Monica Foster Ascot Media Group Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
An Opportunity To Rise Above The Ordinary: Remembering Olympus
Dallas, TX – Good news for all those who look around at their ordinary humdrum life: there is more. At the heart of Remembering Olympus (Koehler Books) by Royce Murcherson is the belief that one life is not your only life; love is real and eternal, and we are capable of creating our own reality through the sheer power of mind.
“We humans are capable of accomplishing magical things when we truly understand ourselves,” says author Royce Murcherson. “I wrote Remembering Olympus for people who want to broaden their understanding of the universe, our place in it, and our purpose for being here.”
Part mystery, part magical, Remembering Olympus is a story of ‘life after life,’ tangled destinies, and the creative power of love and jealousy. Aaron Payne is a typical urban professional running away from his impoverished past. Seemingly by coincidence, he meets Miranda Reed, a beautiful gentrified heiress. Though their relationship is awkward, he believes she is the key until unforeseen events throw his life into upheaval.
When his path crosses with an enigmatic publisher, Claire Vinson, they become entangled in a mystery as Aaron begins to remember pieces of another existence that pull him into a maze of shifting time and past lives.
Prophetic in tone, Remembering Olympus is a mystical revelation, peeling back the layers of certainty, challenging perceptions of reality, and asking, “Are humans more than mere mortals?”
Royce Murcherson holds a Ph.D. in English and is currently a professor of English in Dallas, Texas. She has taught American and African-American literature, creative writing, composition, business writing, and visual rhetoric for seventeen years. Her interests include the literary genre of magical realism, Eastern philosophy, and Jungian psychology.
Prior to teaching literature and writing, Royce spent several years in the business world and recently published an instructional book, The Guide to Persuasive Business Writing: A New Model that Gets Results. Royce is also a guest writer on business writing and workplace etiquette for BOSS, a business and office systems support resource at Richland College.
For more information, visit: www.roycemurcherson.com.
Remembering Olympus Koehler Books Available May, 2015 online everywhere ISBN-13: 978-1940192994 $17.95
Joanna Morgan Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
When Life Gets Overwhelming, Sacred Space Heals The Heart
Georgetown, TX – Modern lives are filled with gadgets, apps and advice to help us save money, save time, save room. But what will save us all? John D. Duncan has the answer in his newest book, Sacred Space: The Art of Sacred Silence, Sacred Speech, and The Sacred Ear in the Echo of the Still Small Voice of God (Austin Brothers Publishing).
Sacred Space is for those who feel bottle-necked, overloaded, trapped…in other words, all of us. In the foreword, pastor and author Taylor Field says “…in its own quiet way, this is a dangerous book. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!” This gentle reminder is only partly in jest.
“We need to slow down and make room for sacred space to renew our vision for life and our enthusiasm for living for Christ,” Duncan says. “An injured soul can only find renewal when time given to the sacred opens minds and hearts to the joy of Christ. Be still, and know that He is God.”
If your soul has been damaged by an overpacked schedule and too many things that pushed aside time for the sacred, and an over-hyped consumer church that marginalized the sacred (Christ, the cross and the resurrection) you will find help on these pages.
John Duncan is a pastor, preacher, writer and an adjunct professor at Baylor University. He preaches God’s Word, emphasizing the biblical text and providing keen insight into living out one’s faith in the 21st century. After 20 years as senior pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury, TX, he served as senior pastor at First Baptist Church Georgetown from 2007-2013. He now serves as interim pastor at First Baptist Church San Marcos.
Dr. Duncan earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the United Kingdom Open University in Cambridge, England. His previous degrees include a D. Min. and an M. Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a B.A. from Howard Payne University.
For more information, visit: www.johndduncan.com.
Sacred Space: The Art of Sacred Silence, Sacred Speech, and The Sacred Ear in the Echo of the Still Small Voice of God Austin Brothers Publishing Available at the publisher’s website http://www.austinbrotherspublishing.com/~shop/christian-living/sacred-space/265608/?catId=15654 or online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble ISBN 9780990347743 $14.95
Joanna Morgan Ascot Media Group Post Office Box 133032 The Woodlands, TX 77393 Office: (281) 333-3507 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
If I Was A Bird…What Kind Of Flock Would I Fly With? Lessons For Living Right
New York, NY – Teaching kids to accept others is a lesson no one can afford to ignore. If I Was A Bird…What Kind Of Flock Would I Fly With? (DoctorZed Publishing) by Peter Sacco offers a light touch on a serious topic.
Tragedies resulting from bullying seem to be multiplying, and intolerance of cultural and religious differences is all too common. Author, professor and therapist Peter Sacco asks teachers, parents and counselors, how will this negative phenomenon ever change?
