Ascot Media Group Blog
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Cali Sky And The Muses Nine: A Memorable And Inspiring Coming-Of-Age Tale

Joanna Morgan
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 133032
The Woodlands, TX 77393
Office: (281) 333-3507    
[email protected]  
www.ascotmedia.com      

Cali Sky And The Muses Nine: A Memorable And Inspiring Coming-Of-Age Tale

North Palm Beach, FL – Imaginative and mythic, Cali Sky and the Muses Nine is a coming-of-age tale from Joe Ladbroke.

When nine-year-old Cali Sky Braithewaite discovers an acoustic guitar mysteriously left in her bedroom closet, the muses descend, possessing her for the next fifteen years, tantalizing her with visions of a musical ideal.

By 1980 disco was dead, punk had reared its pissed-off head, New Wave had washed ashore, and Cali Sky remained oblivious to it all, thanks to her protective parents. Until she meets Brodie, who knocks on her door one day with a self-assured smile and a Pee Chee folder adorned with the handwritten names of the latest countercultural bands. She teaches him how to play guitar, he introduces her to KROQ-FM and the musical underground spreading all around her parents’ southern California home.

Together they explore the possibilities of their instruments and the limits of friendship as they seek inspiration, rooted in Cali Sky’s beauty-pained visions as well as her discoveries of the unexpected intersections between rock and roll and her parents’ hidden past.

Within a framework of Greek and Roman mythology, Ladbroke spins a classic rock-and-roll fable. His elaborate writing style complements the tone, sometimes adopting the cynical voice of youth against older generations, other times assuming the voice of adulation, paying homage to music history. The result is an unforgettable story of talent, inspiration and heartbreak.

Joe Ladbroke is a literature professor and amateur musician who has lived in Las Vegas, London and Southern California. He currently resides on the east coast of Florida.

Cali Sky and the Muses Nine
Joe Ladbroke

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Addicted: Tanay Jackson’s New Pop Single Has Fans Raving

Mandy Marshall
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 133032
The Woodlands, TX 77393
Office 281.333.3507
[email protected]
www.ascotmedia.com

Addicted: Tanay Jackson’s New Pop Single Has Fans Raving

Los Angeles, CA – Music lovers, take note: Tanay Jackson is singing and dancing her way into the hearts of millions around the world with her new track, “Addicted.” The single is electrified with energy, and the club beats make it nearly impossible to stay off the dance floor. Tanay’s dance moves are fierce, and once she starts singing, it’s clear she is a “Jackson.”

Tanay knows no boundaries when it comes to success and she spends countless hours in pursuit of her music career. She literally does it all and attacks every opportunity with an entrepreneurial spirit. Whether she is singing, dancing, directing, designing her own clothes for a performance, or managing her two entertainment companies – Tanay’s personal drive for excellence makes this artist one to watch. She doesn’t subscribe to the word “can’t” and in fact, made history by being the only Jackson (besides her Uncle Michael) asked to perform in Romania, which she did so last year.

“I love what I’m doing,” says Tanay. “Music has always kept me grounded. It’s the creative process, the collaboration, the possibilities … and the fans that keep me motivated to do more.”

Tanay Jackson is the niece of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. She knew at an early age that her heart would follow the music industry. First recognized for her natural singing ability in grade school, she went on to write her first song (produced in Japan) by the age of 12. Tanay graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and is CEO and president of Roth Entertainment and Lunar Music. Tanay recently finished a European tour and will be launching her new “Mama Chola” clothing line soon.

For more information, please visit: www.tanayjackson.net

Addicted
Artist: Tanay Jackson
Album: Addicted (Rollin’ Poppin’) featuring Jonathan Timber
Label: Roth Entertainment / Othaz Records
Genre: Pop
Producer: Ryan Lawford
Single available at ITunes, Amazon and Spotify.

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The Naked Truth: Hollywood’s Secrets Unveiled

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.

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Music And Coexistence: Using Music To Bridge The Gap Between Nations In A Troubled World

Houston, TX – The power of music is legendary. Not too long ago, one musician decided to ask the question – and then set out to find the answer by traveling the globe: can music help bridge gaps between people? The answer proved a resounding “yes,” and for proof author Osseily Hanna offers his fascinating book, Music and Coexistence: A Journey across the World in Search of Musicians Making a Difference (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing).

What at first seemed a simple question soon proved not so simple. “Musicians from across the world helped me get closer to answering this question,” says Osseily Hanna, the author. “I wanted to find musicians who break boundaries and traditional modes of thinking to create a ray of hope.”

