Former Congressman Ric Keller Shares Actionable Steps for Turning Dreams Into Reality
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“Ric Keller hits just the right note in Chase the Bears. Not only is it engaging, inspiring, and funny, but it also offers readers a solid plan for achieving their dreams. I love this book!” — Jack Canfield, coauthor of the No. 1 New York Times bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series and The Success Principles
“Chasing the bears” is a metaphor for chasing dreams, and in his new book, Chase the Bears: Little Things to Achieve Big Dreams, former Congressman Ric Keller shares little things readers can do to succeed and be happy—no matter where they start in life.
“Chase the Bears is about becoming the best version of yourself by using your gifts and taking chances that are aligned with your purpose,” Keller said. With humility and humor, Keller guides readers to pursue their dreams and find happiness with tips and techniques to turn their aspirations and thoughts into reality.
The inspirational messages in Chase the Bears provide practical, actionable steps woven with fascinating anecdotes about others who have made their dreams come true by trusting their instincts, using their gifts, taking risks and never quitting.
The book is divided into two sections: Connecting Your Gifts to Your Goals and Connecting with People. In Part One, Keller starts with the importance of discovering your gifts, trusting your intuition and setting specific goals that are aligned with your purpose. Readers learn how to take actions to move toward their dreams by taking educated risks and making persistent efforts to achieve each baby-step goal.
Part Two of the book is focused on connecting with people and cultivating authentic long-term relationships. Keller shows readers how to network the right way. He also explains why leading with boldness, civility, humility and a little humor will make them leaders worth following.
About the Author Former Congressman Ric Keller served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He chaired the House Higher Education subcommittee and served on the Judiciary and Education committees. Today, he is an attorney, writer, humorist, motivational speaker and television commentator. His TEDx Talk, “The Power of Self-Deprecating Humor,” was the sixth most-watched TEDx Talk in the world in May 2022.
Keller received his bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University, where he graduated first in his class, and his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School. He lives in Winter Park, Florida, with his wife, Lori, and their blended family.
Visit his website at www.rickeller.net.
Chase the Bears: Little Things to Achieve Big Dreams Publisher: HCI Books Release Date: September 27, 2022 ISBN-10: 0757324487 ISBN-13: 9780757324482 Trade Paperback, 256 pages Available for pre-order
Trish Stevens Lindsey Mach Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com 281.333.3507 Phone.
Learn How to Form Authentic Human Connections Through Storytelling
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In an age when business can be conducted from a smart phone, family therapist Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse has a suggestion to help people cultivate authentic, human connections: storytelling.
“Screens and data have overtaken our society; we are overloaded, digitalized and distracted,” she wrote in the introduction to her latest book, Storytelling Legacy: Everyone Has Stories—What are Yours? “Storytelling can be used to connect, engage, inspire, heal and create a brighter future.”
Wegscheider-Cruse has brought hope and healing to millions of people through her work as a family therapist, co-founder of the National Association of Children of Alcoholics, acclaimed author and conference presenter. She invites readers to join her as she recounts her remarkable life in Storytelling Legacy, hoping that her narrative will encourage readers to share their own experiences through the power of storytelling.
“Communication is more than an exchange of information,” she said. “Words can inspire; words can teach important lessons. And woven together, words offer a legacy to those we love for generations to come.”
In the recounting of her legacy, Wegscheider-Cruse includes tales of celebrity, culture, humor, history, questions, relationships, surprises, spirituality, traditions and travels.
She then invites readers to go deep within, to realize the wonder of their own life experiences, and to craft their own legacy of stories.
“Everyone has a story,” she adds. “What is yours?”
About the Author Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse is a family therapist, businesswoman, and founder of Onsite Workshops. She is the author of 23 books, including 5 bestsellers, translated into 13 languages, most notably Another Chance: Hope and Health for the Alcoholic Family, Learning to Love Yourself, and Choicemaking. She has brought hope and healing to millions through her company, Onsite Workshops, TN, and fostered a movement that brought direction to millions of adult children of alcoholics. The co-founder of the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACOA), she has trained and lectured for the US Air Force, counseling agencies, spa wellness centers, and corporations. She has developed programs in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Sharon has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Phil Donahue Show, The Larry King Show, and The Today Show. Her love for her soulmate, Joe, is everlasting and her greatest accomplishment is her joy for her children, her grandchildren, and relationships with her friends.