Simple: Through kids!
In If I Was A Bird, Billy is taken on a journey, encountering many different birds, their habits, their lifestyles, and their own unique quirks. Eventually Billy himself is transformed into a canary and learns the skill of empathy. This experience helps Billy choose wise and sincere friends, while at the same time learning tolerance for those who are not like he is. In the end, Billy learns who you “flock” with says much about you.
Kids ages six to twelve are encouraged to think about and discuss building self-esteem, self-confidence, and develop strategies for saying “no” to bullying. If I Was A Bird will be printed in five different languages to benefit children’s programs at the Center For Abuse Awareness, an organization highlighting the true cost of neglect and abuse, and supporting abuse-related organizations in the U.S. and Canada, including children’s services, victims services, shelters and other agencies that deal with children, women and men whose lives have been affected by abuse.
Peter is the author of many popular international books and more than 700 magazine articles. He has received the Award of Excellence in Teaching and lectures at universities in both the U.S. and Canada. He currently hosts a weekly radio show, “Matters of the Mind” which features celebrities with whom he discusses mental health, relationship and addiction issues. He is also an award-winning executive producer and host of documentaries on relationships, psychological issues and children’s issues. To learn more about Peter or his work, please visit: http://www.petersacco.com.
www.bullyingisforthebirds.com
If I Was A Bird…What Kind Of Flock Would I Fly With? DoctorZed Publishing Available February 15 at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble online ISBN #978-0-9942084-8-4 Price $2.99
Newbury Park, CA – Even though more and more people are becoming disenchanted with traditional religion, as evidenced by the plummeting numbers of those attending Sunday services, it doesn’t mean they no longer follow the teachings of Jesus. In fact, according to author Wayne Jacobsen, it’s quite the opposite – they are just finding other avenues to worship the Lord. Jacobsen explores this trend of the “unchurched” in his new release, Finding Church: What If There Really Is Something More? (Trailview Media.)
In posing the question “What If There Really Is Something More,” he creates a platform for the “dones” – people who are simply “done” with organized religion, yet remain passionate in their pursuit of Jesus and authentic community. Jacobsen examines traditional church, the myriad of reasons people are leaving, and what exactly these same individuals are doing for spiritual fulfillment within their communities.
“God’s church is a living temple,” Jacobsen says, “Springing up in the individual heart and then knit together into a worldwide community of people whose very relationships put God’s glory on display.”
Jacobsen’s work provides insight to the next generation and how organized religion is evolving. Finding Church reveals how the “dones” are forming a deeper relationship with Jesus in this living temple. Their departure from local congregations, however, is creating a void of volunteerism and monetary support.
Meet Wayne Jacobsen. He’s dedicated his life to serving God and has done so using many platforms. He served as a pastor for more than 20 years and continues to spread the word of God through his writing and missionary work overseas. Most notably, he worked with William P. Young on the recent Christian blockbuster, The Shack, which now has more than 22 million copies in print. He’s also written other books including: He Loves Me, So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore and A Man Like No Other.
For more information, visit: http://www.findingchurch.com
Finding Church: What If There Really Is Something More? By Wayne Jacobson Publisher: Trailview Media Available at major online outlets and http://www.findingchurch.com/order-book/ ISBN-10: 0983949158 ISBN-13: 978-0983949152
Bartonsville, PA – There’s more to Johnny Appleseed than meets the eye and Dr. Stewart Bitkoff’s new release, The Appleseed Journal, unveils the true story of this American hero, who very few may know was a spiritual man, and further that he went missing in 1843.
Johnny Appleseed is famously portrayed for his impact on growing the apple industry and expansion of his operation throughout the frontier. After a further look at Appleseed and his contributions, we discover that he was quite a spiritual man who ministered throughout his life’s journey. The Appleseed Journal is based on actual events and delves deep into the era when Appleseed went missing on the way to a convention at the Church of New Jerusalem in Philadelphia. It’s uncertain what happened along the way, but what is certain … he never arrived.
“Johnny Appleseed had a spiritual calling and provided apple seedling, a life staple along the frontier, as part of his work,” says Dr. Bitkoff. “It’s rumored that Appleseed planted a message in Hudson Valley, New York so that it could be harvested by spiritual travelers in our time.”
Author of six published books on spirituality, Stewart Bitkoff, holds a doctorate in education and has served as a faculty member for multiple college and universities throughout the US. Dr. Bitkoff is a spiritual traveler and advocate for Sufi mysticism. Additionally, he specializes in therapeutic recreation, psychiatric rehabilitation and mental health treatment. Dr. Bitkoff is a regular contributor to online media outlets such as: Philadelphia Spirituality Examiner, Wisdom Magazine, New Age Journal, and Mystic Living Today.