He found them building bridges through music in a world where animosities are all too visible. “On everyone’s mind presently are conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and between Russia and Ukraine, but we know these will keep shifting. This past summer it was Gaza; before then it was Darfur. What I’m tapping is something bigger, looking at the ways music breaks down the walls nations and sometimes even communities work so hard to erect.”

Music and Coexistence explores the courageous work of musicians who compose and perform with their ostensible enemies or in extraordinary social situations. Hanna documents the political and economic constraints faced by musicians, from the wall that encloses a refugee camp in Jerusalem, to the tensions among KFOR and Carabinieri peacekeepers who keep Serbs and Kosovar Albanians apart, to the cultural and linguistic suppression that afflicts minority communities in Turkey.

Hanna talks to the individuals and groups at the forefront of the effort to bridge ethnic, cultural, and religious divisions. Featuring musicians from thirteen different countries and territories across five continents, Hanna’s story includes a remarkable cadre of performers. These include the musicians who comprise Heartbeat, a group of Israeli and Palestinian youth, who compose, record, and perform music together; the Albino musicians of Tanzania, who regularly combat persecution by local shamans; the multiracial and thriving samba musicians in Sao Paolo, and a former child soldier from Cambodia who seeks to revive traditional music following the genocide in the 1970s.

With photos taken by the author during his travels, this work is a remarkable intersection of world music and peace studies. It will open the eyes and the hearts of every musician and music lover who recognizes music as a universal language. The companion film was recently screened at the Amnesty International Film Festival in Vancouver.

Osseily Hanna was born in London, where he began violin lessons at the age of eight and played with the North London Symphony Orchestra in 2005. He gave up a successful career in global financial markets in 2011 to develop Music and Coexistence as a film and book project. Fluent in English and Spanish, he has also studied Arabic, French, Italian, and Turkish.

For more information, please visit: www.musicandcoexistence.com

Music and Coexistence: A Journey across the World in Search of Musicians Making a Difference
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing
Available December 16, 2014, online from Barnes & Noble and Amazon and other fine booksellers
978-1-4422-3753-7 (Hardback)
$40.00
978-1-4422-3754-4 (eBook)
$39.99

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Bestseller Ellis the Elephant Delights Kids and Adults in Callista Gingrich’s From Sea To Shining Sea

Callista Gingrich announces the release of From Sea to Shining Sea (Regnery Kids), the fourth volume in her New York Times bestselling Ellis the Elephant series.

A patriotic American history introduction for young children, From Sea to Shining Sea follows an adorable elephant named Ellis in exploring the early years of the United States and the epic journey west into uncharted territory with Lewis and Clark. Charming rhymes and beautiful illustrations make the 50th reading as fun as the first, for children as well as adults!

In earlier books, Sweet Land of Liberty, Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride, and Yankee Doodle Dandy, Ellis, the time-traveling pachyderm, learns about pivotal moments that shaped America. Authored by Callista Gingrich and illustrated by Susan Arciero, From Sea to Shining Sea will delight those who want to know how brave Americans forged a growing nation and spread freedom from coast to coast.

Callista Gingrich is the president of Gingrich Productions. She and her husband, Newt─ a former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives─host and produce historical and public policy documentaries. Recent films include A City Upon A Hill, America at Risk, and Nine Days that Changed the World.

Mrs. Gingrich is also the co-author of Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny. Her photography is featured in the New York Times bestseller Rediscovering God in America. An avid musician, she sings in the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. and plays French horn with the City of Fairfax Band in Fairfax, Virginia. She resides in McLean, Virginia with her husband, Newt Gingrich.

For more, please visit the website: www.EllisTheElephant.com

From Sea to Shining Sea
Regnery Kids
Available October 13, 2014 at independent and major book stores across the country including Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million and Amazon.com
$14.99
ISBN-13: 978-1621572534

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Michael Taube, Washington Times: “Callista Gingrich has created one of the most impressive children’s book series in recent years. Her love for her country can be seen in every footstep Ellis takes in these three memorable volumes. As this small elephant discovers U.S. history, young children will never forget his great adventures.”

Kevin K: “Callista has found a great avenue to teach children about America. These books tell the unique history of our country and bring to life personalities and events in a way that is extremely appealing. This series is a gift to our children.”

John Longshore: “Delightful.…clear and easy to read and teaches history in a way a young child can understand and enjoy…educational at both the child and adult level. It is always good to be reminded of the facts of our nation’s history…”

Katie K.: “I love that Callista Gingrich has taken the time to write American history for children. I read these books to my nieces and nephews when we are together and they love to hear the story….it gives us a way to open up the conversation about the greatness of our America, and why we are here….a great gift to the younger generation…and you will ENJOY the time reading this book to them.”

