their own self-sabotaging ways or even by our society, which seems to glorify a “give him one more chance” philosophy. To the dismay of family and friends, huge numbers of women go back to toxic relationships, wasting years and the possibility of happier lives on men who can’t give them what they deserve.

If the post-breakup world for most people were logical, fair, regulated and well-defined, there would be no need for X That Ex. However, the time after a breakup is emotionally messy, sometimes chaotic and filled with conflicting feelings, motivations, hopes, temptations and realities that must be dealt with.

X That Ex focuses on this confusing time, demystifying why it is difficult to stay away from a problematic Ex, and making personalized predictions for readers about what to expect from their Exes and themselves right after a relationship ends. A chapter entitled The Ex’s Playbook details the numerous ways an Ex may try to manipulate a woman who has left. It also includes the common traps that women can set for themselves – calling him ‘just one more time,’ negative thinking such as ‘I’ll never find anyone else’ or ‘He wasn’t that bad’ – and how to avoid falling into them.

Recently named a 2013 Catholic Healthcare Association Leader of Tomorrow, a distinction given only to ten people annually, Kristin Carmichael is a domestic violence specialist who writes with the goal of empowering women and helping them maintain healthy relationships. Her book is a unique roadmap that guides readers through the always tumultuous, sometimes perilous time when a woman’s Ex might try time-tested tactics to tempt her back, when self-doubt may make a woman her own worst enemy, and when even our culture gets in on the action by making reunification seem reasonable. For more information, please visit xthatex.com/ .

Available at fine bookstores, online outlets, or at 1-800-266-5592
X That Ex: Making a Clean Break When It’s Over
By Kristin Carmichael, LISW
Hunter House
ISBN: 978-0-89793-8 / Paperback $15.95 … also available as an e-book

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Trisha J. Stevens
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Office: (281) 333-3507
Direct: (832) 334-2733
[email protected]
www.ascotmediagroup.com

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Unraveling Charlie: By Understanding His Abuser This Victim Got Back The Power To Control His Own Life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY – Donald McLean was twelve years old when his older sister’s favorite teacher Charlie Schoeler asked if he wanted to go to the beach. Within a month Mr. Schoeler began molesting him; it was an act that would be repeated many times in the next three and a half years.

Unraveling Charlie (CreateSpace) by Donald McLean is the powerful story of the damage a pedophile inflicts upon his victim and the struggle required to overcome that abuse. While the book originated as a way to help Donald heal by writing down his thoughts, feelings and emotions, it ended up being a remarkably moving account of the day-to-day trauma a victim suffers as they try to find a way back to some kind of normalcy. Unique in this genre because while most are full of anger or need for revenge, this book is filled with infinite understanding, insight and even humor; more a true coming of age tale that has allowed the abused to see the abuser through clear and sympathetic eyes. A compelling story that is sure to help anyone recovering from childhood sexual abuse, find hope for better tomorrows.
 
Unraveling Charlie is a well-written story of child abuse, survival, acceptance and understanding of his abuser’s mental illness, by a victim of a pedophile. McLean not only grew up strong and (astoundingly) normal, but he maintained a curiosity about his molester that enabled him not just to see him as the sick and destructive person he was, but to appreciate the disease that lay behind the horror; even to establish an adult relationship with Charlie, who had become by then the drunken, disturbed, powerless figure who had always lain behind the artificial mask of power.

McLean describes the initial years when he was subject to Charlie’s whims, through the time when the teen-aged boy began to grasp the insidiousness of what was happening. That understanding was what allowed him to escape; to become a well adjusted, full-grown man, one who has been happily married for 25 years.

While the effects of the years between twelve and fifteen had a great impact on Don’s life, it took him until his mid-20s before he started putting his life back together. He had been a drug dealer and had difficulty maintaining any kind of relationship, even becoming estranged from his large and close family for some time. Children who endure the kind of sickness that Charlie Schoeler forced on this young man are often warped for all time. But this is what makes Donald McLean and his life so exceptional; he was able to break from Charlie and assert a level of power and independence, and go on to lead an extremely satisfying life.

