Bonita Springs, FL – Almost every family has secrets; some families have bigger things to hide. That was the case for Deirdre Marie Capone. During her childhood, the topic no one wanted to discuss was her great-uncle, Al Capone, notorious for his crimes and dubbed “Public Enemy Number One.”
Al Capone’s brother, Ralph Capone, begged his granddaughter Deirdre Marie Capone not to publish the family secrets until she was the last living member of the family. She did as he asked, but in recent years she has become a leading authority on crime families and their dynamics.
“As a result of countless interviews I have become an expert in crime families and how they evolve,” Deirdre Marie Capone says. “Crime during the Capone era was limited to the men who ran the businesses. Family was off limits. But I can tell my father’s story now: he grew up during a remarkable era of our country’s history, and it cost him his life.”
Capone’s book, Uncle Al Capone, The Untold Story from Inside His Family (Recap Publishing) reveals for the first time many startling facts about one of the most famous gangsters of the twentieth century. She skillfully recreates the setting, the flamboyant, careless generation who made illegal drinking a glamorous pastime. “The book doesn’t even begin to cover all the stories I could tell,” she notes.
As a child, Deirdre Marie didn’t know he was a notorious gangster; he was just her Uncle Al. He taught her how to swim, ride a bike, and play the mandolin. But after he died on her seventh birthday she began paying the price of being a Capone. From age 7 to 13 her classmates were forbidden to play with her. When she was 10 her father committed suicide due to the burden of the Capone name. At age 18 she was fired from her first full-time job because of her name. As soon as she could, she left Chicago and her family name behind.
Capone captures the story that eluded dozens of writers: Al Capone as a loving, if flawed, family man. No other biographer has captured the truth about Al Capone: none of the others were family.
Available at bookstores, online or at www.unclealcapone.com . Uncle Al Capone: The Untold Story from Inside His Family (Recap Publishing) ISBN13: 978-0982845103 $17.99
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Trish Stevens
Jillian M. Sachtleben Ascot Media Group, Inc. Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmediagroup.com
Spring, TX – Sometimes you just have to take a stand. Our country first learned this through the American Revolution, and a stubborn insistence on liberty is the hallmark of patriots to the present day. Telling that story in all its many forms is bound to be exciting and inspirational. In Patriots of Treason ( AKA-Publishing), David Thomas Roberts bursts into the political thriller genre with style and passion.
A nation in crisis. A president of division. A deadlocked Congress. The United States is on the brink of civil war — again. Only a courageous federal whistleblower, an ordinary Texan and a governor who won’t tolerate the shredding of the Constitution can thwart an evil conspiracy by the federal government.
An incumbent minority president, losing at the polls in his re-election bid due to the economy, gas prices and scandals in his administration, pulls an “October Surprise” that swings the election. An assassination attempt creates the perfect scapegoat — the Tea Party — through a deceit so well disguised that it comes dangerously close to succeeding.
But, like patriots before them, some won’t stand for it. Some will become Patriots of Treason. Taut and suspenseful, readers will just have to hang on and ride to the end for a surprising conclusion.
Author Dave Roberts moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1967 when he was eight years old. His family made regular trips to the Alamo with friends, neighbors and visiting relatives; the story of the Alamo, the spirit of all its Texan heroes, and the fight for Texas independence left an indelible impression on him that has endured a lifetime.
As a “naturalized” Texan, Roberts has become a staunch defender and admirer of all things Texas, including her rich and unique history, politics, culture and people. The author is active in politics and the movement for modern-day Texas Independence, and has been a speaker at Tea Party events.
Roberts lives in Texas with his wife of 29 years. They have four children and one grandchild, all of whom have been blessed to have been born “Native Texans.”
Houston, TX – June 16th of this year, Nik Wallenda did something no one else ever did — he walked across Niagara Falls for the whole world to see. Wallenda did so in a place full of history, tourism and…ghosts! Some people scoff at tales of restless spirits. Then again, some people don’t know how to have a little fun. Join celebrated author Peter Andrew Sacco as he explores the shadowy regions of his home turf, the stunningly beautiful Niagara Falls area.
Niagara’s Most Haunted: Legends and Myths (Booklocker) visits the most haunted places, where people have witnessed ghost activity dating back hundreds of years up to the current day. In some spooky locales, paranormal investigators brought their equipment along to prove or disprove popular claims. The book includes many photos of the ghostly sites, including mysterious orbs caught on camera.
“When it comes to things that go bump in the night, Peter is always on target,” says Stan Mallow, acclaimed psychic and host of the TV show “Paranormal Niagara.” “As a result of his curious mind and investigative prowess he is truly the Sherlock Holmes of the paranormal world. His latest book is highly recommended.”
Each chapter covers a different type of landmark, which not only educates the readers on historical sites, but entertains with anecdotal ghost stories and paranormal investigations. The sites include bed and breakfasts, ships/boats, trains, tunnels, museums, mansions, highways, forts, cemeteries, waterfalls and many more.
