Monica Foster Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 281.324.2180 – Office 713.446.8815 – Cell 281.333.3507 – Main [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
By Incorporating Ancestors Into New Book, Author Creates A Lasting Legacy To Her Family
Austin, TX – Discovering unexpected passion springing from your own heritage is one of the most satisfying rewards of genealogical research. Braha: A Tale of Innocence and Intrigue, is the result of Julie Mangano’s foray into her own family tree, a gripping experience spanning continents and generations.
One reviewer writes: “…fascinating….Meticulously researched and beautifully written. I had trouble putting it down.” The book trailer, scheduled to be released shortly, will offer a glimpse into this deeply moving story.
Leena Weiss, a German peasant isolated in feudal Russia, makes a risky connection with an army officer that leads to life on the run, pursued by the secret police. A century later, her great-great-granddaughter Linden discovers an old journal that hurtles her into danger, when layers of clues and secrets surface to expose the connection.
Linden’s explorations of the past reveal that she and her family remain pawns in a deadly game that extends beyond borders and crisscrosses the globe. With rich detail and a feel for drama that rivals classic Russian storytelling, Braha: A Tale of Innocence and Intrigue is a thriller, historical novel and finely-drawn portrait of two women with unshakable and unforgettable personal strength.
Julie Mangano’s appreciation for family stories about her grandparents’ journey from Russia to America came to fruition as she envisioned the historical characters and events in this book, and childhood days at her grandparents’ ranch in Escondido, California inspired one setting in the story. Born and raised in Southern California, she now lives in Round Rock, Texas with her husband. She is working on the sequel to Braha.
For more information, please visit the website: http://juliemangano.com
Braha: Tale of Innocence and Intrigue Available at fine bookstores everywhere and on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Braha-Innocence-Intrigue-Julie-Mangano/dp/1494943379 $14.95 ISBN-13: 978-1494943370
Monica Foster Ascot Media Group Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 281.324.2180 – Office 713.446.8815 – Cell 281.333.3507 – Main [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
The Naked Truth: Hollywood’s Secrets Unveiled
Los Angeles, CA – Award winning costume designer Jean-Pierre Dorléac pulls back the fitting room curtains as well as the doors to the executive suites of Hollywood from 1973 to 1985, in an uproarious account, The Naked Truth, covering the end of classic glamour.
In the ‘70s the corporations started buying out the dying studios that couldn’t combat television’s sudden appeal. Soon the glitter faded from big-budget productions when the economy forced the new moguls to buy independents films for next to nothing.
This very funny and quite fortuitous success story spans 12 years of copious Hollywood productions. The splashy tales are filled with entertaining confrontations involving glamour, politics, graft, sex, scandal, and heretofore, untold tales of the glitter and tinsel capital’s assets being sold off by the new capitalist.
About the Author Hollywood costume designer, Jean-Pierre Dorléac, is no stranger to the film industry. Acclaimed for his award-winning costume designs, his creative talents can be seen in Somewhere in Time, The Blue Lagoon, Battlestar Gallactica, The Valley of the Dolls, Knightrider, Quantum Leap and Sci-Fi.
For more, please visit: https://www.jean-pierredorleac.com
The Naked Truth by Jean-Pierre Dorléac Publisher: Monad Books ISBN: 0974551111 Release date: May 3, 2015 Available nationwide at independent and major book stores, Amazon.com and www.jean-pierredorleac.om.
Tracy Pearson Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
Hump Pilot – Paying Homage to the Little Known Heroes of WWII
Vienna VA – The Hump, as the WWII airlift over the Himalayas was called, was a peril-fraught yet vital mission for which many pilots lost their lives. In Hump Pilot (The History Publishing Company), Nedda R. Thomas gives an authentic first-hand account of a brave man’s war story, and provides a piece of history not often portrayed in books.
“My father was a modest man and rarely spoke of his wartime service,” says the author. “When I persuaded him to share his experiences, I was able to see a different dimension of him, not as a father but as an American hero.”
Hump pilots suffered horrifying mortality rates, and though little remembered today, their sacrifices still speak volumes. Thomas adds, “Their mission over the tallest mountains on earth is largely forgotten even by military readers. Yet the Hump is the missing link to the entire pursuit of World War II in Asia. These pilots were critical to Nationalist China and to every Allied ground and flying unit there, and they put their lives on the line with every takeoff.”
In a well-researched, well-paced, compelling account, Ned Thomas’ character emerges – that of a true gentleman. As a young pilot he had dashing good looks, good humor, and a humbling quality. His story is one of courage and fortitude. Along with other men in the Hump, his mission saved lives and honored his country. Through his daughter’s writing, readers climb on-board a historical roller coaster, as a piece of nearly-lost history comes back to life.