McLean is the co-founder of Ági Brooks, the Soho boutique started by his wife. His longtime interest in karate – he is a 4th degree black belt – has led to a separate career teaching at the Matsumoto Dojo in New York City. He and his wife Ági live in New York City but have a country house in Pennsylvania, their escape for inspiration; she paints and he writes. One of five children, Don is most appreciative of his wonderful parents, whose unfailing intelligence and love allowed him to survive molestation with rare normalcy. For more information on Don McLean or his riveting book, please visit: www.unravelingcharlie.com .

Unraveling Charlie
by Donald McLean
CreateSpace Publishing 
ISBN-10: 1483972860
ISBN-13: 978-1483972862

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Trisha J. Stevens
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Office: (281) 333-3507
Direct: (832) 334-2733
[email protected]
www.ascotmediagroup.com

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In My Corner On The Moon: Helping Children Heal From Traumatic Experiences

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlanta, GA – It has been 26 weeks since 26 innocent people died in the mass shooting in Newtown, CT, and the effects of this devastating trauma will be felt for many years by this community. Unfortunately there are few, if any, healing books available for middle school-aged children who have experienced some form of trauma. In My Corner On the Moon: A Story for Kids Who Experienced Trauma by Rachel Rashkin-Shoot, goes a long way to filling this void. Here is an excerpt from the foreword written by Daniel Mattila, M.Div., LCSW:  “…I write this foreword from the town where I have lived for 15 years – Newtown, Connecticut. My community is dealing with trauma and grief from the shooting that happened only months ago. This book is timely and will be useful for many parents, teachers, mental health professionals, and religious leaders.” 

There are millions of children in this country that experience some form of trauma each year.  Trauma is defined as any credible threat to someone’s sense of survival. It can be as varied as living through a tragic accident, to the loss of a parent or loved one, witnessing domestic violence, or becoming a victim of physical or sexual abuse – with consequences that can be catastrophic. These types of chronic trauma can significantly disrupt a child’s developing sense of self and impact virtually all areas of their functioning – with the result that many of these children continue to struggle well into adulthood.

Even when children are not directly affected they can experience secondary traumatization through natural disasters, school-related violence, or a host of other events. As a resident of Israel, the author has witnessed first-hand the devastating effects trauma has on children who must deal with the threat of terrorist attempts on a regular basis.

In My Corner On the Moon (PDAN Press) is a therapeutic book, gauged to fit the reading skills of 5th – 8th grade children, that can be used in a session with a therapist, or as a book read with a parent, friend, caretaker, or even alone.

Narrated by 12-year-old Abigail, the book is written in a straightforward but gentle style and has a strong psycho-educational component. The idea is to normalize the response that many children have to overwhelming events in their lives. Through Abigail’s story, trauma is put into simple terms that kids can understand and it’s done without delving into details of her own or any specific trauma, but focusing instead on responses to trauma and the healing process that follows. Interactive questions at the end of each page encourage discussion among children and the trusted adults in their lives.

Rachel Rashkin-Shoot was educated in the U.S. and earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral training in Chicago and New Orleans. Prior to her latest book, she has published two self-help books for children and teens, with a related article in the award-winning Chicago Parent magazine. Rachel currently lives in Israel with her husband and children, and maintains a private practice in Jerusalem.

The publisher, Personality Disorders Awareness Network (PDAN), is an organization dedicated to increasing public awareness about the impact of personality disorders on families, preparing families to be watchful for signs of trauma, and parent their children differently to prevent development of such disorders.

For more information on Dr. Shoot or PDAN, please visit: www.shootpsychology.com and www.PDAN.org .

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Trisha J. Stevens
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Office: (281) 333-3507
Direct: (832) 334-2733
[email protected]
www.ascotmediagroup.com

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Rules Don’t Apply When This Hero Is Pursuing Anyone Threatening His Country’s Freedom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greenwich, CT – At least once in your life, haven’t you desperately wanted to throw out all the rules, charge full steam ahead, and just get something done? Decisive action is a prominent characteristic of Jordan Sandor in Targets of Revenge (Gallery Books). A gripping follow-up to Jeffrey S. Stephens’ Targets of Opportunity, it chronicles a vengeful Jordan Sandor dangerously close to the edge as he tracks a cold-blooded homicidal mastermind.