Niagara’s Most Haunted: Legends and Myths is not just a book about ghosts and haunted places. It is also a book which uncovers and explores areas in the Niagara region which are considered some of the richest in North American history. As a matter of fact, one of the bloodiest battles in North American history (the War of 1812) between the British and USA was fought here. If ever ghosts have existed, they would be haunting this blood-soaked ground.
Peter is an international speaker, psychologist and professor. He has authored over 20 books, both fiction and non-fiction, and continues to write articles/blogs for magazine, news media and websites worldwide. He is also the TV show host of the new fun series “Niagara’s Most Haunted” and has a weekly radio show, “Mental Health Matters: What’s Worrying You?” He resides in the region known as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Niagara Falls.
Chicago, IL – The Stevenson family has a unique place in American political history. The first Adlai E. Stevenson, Vice President of the U.S., collected stories, jokes and aphorisms in a loose-leaf binder throughout his long career. They were jotted on napkins, cards — anything at hand. If it was worth keeping, it went in the binder which became known as “the black book.” His son, Lewis Stevenson, Illinois Secretary of State, contributed little, but his grandson Adlai II expanded the black book in his career as a lawyer, senior official in the Roosevelt and Truman administrations, Governor of Illinois, Presidential candidate and Ambassador to the UN.
Adlai E. Stevenson III inherited the black book, including contributions from friends and supporters around the world, and augmented it from his career as a Marine, lawyer, State Representative, State Treasurer, United States Senator, candidate for governor, international investment banker and ever the hereditary global sojourner and public policy activist. The black book was continuously organized and reorganized as a ready source of wit and wisdom for their speeches.
While a lack of civility is a symptom of today’s money-driven politics of ideology, tactics, religiosity and ignorance, the author believes Americans today yearn for the politics and culture which created America and made it great.
In Adlai Stevenson III’s The Black Book, he records American politics, culture and history as these men knew it. Since few, if any, American families have been as actively involved in public office and politics for as long as the Stevensons – beginning in the 1840’s with great-great-grandfather Jesse Fell who sponsored Abraham Lincoln for President — it is a unique history covering finance and economics, law and justice, the media, politics, religion, education, war, and so much more. In order to see the future you must see the past, from The Black Book.
Adlai E. Stevenson III has lectured widely, authored numerous articles and is the recipient of many honors, including Japan’s Order of the Sacred Treasure with Gold and Silver Star, and is an Honorary Professor of Renmin University in Beijing. He is Chairman of the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy which aims to bring practitioners from the world together to address systemic challenges to democratic systems and also Chairman of SC&M Investment Management Corp., an international financial intermediary. A graduate of Harvard College and Law School, he maintains an office in Chicago and a home with his wife, Nancy, on a farm near Galena, Illinois.
For more information on The Black Book or Senator Stevenson, please visit: www.adlai3.com .
Denver, CO – Finally, a book that breaks free of the stale old boundaries of print: The Bane of Yoto, by Joshua Viola, is a trans-media experience offering a multitude of ways to explore its rich storyline. From paperback or eBook to a free 3D interactive comic mobile app, this attention-grabbing novel was recently released by independent record label and music publisher FiXT – and promises to transport readers to a sinister world of cosmic drama and action they will never forget.
Formerly a professor of Game Art and Design, and now art director for Leviathan Games, Viola’s astounding perception is unmistakable in this perfect blend of science fiction and fantasy that comes together in a breakneck paced, action-packed plot where dynamic, fully-developed original characters battle for their very existence in a brutal world.
Drawing rave reviews for its originality and vision, The Bane of Yoto has won awards from both the 2012 New York Book Festival and the 2012 Hollywood Book Festival, and is the first installment in a trilogy of science-fantasy novels by Joshua Viola. DC and Marvel comic book artists Tyler Kirkham, Nick Runge, and Steve Scott are responsible for some of the stunning visuals.
Always looking to break new ground, FiXT recently entered the book publishing business with The Bane of Yoto. FiXT is owned by cyber-rocker Klayton of Celldweller, whose music is featured in such films as “Iron Man 2,” “Spiderman 2,” “Ghost Rider 2,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” and more. Staying with the book’s theme, Viola has merchandise available ranging from PlayStation 3 Dynamic Themes, Sculptures and T-shirts, to posters and more, all available through FiXT.
The Bane of Yoto By Joshua Viola Available at all online outlets, the author’s website, and www.fixtstore.com/baneofyoto . ISBN-13: 9780985559014 Publisher: FiXT
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Trish Stevens
Jillian M. Sachtleben Ascot Media Group, Inc. Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmediagroup.com
Death Valley,
CA – This month, extreme endurance athlete Marshall Ulrich and
firefighter Dave Heckman finished an unprecedented expedition, going on
foot around the perimeter of Death Valley National Park during the
hottest part of summer, completely unaided and unassisted. They began on
July 22 and concluded 16 days later on August 7.