For more information, visit https://sharonwegscheidercruse.com/.
Storytelling Legacy: Everyone Has Stories—What Are Yours? Publisher: HCI Books Release Date: July 26, 2022 ISBN-10: 0757324355 ISBN-13: 9780757324352 Trade Paperback, 272 pages Available from Amazon.com
Trish Stevens Lindsey Mach Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com 281.333.3507 Phone.
Promise of Big Payouts Lure Young Attorney Into Sordid World of Class-Action Lawsuits
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With tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars at stake in the world of class-action lawsuits, the attorneys will do almost anything to reap the rewards in Filthy Rich Lawyers, Book One: The Education of Ryan Coleman.
The satirical legal thriller from Brian Felgoise, who has been practicing class-action law for more than 25 years, and co-author David Tabatsky, is infused with scenarios loosely based on real-world interactions that Felgoise had with lawyers, judges and plaintiffs.
“I laughed out loud at the salty wise cracks on most every page,” said Matt Flynn, author of Milwaukee Jihad. “But underneath the lightning paced humor is a serious message about corruption in class action litigation. Filthy Rich Lawyers is a hilarious satire about a very real problem.”
The story begins in a Texas courtroom, where Ryan Coleman, a young, ambitious lawyer from Philadelphia, is chasing his share of a class-action lawsuit involving a multi-national defense contractor. After getting reprimanded by the judge for speaking out of turn, Coleman meets Robert Smalley, a brilliant attorney and borderline criminal who boasts that, “I have the greatest practice of law in the world because I have no clients.”
And with that, Coleman is drawn into a hedonistic world of wealth and power at the core of Filthy Rich Lawyers.
Included in the cast of colorful characters is Eugenia “Gene” Cauley, a female shark in the male-dominated legal world whose life spirals tragically out of control, and Randy Hollis, an insanely successful lawyer turned multi-billionaire, who is pursuing his ultimate American dream: buying a professional football team. Coleman becomes Hollis’ “errand boy,” but as Hollis is investigated by journalists, law associations and government agents, Coleman must decide if he wants to remain in this sordid circle.
Federal prosecutor Patrick Coyle wants to take Hollis down because of an old grudge. He aligns with Dick Dickey, former Secretary of Defense and CEO of a military contractor, to ruin Hollis and Coleman. When an escort mysteriously dies in Hollis’ penthouse, Coleman becomes an unwitting accomplice and must choose between protecting his boss and saving his marriage, or telling the truth and risk going to prison.
Filthy Rich Lawyers reveals the surprising ways in which our system of class-action law enables (mostly) men to get ridiculously wealthy and behave like sophomoric frat boys.
“How they use their money and power will shock, amuse and entertain readers,” Felgoise said. “As media billionaire Mortimer Zuckerman once said, referring to some lawyer’s self-indulgence and unbridled hubris, ‘Practicing law is the exact opposite of sex. Even when it’s good, it’s bad.’”
About the Authors Brian M. Felgoise, Esq., is a graduate of Temple University Law School and has been practicing class-action law for more than 25 years, including cases where billions of dollars have been recovered for class members who lost a significant amount of money.
David Tabatsky has authored, co-authored and edited many novels, including The Boy Behind the Door, Friends Like These, The Marijuana Project, The Battle of Zig Zag Pass and Drunk Log. His memoir, American Misfit, was published in 2017. Tabatsky was consulting editor for Marlo Thomas and her New York Times bestseller, The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2. To learn more, please visit: www.tabatsky.com.
