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The Twisted Saga of Jack and Aria: First Date Leads to Second Chances

Jack Current had a plan. Just not a good one. And ending up in the river with the woman who may or may not be his soulmate certainly wasn’t part of it.

In First Date, the darkly humorous follow-up to Mark E. Scott’s debut novel, Drunk Log, readers witness the immediate aftermath of Jack’s failed attempt at ending his life and follow him as he spends the next 8 hours getting a free ambulance ride to the hospital, being watched by the deputy who tased him, avoiding a psyche exam and maybe falling in love with the bartender responsible for his second chance at life, love and redemption.

It all began on a dark and snowy night, when Jack executed his plan to take his own life without knowing Aria was right behind him. Instead of dying, they find themselves shivering on a riverbank, having survived a fall from a suspension bridge into the currents and debris of the Ohio River. Lucky enough to slam into an anchored barge, they emerge from the water stunned, bruised and still somewhat drunk. Now, they must work their way through the muck of the riverside to solid ground. Fully intent on ending it all just minutes before, Jack finds himself clinging to Aria for dear life — a life he feels just might be worth living after all.

First Date is a story of individuals haunted by suicide, remorse and unanswered questions: questions whose answers are not to be found in the bottom of a bottle. Secrets are revealed and souls are bared, but answers are still elusive. For now, they only have each other, a dollar store notebook and a teddy bear.

First Date is the second installment in Scott’s three-part, Day in the Life series, in which the unexpected, twisted saga of Jack and Aria unfolds over a combined period of 24 hours. Book One, Drunk Log, was released in 2022 and traces the first eight hours of Jack’s unsteady march toward his intended demise.

 

About the Author

Born in the small manufacturing town of Galion, Ohio, author Mark E. Scott lived in various burgs in Ohio and Michigan before joining the Navy and spending four years traveling the world aboard the USS Mount Whitney. Upon returning home to southwest Ohio, he enrolled at Miami University and completed a degree in Education, only to become a banker soon thereafter. Scott now lives happily in a condo in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. In his free time, he enjoys writing, finding new and creative ways of tricking his children into answering their phones, and anything related to travel and outdoors, of late including tumbling down snow covered mountains while dragging otherwise perfectly good skis behind him.

For more information, please visit www.markescottauthor.com, or connect with him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/markescottauthor) and Instagram (markescottauthor).

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/First-Date-Life-Mark-Scott/dp/164540840X/

 

First Date

Publisher: Speaking In Volumes, LLC

ISBN: 978-1645408406 (paperback)

ISBN: 978-1645408390 (e-book)

Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and Goodreads###

Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

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Life’s Balancing Act: How to Create Meaning in a Universe Dominated by Chaos

Sailing the Southeastern Caribbean for six years and living in countries where life is simpler allowed adventurer Scott Davis to understand and appreciate the true meaning of life.

“When we think about significance and meaning, it all comes down to this: entropy has an eraser, and it’s going to erase any evidence that you existed,” Davis said during a recent interview. “The trick to the meaning of life is making it really hard for entropy to erase you.”

In his enlightening new book, Surf the Seesaw: Unconventional Essays on Balance, Beauty, and Meaning in Life, Davis shares engaging stories from his existence off the beaten path. Each one reveals powerful truths about human nature, relationships, decision-making, parenting and the ever-pondered topic: the meaning of life.

“I would say that I wrote the book with my children and grandchildren in mind,” Davis said. “With the idea of sharing a few handfuls of key concepts that when properly understood can transform a human lifetime into something spectacular — something with so many positive consequences that the universe’s norm of entropy will have a hard time erasing the evidence of the person’s existence.”

When he was 30, Forbes called him one of the country’s most promising young corporate executives, but Davis stepped off the career treadmill to spend years exploring the world. His adventures led him to remote shores in the South Pacific, the Atlantic and the Caribbean, where he faced many challenges, met many interesting people and saw many different models of meaningful living.

Inspired by his life and adventures, Surf the Seesaw is a collection of 30 thoughtful essays contemplating key concepts that drive the world — the common theme being active balance — including:

– Human nature and, in particular, common misconceptions about how the brain works

– Relationships and how to cultivate healthy ones without losing oneself in the process

– Decision-making and a few bad assumptions at the root of many regrettable choices

– Positive parenting to raise amazing kids

– The meaning of life and, specifically, how to create meaning in a universe dominated by chaos

Each thought-provoking essay concludes with an invitation to put core concepts into action, so readers can work toward more effective behaviors. For anyone searching for lasting satisfaction and meaning in life, Surf the Seesaw offers the essential toolkit needed to create balance, accountability and greater happiness.