BOOK TOUR:

Wednesday, October 22, 2014
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE TUCSON/EASTSIDE
5130 E. BROADWAY
TUCSON, AZ 85711
520-512-1166

Wednesday, October 22, 2014
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE PIMA & SHEA
SCOTTSDALE FIESTA SHOPPING CENTER
10500 N. 90th STREET
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85258
480-391-0048

Friday, October 24, 2014
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
DOYLESTOWN BOOKSHOP
16 S. MAIN STREET
DOYLESTOWN, PA 18901
215-230-7610

Saturday, October 25, 2014
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE
1971 UNIVERSITY BLVD.
LYNCHBURG, VA 24502
434-582-2316

Monday, October 27, 2014
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE CREEKWALK VILLAGE
801 WEST 15th STREET
SUITE E
PLANO, TX 75075
972-422-3372

Tuesday, October 28, 2014
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
BLUE WILLOW BOOKSHOP
14532 MEMORIAL DRIVE
HOUSTON, TX 77079

Wednesday, October 29, 2014
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE OAK PARK MALL
11323 W. 95TH STREET
OVERLAND PARK, KS 66214
913-492-8187

Wednesday, October 29, 2014
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE
3055 SOUTH GLENSTONE
SPRINGFIELD, MO 65804
417-885-0026

Monday, November 3, 2014
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
THE VENETIAN
WATERFALL ATRIUM & GARDENS OF THE PALAZZO
3355 LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH
LAS VEGAS, NV 89109
702-414-1000

Wednesday, November 5, 2014
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE BETHESDA
4801 BETHESDA AVENUE
BETHESDA, MD 20814
301-986-1761

Friday, November 7, 2014
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE PALM BEACH GARDENS
11380 LEGACY AVENUE
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33410
561-625-3932

Saturday, November 8, 2014
4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE FT. LAUDERDALE
2051 N. FEDERAL HWY.
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33305
954-561-3732

Monday, November 10, 2014
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
GREETINGS & READINGS
118-AA SHAWAN ROAD
HUNT VALLEY, MD 21030
410-771-3022

Tuesday, November 11, 2014
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE FAIR LAKES PROMENADE
12193 FAIR LAKES PROMENADE DRIVE
FAIRFAX, VA 22033
703-278-0300

Friday, November 14, 2014
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
ANDERSON’S BOOKSHOP
123 W. JEFFERSON AVENUE
NAPERVILLE, IL 60540
630-355-2665

Saturday, November 15, 2014
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE VALLEY VIEW MALL
3800 STATE ROAD
LACROSSE, WI 54601
608-785-1330

Saturday, November 22, 2014
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
BOOKENDS
211 EAST RIDGEWOOD AVENUE
RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
201-445-0726

Saturday, November 29, 2014
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
BARNES AND NOBLE WATERSIDE SHOPS
5377 TAMIAMI TRAIL N.
NAPLES, FL 34108
239-598-5200

Saturday, December 6, 2014
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY BOOKSTORE
345 DUKE OF GLOUSTER STREET
WILLIAMSBURG, VA 23185
757-221-1651

Saturday, December 13, 2014
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
SUGAR HOUSE DAY SPA AND SALON
111 N. ALFRED STREET
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
703-549-9940

Saturday, December 13, 2014
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
THE SHOPS AT MT. VERNON
3200 MOUNT VERNON MEMORIAL HWY.
MT. VERNON, VA 22309

CONTACT:

Publicist – Monica Foster
Ascot Media Group
Post Office Box 133032
The Woodlands, TX 77393
Direct: (281) 324.2180
Office: (281) 333.3507
[email protected]
www.ascotmedia.com

 

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“My Corner Of Heaven:” Fans And Critics Say Sarah Kelly Soars

Sarah Kelly, two-time Grammy nominee, continues to win accolades on the release of “My Corner of Heaven” (September, 2014).

Her most recent album is the most powerful combination yet of her faith and talent. Produced by Jonas Ekman and Jeremy Hunter, it blends classic rock sounds, contemporary pop notions and worshipful moments. The album takes the listener on a ride with throwback sounds, unbridled passion, deep worship and overall, true singer-songwriter material.

The title track, “My Corner of Heaven,’” paints a picture of the hereafter as it would be in a rock musician’s dreams: having a classic rock band play worship from the heart. “It’s not theologically correct and it’s not supposed to be,” says Kelly with a smile.

“It’s a little laugh for those who love rock ’n’ roll and God. To us, a guitar solo is worship when you’re doing it for the glory of God.” A line from the title track captures the essence: ““We’ll sing a Hendrix Hallelujah, with David’s heart, but Joplin’s tone….”