For more information, visit: www.stewartbitkoff.com.
The Appleseed Journal By Stewart Bitkoff Publisher: Abandoned Ladder Available at Amazon.com ISBN-10: 0991577515 ISBN-13: 978-09915775414
Houston, TX – Frank Romano, PhD, has seen it all in his quest to bring sustainable peace to the Middle East. For decades, through interfaith grassroots efforts to open up communication, he has brought Jews, Muslims and Christians together from all corners of the world in support of peace.
Romano tells the remarkable story of his journey in Love and Terror in the Middle East (AB Film Publishing). A 4th edition of the book, it includes a chapter dedicated to a recent event where he was trapped in the middle of rioting Palestinians, following the killing of a Palestinian youth by Israeli soldiers, and barely escaped with his life.
Frank Romano’s story began decades ago with a move from California to France to study philosophy. He later ventured to Morocco on his way to the Middle East, where he was to participate in the interfaith peace movement. In his quest for the universal religion, which at first he thought might be Islam (meaning “peace”), he soon realized that what he found had little to do with peace and more to do with radicalism. After daring to ask questions relating to Islam and women, he was wrongly accused by Muslim extremists of being a Zionist spy and was imprisoned. This ultimately led to a spiritual awakening and, eventually, to his escape.
It was through meditation after this journey that he found truth about religion – and this truth continues to be the source of power that compels him to bring Jews, Muslims and Christians together to celebrate their shared similarities and begin to build on a platform of the belief in one God. His vision has always been about creating dialogues and breaking down barriers. “Organizing interfaith groups is critical to creating a platform for those dialogues to take place,” says Dr. Romano.
Constantly surrounded by war, his journey has been fraught with sacrifice. Friends and fellow activists have been brutally murdered. He has been attacked by settlers, harassed by Israeli soldiers and arrested by Palestinian police. In his personal life it has cost him his marriage, another long term romantic relationship, and impacted his role as a father. In spite of the danger and sacrifice, Dr. Romano – lawyer, author, speaker and professor of law, literature, history and philosophy of law – continues to be an advocate for peace in the Middle East.
For more information on Dr. Romano’s book or his ongoing drive for peace, please visit: http://www.frankromano-loveandterror4.com (book) http://www.frankromano363.blogspot.com/ (blog) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwQ-TYRDIVI (Interview)
Available at Amazon.com and major online outlets Love and Terror in the Middle East, 4th edition By Frank Romano AB Film Publishing ISBN-13: 978-0989706865
“One of the best meditation guides in years. Clear, uncomplicated, inspiring, and straight from the heart of a true expert who’s been there. Highly recommended.” ~ Larry Dossey, MD, author of Healing Words
Minneapolis, MN, – Among primers on meditation, Meditation as a Way of Life: Philosophy and Practice Rooted in the Teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda is unique in that it uses the universally applicable teachings of Indian yogi Paramahansa Yogananda to guide readers who treasure inner growth and are looking for reliable direction for how to achieve it in an authentic and sustainable way, offering specific, time-tested principles and how-to exercises for cultivating the mental, physical and spiritual aspects of a meditation-based spiritual life from a classical yogic perspective.
Rev. Alan L. Pritz, a disciple of Yogananda, distills the teachings of many other spiritual traditions and religions, including Christianity, into an interfaith perspective that will appeal to all seekers of the Divine. Specific elements include foundations of spiritual practice; benefits of energy-building exercises, affirmations, and healthy life-style regimens; instructions in mantra practice and inner-sound meditation; techniques for effective prayer; and guidelines to measure inner practice.
Throughout the narrative, Rev. Pritz adds touching and sometimes humorous personal stories, speaking to the reader authentically as a fellow practitioner rather than a master or guru. He concludes the book with an appendix that contains a discussion about the differences and similarities between spirituality and religion.
The accessible narrative and universal themes in Meditation as a Way of Life make it enjoyable to read and life-enhancing to apply.
Rev. Alan Pritz is an Interfaith Minister, meditation teacher, spiritual counselor / life coach and consultant who’s trained in and taught inner sciences for over 40 years. Inspired by the universally applicable teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, Rev. Alan helps individuals and organizations address spiritual growth or work/life issues from a higher perspective framework. He also leads Sunday Morning Meditation Services in Minneapolis. For more information about his activities visit: www.awake-in-life.com.
Meditation as a Way of Life: Philosophy and Practice Rooted in the Teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda By Alan L. Pritz Published by Quest Books ISBN 978-0-8356-0928-9 $17.95 paperback 288 pages To order online: http://tinyurl.com/nte9lqg
