FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety)
I would like to forward a copy of Dr. Paul Boor’s latest book, The Ice Merchant, in consideration of an interview or review from you. A scientist and professor at the nation’s highest-level, infectious Bio-Lab in Galveston, TX, Dr. Boor’s vast background adds even more realism to an already riveting plot. Just in time for everyone’s gift-giving list as the holidays approach…
Readers are chilled to the core as they journey back in time to 1889 Galveston, where a profitable ice merchant discovers he’s been duped ― unknowingly smuggling murdered young boys in between the ice, for experiments at the medical school. With masterful storytelling, the author blends thrills, romance and human weakness into a mix that makes one heck of a tale – impossible to put down!
Dr. Paul Boor makes a dynamic guest. Please read the following press release and let me know if I may schedule an interview with him, or forward a review copy of the book. If you’d like to run this story, I’d be happy to send you .jpgs of the author and the book cover. Thank you!
Trish Stevens
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 2394
Friendswood, TX 77549
(281) 333-3507 Phone
(832) 569-5539 Fax [email protected]
www.ascotmedia.com
Fear, Love, And Secrets Abound In Scientist’s Riveting New Book, The Ice Merchant
Galveston, TX ― Serious readers perfectly understand the advantage of well-written fiction: it’s an escape from whatever ails you, whenever it’s convenient. The Ice Merchant, Paul Boor’s newest novel, set in Galveston, TX in 1889, is a tale of the post-civil war ice trade, new medical schools, trafficking in corpses, the discovery of a cure for yellow fever, and a chilling reminder of our human frailties.
The story begins in 1889, when a shrewd Yankee ice merchant, Nicolas Van Horne, is carving out a profitable side-business. Deep in his ship’s icy hold, dozens of human cadavers lie between the huge blocks of ice. On this delivery, his first to Galveston’s new Medical School, Nicolas is enthralled by Galveston’s lady scientist Rene Keiller, but he also makes the ghastly discovery that he’s been trafficking in murdered boys.
It will take Rene’s help to eventually solve the puzzle his ice holds . . . but first he must overcome his personal demons, including morphine addiction, even as he becomes inextricably entangled in lovely Rene’s experimental work on the most dreaded killer of their time, yellow fever.
Paul Boor, M.D., is a scientist and professor at Galveston’s medical school, the oldest west of the Mississippi, and home to the highest-level, infectious Bio-Lab. His first novel, The Blood Notes of Peter Mallow, was a modern biomedical thriller acclaimed as “real, raw and on the edge.” In The Ice Merchant, Dr. Boor goes back in time to explore the history of medical research and the body trade, while spinning a tale of romance and human imperfection.
For more information, please visit: www.theicemerchant.com
The Ice Merchant
Publisher: Argo-Navis
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786754931
ISBN-13: 978-0786754939
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety)
Can a man write a chick-lit novel that will keep women turning the pages? Reviews for the just-released romance comedy, Dog Training the American Male, have women howling for several reasons – first, it’s hilarious, second because it is touching – but the biggest reason is because they assumed author L.A. Knight is a woman.
Wrong.
Somehow this married man, father, and grandfather (and best-selling author of 16 thrillers under his real name) has penned a romance novel that women love. Maybe it’s because he figured out (after a major fight with his wife) that men and dogs are both simple creatures that need to be trained… and the book tells the ladies how to do it.
L.A. Knight will have your audience in stitches over his rollicking “tail” of a relationship counselor’s attempt to domesticate men through dog training techniques. Please read the following press release and watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNKbGI0Lsa0&feature=youtu.be, and let me know if I may schedule an interview with L.A. Knight or forward a review copy of the book. Thank you.
Trish Stevens
Ascot Media Group
Post Office Box 2394
Friendswood, TX 77549
281.333.3507 office
832.569.5539 fax [email protected]
www.ascotmedia.com
Can A Man Write A Chick-Lit Novel?