Tripti Kandari of Foreword Reviews had this to say: “Featuring inspiring personal stories, Surf the Seesaw is an informative self-help work filled with recommendations for attaining personal balance in the face of perennial challenges.”

 

About the Author

Scott Davis’ adult life has followed an explorer’s wandering path: corporate leader, tech entrepreneur, adventurer, inventor and essayist.

Profiled by Forbes at 30 as a rising star in corporate leadership, he ignored industry expectations and walked away from the executive suite to pursue a life off the beaten path, ultimately selling everything and heading off to sea in an old sailboat. Returning to the states at 50, Davis patented innovations in boatbuilding and founded a company to help sailors fulfill their dreams of building their own sailboats.

Today, Davis spends much of his time writing and speaking on how to create a meaningful life, guiding friends and family on adventures, teaching boatbuilding, and occasionally making something interesting in his workshop.

For more information, visit www.surf-the-seesaw.com, or follow the author on Twitter (@surf_the_seesaw), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SurfTheSeesaw/) or Instagram (@surf_the_seesaw).

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Surf-Seesaw-Unconventional-Balance-Meaning/dp/B0C12D3J76

 

Surf the Seesaw: Unconventional Essays on Balance, Beauty, and Meaning in Life

Publisher: Azure Innovation Services

ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8987500408 (paperback)

Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and thousands of other retailers

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Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

 

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World-Renowned Numerologist Describes How to Increase Harmony and Prosperity in Your Home

Numbers are alive, and each digit from 1 to 9 carries unique qualities that manifest in the form of physical energy, says world-renowned numerologist Jesse Kalsi.

“Many of us are attracted to certain numbers and don’t know why, or we think a specific number will bring us luck,” Kalsi writes in his new book, The Power of Home Numbers: Discover the Best Numbers to Increase Harmony and Prosperity in Your Home. “But if we don’t have adequate knowledge about the workings of numerology, we are more likely to pick numbers that not only don’t increase our luck, but can be downright disadvantageous to us.” 

In The Power of Home Numbers, Kalsi combines ancient elements of Vedic numerology along with his extensive knowledge of numbers and their corresponding planets to deliver valuable information to help readers choose the right numbers that will protect them and help them progress toward their goals. 

“This groundbreaking book offers an innovative approach to the specific energies of home numbers and is a powerful tool to escape stagnancy and break through blockages both big and small,” Kalsi said.

Through this book, readers will learn: 

  • The influences and qualities of each number from 1 through 9, as well as the amplifier 0; 
  • All about the original method of number patching, which Kalsi created, and which can drastically improve a home or business’ vibrations; 
  • The endless combinations of numbers on homes or businesses that are responsible for success or failure, happiness or desperation; 
  • The timing of numbers and how to work with — and not against — the cycles of life to make progress and eliminate confusion and frustration; 
  • The energies of famous addresses, politicians and celebrities; and
  • How the proper use of jewelry, crystals and tokens can elevate your energy and expand your sense of awareness. 

“Jesse Kalsi’s book exemplifies his skills as a numerologist and guides readers to manifest the future they deserve through their best numbers,” said Bollywood celebrity Zeenat Aman. “I intend to use all the knowledge Kalsi shares in The Power of Home Numbers to protect both my family and myself. It’s a compelling must read!”

 

About the Author

Jesse Kalsi is a world-renowned numerologist. He specializes in residential and business numerology and provides valuable insight on the power of numbers and how they affect our lives. In his books, The Power of Home Numbers and All About Numbers, he combines his Eastern upbringing with his Western experience to bring awareness and understanding of this phenomenon. 

Over the past 20 years, Kalsi has consulted thousands of people and affected their lives positively. His clients include prominent businesspeople and extremely successful communication and entertainment companies. He has appeared on many radio and television shows in the U.S., and his unique perspective on numerology has amazed his audiences. 

A successful real estate broker by trade, Kalsi is also a Certified Federal Aviation Administration Flight Instructor and holds a commercial pilot’s license. He received his bachelor’s degree in India and holds an LLM in International Legal Studies from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California. 

