Ascot Media Group Blog
Welcome to the Ascot Media Group BLOG! Visit our main website at www.ascotmedia.com

“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

###

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.”

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Lowcountry Punch: Just The Ticket For Armchair Travelers Hankering For The Sultry South

If you’re sick of winter weather, take a trip to Charleston, SC, rated #1 city in the US for three years running by the Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards. You won’t even need to leave home. Boo Walker’s Lowcountry Punch (Sandy Run Press) evokes Charleston’s gritty side and its charm so vividly the city itself is essential to the cast of characters.

In Lowcountry Punch, DEA Agent T.A. Reddick leaves Miami for Charleston, SC after one of the worst nights of his life. He’s hoping a return to his roots will heal a wounded heart and the guilt of killing a friend. The sleepy and sultry city of Charleston is filled with echoes of the Old South: genteel playboys, society debutantes, and quiet cobblestone streets. 

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

New satellite technology maps undersea floor and charts GPS locations of lost and sunken treasure ships

Marco Island, FL,  — Can the new discovery of five ancient shipwrecks deep off the Italian coast and the mysterious metal ingots found onboard be linked to a recently discovered satellite technology? Have all the lost and sunken shipwrecks untouched for centuries been found by an orbiting satellite? Can the find of the SS Mantola shipwreck near the coast of Ireland with $18 million of Silver be linked to a new and highly secret underwater discovery system? Have all the other lost treasure ships around the world already been found and the ultimate treasure map created?

Radio telescope technology has been used for years to determine specific elements on the periodic table by recognizing individual wavelength returns. This ground-based technology launched into space in a satellite and focused upon the world’s oceans could possibly reveal all the lost maritime mysteries missing for centuries, especially the shipwrecks with a highly conductible metal such as gold onboard.

“Lost and Found” is an exciting book by Captain Tom Williams that has been receiving many incredible reviews and national acclaim, but has someone really hacked into a geological survey satellite and found all the lost shipwrecks that still contain gold? Does the ultimate treasure map now exist? Are all the lost treasure fleets undiscovered for centuries now identified and located with specific GPS coordinates?

Two British scientists pioneer a means of exploring for hidden oil reserves using a geological survey satellite; however, they find a treasure worth much more than black gold—real gold in every lost and sunken treasure ship in the world’s oceans.

Together with a beautiful dive master and salvage expert the treasures of antiquity are all there for the taking—if the adventuresome trio can just stay alive long enough, fleeing a madman from the exotic tropical waters of South Florida to the depths of the Black Sea in Europe

TIP SHEET:

From–Steve Alten, NY Times Best-Selling author of MEG & The SHELL GAME about Lost and Found: “A promising debut novel that combines a Pirates of the Caribbean flavor with 21st century technology. Perfect for sipping Pina Coladas on a tropical azure shoreline.”

Discover www.lostandfoundadventure.com.

Please watch Tom Williams being interviewed recently on FOX network television at the following link: http://www.ascotmedia.com/pressroom.html Use arrow to scroll to this informative interview.

 

You received this email because you or your company has agreed to receive press releases and information from professional public relations firms.  To unsubscribe, click here: {UNSUBSCRIBE “unsubscribe”}  Unsubscribes can take up to 5 days to process.  Sender information: Ascot Media Group Inc. Post Office Box 58884, Webster, TX 77598. 281-333-3507

 
 
 
 

 

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

How To End Negative Self-Talk And Take Life To A Whole New Level

New York/Pennsylvania, – Meet the dynamic duo! Politics might make for strange bedfellows, but the literary world is also capable of pairing some unusual bunkmates to produce powerful results. Noted author, and rabbinical leader Dr. Abraham Twerski, an Orthodox Jew; and, Tom Gagliano, whose roots are Italian Catholic and who is a high profile leader and successful entrepreneur in the field of addiction and self-help therapy, have joined forces to create this book, “The Problem was Me”(Gentle Path Press –July 2011). Tom Gagliano and Abraham Twerksi inspire readers to silence their inner voice of self-doubt and fear and begin living proactive, satisfying lives.

Tom Gagliano has developed unique methods and procedures that have been embraced by doctors, institutions and patients to help individuals deal with their childhood wounds. Besides his valuable psychological insight from his life experiences, Tom holds a Master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University.

Besides helping those with destructive behaviors, this book will also bring an understanding to many of us with loved ones who act in ways where they sabotage their own happiness when it comes their way. Also this book will provide some with a blueprint, a blueprint to give our children the healthy messages that may have been denied to many of us. 