Kelly first turned heads with her raspy vocals and intense passion in both her rock and worship music. Beginning with the Grammy-nominated “Take Me Away,” she continues to produce a string of buzz-worthy albums that have sold over 250.000 units worldwide.

Kelly is also deeply committed to her work teaching songwriting and helping a new generation of artists discover and grow their talents. With 250 students and an internship program at the Sarah Kelly Music School, Kelly divides most of her time between touring, her home church and her students.

Capitol Christian Music Group CEO Bill Hearn will visit the Sarah Kelly Music School November 3rd, an opportunity for promising young musicians ages 7-25 to showcase their musical and songwriting talents. The Sarah Kelly Music School offers a creative approach to music education, at the Woodlands and through a series of online classes. They teach songwriting, guitar, vocals and piano, and students record demos every six weeks as part of their instruction.

Learn more about Sarah Kelly at her website: www.sarahkelly.com 

“My Corner of Heaven”
Released September 2014
Christian Rock
$9.99
available on all major digital outlets including iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-corner-of-heaven/id911621976

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TIP SHEET

Bert Gangl: “…the new record, more than anything else, points to a star whose talent remains undimmed with the passing of time and whose best and most memorable work almost certainly lies ahead of her.

“‘Unescapable’ helps cement the long-standing comparisons to Alanis Morissette, while the equally rocking follow-on cut, ‘Legends (The Real You),’ would almost surely have given mid-’80s Heart power ballads like “What About Love” and “Alone” a run for their money… At the softer end of the spectrum, entries like ‘You Know Me’ highlight Kelly’s undeniable proficiency with purely pop material. And the Janis Joplin-esque vocals on the absolutely consummate piano-driven ‘Just As You Please’ add just the right amount of roughness to the piece’s otherwise hushed, reverent tones – the likes of which should be required listening for any artist seeking to craft a worship-oriented release.”

Praise for Sarah Kelly’s earlier work:

Bert Gangl: “…Her propensity for melodic, bracing rock with just the right amount of pop sheen immediately caught on with critics and the public at large, pulling down a Grammy nomination in the Rock Gospel category in the process…”

J. Lee Harshbarger: “…truly amazing….her voice immediately reminded me of Janis Joplin, and…Joan Osborne. Another reviewer offered a comparison in vocal quality to Alanis Morissette, and I can see that too. …the music on this album is not typically the kind of music I listen to, but Sarah Kelly’s singing and her songs are just so astounding that it goes beyond the normal boundaries of musical style in its appeal.”

Amy on Amazon.com: “Sarah Kelly has an amazing voice and her heart for God is apparent. Full of heartfelt worship songs….awesome lyrics.”

Jonathan Widran: “…her Christian fans might balk at her hiring of Mike Clink (Mötley Crüe, Guns N’ Roses, Megadeth), but he brings out the emotionally honest rocker in her brilliantly – creating shimmering electric guitar beds for lyrics that tap into rich spiritual themes without being preachy or specifically of one religious mindset.

“[her music is]…a mix of searing ballads and tough rockers…her vocals moving effortlessly from the soaring Ann and Nancy Wilson realm to more subtle emotional moments that show off her immense range. Irresistible….godly and inspirational and perfectly Christian, yet touches on a secular level as well….taps deeper into the listener with each brilliant listen.”

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Counting Down Bob Dylan: His 100 Finest Songs

Latest Testimonial For Ascot Media Group

“I wrote a book called Counting Down Bob Dylan: His 100 Finest Songs. I was very proud of it and thought, with a successful blog, a platform as the writer for a national magazine, and some persistence, I’d be able to market it well on my own. Yet even though the people who got their hands on the book really enjoyed it, I just couldn’t seem to get any traction on a national or local level in terms of directing people toward the book.
 
In preparation for release of the second book in the series, Counting Down Bruce Springsteen: His 100 Finest Songs, I contacted Ascot Media Group. First of all, having checked out a few other book publicists, they were by far the most affordable. But they also delivered incredible results. Within weeks I did seven interviews, fielded inquiries for about 40 review copies from all over the country, and am scheduled, once the book comes out, to do more interviews, including several opportunities with Sirius/XM and possible coverage in The New York Times.
 
That’s all thanks to Ascot Media Group, who put together an outstanding press release, got that press release in just the right hands, and guided me every step of the way through the process. I even used the press release they sent me, targeted some local media myself, and got several more bites that way.
 
I cannot recommend Trish Stevens and her outstanding staff enough. I even received a free e-mail blast for referring another author to Ascot. And, without hesitation, I will definitely be employing them for future releases. If you need top-notch publicity for your project and don’t want to clobber your bank account to do it, there is really only once choice: Ascot.”
 
Jim Beviglia
Blog: countdownkid.wordpress.com
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