Kalsi graduated from the National Defense Academy of India and pursued advanced studies at the Indian Military Academy. He served as a Captain in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Gurkha Rifles, formerly called “The Queen’s Own.” Intending to devote his life to military affairs, he left the army when he was informed of his true life purpose while posted at the Jammu-Kashmir frontier. He originally came to the U.S. to learn to fly, but eventually returned here to make his home in California with his family. 

For more information, visit www.jessekalsi.com, or follow the author on Facebook (iamjessekalsi) and Instagram (iamjessekalsi). 

Amazon link: 

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Home-Numbers-Discover-Prosperity/dp/B0CCCSSJV1/

The Power of Home Numbers (4th edition): Discover the Best Numbers to Increase Harmony and Prosperity in Your Home 

Publisher: Jesse Kalsi LLC

Release Date: July 25, 2023

ISBN-13: 979-8988273844 (Paperback)

ISBN-13: 979-8988273851 (Kindle)

Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and www.jessekalsi.com

 

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Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

 

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Divorce With Less Drama: The Road to Splitsville Paves the Way for Gentler Journey

Divorce is never easy, but it can be less stressful with the legal insights and emotional support provided by attorney Jeffrey Stephens and psychologist Ronald Raymond in their new book, The Road to Splitsville: How to Navigate the Road to Divorce without Making Yourself Crazy, Your Children Miserable, or Your Lawyer Wealthy … and Then Discover Your Path to Happiness.

Their strategies stem from decades of expertise in their professions and offer folks a more amicable — and therefore less costly — approach to ending a marriage, with a path to post-divorce happiness as the ultimate outcome.  

“Our purpose is to demystify this journey, simplify the expedition, minimize the emotional turmoil and expense, and have you reach the other side of this path without the scars so many suffer unnecessarily on the road to a new life,” the authors write in the book’s first chapter.

Topics covered include:

  • Confronting and understanding the “why” of the divorce
  • Techniques for dealing with the inevitable emotional factors
  • Choosing the legal process best suited for your individual circumstances
  • Selecting an attorney, managing that relationship and limiting the costs
  • What to do if you need help from a therapist and how to choose one
  • Avoiding advice from well-meaning, but dangerous, friends
  • How to deal with adult children of divorce
  • How to deal with young and adolescent children of divorce
  • How to handle the loss of love
  • How to rebuild your life and find happiness

Useful and interactive — with brief questionnaires to help readers see things more objectively — The Road to Splitsville is intended to make the journey toward ending a marriage a little less rocky.

“This book is for people who have concluded that divorce is inevitable,” Jeffrey Stephens added. “We hope to minimize the emotional and economic damage and point them toward a path to happiness.”

 

About the Authors

A native of New York City, Jeffrey Stephens is a successful attorney in private practice, having handled many divorces and family law issues, both in New York and Connecticut. Stephens has lived for more than 30 years in Greenwich, which is where he and his wife, Nancy, raised their two sons, Graham and Trevor. Stephens is the author of the Jordan Sandor thrillers, Targets of Deception, Targets of Opportunity, Targets of Revenge and Rogue Mission, as well as the Anthony Walker murder mystery Crimes and Passion and the Pencraft First Place Award winning novel, Fool’s Errand. His newest novel is the just released thriller The Handler from Post Hill Press.

Dr. Ronald Raymond is a clinical and neuropsychologist who has been practicing for over 50 years. His background includes being a professor and adjunct professor at several universities. He served as the Director of Psychology at one of the nation’s most prestigious psychiatric hospitals, Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, and was the developer of Transition, Inc., where he had the opportunity to counsel, in group fashion, over 5,000 prospective corporate transferring families. In private practice, Dr. Raymond has counseled children and adults, including many going through the issues of divorce. He is also the coauthor of Ring of Destiny, Destiny Revealed and The Four Essential Ingredients for Effective Parenting.

For more information, please visit www.theroadtosplitsville.com.  

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Road-Splitsville-Navigate-Miserable-Happiness/dp/1637588097/

The Road to Splitsville

Publisher: Post Hill Press

ISBN-10: ‎1637588097

ISBN-13: ‎978-1637588093

Available from Amazon.com and BN.com

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Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

 

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One Quarter of Teen Girls Meet Criteria for In-Patient Admission; ‘We Don’t Have Enough Hospital Beds,’ Doctor Says

Cheryl L. Green, M.D., quotes jarring statistics when discussing the current mental health crisis among teens: 30% of America’s teenage girls have contemplated suicide in the past year; 24% had suicidal thoughts “with a plan,” which meets the criteria for in-patient admission, she explained.