Adina, a sociopath, has cut a bloody swath through the pages of these novels, indiscriminately slaughtering innocents, including Sandor’s close friend. Determined to catch him, Sandor turns a deaf ear to bureaucratic nit-picking; this is no time to play nice.

Journeying into the heart of the Venezuelan jungle, armed with little more than a combat knife and an automatic weapon, Sandor infiltrates Adina’s camp, where he discovers the latest murderous plan being hatched by the ruthless terrorist.

Sandor fights to prevent this disaster, chasing clues to far-flung countries, but his unorthodox methods land him on Interpol’s list of international fugitives. Meanwhile, someone Sandor trusts could very well be feeding the agent dangerous lies as he struggles to stay on Adina’s trail.  Even after being taken captive, Sandor refuses to surrender. Learning of a catastrophic assault planned for New York City, he has no choice but to risk his life to protect his country’s safety and freedom.

From beginning to end, Targets of Revenge races from one heart-stopping moment to the next, in the style of New York Times bestselling authors Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. Adrenaline-pumping action can become addictive, and Targets of Revenge makes it so. Please watch the exciting trailer at: youtu.be/w6N7qwTJ_xE .

Jeffrey S. Stephens is the author of the popular Jordan Sandor thrillers, Targets of Deception and Targets of Opportunity. A native New Yorker who began his career as a novelist while working in private practice as a lawyer, he lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, with his wife, Nancy. They have two sons.

Jeff welcomes visitors to his website at www.jeffreystephens.com .

Targets of Revenge
By Jeffrey S. Stephens
Gallery Books
ISBN 9781451688726
$26.00

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Trisha J. Stevens
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Office: (281) 333-3507
Direct: (832) 334-2733
[email protected]
www.ascotmediagroup.com

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Sibling Abuse Victim Speaks Out In Riveting Memoir: Nancy Kilgore’s is the lone (public) voice of sibling abuse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coralville, IA – Cited this morning on the NBC website (http://nbcnews.to/11FDNVe), as the result of a new study in the Journal Pediatrics linking peer abuse with abuse among siblings in the home, is sibling abuse victim, Nancy Kilgore – author of the book, Girl in the Water: A True Story of Sibling Abuse (HCI Books — $14.95). In this jaw-dropping memoir, she chronicles one girl’s triumph over extreme bullying and torture at the hands of her sister, shining a courageous light on the hidden epidemic of sibling abuse.

When Nancy Kilgore was nine years old, her eleven-year-old sister Sherry led her into the scorching midday sun, tied her to a chair, and taped her eyelids to her eyebrows with electrical tape, leaving Nancy helpless for hours to stare into a blinding blue sky. For years, Sherry physically tortured her younger sister and threatened to kill her if the cruelty was revealed. Each time Nancy walked into her own bedroom she would have to repeat self-deprecating passwords:  “I am ugly and stupid.” “I am ugly, stupid, and no one loves me.” “Please may I come in?”

Girl in the Water details the most shuttering examples of sibling abuse, the untold secret in millions of homes. Each year, 19 million children are abused by their siblings and well over 80 million adults have suffered this type of abuse. With vivid imagery and heartbreaking accounts, Kilgore leads readers on a journey into the prison she was born into, where she is confronted with her childhood dreams, family bonds, coming of age in the shadow of terror and the complex after-effects of bullying and sibling abuse that followed her into adulthood. Struggling to piece together her haunted past before it consumed her, Kilgore shares her inspiring metamorphosis and victorious battle from a fragile, shattered survivor to that of an eventual speaker and activist. Girl in the Water is the story of one woman, with a phoenix-like power, who came up against all odds and won. Her story will resonate with millions of adult sibling-abuse survivors who have never felt free to tell their stories . . . until now.

With a resources section and informational strategies for parents and adult survivors, Girl In The Water is a healing tool for laypeople and professionals.

Girl In The Water: A True Story of Sibling Abuse
HCI Books
 $14.95
ASIN: B00C0W1BF4

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Trisha J. Stevens
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Office: (281) 333-3507
Direct: (832) 334-2733
[email protected]
www.ascotmediagroup.com

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