New release has the ladies howling for more
Boca Raton, FL – Twenty-five years of marriage and the experiences of working with both male and female dog trainers provided the inspiration for L.A. Knight’s laugh-out-loud new chick-lit romp, Dog Training the American Male, the story of a female relationship counselor who can’t seem to make her own relationships work… until she discovers that the techniques used to train her boyfriend’s dog can also be used to train her boyfriend.
At the heart of the romance is the inability of men and women to communicate. We may speak the same language but our brains are wired completely different. Conversely, the author is convinced that men and dogs are far more alike than men and women and that men, like dogs, can be trained in order to bridge the communication gap and improve a couple’s relationship.
How does this new chick-lit writer know how the male mind works? Maybe it’s because L.A. Knight is a man.
That revelation has shocked many female readers… and reviewers. KIRKUS REVIEWS stated, “…the central characters transcend their stock roles and grow into legitimately compelling subjects. Incident by unlikely incident, we are pulled deeper into their lives until it is their fates (not merely their quips) that keep us turning the pages. Knight is a naturally comic writer; what is more, she is a talented storyteller.”
She?
Says the author, “I came up with the concept for the story after a bad argument with my wife. I couldn’t understand how my simple, innocent statement had become so misunderstood; it’s like I was speaking another language. Then, in the middle of our argument, the wife says something to the dog… and the dog obeys her command… zero communication problem. Later (while sleeping in the guest room), I thought about that. How is it that a dog understands a woman but as a man I’m completely befuddled? Then I realized the dog understood because it was trained how to please in order to earn its treat. Since men are also simple creatures that just want to be rubbed and left alone, I realized we’d be far happier if our women trained us.”
Knight is not surprised that women assumed ‘he’ was a ‘she.’ “In writing the voices of the characters, I injected 25 years of marriage, including all of my dumb-animal, ego-driven responses to my wife’s button-pushing attempts to get me to realize that she doesn’t want me to resolve the situation, she just wants me to shut-up and listen – even though I have no clue what she’s talking about… just like a dog.”
For information, please visit the website at: http://laknightentertainment.com and see the book trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkXbmoIgDE.
Available in bookstores and all online outlets
Dog Training the American Male
A&M Publishers
September 2016
Paperback
ISBN-10: 1943957002
ISBN-13: 978-1943957002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety)
Huge change is on the way. No matter who wins the national election in November, we are all going to experience great change over the next two years. How many times has change disrupted your life, left you feeling off-kilter, caused you to miss opportunities or react without thinking? I’d like to send you a complimentary copy of an exciting new book, Conquer Change and Win, for consideration of a review, feature or interview.
Best-selling author Ralph Masengill is an engaging and inspirational guest; please read the press release below and send me your postal address so I can send you a copy of his book, or contact me if you’d like to schedule an interview. In the event you might want to run this story, let us know and we’ll be happy to send you a jpg of the author and book cover for your use.
Thank you!
Trish Stevens Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 (281) 333-3507 Phone (832) 569-5539 Fax [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
How To Thrive In Troubled Times: Conquer Change And Win
Morristown, TN – Learn what 90% of Americans have no clue about. Be the last person standing in the room by knowing how change affects our emotions and feelings. Conquer Change and Win will show you how to control your reaction to those emotions and feelings that all change always causes. The result will be a happier and more fulfilled life. This information will give you a leg up on making more money and having less stress in your life.
Every one of us is constantly affected by change. Change never stops, and no matter if it’s positive change or not, our first reaction is usually fear. The truly successful people of the world have a good understanding of change and how to make it work to their advantage. In his latest book, Conquer Change and Win, best-selling author Ralph Masengill gives readers an easy-to-read, fun book about the serious subject of change.
In forty-plus years as a consultant, coach, advisor and public relations strategist, Masengill has observed that successful people share two characteristics. First, they are willing to take a calculated risk and endorse positive change on a regular basis. Secondly, they have learned how change affects their emotions and how to overcome the fear of change.
“I believe the happiest and most successful people do not necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have,” Masengill says. He urges readers to choose change. “It is the path to true happiness and business success. Understanding how change works can alter your life for the better and give you a solid advantage.”