“Professional help is in short supply right now because it’s such a crisis,” she said in a recent interview. “We don’t have enough hospital beds; we don’t have enough child and adolescent psychiatrists. So the question becomes, how can parents help right here, right now? And there are a lot of things parents can do.”

In her critically important new book, Heal Your Daughter: How Lifestyle Psychiatry Can Save Her from Depression, Cutting, and Suicidal Thoughts, Dr. Green empowers parents with lifestyle psychiatry strategies that can be used in conjunction with traditional therapies or as standalone support.

“Lifestyle Psychiatry can supplement in-patient psychiatric treatment as usual, after they are out, but can’t replace in-patient admission if your child is truly suicidal with a plan,” Dr. Green cautioned. “It goes a long way toward preventing that from ever happening, which is critical, considering our teens have been experiencing grave problems in their mental health for over a decade, and the recent pandemic greatly deepened what was already a crisis.”

In Heal Your Daughter, Dr. Green addresses the unique stress factors impacting teenage girls and gives parents or other caregivers six concrete ways to help their daughters develop health-promoting, depression-reversing habits.

She begins by explaining the new field of lifestyle psychiatry, and provides state of the art, evidence-based information and guidance related to six lifestyle domains: nutrition, detoxification, exercise, sleep, emotional connectedness, and stress reduction.

“The good news is that healing, even from the worst disasters of childhood and early adolescence, is possible,” Dr. Green said. “The early traumas that life inflicts need not be ‘managed’ with ever-escalating doses of psychiatric medications; I believe that they actually can be healed — completely or almost completely healed. There is every reason for hope.”

Dr. Green explains that the method outlined in her book doesn’t require a diagnosis. It is drug-free and affordable. And perhaps most importantly, it offers new hope to those who have given up on psychiatry and on the traditional mental health care system.

“Teen girls with depression are often overwhelmed, and are unable to help themselves,” Dr. Green added. “But you, the caregiver, can help them take tiny steps in the six domains described in the book. The more tiny steps taken, the closer teen girls can come to reclaiming the foundations of their physical and mental health.”

Ultimately, Heal Your Daughter and its companion book, The Heal Your Daughter Workbook, aim to make important new contributions to society’s collective understanding and support of today’s girls.

 

About the Author

Dr. Cheryl L. Green is a lifestyle psychiatrist based in Southern California. She works part time at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and part time in her own private practice based in the greater Los Angeles area. She holds degrees from Harvard University (A.B.), Princeton University (Ph.D.) and Stanford University School of Medicine (M.D.). She is board certified in Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Lifestyle Medicine. Her passion is inspiring others to achieve vibrant physical and mental health. She can be found online on her website, www.CherylLGreenMD.com.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Daughter-Psychiatry-Depression/dp/1667871242/

Heal Your Daughter: How Lifestyle Psychiatry Can Save Her from Depression, Cutting, and Suicidal Thoughts

Publisher: BookBaby Press

ISBN-10: ‎ 1667871242

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1667871240

Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and other retailers

The Heal Your Daughter Workbook: Six Weeks to Feeling Good with Lifestyle Psychiatry

Publisher: BookBaby Press

ISBN-10: ‎ 1667871269

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1667871264

Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and other retailers

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Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

 

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My Culinary Love Story: Delicious Recipes, Beautiful Illustrations and the Story of a Life Guided by Food, Fun, and Love

At her charming flat above a bistro in England, Pauline Parry was constantly enveloped in the comforting aromas of slow-roasted lamb and fresh-baked pie crusts, punctuated by the occasional whiff of freshly chopped garlic. It was the setting of Parry’s culinary apprenticeship, and where she discovered the secret recipe for a life filled with flavor and substance.

In her engaging new memoir, My Culinary Love Story, Parry invites readers inside her formative years in hospitality, the early days of her romance with her future husband and the life experiences that fed her entrepreneurial spirit. Along the way, she introduces readers to the people who nurtured her talents and helped shape the award-winning catering powerhouse she is today.

“In this book, I share my story with you. Food is an important part of it, as is love. Both are the foundation on which my marriage and my business are built and how we journeyed from England to America,” Parry writes. “It’s the reason I say that everything I do has been guided by food, fun, and love.”