Filthy Rich Lawyers, Book One: The Education of Ryan Coleman Publisher: Speaking Volumes Inc. Release Date: October 2022
Trish Stevens Catherine Kennedy Senior Publicist Ascot Media Group, Inc. 732.737.7334 Direct 281.333.3507 Office Toll Free: 800.854.1134 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
Dazzle Dad With a Heaping Helping of Deliciously Clever Food Puns
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“Saba creates and photographs food that is both whimsical and downright playful.” — Bon Appétit
This Father’s Day, give your favorite father figures the gift of food and laughter with Don’t Worry Be Ha-PEA: 101 Deliciously Clever Food Puns from cookbook author and social media sensation Marie Saba.
Don’t Worry, Be Ha-PEA is a perfect gift or coffee-table book for anyone who appreciates good food and clever wordplay. Saba’s compilation of family-friendly, quirky and creative food puns will have dads everywhere testing their knowledge of pop culture (think Celine Dijon and Robert Brownie, Jr.), tourist attractions (St. Peter’s Basilica), cartoon characters (Elmer Fudge) and much more. Saba’s tasty visual puzzles are as intriguing as they are appetizing and beautifully photographed.
Entertaining and light-hearted, Saba’s puns aim to inspire creative thinking, connection and laughter that will leave readers craving more.
“Don’t Worry, Be Ha-PEA reminds us all that we can find humor in the most unlikely of places — the back of the pantry or the bottom of the veggie drawer,” Saba said. “It’s just the book we need right now.”
About the Author Marie Saba is a former lawyer, cookbook author and freelance content creator. Her playful creations have been featured in numerous media, including Bon Appetit and Food & Wine, as well as on The Rachel Ray Show and Martha Stewart Show. Marie lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, John, and their two children, Jack and Elaine.
Marie was recently named by Country Living Magazine as one of the top 100 creative people in the country.
For more information, visit https://mariesaba.com/, or follow her on Instagram: @MarieSaba; TikTok: @MariesKitchenTikTok; and YouTube: Marie’s Kitchen.
Don’t Worry Be Ha-PEA: 101 Deliciously Clever Food Puns Publisher: Familius Publishing / Distributed by Hatchet ISBN-10: 1641704640 ISBN-13: 978-1641704649 Available from Amazon.com, Target.com, BN.com, Booksamillion.com and bookstores nationwide
Trish Stevens Carla McClure Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com 281.333.3507 Phone
Son Gets Second Chance to Know His Father in Compelling Family Story, Fool’s Errand
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If you could spend one day with anyone at all — past or present — who would it be? For those who’ve lost a parent, the answer is obvious. This popular, introspective ice-breaker was the inspiration for Fool’s Errand, a clever blend of humor, mystery and complex family dynamics from award-winning author Jeffrey Stephens.
In it, a straight-arrow son uncovers an enigmatic letter left behind by his father, who passed away six years ago. In life, his father, “Blackie” Rinaldi, was a charming rogue with ties to the mob, and the younger Rinaldi has been doing all he can to avoid the pitfalls of his father’s chosen path. The letter hints at a cache of stolen money, but at its core, it represents an opportunity worth more than any treasure: a second chance for Blackie’s son to journey through the past, reconcile it with the present and finally get to know who his father really was.
Blackie’s son embarks on an international quest, following a series of clues from his father’s letter. He travels from the mean streets of New York to the Las Vegas Strip, and ultimately to the South of France. Along the way, he is confronted by dangerous mobsters, dishonest relatives, suspicious friends, a mysterious woman, and the risks of a journey his father may or may not have planned for him.
With surprising twists and relatable characters, Fool’s Errand offers a masterful balance of humor and heart, adventure and romance. Ultimately, it’s an entertaining, fast-paced story of family ties and a parent’s never-ending influence that will keep readers guessing as each new secret is revealed.
Author Jeffrey S. Stephens lives in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is also the author of the Jordan Sandor espionage thrillers, beginning with Targets of Deception and, most recently, Rogue Mission. He is also the author of the recent thriller, Crimes and Passion, the first in a planned series featuring Lieutenant Robbie Whyte.
A Meaningful Message for Early Readers: Now What? Celebrates Gift of the Present
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From the creators of the critically-acclaimed It’s Just So… book series comes the gift of imagination with the playful new children’s book Now What?. Award-winning author Brenda Faatz and illustrator Peter Trimarco craft humor and mindfulness into a picture book that speaks to young and old alike.