An advisor, coach, marketing expert, business consultant and public relations strategist, Masengill understands how companies work from within. He has the wisdom of one who has made the journey of sustained success himself, leavened by an ethics-based philosophy of helping others and the community around him. Masengill’s life story is one of personal challenge, tragedy, and triumph. His professional career has been defined by great success in both the private and public sectors. His agency, Masengill Marketing Associates, has won over 850 national and regional advertising and marketing awards.
One of the original change agents in the United States, Masengill and his team have been observing change and showing business leaders that embracing and understanding positive change is the sure route to effective quality improvement and substantial profit enhancement for decades. This extensive experience formed the basis for Conquer Change and Win, his second book.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Masengill’s postgraduate work includes the Dr. W. Edwards Deming course on quality and quality management. He and his wife Dianne live near the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. They have four grown children, two dogs and a cat. Masengill enjoys woodworking, oil painting, sailing and helping with his favorite charities in his spare time.
For more information, please visit http://conquerchangeandwin.com
Conquer Change and Win By Ralph Masengill Available at fine bookstores everywhere, at the author’s website, Amazon.com and Kindle. ISBN: 978-1515191872
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (This press release may be reprinted in part or in its entirety)
Just days before the election, a pocket-size coloring book is being released by AARP and Florida-based HCI Books called Inkspirations Create While You Wait. The timing for this little book couldn’t be better—providing a way to de-stress when tensions run high. Enter the new series of coloring books from AARP and HCI, offering an easy and inexpensive way to de-stress and bring about mindfulness. AARP is embracing the benefits of the coloring book craze with its first internationally distributed series of coloring books.
Please read the press release below and send me your postal address if you’d like copies of Inkspirations Create While You Wait for an audience giveaway or a review, feature or interview. Thank you.
Kim Weiss Director of Communications HCI Books, The Life Issues Publisher 3201 SW 15 Street Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 (800) 851-9100 ext. 9212 [email protected] www.hcibooks.com/trade
Coloring Books For Adults Offer Creative Stress Relief: AARP And HCI Introduce New Book In The Inkspirations Series
Deerfield Beach, FL – From HCI, the original publishers of Chicken Soup for the Soul, now comes a line of coloring books ready to encourage, inspire, and help worries fade. With the newest, Inkspirations Create While You Wait, HCI and AARP are working together to help grown-ups destress with coloring.
With moving quotes alongside unique and graceful images, Inkspirations coloring books include a wide array of themes to help express creativity and enjoy therapy through coloring. To start overcoming heartache, releasing tensions, and building positive energy, readers can visit the new Inkspirations website, www.Inkspirations.com.
The website is a reader’s portal to a more colorful world, giving a peek at the wide spread of unique pages Inkspirations has to offer, and some highly anticipated releases.
On coloring lists now:
• Inkspirations Create While You Wait (November 2016) New from HCI and AARP! Create beautiful art wherever you are with •this portable coloring book. Next time you’re waiting—at the doctor’s office, in the airport, or on the bus—stop stressing and start creating! In today’s busy world, finding peace can be a challenge. Now, with this unique, compact coloring book, you can use those idle moments to foster your creativity and enjoy a sense of calm. Perfectly sized to fit into a purse, pack, or pocket, Create While You Wait will help you color your day brighter wherever you go. A special binding lets you lay the book flat, and the unique horizontal layout is perfect whether you’re left- or right-handed. So grab your colored pencils, crayons, markers or pen—and find your inner Zen. (More at www.aarp.org/coloringbooks)
Also from HCI:
• Inkspirations Christmas Joy (October 2016)
Christmas is a time of magic, and now you can color your season even brighter with more than thirty original, festive designs, plus 12 pages of DIY projects including color-your-own gift tags, postcards, wine tags and more! From highly detailed to fun and free-flowing, each design will deck your heart and home with the holiday spirit. Designs include: trees to make your own; winter wonderlands, polar bears and penguins; charming gingerbread houses, wreaths, and stockings; whimsical scenes of snowmen and ugly holiday sweaters; a Santa sighting or two, plus heartwarming expressions of holiday cheer written in exquisite typography.