It all begins when, as a newly single mother, Parry gets an unexpected invitation to work at a bistro in a quaint English market town. The job includes a flat above the bistro, so she would be able to work without being far from her children. After moving in, she finds she loves the excitement of the kitchen and of being on her own. But Parry is not alone for long.

She is soon joined on her journey by a handsome carpenter, and the result is a snowy, romantic Christmas wedding. Every juicy detail of Parry’s romantic relationship and every bite of the cuisine Parry learns to master are chronicled in a story that takes the reader from one English Christmas to the next.

Peppered with 64 delicious recipes, accompanied with beautiful watercolor illustrations by Janette Carpenter, My Culinary Love Story maps the author’s serendipitous encounters, the setbacks she faced with resilience and the many victories she met with gratitude.

In My Culinary Love Story, the lesson is clear: life is all about food, fun and love.

About the Author
Pauline Parry is the renowned and highly sought after founder and president of Good Gracious! Events, an award-winning food and beverage company, and the author of My Culinary Love Story, a memoir and collection of her favorite recipes that started her on her career path and journey.

Parry’s awards include Caterer of the Year, Best Event for a Corporation, Best Off Premise Caterer, The I-3 Award (Innovation, Inspiration and Instruction), ACE (Achievement in Catering Excellence) and the John Mossman Award for ICA, among others. She was an inductee into the Event Industry Hall of Fame and the Wedding Industry Hall of Fame.

Greatly respected by her peers, Parry serves as an expert consultant to her colleagues throughout the country.

She enjoys bringing friends and family around the table at her home, watching films, drinking a good red wine and munching popcorn. She is a lifelong Beatles fan. On the few occasions of downtime, she enjoys spending time with her husband and grandsons, and keeping on top of all her favorite magazines.

For more information, please visit https://paulineparry.net, or follow the author on Instagram (@paulineparry) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PaulineParryGG).

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-My-Culinary-Love-Story/dp/B0BSB3DXJM/

My Culinary Love Story
Publisher: Whitefox Publishing
ISBN-10: ‎1915036283
ISBN-13: ‎978-1915036285
Available from Amazon.com

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Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

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The Road to Unconditional Love Starts Here

The Road to Unconditional Love Starts Here

(This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety by any print or broadcast media outlet or used by any means of social media sharing.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In her thirties, Stacia Sims embarked on an intense journey toward self-discovery when her therapist posed a simple question: “What does love mean?” Unable to articulate an answer, Sims suddenly realized what had been blocking her path toward healing.

“That was my first realization that I had never been taught or shown unconditional love. Not by my parents and not by the world,” she wrote in the prologue to her new book, It Is All About Me!: Breaking Cycles and Loving Who I Am.

In this collection of true stories about her life, Sims unpacks the impact of an upbringing in a narcissistic family where love had to be earned, her true self had to be hidden and generational cycles needed to be broken.

Her journey led her to the realization that what happened in her past doesn’t define her present or her future, and it is her aim with this book to show readers that, with the right mindset and guidance, this can be their truth, too.

“Being true to yourself can sometimes make others uncomfortable,” Stacia said. “But another person’s discomfort should not become your burden to resolve. Stop carrying other people’s baggage.”

It Is All About Me! is loaded with insights on what real, authentic love means and how to embrace one’s true self.

“If you find your life revolving around others’ expectations or desires, it’s time to allow your journey to be about you for a change,” Sims added.

About the Author

Stacia Sims has a formal education with a BS in Computer Science, but she is using the practical education that was picked up along life’s path to start her second act. Through therapy and surrounding herself with authentic friends and mentors, she was able to shape her education beyond the narrow and limiting life skills that her parents had to offer.

Sims lives in Florida with her wife and sweet dog, Lilly. It is the view of the water and the incredible sunrises that inspire her to write and tap into her creativity. Her love of books and passion for helping others has inspired her to write her second book — an instructional book with details about managing personal finances.

Connect with Sims on Facebook at Stacia M Sims, or check out her blog at https://staciamsims.com/.

It Is All About Me!: Breaking Cycles and Loving Who I Am
Publisher: Inspired Forever Books
ISBN-10: ‎ 1948903636
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1948903639
Available from Amazon.com

Trish Stevens
Tonya Gibson
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 2394
Friendswood, TX 77549
[email protected]
www.ascotmedia.com
281.333.3507 Phone

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