To learn more about Tom Gagliano’s book, visit:  http://thomasgagliano.com or to find out more about the book and/or to book an interview with the author or discuss a review, please contact me at: [email protected]

###

TIP SHEET:

Publishers Weekly Review: “Gagliano …presents a method of stopping the negative thoughts and self-destructive behaviors that might appeal to sufferers of substance abuse and poor impulse control…Gagliano calls his negative voice ‘the warden’ and shares how it impacted his adult life. He presents the idea, backed by a quote from Twerski, that these voices stem from negative messages received during childhood…and illustrates his theories with traumatic childhood anecdotes, some from people identified as his clients. The section on how to conduct a written inventory gives readers a tangible tool to move toward recovery. The book provides a hopeful message on how parents can help their children avoid these pitfalls and how readers can include forgiveness and a spiritual power in their lives.”

Counselor Magazine: “…This book is certainly very suitable for those who are battling addictions since, as the author points out, ‘some addicts who have been sober for a long time may continue to lead tormented, angry lives.’ …However, it should not be written off as a book simply for those who are suffering addiction as it has a much broader application …and could be helpful to anyone who wants to break the cycle of self-defeating thoughts and self-destructive behaviors.”

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

A Creation That Could Be Our Salvation

St. Charles, MO,  – Over the last two decades a new artificial intelligence paradigm has enabled vast brain-like neural assemblies to build themselves. In turn, these synthetic minds have generated both ideas and strategies that have exceeded both their direct experience and the talents of those who have enlisted their help. Detailed analysis of how these synthetic brains originate such brilliant concepts and strategies reveals what may be the grandest notion of all: how ideas themselves are formed within the biological neural networks of the brain. Widespread use of this ultimate idea could have an astounding effect upon the world.

While hordes of futurists are predicting such a form of contemplative artificial intelligence, one man already has it. It is The Creativity Machine® Paradigm by Stephen L. Thaler, Ph.D., and it brings new hope through the most advanced form of artificial intelligence in the world. 

The benefits are staggering. Economically alone, there are myriad new industries this technology can either originate or accelerate, creating endless new projects for “techies,” while indirectly spawning non-technical careers in support of each commercial effort. At the macro-economic level, machine intelligence based upon this paradigm could generate a model of national or even global financial contentedness and subsequently optimize the planet’s overall fiscal and sociological health. 

This momentous accomplishment has such an immense impact on all aspects of our lives that it deserves headline status; making it difficult to understand why there are forces at work in government, academia and industry, attempting to hijack this technology – slowing its deployment in a world starving for its capabilities. There are always those willing to take credit for what someone else has already succeeded in doing, namely the creation of free-thinking, contemplative, creative, and even conscious artificial intelligence.

In terms of answering the really big questions that have perplexed humanity for millennia, the Creativity Machine Paradigm excels. Simulate its death and it spells out our inevitable fate in no uncertain terms. Drive it to protect itself and it develops all the attributes we commonly attach to human consciousness. Carefully study how this neural architecture attains such self-awareness and we suddenly understand how a cosmic consciousness can arise from inanimate matter, space, and energy. Most importantly, in the wake of these amazing revelations we see an enormous opportunity for the preservation of human consciousness beyond death through our union with this highly advanced form of sentient machine intelligence.

Dr. Thaler is President and CEO of Imagination Engines, Inc., a company founded upon key scientific and engineering breakthroughs in the area of artificial neural networks, and In Its Image, a non-profit corporation that is dedicated to extending lives and philosophical exploration of The Creativity Machine® Paradigm. Dr. Thaler graduated Westminster College and obtained a Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Thaler is in the process of writing a book on The Creativity Machine® Paradigm, at the heart of which will be his invited talk at the World Future Society meeting in Boston, along with his article “Thalamocortical Algorithms in Space! The Building of Conscious Machines and the Lessons Thereof.” He is also inviting technically-oriented business thinkers to join him in the bootstrapping of new prosperity-generating industries based upon this bleeding-edge AI paradigm. To this end he is currently completing work on an informative and thought provoking web site at http://imagination-engines.com and its philosophically-driven sister site http://initsimage.org. He will also be holding a series of open houses at his St. Charles Missouri Headquarters. Watch the imagination-engines.com web site for details.

###

TIP SHEET:

Dennis Bushnell, Chief Scientist & Visionary, NASA Langley: “AI’s best bet” at creating human to trans-human level machine intelligence.”

Mark Reiners: “Very simply, having now been familiar with Steve’s CM/STANNO AI technology for about seven years, I would judge it to be arguably the most important and powerful AI technology extant. We at MetaTrieval Software already have plans for leveraging some of its amazingly wide range of capabilities for important future enhancements of our own core product.”

Karl Simpson: “Imagination-Engines Inc., based in St. Louis, USA, is the future of artificial intelligence and neural networks. Stephen Thaler’s genius and insight may define the future of computation and networking. Sentient computers could be a result of this initiative.”