• Inkspirations for Dog Lovers (October 2016)
Dogs are our loyal, playful, energetic, goofy, and brave companions who color our lives with so much joy―now you can bring them to life on every page with this captivating compendium that celebrates the glory of canines throughout the seasons. From Boxers, Bulldogs, and Beagles, to Pomeranians, Poodles, and Pugs, to Shepherds, Shih Tzus, and Siberian Huskies, this eclectic mix of original artwork showcases the many ways in which dogs warm our hearts no matter the season. Whether it’s a spirited puppy romping through the first spring tulips, two Golden Retrievers sprinting against fiery autumn leaves, or a curious Lab leaving fresh paw prints in the winter snow, our furry friends color our world brighter every day. Inkspirations for Dog Lovers is a fitting tribute to the canine kingdom.
• Inkspirations Fruit of the Spirit (August 2016)
In a world that’s not always black and white, it’s often challenging to put the fruit of the Spirit into practice, but this captivating coloring book offers an enjoyable way to quiet the chatter, tap into your creativity, and spend some reflective time with God. Stunning original art is paired with powerful Scriptures that eloquently embody the fruit of the Spirit, inviting you to immerse yourself in the meaning of the messages and cultivate them in everyday life. This is a perfect way to relax and unwind as you create beautiful works of art while rejoicing in the blessings of the Holy Spirit. Celebrate your faith in full color!
• Inkspirations Greeting and Post Cards (July 2016)
DIY the way you say hi! From birthdays to congratulations, from thinking of you to thank you, these personalized greeting and post cards are coloring fun turned functional. Each of the Inkspirations Color Me Greeting Cards features a colorful design on the outside which is reproduced inside in black-and-white as a “color me” template, ready for a personal touch. Themes including Love, Thank You, Thinking of You, Friendship, Congratulations, and more ensure a personalized card for every occasion. For post cards, extra-thick card stock is sturdy enough to mail on its own or tuck it inside a standard envelope. Just decorate and deliver! Share then color, or color then share! Let your friends and loved ones enjoy the unique benefits of coloring their own card, or color it yourself as a personal gift—you choose! Also see www.Inkspirations.com for: • Inkspirations in the Garden (June 2016) • Inkspirations Animal Kingdom (June 2016) • Inkspirations for a Happy Heart (June 2016) • Inkspirations for Cat Lovers (July 2016) • Inkspirations for Women (March 2016) • Inkspirations for Recovery (February 2016)
For more information, please contact Kim Weiss at (800) 85109100 ex 9212, or [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety)
Most women would describe the perfect male as domesticated and well trained, but author L.A. Knight knows that most men are happiest relaxing on the couch, scratching their privates, and watching sports! I’d like to send you a copy of Dog Training the American Male ― his hilarious new book described as Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In meets a funny Fifty Shades of Grey ― in consideration of an interview or review. Says Knight: “Men are dogs… and we like it that way. I say ‘bring it on’ but just go easy on the electric shock collar!”
This best-selling author makes a dynamic guest who will have your audience in stitches over his rollicking “tail” of a relationship counselor’s attempt to domesticate men through dog training techniques. Please read the following press release and watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNKbGI0Lsa0&feature=youtu.be, and let me know if I may schedule an interview with L.A. Knight or forward a review copy of the book. Thank you.
Trish Stevens Ascot Media Group Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 281.333.3507 office 832.569.5539 fax [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
Dog Training The American Male: Take The Test To See Who Is A Member In Good Standing Of The Canine Club
Boca Raton, FL – L.A. Knight’s own marriage and the experiences of two different dog trainers he hired to train his German Shepherd, provided the unique inspiration for his laugh-out-loud book, Dog Training the American Male. Realizing his wife often treats him like a dumb animal (deservedly so, he admits, since most men are simple creatures who essentially want sex, food and to watch football), he jokes: “Give us what we want and domestication is possible. After all, who among us hasn’t performed for a treat, peed on a tree, dry-humped a woman’s leg, howled at the moon, or stuck his nose in a groin or two.”