About the author Nedda Thomas has published numerous articles about creative and significant figures. She also writes poetry, and has worked as a magazine editor. Growing up in a military/diplomatic family, she lived in the U.S., France, and the Far East. She holds a master’s degree in human development, and attended seminary. Family memories help nurture her passion for history; she speaks French and English, and lectures on several different topics.
For more information, please visit www.humppilot.com.
Hump Pilot: Defying Death Flying the Himalayas During World War II By Nedda R. Thomas The History Publishing Company ISBN 978-1940773094 Available in fine bookstores and online: http://ow.ly/KdNsA.
Paige Morrison Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
Growing Up Near The County Jail Makes For Some Unusual Friends In Your Inner Circle
Floral Park, NY – Reminiscing about the “good ‘ol days” can drum up some interesting memories of days gone by, a simpler time when the biggest concern children had was how many minutes they could play outside until Mom and Dad noticed the streetlights were on. After all, that was the universal signal that it was time to hightail it into the house. Author Robert McNally’s hilarious recollection of his childhood memories, in The Memoir of a Boy on His Dangerous Journey trilogy is reminiscent of Huck Finn. Similar to Huck Finn, McNally takes his readers along to experience extraordinary events, which ultimately form lasting bonds and memories.
The trilogy includes two volumes to-date: I Had Jelly on My Nose and A Hole in My Breeches (vol. 1), Sister Superior’s Thumb, the Pope’s Ring and the End of Childhood (vol. 2), and the final book in the trilogy is currently being penned.
I Had Jelly on My Nose and A Hole in My Breeches (vol. 1) highlights McNally’s childhood during WWII and the Great Depression when he grew up near a crematory and a jail. This wide-eyed, young boy’s inner circle included members of his family, inmates of the county jail, and his best friend Rosemary. In his surroundings were gypsies, beggars and hobos. In grade school, he frequently hopped rides on freight cars to explore lands unknown to him and to search for Nazi spies. He discovered a dead infant in the rubble of a fire he set twelve hours earlier.
The second volume of the trilogy, Sister Superior’s Thumb, the Pope’s Ring and the End of Childhood, continues on with McNally’s adventures as he enters adolescence. One day he picked himself up and walked out of school and did not return. Three months later he was registered in a different one. He found himself in trouble with the police, and convinced a couple of runaways to return home, and saved one runaway from being murdered by his runaway friend. He also reveled in his 15 minutes of fame when he captured the first black widow spider in the northeastern US.
“Times were much simpler then and the things we conjured up to entertain ourselves still make me smile,” says McNally. “My hope is that readers find themselves laughing out loud and recall their own childhood shenanigans.”
About the Author Robert McNally writes about his life’s adventures growing up in Ridgewood and Middle Village, NY, at the coaxing of friends and family. Insurance auditor, turned writer, McNally now resides in New York with his wife and has been happily married for more than 50 years.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/RidgewoodBoy/
Available on Amazon.com at http://ow.ly/IV3nx and http://ow.ly/IV3gF.
I Had Jelly on My Nose and A Hole in My Breeches (Vol. 1 – The Memoir of a Boy on His Dangerous Journey Trilogy) By Robert McNally ISBN-10: 1475102410
Sister Superior’s Thumb, the Pope’s Ring and the End of Childhood: (Vol. 2 – The Memoir of a Boy on His Dangerous Journey Trilogy) By Robert McNally ISBN-10: 1490344489
Joanna Morgan Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
When Life Gets Overwhelming, Sacred Space Heals The Heart
Georgetown, TX – Modern lives are filled with gadgets, apps and advice to help us save money, save time, save room. But what will save us all? John D. Duncan has the answer in his newest book, Sacred Space: The Art of Sacred Silence, Sacred Speech, and The Sacred Ear in the Echo of the Still Small Voice of God (Austin Brothers Publishing).
Sacred Space is for those who feel bottle-necked, overloaded, trapped…in other words, all of us. In the foreword, pastor and author Taylor Field says “…in its own quiet way, this is a dangerous book. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!” This gentle reminder is only partly in jest.
“We need to slow down and make room for sacred space to renew our vision for life and our enthusiasm for living for Christ,” Duncan says. “An injured soul can only find renewal when time given to the sacred opens minds and hearts to the joy of Christ. Be still, and know that He is God.”
If your soul has been damaged by an overpacked schedule and too many things that pushed aside time for the sacred, and an over-hyped consumer church that marginalized the sacred (Christ, the cross and the resurrection) you will find help on these pages.