Now What? celebrates friendship, whimsy and the power of good old-fashioned, screen-free fun through the adventures of precocious, redhead Lizzy, her amusing animal sidekick, and Luna, a new neighbor from the Caribbean, as they discover ways to entertain themselves through an otherwise very gray day!
The contagiously enthusiastic Lizzy and her story spring to life, with lyrical rhyme, colorful illustrations, and playful onomatopoeia. There are new friends, new discoveries, and the new realization that often, the best of times are “right now.”
Written with young children ages 4 to 8 in mind, Now What? has been praised by Kirkus Reviews as “A lively, innovative story of friendship that encourages readers to think creatively
With its subtle yet effective messaging, Now What? is an engaging picture walk for little ones, a fun read-aloud for older kiddos, and gives readers of all ages a little something to giggle and think about.
Brenda Faatz has an undeniable connection with children. Some say it’s because they instinctively know “one of their own.” A graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Musical Theatre, Brenda is a professional singer, dancer, actor, writer and director. Having established herself on stages from Minneapolis to Aspen, Boulder and Denver, Brenda has turned her talents to creating fresh content for youngsters. She has penned music, lyrics and scripts for original musical theatre works for children and is the founder and director of the Notable Kids Arts Center in Denver. While collaborating with her husband and illustrator Peter Trimarco, Brenda has authored the award-winning It’s Just So … children’s book series.
Peter Trimarco started his professional doodling career as an editorial cartoonist before turning to commercial art and designing packaging for both the film and music industries. Along the way, he also established himself on the business side of music as an executive producer and creative director on over 40 productions, with two going on to garner Grammy nominations. Currently focusing on children’s book publishing, he is on the Board of IBPA and is serving as President of the CIPA Education and Literacy Foundation in Colorado. In addition to designing album covers and book covers, he is the illustrator of Ella McBella In The Dark by Laura Pells, and the It’s Just So … book series.
Now What? Publisher: Notable Kids Publishing ISBN-10: 1733354824 ISBN-13: 978-1733354820 Available from Bookshop.org, BN.com, Indiebound.org, Amazon.com, and distributed through Independent Publishers Group.
Trish Stevens Kelly Newsome Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com 281.333.3507 Phone
Son Gets Second Chance to Know His Father in Compelling Family Story, Fool’s Errand
(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
If you could spend one day with anyone at all — past or present — who would it be? For those who’ve lost a parent, the answer is obvious. This popular, introspective ice-breaker was the inspiration for Fool’s Errand, a clever blend of humor, mystery and complex family dynamics from award-winning author Jeffrey Stephens.
In it, a straight-arrow son uncovers an enigmatic letter left behind by his father, who passed away six years ago. In life, his father, “Blackie” Rinaldi, was a charming rogue with ties to the mob, and the younger Rinaldi has been doing all he can to avoid the pitfalls of his father’s chosen path. The letter hints at a cache of stolen money, but at its core, it represents an opportunity worth more than any treasure: a second chance for Blackie’s son to journey through the past, reconcile it with the present and finally get to know who his father really was.
Blackie’s son embarks on an international quest, following a series of clues from his father’s letter. He travels from the mean streets of New York to the Las Vegas Strip, and ultimately to the South of France. Along the way, he is confronted by dangerous mobsters, dishonest relatives, suspicious friends, a mysterious woman, and the risks of a journey his father may or may not have planned for him.
With surprising twists and relatable characters, Fool’s Errand offers a masterful balance of humor and heart, adventure and romance. Ultimately, it’s an entertaining, fast-paced story of family ties and a parent’s never-ending influence that will keep readers guessing as each new secret is revealed.
Author Jeffrey S. Stephens lives in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is also the author of the Jordan Sandor espionage thrillers, beginning with Targets of Deception and, most recently, Rogue Mission. He is also the author of the recent thriller, Crimes and Passion, the first in a planned series featuring Lieutenant Robbie Whyte.