While others
have trekked in this area, no one has attempted to circumnavigate the
park, and certainly not during the height of summer when the threat of
dehydration and heat stroke are dire. To grasp the gravity of this,
consider that on the same day Ulrich and Heckman finished their trek,
another accomplished ultrarunner died in Death Valley after just a few
hours under the blazing sun.
To survive the scorching 120°+
temperatures and be self-sufficient even as they moved through remote
areas, crossed six mountain ranges with a total of about 40,000 feet of
elevation gain, and covered approximately 425 miles, the men had buried
water, food, and supplies along their route two months earlier. Nearly
all of the 37 caches were intact; in one, the water had leaked out, and a
few were invaded by insects, but none of this created a shortage and
they had enough water and food to sustain them throughout the journey.
Still,
at 5’9″, 61-year-old Ulrich dropped 10 pounds, and Heckman, who is
5’11″ and age 38, dropped 25 pounds. They attribute the rapid weight loss to the exertion and adaptation required to complete 20 to 34 miles a day in an extreme environment.
They saw no other hikers along the way, just a couple of cars and one park ranger,
some hardy desert animals and plants, hundreds of defunct mining sites,
Charlie Manson’s old hiding place, an active gold mine, several ghost
towns, and jaw-dropping landscapes. More than anything else, they
encountered solitude.
Ulrich remarked, “It’s amazing how
self-sufficient you can become. When you strip away all the luxuries
we’re accustomed to in day-to-day living, you realize how little you
really need, how distracting a lot of that stuff is, and how it gets in
the way of a certain peacefulness you can find within yourself without
it.
“Probably the most beautiful thing we experienced was waking up at night and realizing that our only ceiling was the stars.”
This
groundbreaking circumnavigation of Death Valley National Park
constitutes a previously unimaginable feat, but it’s hardly Ulrich’s
first successful outing. He’s completed the Badwater Ultramarathon (also
run in Death Valley and known as “the toughest footrace in the world”)
more times than anyone else, won the race more times than anyone else,
set and holds records there, and was the first to run it four times in a
row as well as run it solo, completely unaided and self-supported. All
told, he’s competed in more than 100 races of more than 125 miles each
and a dozen multi-day adventure races. In his fifties, Ulrich summitted
the highest peaks on each continent, including Mount Everest, on first
attempts.
Without question, his toughest undertaking was at age
57, when he went 3,063 miles on foot from San Francisco to New York
City. He was attempting to break a world record established by a man
half his age, and he ultimately set two new records by completing the
third fastest trans-American crossing in history. He included all this
in his book, Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner’s Story of Love, Loss,
and a Record-Setting Run Across America.
When Ulrich first
heard Heckman’s plan to circumnavigate Death Valley National Park on
foot, he thought it was not only crazy but impossible. Now, Ulrich
happily admits he was only half right. Heckman insists this was one of
the best ideas he’s ever had, second only to getting married and having
kids. The two men shared highs and lows, and times when they questioned
whether they would survive, but they are grateful for the experience.
The
Death Valley expedition was professionally filmed, and Ulrich and
Heckman also shot 3-D footage. They hope it will be used to create a
documentary that highlights the history of the national park and raises
important questions about its future.
Los Angeles, CA — Legendary blues/rock musicians (present or former band members with Toto, Asia, Eric Clapton,
Guns N’ Roses, Dave Matthews Band, Carole King, Sergio Mendes, Lionel
Richie, and many others) are forming a new all-star band to promote
world peace through music. They will combine with
internationally-renowned music masters
from nine world cultures to launch a world tour, beginning with three
concerts in Southern California this month, in celebration of U.N.
International Peace Day.
The concerts to promote U.N. Peace Day
began three years ago through a joint venture between the United Nations
and Listen for Life, which was founded in 1998 as a global family of
music listeners, performers, and producers. The Listen for Life All-Star
Band is the latest effort to expand the reach of the “global peace
through music” mission, and follows prior Listen for Life concerts to
commemorate U.N. Peace Day in the U.S., Bosnia, Croatia, Kenya, and the
U.K.
“We are launching the all-star global concert tour in the
Los Angeles area because of its music industry roots, and the
springboard the area has offered to many legendary performers who
believe music can bridge global discord,” said Donna Stoering, Founder
of Listen for Life.
International recording artists from India,
China, Vietnam, Bulgaria, and the Mid-East are among those scheduled to
perform at the concerts in Southern California. They will represent nine
world cultures, and will play 17 different instruments unique to their
region. “The way these instruments come together in harmony is the way
we hope to unite musicians from around the globe in the spirit of world
peace,” said Stoering. “That message will permeate all of the concert
performances by the Listen for Life All-Star Band and ethnic music
masters, worldwide, in the coming months and beyond.”
The Listen for Life Musicfests in Southern California will
be on Sept. 21 in Mission Viejo, September 27 at the Ford Amphitheatre
in Hollywood, and September 29 at the famed Ramona Bowl amphitheatre in
Hemet. For further information on locations, venues and tickets, see www.listenforlife.org/peaceday.
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Trish Stevens
Jillian M. Sachtleben Ascot Media Group, Inc. Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmediagroup.com