At the heart of this hilarious tale is Dr. Nancy Beach, a relationship counselor who hosts a local radio show in South Florida called Love’s a Beach. Sadly, since this relationship guru can’t seem to make her own relationships work, her credibility and ratings are in the toilet. She is set up on a blind date with Jacob, a casualty of Lehman Brothers, who lost his job and swagger and now yearns to be a stand-up comedienne/ventriloquist. Since he’s already a walking thesaurus of phobias and now he’s dating a psych major― these two are either the perfect match or the relationship is a ticking time bomb.
Their siblings, for different reasons, don’t care ― they just want to be rid of them! Jacob’s brother (gynecologist Vinnie) and Nancy’s lesbian sister (Lana) encourage the young couple to move in together. When the honeymoon stage abruptly ends, Lana convinces Jacob to buy her sister a little white foo-foo dog ― a pet she enjoyed as an insecure child. Being a “typical man” Jacob doesn’t listen and instead goes to the dog pound, returning home with Sam – a 120-pound German Shepherd.
Needless to say, chaos ensues and Nancy flips out. But after hiring a dog trainer she has an epiphany … what if the dog trainer’s techniques can be used to housebreak Jacob? What follows is a wildly hilarious, social experiment that every couple and dog owner can identify with.
Kirkus Reviews states “Dog Training the American Male is funny in the best way: the humor propels the action rather than pausing it . . . prose flows like a jocular babbling brook. L.A. Knight is a naturally-gifted comic writer; what is more, she is a talented storyteller.” What is also funny is that like many readers, Kirkus assumed L.A. Knight is a woman. In fact, the author is NY Times best-selling author Steve Alten whose riveting hit series MEG was recently optioned by Warner Brothers for a movie to be directed by Jon Turtletaub and starring Jason Statham.
For information, please visit the website at: http://laknightentertainment.com and see the book trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkXbmoIgDE.
Available in bookstores and all online outlets Dog Training the American Male A&M Publishers September 2016 Paperback ISBN-10: 1943957002 ISBN-13: 978-1943957002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety)
It’s safe to say the nation is at a tipping point. What might that look like? Please allow me to send you a review copy of William Forstchen’s The Final Day, the highly anticipated third book in the riveting John Matherson series.
New York Times best-selling author Forstchen has a deep understanding of the connections between technology, politics, national security and the world today, and always leaves his readers on the edge of their seats.
Please take a look at the press release below and send me your mailing address if you’d like a copy for review or feature consideration, or contact me if you’re interested in scheduling an interview. If you’d like to run this story, I’d be happy to send you .jpgs of the author and the book cover. Thank you!
Trish Stevens Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 281.333.3507 – Main 281.324.2180 – Office www.ascotmedia.com
The Final Day Is Coming: National Security, Technology And Politics Fuse Into A Chilling Glimpse Of The Future
“Like its two predecessors in the Matherson series, this new novel entertainingly blends folksy and sophisticated, small-town nostalgia and sharp futurism…a thoughtfully rendered, richly detailed investigation into the ‘What if.'”—Kirkus Reviews, on The Final Day
Black Mountain, NC – Fans of John Matherson and his fierce brand of patriotism eagerly await a major release from Forge Books and New York Times bestselling author William R. Forstchen. The Final Day, third in the series, is scheduled for release in early January 2017.
Months before publication, Forstchen’s One Second After was cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should read. Film rights to that novel have already been optioned by Warner Bros. The riveting story of our nation’s struggle to rebuild itself after an electromagnetic pulse plunges the country into darkness, starvation, and death was followed closely by the acclaimed One Year After, continuing the Matherson saga.
The Final Day picks up after John Matherson and his community defeat the designs of the alleged federal government. Now they have returned their attention to restoring the technologies and social order existing prior to the EMP attack. When the government announces that it is ceding large portions of the country to China and Mexico, General Bob Scales is sent to confront Matheson. The Constitution is no longer in effect, and what’s left of the U.S. Army has been deployed to suppress rebellion in the remaining states.
General Scales is John’s former commanding officer and closest friend from prewar days. Where do his loyalties fall? Might he be the crucial turning point in the quest for an America that is again united? When news breaks that members of the federal government knew an EMP attack was coming long before it hit, the government might get exactly what it fears: revolution.
William R. Forstchen is the New York Times bestselling author of One Second After. He holds a Ph.D. in history from Purdue University, with specializations in military history and the history of technology. Forstchen is currently a faculty fellow and professor of history at Montreat College, near Asheville, North Carolina.
For more information, please visit http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765376732
The Final Day Forge Books Available at fine booksellers everywhere beginning 1/3/17 ISBN: 9780765376732 Ebook: 978-0-7653-7673-2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety)
With Veterans Day approaching, please allow me to send you a copy of Shadow Commander in consideration of an interview, feature or review. In this biography of Donald D. Blackburn, author Mike Guardia gives us a fascinating account of an underdog fighting to stay alive.
A veteran himself, Mike makes a charming and interesting guest. Please look at the following press release and let me know if you’d like to schedule an interview with him, or send me your mailing address so I can forward a review copy of the book. If you would like to run this story, I’d be happy to send you .jpgs of the author and the book cover. Thank you.
Trish Stevens Ascot Media Group Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 281.333.3507 Phone 832-569-5539 Fax [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
Shadow Commander: Celebrate Veterans Day By Remembering The Covert Commander Responsible For The Largest POW Rescue Mission In History
Houston, TX – In Shadow Commander: The Epic Story of Donald D. Blackburn (Casemate Publishers), author Mike Guardia presents his readers with a memorable story of an underdog whose career was a testament to dogged determination and the will to stay alive.
On the evening of April 9, 1942, the fires on Bataan burned with a primitive fury, illuminating white flags of surrender against the dark sky. Outnumbered and outgunned, remnants of the American-Philippine army surrendered to the forces of the Rising Sun. Yet US Army Captain Donald D. Blackburn refused to lay down his arms. With future Special Forces legend Russell Volckmann, Blackburn escaped to the jungles of North Luzon, raising a private army of 22,000 men against the Japanese. His organization of native tribes into guerrilla fighters would lead to the destruction of the enemy’s naval base at Aparri.
But Blackburn’s remarkable accomplishments didn’t end with the victory in the Pacific. He played a key role in initiating Army Special Forces operations in Southeast Asia, became commander of the 77th Special Forces Group and later took command of the highly classified Studies and Observations Group (SOG), charged with performing secret missions. Blackburn also revitalized the Special Operations campaign in South Vietnam, conducting full-scale operations against the NVA and Viet Cong in Laos and Cambodia. Following his return to the US, Blackburn was the architect of the infamous Son Tay Prison Raid, the largest prisoner-of-war rescue mission—and, indeed, the largest Army Special Forces operation—of the Vietnam War.
During a period when US troops in Southeast Asia faced guerrilla armies on every side, America had a superb covert commander of its own. This book follows Blackburn through both his youthful days of desperate combat and his time as a commander, imparting his lessons to the new ranks of Army Special Forces.
An internationally-recognized author and military historian, Mike Guardia is also a veteran of the United States Army. He served six years on active duty as an Armor Officer. He is the author of the widely-acclaimed Hal Moore: A Soldier Once…and Always, the first-ever biography chronicling the life of Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore, whose leadership was popularized in the film We Were Soldiers starring Mel Gibson. As a lecturer, Mike Guardia has given presentations at the US Special Operations Command and the George Bush (41) Presidential Library. He holds a BA and MA in American History from the University of Houston and currently resides in Texas.
For more information, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Commander-Donald-Blackburn-Guerrilla-Special-ebook/dp/B0169GGSFY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Shadow Commander: The Epic Story of Donald D. Blackburn Casemate Publishers Available online at Amazon and at all fine book sellers ISBN-13: 978-1612000657