General media resources are available at http://imagination-engines.com/media/iei_media.htm

For answers to the really big questions, see:  http://imagination-engines.com/InItsImage/TCAIS%20Flash/Thalamocortical%20Algorithms%20in%20Space!.html

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Entrepreneur Offers Winning Strategies For Business, Sports And The Business Of Sports

Boca Raton, FL, – Steve Tebon wants to know if you’ve “got your game on.” It’s easy — just read the book. Game On: The Power of the Sports Marketing Deal (Tebon Publishing), is for entrepreneurs, business executives, athletes and those who practice or study the business of sports.

As Tebon points out, the first step for anyone is to find your target market and be creative. For example, ask somebody about sports marketing and they’ll tell you it’s all about the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and major college sports. But not Tebon. He quickly realized there was a niche out there that offered big opportunities for a young entrepreneur.

“Recreational sports, lifestyle sports. The grassroots, participant market is the fastest growing and potentially biggest market out there,” he says. At some point, virtually everybody will shoot hoops, spike a volleyball, hop on a bike or lace up a pair of running shoes. Tebon shows his clients how to pursue this virtually untapped revenue stream, and now he’s sharing it with his readers.

You may not have given it much thought, but just how did that race to benefit a local charity happen? Who’s behind last month’s hugely popular beach volleyball tournament? There’s a good chance it’s Exclusive Sports Marketing or a company like it. It takes a specific skill set to create, promote and run successful events, and Tebon knows those skills inside and out.

A diehard recreational athlete, and 7-time Ironman finisher, Tebon has studied the industry intensely.  Like many other experts, he’s bullish on the growth of grassroots sports. “The U.S. is experiencing a serious health crisis, and events like running, biking, and competing in triathlons are playing a huge role in helping people get back into shape, and focusing on a healthy lifestyle for them and their families.”

The keys to making sporting events and business in general profitable are easily understood through the informal and helpful pages of Game On. One of these is strategic alliances. Before Tebon sold his multi-million dollar business, Exclusive Sports Marketing developed long standing sponsor partnerships with industry giants such as Anheuser-Busch, Nike, Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Gatorade, Nestle’s Brands, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Club Med.

Tebon’s strategies for closing the deal are clearly laid out in Game On: The Power of the Sports Marketing Deal. Creating and maintaining relationships is one important aspect. Providing “5-Star” Customer Service is another. Using these techniques and more, Tebon connected influential businesses with the audiences they targeted at more than thirty events every year, such as The Publix Family Fitness Weekend/Sprint Triathlon Series, The Bud Light Beach Volleyball Series, The Toyota Tundra Adventure Racing Series, and the Ft. Lauderdale A1A Marathon and ½ Marathon, just to name a few.

After selling Exclusive Sports Marketing in 2006, Tebon has been working as a consultant to the growing business of recreational sports marketing. His consulting services also include event/ athlete management, development of strategic programming and the creation of print and electronic marketing strategies. He will also be teaching a Sports Management course using Game On as the text, at Lynn University, (Boca Raton, FL), beginning with the Spring 2012 semester.

Please check out Steve Tebon’s website at: www.gameonsportsmarketing.com

###

TIP SHEET:

Kevin Sreenan, General Manager, Mercedes-Benz U.S.A: “With Steve, you knew his best interest was your best interest. In the face of adversity or a challenge, he proved himself to be a winner, and in this business, you always want to go with a winner.”

Mark Wilson, Senior Sports Marketing Manager, Anheuser-Busch: “Steve took the time to find out what we wanted, and then wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and go above and beyond the branding partnership. That earned our trust and longstanding sponsorships.”

Chon Searfoss, Senior VP Nestles Waters: “A huge reason you want to associate with Steve is that he genuinely wants you to succeed and believes that if his friends and associates succeed, he will too.”

Steve Scott, Nike Senior Sales Executive: “What separated Steve from his peers was his ability to establish relationships. He developed them to the point where each party obtained successes because of the other. He redefined the art of networking.”

Steve Meckfessel, Chief Operating Officer, Ironman: “Steve’s vision helped ESM [Exclusive Sports Marketing] write the race director’s handbook with respect to packaging the sport of triathlons. During the 1990’s, ESM was the gold standard among Florida promoters.”

Richard Gonzmart, President/CEO, The Columbia Restaurant Group: “People like to be around winners, and that’s what Steve and ESM are! It was a true honor for my family’s business to be associated with the Publix Family Fitness Weekend for as long as we were.”