John Duncan is a pastor, preacher, writer and an adjunct professor at Baylor University. He preaches God’s Word, emphasizing the biblical text and providing keen insight into living out one’s faith in the 21st century. After 20 years as senior pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury, TX, he served as senior pastor at First Baptist Church Georgetown from 2007-2013. He now serves as interim pastor at First Baptist Church San Marcos.
Dr. Duncan earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the United Kingdom Open University in Cambridge, England. His previous degrees include a D. Min. and an M. Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a B.A. from Howard Payne University.
For more information, visit: www.johndduncan.com.
Sacred Space: The Art of Sacred Silence, Sacred Speech, and The Sacred Ear in the Echo of the Still Small Voice of God Austin Brothers Publishing Available at the publisher’s website http://www.austinbrotherspublishing.com/~shop/christian-living/sacred-space/265608/?catId=15654 or online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble ISBN 9780990347743 $14.95
Joanne Morgan Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
Would You Climb Mount Everest To Help Prevent Human Trafficking? Newbie Mountain Climber, Sara Safari, Risks it!
Irvine, CA – Sara Safari is a young woman who is inspired by the plight of lower caste girls in Nepal and has decided to go beyond her limit and plans to climb the world’s highest mountain to raise funds and awareness.
Safari moved to the United States with her family when she was 20 years old and continued studying electrical engineering at UCLA, graduating summa cum laude in 2009. While teaching at California State University Fullerton, she met Dr. Jeffrey Kottler, founder of the Empower Nepali Girls Foundation.
He started the organization in 2001 to identify, mentor, support, and educate primarily lower caste girls in Nepal. Many of these girls would otherwise have been forced into early marriage or sex slavery. They provide scholarships for 290 girls, 30 of whom are now attending college and university, the first girls in their villages to ever do so. Many are pursuing careers in medicine, engineering, business and education. ENG is a 100% volunteer organization and has no paid staff.
One of Sara’s passions is mountain climbing, which began as a new hobby with no prior experience and eventually became more serious as she trained to climb different mountains all over the world. As Sara learned about ENG and its activities, she began to realize how the Nepali girls’ circumstances inspired her, and she decided to combine her passion with a great cause.
Eventually, her motivation led to a decision to climb the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest (29,000 ft.), to raise money and awareness regarding human trafficking. She has been training every day for the last two years and in April of 2015, she is going to Nepal to tackle Mt. Everest. Every step she takes will raise funds for Empower Nepali Girls. Currently Safari is a professor of Electrical Engineering at California State University in Fullerton and Southern California Institute of Technology.
Please meet Sara at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9cyPCB97LUKinSh2Fgpsg/feed
For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/climbingeverest2015 www.empowernepaligirls.org
Joanna Morgan Ascot Media Group Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
If I Was A Bird…What Kind Of Flock Would I Fly With? Lessons For Living Right
New York, NY – Teaching kids to accept others is a lesson no one can afford to ignore. If I Was A Bird…What Kind Of Flock Would I Fly With? (DoctorZed Publishing) by Peter Sacco offers a light touch on a serious topic.
Tragedies resulting from bullying seem to be multiplying, and intolerance of cultural and religious differences is all too common. Author, professor and therapist Peter Sacco asks teachers, parents and counselors, how will this negative phenomenon ever change?
Simple: Through kids!
In If I Was A Bird, Billy is taken on a journey, encountering many different birds, their habits, their lifestyles, and their own unique quirks. Eventually Billy himself is transformed into a canary and learns the skill of empathy. This experience helps Billy choose wise and sincere friends, while at the same time learning tolerance for those who are not like he is. In the end, Billy learns who you “flock” with says much about you.
Kids ages six to twelve are encouraged to think about and discuss building self-esteem, self-confidence, and develop strategies for saying “no” to bullying. If I Was A Bird will be printed in five different languages to benefit children’s programs at the Center For Abuse Awareness, an organization highlighting the true cost of neglect and abuse, and supporting abuse-related organizations in the U.S. and Canada, including children’s services, victims services, shelters and other agencies that deal with children, women and men whose lives have been affected by abuse.
Peter is the author of many popular international books and more than 700 magazine articles. He has received the Award of Excellence in Teaching and lectures at universities in both the U.S. and Canada. He currently hosts a weekly radio show, “Matters of the Mind” which features celebrities with whom he discusses mental health, relationship and addiction issues. He is also an award-winning executive producer and host of documentaries on relationships, psychological issues and children’s issues. To learn more about Peter or his work, please visit: http://www.petersacco.com.
www.bullyingisforthebirds.com
If I Was A Bird…What Kind Of Flock Would I Fly With? DoctorZed Publishing Available February 15 at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble online ISBN #978-0-9942084-8-4 Price $2.99