 

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

How One Man’s Lifelong Dream And Perseverance Got Him On Letterman

New York, NY, – “Knowing what you’re dying to do tells you what you are living for.” – Steve Mazan

Background for dying to do Letterman: turning someday into today (HCI Books– $14.95). A very special book which grew out of his award-winning documentary film by the same name, here is everything you need to know about Steve, the book, and the film:

Steve Mazan was a funny kid with a big dream. From the time he was 12 years old, he wanted to become a comedian for one reason, and one reason only: to perform stand-up comedy on David Letterman’s show. Like all eager comics, he hustled for work in small clubs across the country, taking any gig he could earn. The pay was crummy, the progress miniscule, and some of the jobs ridiculous (like performing comedy at a minor league baseball game without a working microphone!) But Steve continued hoping that “someday” his dream might come true.

Then he received news that would change his life forever. Steve was diagnosed with incurable liver cancer, and learned he might only have five years to live. That was in 2005. Fighting through the fear and refusing to let depression swallow him whole, Steve chose to make the most out of his remaining time…he would dedicate what was left of his life to living his dream: performing on The Late Show for his idol, David Letterman.

This life-affirming, funny documentary chronicles Steve’s moving five year journey. Verite footage mixed with intimate diary cam and home movies shot by Steve gives dying to do Letterman a raw, incredibly real edge as it looks at cancer and comedy in a brand new light.

Beginning with Steve’s decision to “live his dream or die trying,” friends and family members pull together to launch a grass-roots campaign called “Dying to do Letterman.” They hope to grab Dave’s attention. Steve entertains audiences everywhere and enlists their help in reaching out to Letterman. Thousands of Steve’s comedy fans email The Late Show with the request, “book Mazan!” It looks like everything is going great…until Steve gets an email himself.

Letterman’s executive producer informs Steve that the show ‘gets these requests’ all the time, and while they’re sorry he’s sick, it would be ‘impossible’ to make this dream happen. He’s at a devastating crossroads. But, ever the fighter, he decides he’ll just have to ‘live longer’ and get on the show the old fashioned way: being funny in as many clubs as possible. Keeping audiences laughing in clubs everywhere, Steve works hard to become the best comedian he can, all the while using humor to help him deal with his disease. He even creates his own top ten list: The Top Ten Benefits of Catching Cancer.

Over the next four years, Steve battles his health, self-doubt, and bankruptcy as he chases his “impossible” dream.

Through it all, Steve’s new age wife, Denise, struggles to support the quest as best she can, all the while subjecting him to a slew of alternative healing treatments in the hopes he’ll live just a little longer. More than simply ensuring he survives to appear on Letterman, she aims to keep Steve healthy enough to father children—a life experience he’s just not ready to undertake.

Along the way, Steve obtains hysterically honest advice from comics who have appeared on Letterman like Kevin Nealon, Ray Romano, Brian Regan, and many others. In a surprising, action-packed sequence, Steve takes his new comedy material to Iraq where, while performing for the troops, the base is bombed and he has a close call with death. Steve exclaims, “Being so close to that explosion showed me…it’s not just cancer that can kill you!” Steve even manages to forge a shaky relationship with the comedy booker at Letterman’s show, but as the years roll by he begins to wonder if he’s wasted his precious time on a silly childhood fantasy.

Just when all seems lost, Steve gets a big call: The Late Show may be interested in booking him. But when a horrible misunderstanding strikes, has Steve blown his one and only shot at his dream? As the film comes to a close, Steve finds himself alone in a hotel room in New York City, waiting for a phone call from the show: will his dream finally come true?

Hilarious and heart-breaking, Steve risks everything to prove dreams matter.

dying to do Letterman is a roller-coaster ride of laugher, tears, and reversals of fortune that boldly says, “If you stop chasing your dreams, you’re already dead.” And, now, it’s a book!

Steve Mazan. Man? Myth? Legend? Some people say he’s none of these. Steve is, however, one of the hottest comedians and speakers in the country and a veteran of the US Navy. Critics have described his act as ‘brilliant,’ ‘goofy,’ and ‘exceptionally clever.’ That reputation has landed him on the most coveted stages and numerous television shows, including The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Steve’s journey to try and get on the Letterman show has been made into an award-winning documentary that’s been called ‘inspiring’ and ‘side-splittingly funny.’ A former writer for Ellen Degeneres, Steve has also appeared on Last Comic Standing, Byron Allen, and The Bob & Tom Show. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Denise, and his dogs, Wrigley and Kuma, and currently travels the country to film festivals where his documentary is racking up critic awards and audience acclaim. For more information on the movie Dying to Do Letterman, and about Steve and his latest book, visit www.stevemazan.com and www.dyingtodoletterman.com.

Available online or at bookstores or to order directly from the publisher, contact:
www.hcibooks.com or (800) 441-5569.
dying to do Letterman: turning someday into today
Steve Mazan
ISBN: 978-0-7573-1627-2
$14.95 – October/November 2011

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail