Author: Marissa DeCuir

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Urban Playground is an entertaining introduction to San Francisco thanks to the charm, sense of wonder, and joy of its participants.”

Foreword-Clarion Reviews

SAN FRANCISCO –– To outsiders, the Bay Area is intrinsically linked to tech hubs and counterculture. But what about San Francisco’s kid culture? In her new book, “Urban Playground: What Kids Say About Living in San Francisco,” Katie Burke explores the experience of kids ages five to nine living in one of the country’s most iconic cultural hubs.
The book also includes thoughtful discussion questions designed to draw laughs, explore various topics from silly to serious, and facilitate discussion.

Writer of Noe Kids, a column of kid profiles for San Francisco neighborhood newspaper The Noe Valley Voice, Katie Burke brings city kids’ personalities and perspectives to the page, leading readers to see the joys and challenges to being a San Francisco kid.
One five-year-old tries to articulate the city’s aroma, “I smell a delicious smell, and it always smells like San Francisco. I don’t know what the smell is, so I can’t really tell it to people, but it smells different from ice cream.”

But it isn’t all about parks and ice cream. Drawing on her experience being an aunt to six nieces and two nephews (all of whom grew up in major cities), Burke unearths an often hidden and unasked perspective on the city’s more complicated subjects –– from homelessness to immigrant parents. By leaning in and crouching down to see a child’s point of view, Burke shows us a part of San Francisco we never knew.

More about Urban Playground

Have you ever wondered what it’s like being a kid in San Francisco? Are you raising a kid in this or another urban center? San Francisco life is full of thrills and bummers, both for kids and the adults who love them.

In Urban Playground: What Kids Say About Living in San Francisco, Katie Burke explores the experience of kids ages five to nine living in this place—what makes San Francisco special for kids and why some are over it.

Writer of Noe Kids, her column of kid profiles for San Francisco neighborhood newspaper The Noe Valley Voice, Katie Burke brings city kids’ personalities and perspectives to the page, leading readers to see the joys and challenges inherent to being a San Francisco kid.

Just when the book suggests that parks and ice cream are all any kid needs, you will turn the page to find a child’s appreciation for the Golden Gate Bridge or the Ferry Building Farmers Market.

The picture isn’t all aglow: the significant homeless population weighs on San Francisco children’s hearts, and the city is too noisy for some. But for the most part, they will tell you it is a pretty great place to live.

Urban Playground
What Kids Say About Living in San Francisco
Katie Burke | April 7, 2020 | SparkPress
Paperback | 978-1-68463-016-5 | $16.95
E-Book | 978-1-68463-017-2 | $9.95
Family & Relationships, Juvenile Nonfiction, and Social Science

Praise for Urban Playground

“In this charming, warm-hearted, often very funny book, Katie Burke takes us into the minds of children–a place we should all spend more time! Not only a wonderfully insightful kid’s eye guide to San Francisco, Urban Playground is also an interactive manual for getting into the minds of your own—and your friends’—children. Reading its sweet—and sometimes quirky—interviews , is to see San Francisco with the freshest eyes possible.”

Janis Cooke Newman, author of A Master Plan for Rescue

“San Francisco as seen through the eyes of its youngest denizens. More than just an insider’s guide to places parents should take their kids in the city, Katie Burke’s stories are a revelation about the lives, imaginations and dreams of our future generation. Kids really do say the darndest things.”

Scott James, journalist and author of San Francisco Chronicle bestsellers SoMa and The Sower

“If you’re seeking the honest truth from kids, you will find few better resources than Urban Playground: What Kids Say About Living in San Francisco, by San Francisco writer Katie Burke. Burke’s StoryCorps-like interviews, quoting kids on everything from pupusas to Pride Week, reveal that the Bay Area remains a fertile ground for smart, confident, and fun-loving kids. Says a seven-year-old girl who’s on the road to becoming an archaeologist, “It usually takes about maybe a month or a year to dig up one dinosaur.” After reading this book, I wouldn’t be surprised if she or another San Francisco kid figured out how to dig one up sooner!”

Sally Smith, Editor and Co-Publisher, Noe Valley Voice

“Children make the best tour guides. In Katie Burke’s lively Urban Playground series, young city-dwellers share how they experience all aspects of city life, from restaurants, holidays, people and parks to pets, schools, sports, shops and activities. Their observations are moving and thought-provoking, and reveal what makes a city interesting and unique. This book will appeal to adults and kids who wish to see (and re-see) San Francisco.”

Christina Clancy, author of The Second Home

“A fascinating peek into the minds of San Francisco’s children. They are more insightful, creative and weird—in the best of ways! — than I’d ever imagined.”

Julia Scheeres, author of A Thousand Lives

“Katie Burke is a gifted writer. This book, about and partly told by San Francisco children, chronicles San Francisco and what makes the city special, but it also reminds us what it is like to be young, excited, open-minded, and curious. The children’s insights on holidays to heroes to homework apply to children and adults alike. A wonderful book for adults and children.”

Will Marks, San Francisco parent

“With an inviting cover, Urban Playground: What Kids Say About Living in San Francisco, invites a multi-generational exchange on the joys and hardships of living in one of America’s greatest cities. Author Katie Burke introduces the reader to a multicultural point-of-view that is current and insightful, as each chapter introduces a new voice, followed by discussion questions. What makes this an important work is its honest recording of children’s voices, their fears and dreams. It is a poignant reminder that family is defined in many ways.”

Johnnie Bernhard, author of A Good Girl, How We Came to Be, and Sisters of the Undertow

“How can we ask our children to walk a mile in another’s shoes without insight into other kids’ lives? And how can we teach empathy without them walking that mile in their mind? This book provides a window into the lives of children and, through them, into a city. The stories are relatable and paired with fun questions to get a conversation started.”

Amy Baker, San Francisco parent

This delightful book of interviews of important San Franciscans — grade-school kids — works on so many levels because it is by, about, and for them and speaks in their voices. Interlocutor and wordsmith Katie Burke introduces herself as Aunt Katie. She is not, however, the auntie with apron and spoon in hand, but rather an imaginative, zany and fun friend who coaxes, respects and reflects the whimsy and honesty of the kids.

Joanna Biggar, author of Melanie’s Song

“With so much to see and do, it’s easy for anyone to fall in love with San Francisco. Katie Burke’s new book beautifully captures the wonder of this great city through the lens of San Francisco’s most inquisitive residents—our children.”

Rafael Mandelman, District 8 Supervisor

As the parent of two small kids, I cannot wait to explore San Francisco with them after reading Urban Playground: What Kids Say About Living in San Francisco. Katie Burke’s writing captures the unique voice of each child she interviews, truly bringing to life the diversity of the city and giving the reader tons of ideas for things to do. Every guidebook features sites like the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39, but now my itinerary will include the Mission Pool, Bi-Rite for ice cream, Green Apple Books, Japantown for sushi, Hop Oast Brew Pub for hot dogs and hamburgers—and maybe even a day trip to Treasure Island! Even if a trip to San Francisco isn’t in the future, this book is still a fantastic resource for parents due to the discussion questions at the end of each interview. I’ve already used a couple of them with my own kids, and it’s been eye-opening to hear their answers to questions I would have never thought to ask. Every city needs a book like this one, which allows reader of all ages to experience it through the eyes of a child.

Megan Holt, Ph.D., Executive Director of One Book One New Orleans

“When I was going through teacher training, one of our instructors urged us not to ask children who they wanted to be when they grew up. The only appropriate response to such a question would be ‘I already am.’ Urban Playground shows that one does not need to come of age to have a strong personality. The fifty kids interviewed live with single parents or split time between two parents, have two moms, two dads, or one of each. Some have special needs. All kids are all presented in their own terms without any sense of ‘othering.’ The kids in this book just are, in all their silly, poignant, and very own specifics. One has a parrot named Gobble. One invents not just a new holiday, but what names will be in different countries. They come from neighborhoods all over San Francisco; readers will delight in recognizing common landmarks shared by disparate personalities. The wonderfully illogical and insightful things they say will fuel delight and introspection.”

Monya Baker, San Francisco science editor

More about Katie Burke

Katie Burke is the author of Urban Playground (SparkPress, 2020), a book featuring San Francisco kids ages five to nine. She writes Noe Kids, a monthly column for The Noe Valley Voice, featuring kids ages four to twelve who live in Noe Valley. Katie has taught creative writing to children and adults in Kenya, South Africa, and San Francisco. She travels annually to New Orleans, and her writing expresses her appreciation for San Francisco and New Orleans’ eccentric characters. Also a family law attorney, Katie writes quarterly judicial and attorney profiles for San Francisco Attorney Magazine. Her other publications include HarperCollins, the L.A. Times, KQED Perspectives, and SoMa Literary Review.

In an interview, KATIE BURKE can discuss:

• How you can relate to children in your own life and hear their stories
• The unique challenges of conveying a child’s perspective
• The value of a child’s perspective, on everything from ice cream to the Golden Gate Bridge

An Interview with KATIE BURKE

1. Why do you love talking with kids? How did you realize this was something you wanted to do?

Kids have such a fresh way of looking at the world. They are so hilarious because they are mostly unfiltered, calling everything as they see it with their observations and immense feelings. For example, I still laugh out loud every time I recall my niece Molly, five years old at the time, looking up at me as I was opening and closing web browsers, and saying in a surprised tone, “You’re a smart girl, Katie!”

I knew I wanted to write a book featuring city kids when my publisher and then-writing coach, Brooke Warner, came up with the concept. She had read some of my other writing, some of which centered around characters I’d encountered in San Francisco and New Orleans, and some of which I’d written for and about city kids. Brooke thought it would be great to put a book out that featured city kids and invited children everywhere to read about these city kids with their significant adults. We started in San Francisco, since that is where I live.

2. Are there certain answers that stand out more to you than others? How so? Do you have a favorite “kid response” you received while working on this book?

I laughed so hard when Liam, five years old at the time, answered that he was moving to Michigan after living in San Francisco “for two weeks” (he’d actually lived here for a year) because “my mom wants to move there, and I always agree with my mom.” His interview topic was heroes, whom he identified as people who save the city. He said he used to save the entire city, but “I’m not that guy anymore.” I just love it when little ones give earnest answers without any clue how funny they are.

3. What do you think most adults don’t understand about kids? Do you have any advice for how to communicate with them better?

Well, as someone who is childless by choice, I am always the first to say I don’t judge most parents, since parenting is an impossible job. But I do think that as a doting aunt to eight children and a writer who regularly interviews children, I can say that adults would do best by the children in their lives if they listened more and considered their children wise. When kids speak, I know they are generally revealing the truth, with some exceptions where an adult has groomed the child to mimic prepared statements. My experience with children overwhelmingly reveals their purity of thought and feeling. Like all of us, they just want to love and be loved, and they are better at showing that than adults are.

4. What makes the kids you interview uniquely San Franciscan? How do they differ from other kids in the same age group, potentially living in other cities or even the country?

San Francisco kids are sophisticated in a way that you’ll see in other urban centers like New York City, but where you don’t find in most places. Unless otherwise conditioned by an adult, all children are natural truth tellers, often eager to share their observations and ask questions to help clarify the world as they discover it.

For San Francisco kids, this means they know and share a lot about cultural events, technology, and serious issues like homelessness. They just seem to know things well beyond their years. For example, when I asked Brad, nine years old at the time, whether there was anything he didn’t like about San Francisco, he answered, “Well, it’s super expensive. Whenever I want to buy something from my allowance, I have to use up most of my allowance. But I like Amazon because it makes everything cheap.”

5. What brought you to San Francisco? We know it was a childhood dream for you to live in the city––did it live up to your kid expectations? How has your relationship with the city changed throughout working on this book and seeing San Francisco through the eyes of its young residents?

When my Aunt Nancy took me to dinner on my tenth birthday and we spoke about my love of San Francisco and my desire to live here someday, I don’t think I had ever been here. I have no idea what I had in mind then. I just know I’d been telling people I wanted to live here when I grew up, and she was the first to say she could see me being very happy in San Francisco, since the culture and the politics felt aligned with who I was at that age, living in conservative Phoenix, Arizona.

As I grew up, I began developing more specific expectations of San Francisco, though they still hovered mostly around a gut feeling that it was just “my place,” so to speak—home in a way Phoenix never was or could be. In 1999, when I was living back in Phoenix after completing college in Connecticut and a master’s degree at Arizona State University, I was within months of moving to San Francisco when I said to my friend James, “I’ve built up this city in my mind for fifteen years. What if it doesn’t live up to my dreams?” He replied, “Your love of San Francisco will make it the city of your dreams.” That’s exactly right, although the city is a phenomenal place all on its own, with or without my dreams to boost it.

Speaking with San Francisco kids hasn’t changed my view of the city, but it has made me realize that for all the city’s cultural appeal and educational opportunities, what most kids love most about San Francisco is the park closest to their home and their favorite ice cream shop. Also, many are distressed about homelessness and neighborhoods that they consider dirty. Being low to the ground seems to give kids a unique perspective on both. This hasn’t changed my view of the city, but it is sobering to hear children share their fears and displeasure over some of our city’s less glamorous features.

6. If you had to move to another city, where would you go and why?

It’s hard for me to imagine living anywhere except San Francisco, but if I had to live elsewhere, I could see myself being very happy in New York City. Though Brooklyn is on trend, I still love Manhattan best—mostly because that’s where I spend most of my time when I’m in New York, and it is where three of my nieces and one nephew live, but also because I thrive in dense urban centers. I like the pace and options cities like New York and San Francisco provide.

I spend a lot of time in New Orleans, and I love that city and will likely be a continuing regular visitor, but I don’t think I would want to live in Louisiana or in any place, like New Orleans, where you really need a car to live optimally.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monique Allen crafts a guide to creating an environment that elevates your life

MEDFIELD, Massachusetts – We all want to be our best selves and that means having the ability to rest and recharge in holistic ways. Nature has great power to inspire imagination and settle the nervous system, and many of us have access to nature right at home yet it often causes more stress than calm. Author Monique Allen is shedding light on how to transform landscapes into powerful places that can recharge our batteries, uplift our souls, and delight our senses.

In Stop Landscaping, Start Life-Scaping: A Guide to Ending the Rush-rush, Humdrum Approach to Landscape Development & Care (March 23, 2020, Ingram Sparks) the landscape designer and developer Allen explains how to imagine, build and care for these spaces to be integral experience-makers in our lives. With over 35 years of experience in the field, Allen shares stories, frank examples, and dozens of practical tips that will guide you through the process of creating an outdoor environment that is fulfilling and an extension of yourself.

In these pages, Allen calls for a paradigm shift in how we design, build and manage landscapes, for home gardeners and seasoned professionals alike. Detailing various concepts including why systems-thinking is important to your success, how to picture your plan and assemble your construction team, why long-term care strategies must be an upfront consideration, and how to become a loving partner and steward of your land, Allen shows how your landscape is your connection to nature and ultimately the lifeline to inner peace and the well-being of our communities.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MONIQUE ALLEN is the Founder & Creative Director of The Garden Continuum, an award-winning landscape design/build and fine gardening company. She has spent 35 years as a gardener, designer, contractor, business owner, and employer. She is a master creator, professional employer, and skillful industry advocate. Her impressive project development and care background allow her to choose the clients she works for and the employees she hires while maintaining her staunch commitment to our environment. In addition to 35 years in the business, Monique is also an accomplished business coach, industry blogger, and has just completed her first full-length book on her signature method of Life-Scaping. For more information visit Monique Allen at thegardencontinuum.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Stop Landscaping, Start Life-Scaping: A Guide to Ending the Rush-Rush, Humdrum Approach to Landscape Development and Care”

Monique Allen | March 23, 2020 | Ingram Sparks
Paperback ISBN:978-0-578-61941-5 | Price: $24.95
Nonfiction | Home Improvement | How-To

“Stop Landscaping, Start Life-Scaping is an inviting work for gardeners hoping to discover their true selves.” — Foreword Clarion Review 4-star review

In an interview, MONIQUE ALLEN can discuss:

• How your yard can become a Life-Scape
• The importance of caring for the environment and supporting environmental causes
• Why long term care needs to be considered from the beginning
• How your environment impacts your mood and day-to-day activities
• Well tested gardening tips
• What the landscaping industry has done in the past, and why we need to shift to a more mindful way of interacting with our land

An Interview with MONIQUE ALLEN

1. Can you explain what “Life-Scaping” means to you?

A Life-Scape is a place of rest, recharge and peace. It isn’t like a spa or resort where you just go and get waited on. It’s more of a place to go to be still in your mind. Even if you are actively gardening, you can be still in the mind while doing it. A Life-Scape is a safe place to go and think, or to play, or to visit with others. It doesn’t ask anything of you that you don’t want to give it. You love it and it loves you back. You tend and invest in it because you want to. There is none of the begrudging – “UGH, I have to mow the lawn. Crap! Have to weed again!” This isn’t how one views or interacts with a Life-Scape. You may be of means and able to hire someone to build it and tend it so you do nothing. Or, you may do all the work yourself. No matter the mix, the place, when you go to it has the power to regulate your experience in positive ways.

2. How did you first come to the realization that the landscaping industry needed a paradigm shift?

Lots of unhappy people were coming to me with complaints about their dissatisfaction with their yards and all the services they have had in the past. I know that my co-trades people are good people — no one wants to do bad work. But bad work was happening — is happening — everywhere. It’s happening more than it isn’t happening. I noticed that the landscape had become a thing to own and manage. It was no longer considered a living system by the masses. And until we get back there, we are going to continue to struggle to succeed and suffer losses and disappointments.

3. Why is it so important to change the way we think of and interact with land, especially now?

There is so much talk about being GREEN — clean air, clean water, pesticide-free foods, the list goes on. It’s a travesty that we can’t make the connection between the struggles of our planet and the human race to be healthy and the power we have in our own landscapes to have an impact. If every homeowner, every business owner, and every landscape professional just adopted the Life-Scape mindset, we would be able to make amazingly positive impacts on our environment. We need that kind of radical and broad shift to make lasting and sustainable changes.

4. What is your recommendation for a home gardener who wants to start working on their landscape?

Start by considering it’s sentient. It is alive. It is a system. It is interrelated and communicative. When you start to realize that it is a living breathing entity, you start to soften your stance on what is acceptable and what is not. I’m not saying that you go hands-off — I actually think that’s a huge mistake. Rather, I think you start by asking — how can I nurture this space into health? How can I craft the space into one that is enticing to me and my family (or my community if it’s a business or town)?

5. Why is it important to have a long-term care plan for your landscape? Is a long-term care plan important in Life-Scaping?

A long-term care plan represents your acknowledgment that this living system will grow, expand, change, possibly get damaged in weather, be broken, die, get sick, get too big over time. You need to see that there is NOTHING static in this outside environment. We have become so insular and inside focused that we forget that nature evolves and changes. We can’t have a Life-Scape without maintenance and management and care and attention to the important environmental impacts that will sometimes speed up or tip over that evolution.

6. In what ways does your environment affect mental health?

Nature is a living breathing system. When it’s healthy and vibrant, it will emanate positive energy — regulating energy. As humans, we also vibrate with health and wellness or stress and disease. We know when we are near an angry person or a happy person. Nature is the same — but just magnify that to like the 100th power. A healthy, vibrant landscape has the power to regulate our vibration. There is even research now that says that working healthy soils can regulate moods and balance depressive states. That the light waves of the color green can actually mitigate migraine headaches. We are of nature and when we eliminate her from our existence we are all worse for the wear. When we embrace her and visit her and allow ourselves to be close and touch nature, we can actually lift our mood, our mindset, our health, and our outlook.

7. What are the top three most important things to consider when starting to garden or landscape?

First is the environment you are presented to work with. Don’t try to make it something it isn’t already. The most success comes from working in partnership with the nature of your existing surroundings. It’s also far more cost-effective to approach it that way.

Second is the time you give and expect. Landscape development — especially done the Life-Scape way — is not a project, it’s a process. There is certainly a beginning and lots of middle space, but the end… that’s questionable. When you end… you die. When a landscape ends… maybe it’s because you move, or you just stop minding that it’s growing away from your control. Point is, it’s a long game. Knowing that is good. Like pets, like kids, like relationships — we aren’t racing to an end.

Third is the financial investment. Yes, we can be frugal, we can work hard to keep costs down to a point. Be mindful that when we engage in what’s worthy and valuable, we can monitor expenses and certainly should, but avoid cutting corners and quick fixes. In a living system that will bite you in the backside before too long. A Snickers bar for lunch is quick and cheap (and sorta yummy too) but often comes as a sugar crash (or a crappy mood) a few hours later. We need to think holistically even in the realm of financial investments in the landscape.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO — Adopted by her controlling foster mother at the age of eight, twenty-year-old Tara has seen little of the outside world. Lonely, punished for the slightest offense, her only distraction comes from watching the Feely family’s online videos. They’re an affectionate vlogging quintet and an internet sensation. Most important, they are Tara’s mental refuge. Then the opportunity arises for them to be something more. When Tara accepts an internship with the close-knit clan, they’re her escape.
Daring to run away, and defying Mother’s rules, Tara is welcomed into the loving fold. But the more Tara gets to know them, the more she realizes that not everything is as it seems. As secrets slowly surface, the image of the perfect family begins to crack. For Tara, it’s another trap.
To claim a life of her own, she’ll need a new escape plan. Because as the show’s popularity explodes, reaching even more fascinated viewers, Tara can’t shake the feeling that Mother is among their ranks. She’s watching. She’s waiting. She’ll never let her go.

ABOUT THE BOOK

What It Seems

Emily Bleeker | March 17, 2020 | Lake Union Publishing
Paperback | 978-1542043748 | $10.99
Ebook | B07T23V938 | $4.99
Audio | 978-1799723141 | $14.99
Genre: Psychological Thriller

More about Emily Bleeker

Emily Bleeker is a former educator who discovered her passion for writing after introducing a writer’s workshop to her students. She soon found a whole world of characters and stories living inside of her mind. It took a battle with a rare form of cancer to give her the courage to share that amazing world with others. Emily lives in suburban Chicago with her family. Between writing and being a mom, she attempts to learn guitar, sings along to the radio (loudly), and embraces her newfound addiction to running.

In an interview, Emily can discuss:

• The success of her previous novels, including hitting bestsellers list for every release
• The importance of using literature to educate the public on important issues like domestic violence
• Growing up in a household with strained relationships, and how that influences her writing
• Children forming an idea of families through YouTube in the digital age

An Interview with EMILY BLEEKER

1. What responsibility do you think literature has to educate people about issues like domestic violence?

I have always said that I think books are one of the greatest methods for spreading empathy. When you watch a movie–you see someone else live though various situations. But when you read a book, you as the reader have the opportunity to take one someone else’s life for a few hours and days. When it comes to topics like abuse and control, I’ve seen far too often that it is easier and more comfortable for society at large to say one of two things: 1. It can’t be THAT bad or 2. Why don’t you just leave? This story takes a look at why it isn’t easy to leave abuse and how much internal resolve it takes to find your way out, not just from the grasp of the abuser but also from the prison of your own limitations. The more that readers can experience these worlds that might be outside their own life experiences, the more equipped they can be to stop asking the wrong questions like the ones above, and start asking the right ones like “How bad is it?” and “How can I support you?” and “How can I help you feel safe to leave?”

2. How do you talk to your daughter about technology, and the idea of YouTube families ?

A few years ago I heard a sing-songy woman’s voice coming out of my daughter’s bedroom. It turned out to be from a video my daughter was watching of a family vlogger on YouTube. At first I thought that these family vloggers were a wholesome alternative to cartoons or endless toy unboxings but as I listened to more of the videos, I came to see that these families were dangerous in their own way. They made it seem like their very nuclear seeming families were happy, perfect, clean, adventurous and problem free 97% of the time. My daughter, who had never seemed to be concerned about the fact that I’m a single mom, suddenly was asking me to get married to…just about anyone and have more children and live our lives more like the YouTube families she followed online. It was an uphill battle to explain to my four year old (at the time) that families come in all shapes and sizes, a lesson I thought she’d come to understand already. And I also tried to explain that the majority of what is put online is a polished, pretend version of reality. Not a very easy concept to cover with a small child. Now, when she watches YouTube videos we talk very openly about how everything is not exactly what it seems online and how important it is to live in the reality of her life and find joy, REAL joy, there.

3. Can you talk a little bit about the complications involved with domestic violence situations?

I think the most difficult thing to understand about domestic violence and abuse in general is how deeply mental the victim is conditioned by the abuser. There is a trauma bond formed that keeps the victim of the abuse or neglect from feeling like they can leave the situation and those reasons seem very real and insurmountable. Not to mention that a 75% of domestic violence homicides happen when the victim is in the process of leaving their abuser. It can seem frightening and insurmountable to conquer solo which his why it is often too difficult to escape alone.

4. How has the success of your previous novels affected you?

I am so lucky to be able to support myself and my family as a full time writer. Honestly, my success’s greatest gift has been independence. But it also has helped me see that this world is full of so many opportunities and it is my job to keep working hard and seeking them out and encouraging others to treat their dreams and ambitions in a similar way.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, Ontario – Drawing from her own experience as a mother and a research psychologist, award-winning author Dr. Rachel Kowert presents tales of empowerment and self-reliance in her new children’s book, “Pragmatic Princess: 26 Superb Stories of Self-Sufficiency.”

Inspired by her own frustration as a mother of two seeking reading content featuring female leads who weren’t superheroes or male-companion dependent, Kowert’s book offers stories of everyday girls, solving everyday problems, with their everyday abilities. And the 26 stories represent children of all backgrounds, abilities and family types – each with a distinct personality – from Winnie the Wise who says, “…we are the ones who make our dreams come true, not other people, in the end it is up to you” to Xena the Xenial who reminds us, “We have so much to learn from one another, but only if we can listen to each other.”

After Kowert successfully raised more than $26,000 in just three days through a Kickstarter campaign, the book was developed with psychology and science in mind to maximize the potential for learning, as the characters in childhood stories are some of our earliest teachers. “Pragmatic Princess” is changing the narrative, moving beyond the tropes that female characters are best suited as damsels in distress or needing superpowers to be successful. And Kowert’s work pays particular attention to communities underrepresented in children’s books. More than 16 of the stories in the book feature a black, Asian or ethnic minority character in a central role, and two feature disabled children as the story leads.

“The symbolic models in our storybooks have a strong, long-lasting influence on our development,” Kowert says. “We need stories where female voices matter (no matter their ability or background) and where the diversity of the characters reflect the diversity of the world around us. by providing models that experience everyday challenging situations, ‘Pragmatic Princess’ also helps open the discussion for parents and teachers to talk about difficult childhood topics before they happen and provides the tools and strategies to successfully navigate these challenges.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Pragmatic Princess:
26 Superb Stories of Self-Sufficiency”
Rachel Kowert | 2019 | Your Own Castle, LLC
Hardcover | ISBN 978-0-578-58369-3 | Price: $29.99
E-Book | Price: $12.99

Dr. Rachel Kowert is a research psychologist, author and mother of two. She has previously published several non-fiction books including “A Parent’s Guide to Video Games,” which won a Foreword INDIES Award for Science. She has been featured by The Wall Street Journal, Polygon, New York Magazine’s the Science of Us, and Texas Public Radio among others.

In an interview, Rachel Kowert can discuss:

• The need for themes of empowerment, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, kindness and generosity in children’s stories.
• The importance of featuring diversity and inclusion in children’s stories
• How she developed this idea after seeking book options for her daughter that didn’t rely on male companions of superhero status.
• Her background as a mother and research psychologist and how that inspires her work
• The book’s foundation in science and extensive research

An Interview with Rachel Kowert

What inspired you to write “Pragmatic Princess,” and why is it so important to you?

As a psychologist, I know that the characters in our childhood stories are some of our earliest teachers. As a mom, I wanted books for my daughter that celebrated the powers and abilities of the everyday girl. However, when I went to find those kinds of books, they were few and far between. I wanted my daughter to have a storybook with characters that looked like her, reflected the world around her, and showed her what she was capable of doing with the skills and abilities she has right here and right now. Since that wasn’t available, I decided to write it myself.

How did you come up with the different characters and their names?

This was one of the most fun parts! More than half the characters are named after people I know or people I admire. For instance, Valerie is named after my mother, Gina is named after one of my dear friends, and Xena is named in honor of Xena the Warrior Princess (one of the very first strong and powerful women in the media that I was exposed to as a child).

We know that your daughter partially inspired this book, as you were looking for the kind of book you would want to buy for her. Is this book only for girls? What is your target audience?

This book is absolutely not just for girls! It is just as important that boys see girls solve their own problems as it is for girls to see girls solve their own problems. We read books to our daughters with male protagonists all the time and do not think twice about it! We should do the same for our boys (my son loves the book!). My target audience is those aged 3 -10+. The length is well-suited to keep the younger readers engaged whilst the topics become increasingly relevant for the older readers.

What does your daughter think about the book? Does she have a favorite princess?

My daughter loves the book! And despite the fact that “Zoe the Zealous” was named after her and designed to look like her, “Danielle the Daring” is her clear favorite. Though, I guess it is hard to compete with a girl who rides a motorcycle!

How does your background as a research psychologist inform your work?

I drew from my background to develop stories that would be fun, entertaining, but also maximize learning. Childhood stories provide an incredible opportunity to teach children a range of skills and behaviors across various categories of human development – intellectual, social, emotional, and moral. I wanted to make sure to take advantage of this opportunity by enlisting diverse characters and storylines that reflect everyday situations. My educational background also allowed me to develop characters to model effective skills and strategies to navigate some of the more difficult situations in childhood – such as fear of missing out, feeling left out, and constructive confrontation.

We know some of your past work has more of a parental audience; how was your process different when writing for children? Did anything surprise you?

It is definitely more fun writing for children! I was surprised at how much I was really able to integrate what I know about human psychology within the stories themselves. Being able to integrate a lesson or skill that I have picked up throughout my education and research career was a fantastic experience in walking the line between creative and technical writing.

Can you explain to us the science behind this book and the research that went into it?

The science behind the writing is a mix of media studies and learning theory. There is a lot of research that has found that the stories we are told as children through the media, whether it be television, movies, or books, have a long-lasting impact on our development. Knowing this, I wanted to create stories that demonstrate self-reliance but also maximize the potential for the transfer of learning through social modeling. The diverse cast of characters makes it more likely that readers will relate to any particular character and research has found that people are more likely to emulate role models of the same sex, ethnicity, and skill level of any particular activity. The book also rhymes, which helps make the content easier to memorize for younger children, which can help transition them into the pre-reading stage of development. Rhyming has also been found to encourage the development of writing skills.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

Dr. David A. Tenenbaum is a civilian mechanical engineer who works for the Army at the TACOM base in Warren, Michigan. In 1997, he was falsely accused of being an Israeli spy–and having dual loyalty to the State of Israel simply because he is Jewish–by a known anti-Semite and several other anti-Semitic coworkers who referred to Tenenbaum as the “little Jewish spy.” The FBI conducted a full-scale criminal investigation of Tenenbaum and his family. It resulted in an official report to FBI Director Louis Freeh, that there was no evidence Tenenbaum had ever done anything wrong. In fact, Tenenbaum was not even working on classified programs. Instead, he was concentrating on an approved and unclassified program known as the Light Armor Systems Survivability (LASS) to up-armor the Army’s HMMWVs because, following Somalia, it was a known fact the the HMMWVs were death traps.

The Tenenbaums’ federal lawsuit for religious discrimination was dismissed after the Army falsely claimed that they “would not be able to disclose the actual reasons or motivations for their actions without revealing state secrets.” Senator Carl Levin ordered the IG-DOD to investigate the Tenenbaum case and determine if the Army was guilty of anti-Semitism. After over two years, the IG-DOD  issued a report which confirmed that the US Army was guilty of anti-Semitism.

To this day, the Army refuses to make Tenenbaum whole and compensate him for the false accusations against him. Tenenbaum is one of the only persons for whom a favorable Inspector General report has been issued to not be compensated. The government has never been held accountable for their anti-Semitism.

MEDIA CONTACT

Angelle Barbazon, publicist
Books Forward
E: angelle@booksforward.com
P: (615) 576-0497

Accused of Treason: The US Army’s Witch Hunt for a Jewish Spy
by Dr. David A. Tenenbaum

Hardcover
On-Sale: March 10, 2020
ISBN: 9781642934519
$US 26.00 / $35.00 CAD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. David A. Tenenbaum has been working for the US Army as a civilian engineer since December 1984. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Chemical Engineering and a Doctorate in Business Administration. He has extensive experience working with other countries, conducting risk assessment and assessing technologies around the world, and developing business opportunities worldwide. One of his earlier primary responsibilities was to assess the safety of specific military vehicles and to help develop technologies to increase the safety of those vehicles. He managed the gunner restraint program for the HMMWV, which prevented the gunner from being killed in the event of a rollover, and was one of the primary designers of the restraint system which has been applied to other military vehicles as well. He was one of the first scientists/engineers in the US to recognize the deficiency of the HMMWVs against IEDs and developed a program with the Israelis and Germans to ensure the safety of US soldiers in these vehicles. Tenenbaum had been chosen for the highly competitive Weapon System Sustainment Management (WSSM) program as well as another competitive Congressional program, the AMC Civilian Leadership Development Program, which meant that he was being “fast-tracked” for upper management. He was also selected to be the exchange engineer to Israel. He continues his fight to this day to clear his name publicly and have the US Army accept responsibility and be held accountable for their false accusations against him.

A Conversation with Dr. David A. Tenenbaum:

Q: What inspired you to write Accused of Treason?

A: I don’t know that I would use the word inspired. There was never a moment of “oh, I think I should write a book”. It was more of a necessity or a responsibility. Anti-Semitism or any form of racism or bias should not be tolerated especially in our own government. And those who are guilty of purposefully trying to hurt people because of their own racist/biased attitude need to be held accountable for their actions. I did not write this book out of revenge.

I wrote this put to emphasize that we must never be afraid to take a stand against hatred and perhaps even more so we must not let hateful people define who we are.
By writing this book I am fighting back and showing that these people did not win and I will keep fighting until justice is served.

I wrote it to tell the story of a government gone wild where people in high level positions are not held accountable for their actions. It should make people angry. Remember…if it can happen to me…it can happen to you.

As George Santayana said; “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Paraphrased many times as; “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
People need to be held accountable for their actions.

Q: What do you hope is the biggest takeaway from the book?

A: I would like people to read this book and become angry that something like this should occur in today’s day and age in the United States. More importantly they should, hopefully, take away from this book to never give up and don’t let the negative things in life define you in a negative way but those negatives should help us learn and grow in a positive direction.

Q: How was your personal life affected by these workplace accusations?

A: That is an easy question to answer but not easy in a psychological way. I was for many years consumed with my case especially during the time I was suspended from my job and for many years after. I didn’t know if I was going to go to jail for the rest of my life, perhaps the death sentence for treason…I had no idea. I was not able to be there for my children for obviously good reasons. Even after I was cleared of any wrongdoing I was focused on obtaining justice. I had to be available for legal issues and could not necessarily go on vacation with my family. I lost time with my wife and kids…time is something which can never be given back. My focus was initially staying out of jail. Even after I was cleared I was treated like a pariah in my job for the Army and am still treated that way. I am still harassed and have to constantly watch my back as they would love to get rid of me. I am the mistake they made…the bad penny that keeps coming back. So, my focus is still on the case, but not like it used to be. My kids are older but I missed time with them…and I will never get that time back.

Q: Why do you continue to work for the Army despite the unfair treatment you received?

A: There are a few reasons that I continue to work for the Army.

– I still believe that I can contribute to the soldiers in the field. I have developed programs such as the gunner restraint system for HMMWVs. This technology has been used in other vehicles as well and I would like to think has saved soldiers’ lives. I initially conceived the idea for civilian ambulances and I believe that at least at one point the system was adapted for civilian ambulance use. I have certainly contributed to advancing better safety standards and developing safer vehicles for the civilian sector and government. Given the right environment I think I can contribute even more.

– I have been blackballed and cannot obtain another job outside the government. Even within the government I have not been promoted since the false accusations against me occurred. I was being fast tracked for an executive position before all of this happened. So, I need to stay in the government for the time being.

-I also cannot leave for the simple reason that the case is not done. If I left the army has no impetus towards being held accountable for what they have done. They would have no reason for settling my case. They have never even apologized. No, I need to stay until it is over.

Q: How did the treason investigation affect the projects you were working on for the Army?

A: My projects were cancelled. The LASS project which was geared towards upgrading the survivability of the HMMWV was the most important project to be cancelled. I remember telling my supervisors that if we get into a war time situation and those HMMWVs are used as they are “now” soldiers will die. And that is what happened. I am neither a prophet or soothsayer…I just have common sense. Those who came after me with anti-Semitic accusations of dual loyalty’s, as my attorneys have said, “they have blood on their hands”.

I had other projects I was working on when I was suspended, which were sabotaged by those who contributed to the false accusations.

It was not just the “present” projects which suffered but future projects as well. When I was ordered back to work after the suspension I was told by the director at the time that not only were my projects, which I had spent years developing cancelled, but I was not allowed to work with Israel despite the fact I had done nothing wrong. My old contacts not just in Israel but other countries, in the US and at TACOM/TARDEC would not work with me. “Colleagues” turned the other way when they saw me in the hall walking towards them. I was told by my “friends’ that they thought I was guilty of espionage but there was not enough evidence to convict me. One of my old supervisors told other engineers treat him cordially but “lock your doors” …paraphrased. Another of my supervisors treated me very nicely to my face but I was told by a friend of mine that this supervisor told him “stay away from Tenenbaum…he is trouble”.

Welcome back.

Q: What advice would you give to someone else who is experiencing anti-Semitism, or any sort of discrimination, at work?

A: The best advice I would give is to not be complacent. You need to fight back…otherwise they have automatically won. I did receive calls from other people, mostly Jews who were being singled out or profiled and being investigated. They asked me what they should do. I said that they needed to fight back. Get an attorney. Publicize what was happening. Some were to afraid. They told me that they felt by fighting back it would make it worse. I told them they were counting on this attitude from you. But they were afraid. I told them they needed to take a stand against hatred. It will only get worse. Do it not just for yourself but also for your family. Respect yourself. Don’t allow hatred to beat you.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Young woman hides secrets of her own in award-winning author’s latest thriller

Herndon, VA — Alan Orloff is the author of numerous award-winning thrillers, and his latest work steps into the world of private investigation with his signature vivid characters and heart-pounding scenes. I Know Where You Sleep will have you looking over your shoulder from its very beginning.

“I know where you play,” rasps an ominous voice on the phone at Jessica Smith’s gym. “I know where you pray,” whispers the same voice at her church. The police are no help, so Jessica, tired of fleeing and unwilling to be cowed into hiding, turns to her last resort — P.I. Anderson West.

West dives into Jessica’s case, pro bono. With some overzealous help from his loose-cannon sister Carrie, he unearths a horde of suspicious men in Jessica’s life — vindictive ex-beaus, squirrelly co-workers, skittish boyfriend wannabes. But are any twisted enough to terrorize her?

After the stalker breaks into Jessica’s bedroom — “I know where you sleep” — and she goes missing, West must find her before the stalker does.

Praise for I Know Where You Sleep

“Sleep is one thing that readers won’t get much of when they pick up this stellar novel! Gripping from first page to last, Orloff’s I Know Where You Sleep virtually defines the psychological thriller. And Anderson and Carrie are two of the most compelling — and appealing — heroes in crime fiction to come along in years. You’ll love them just as much as you’ll be swept up by Orloff’s brilliant plot.”

Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author of The Bone Collector and The Never Game

“A winner! A twisty page-turning cat and mouse pursuit with a surprise around every corner. If you’re looking for a truly good guy — Anderson West is the perfect choice. This charming protagonist — a PI with heart and determination and a pure sense of justice — will captivate you. The talented Alan Orloff has created a unique and memorable character, and a terrific book.”

Hank Phillippi Ryan, bestselling and award-winning author of The Murder List

“With clock-ticking yet compassionate prose, Alan Orloff portrays one of the horrors of all our modern lives: the stalker. I Know Where You Sleep is a private eye novel for these all-too-real modern days. Orloff’s P.I. protagonist Anderson West is a man of modern personal complications and classic professional simplicity: he wants to stop evil and crime where he can — and takes readers along for the entertaining, revealing ride.”

James Grady, New York Times bestselling author of Six Days of the Condor

More about “I Know Where You Sleep”

Alan Orloff | Feb. 10, 2020 | Down & Out Books
978-1-64396-077-7 | $17.95 (paperback) | $7.99 (ebook)
Thriller | Private Investigator | Crime

When Anderson West takes on the pro-bono case of Jessica Smith, a twenty-something restaurant hostess being stalked, the last thing he expects is for his investigation to spiral into breaking and entering, assault, and legal threats from the suspects and the victim.
But that’s what happens when you run a private investigation firm with your rule-breaking, loose-cannon sister at your side.

While Anderson spends his time deducing and interviewing possible suspects, Carrie handles interrogations in her own unique—and personal—fashion. And it seems like everyone is a suspect. There are Jessica’s ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend, her incredibly creepy boss and the suspicious reverend at her church who definitely seems to be hiding something.
Or someone.

The closer Anderson and Carrie get to an answer, the more danger Jessica finds herself in. Her stalker’s notes become increasingly more threatening, trading the scary phone calls and text messages for terrifying photographs and notes at her gym, work, and home. To make things even more complicated, Jessica’s backstory begins to unravel, and the secrets of her past could potentially solve everything… if only she’d let Anderson and Carrie in.
With time ticking down, will the brother-sister investigative team be able to solve Jessica’s case before she tries something foolhardy, like facing up to the tenacious bastard on her own, armed only with a handgun and a prayer?

More about the author

ALAN ORLOFF has published eight novels, including his latest thriller, PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT, which won the 2019 ITW Thriller Award for Best E-Book Original. His debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, was an Agatha Award finalist; his story, “Dying in Dokesville,” won a 2019 Derringer Award (“Happy Birthday” was a 2018 finalist); and “Rule Number One” was selected for THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2018. His PI novel, I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP, will be published by Down & Out Books in February 2020. Alan loves cake and arugula, but not together. Never together. www.alanorloff.com

In an interview, Alan Orloff can discuss:

• How to create realistic, captivating characters
• The research that goes into his books, including completing a Citizen’s
  Police Academy
• His quota-based writing process
• Why crime fiction is such a persistently popular genre
• His fiction writing workshops and tips for budding authors

An interview with Alan Orloff

How do you think your wide array of work experience has helped you to write realistic characters?

I’ve worked in offices and shipyards, factories and libraries, in hi-tech and no-tech, in government and the private sector. Which means I’ve seen a wide variety of people in a wide variety of environments, and let me tell you, people are FASCINATING—in different ways, of course—no matter where they work or what they do!

What draws you to the thriller and crime fiction genre?

Life can be tough, and the news is full of tragic events, most of which are out of my control. In my books and stories, however, EVERYTHING is in my control. I can make sure that the hero vanquishes the villain, that good defeats evil, and that justice always prevails. Which I do.

Why did you focus on P.I.’s for this book?

I grew up watching so many of the cop and detective shows in the 1970s: Mannix, The Rockford Files, Barnaby Jones, Ironside, McMillan & Wife, Banacek, Kojak, Columbo, Cannon, Baretta, Shaft, Police Woman, Tenafly, The Rockford Files, and Charlie’s Angels. And then I discovered Robert B. Parker’s Spenser! It was only natural that someday I wrote about P.I.s!

You teach fiction writing workshops when you aren’t busy writing yourself. What is some of the advice that you give to budding authors?

I think it’s so, so important to get to the end of a manuscript—to prove to yourself that you can put 80,000 words together in some kind of semi-coherent order. So I urge writers to use the BICFOK method—Butt In Chair, Fingers On Keyboard—until you type those two magical words, “The End.” Of course, that’s when all the really hard work begins (revision)!

You completed your local Citizen’s Police Academy. What did you learn through that experience that you have worked into your writing?

It didn’t take me long to realize that if I wanted to write about crime, I needed to learn more about it. So I knocked over a 7-Eleven (bada-bing). Actually, I took a Citizen’s Police Academy where we learned about all aspects of the policing business: gangs, drugs, K-9, traffic control, and investigation/forensics. We toured the county detention center (jail), we got to use a LIDAR gun, we went to the shooting range to fire a real gun, and we went on a ride-along. In fact, my ride-along was so eventful that I wrote a novel (with the first scene based on that) called, amazingly enough, RIDE-ALONG.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“A must-read for anyone who wants to stay fit and age with grace” — Readers’ Favorite (5-star review)

VAIL, Colorado – What if getting older didn’t have to mean experiencing joint pain, insomnia, or frequently feeling tired and worn out? For Dr. Matthew Ehrlich, it doesn’t. His guidebook offers a compilation of the best health advice from the most trusted sources, drawing from his training in anti-aging medicine and his work in the exercise physiology lab. Aging doesn’t have to mean losing the strength, mobility, energy and vitality of your younger mind and body.

“The Vail Method: Getting Better Not Just Older” (Advantage Press, January 2020) is Dr. Matthew Ehrlich’s comprehensive lifestyle guide for readers of all ages to begin working towards healthier aging. Dr. Ehrlich covers the latest science behind improving a person’s fitness. Utilizing a technique called “lactate threshold testing” – often used in training professional athletes such as Tour de France bikers – Dr. Ehrlich demonstrates how these tests can also help weekend warriors improve their cardio fitness and performance. In addition, Dr. Ehrlich filters through the disinformation of “fad diets” and reviews the many health benefits of a plant-based diet, providing readers with studied evidence and easy recipes he has used to thrive in a meat-eating household. He also covers mindfulness, hormone replacement therapy, the importance of rest and recovery for athletes, and the sleep disorders many experience as they age.

“The Vail Method” is for anyone committed to making a better life for their future self. As Dr. Ehrlich says, “there’s only so much time in one day. The tips in this book will have to take priority over something else in your life, but the preventative care will be worth it as you age.”

MATTHEW EHRLICH, M.D. is a lifelong distance runner and cyclist who is passionate about maintaining wellness through nutrition and exercise, and helping others to do so. He is fellowship trained in anti-aging medicine from the Cenegenics Medical Institute and is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. In the last five years he has studied with the exercise physiologists, sports nutritionists, and trainers at the Human Performance Lab at the UC Boulder Sports Medicine facility. His greatest education, however, has come from 25 years in caring for patients and learning what problems detract from aging well. Ehrlich’s first book on LASIK, “How to See Like a Hawk When You’re Blind as a Bat” was a national success. To learn more about Dr. Ehrlich and his work visit https://www.vailmethod.com/.

“The Vail Method: Getting Better Not Just Older”
Dr. Matthew Ehrlich | January 14, 2020 | Advantage Press
Paperback | 978-1-949639-50-6 | Price: $14.99
Hardcover | 978-1-949639-98-8 | Price: $24.99
Nonfiction / Health

In an interview, MATTHEW EHRLICH can discuss:

• What “The Vail Method” really is
• How he maintains a plant-based diet in a meat-loving family
• The differences between diets (plant-based, vegan, vegetarian)
• How to get protein when following a plant-based diet
• Tips for improvement in cardio and endurance exercises
• How mindfulness contributes to rest, health, and imagination
• Misinformation in the wellness/diet world, and what various scientific studies have shown us about diet and exercise choices

An Interview with DR. MATTHEW EHRLICH

What is “The Vail Method”?

The Vail Method is a comprehensive lifestyle guide to aging well, including fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness. It pays tribute to the recreational paradise that I live in, and the fit and healthy people that choose to reside here. We have a spectrum from young Olympic athletes to 80 year old couples that hike up mountains in Vail.

Many health guides focus on gentler exercises such as walking briskly. Why does your book focus on cutting edge aerobic fitness when it comes to exercising?

Walking is a safe starting point for any aerobic fitness and weight loss program, and for some, this remains their main physical activity. Our program is scientifically based and proven to improve and maximize fitness (and mitochondrial function) by targeting specific heart rates during exercise, and provides a written prescription for how much time at each zone. We are trying to take our patients and athletes to a higher level of fitness than is generally obtained with walking alone. We can easily have a patient walk on a treadmill in the lab and see where they are currently at and where we would like to see improvement. Improving mitochondrial function is important to consider because mitochondria clear the lactate that builds in our blood during exercise allowing us to continue our workout, but also function in better carbohydrate metabolism and therefore, can reduce one’s risk of diabetes.

What are your tips for someone wanting to try a plant-based diet, despite being in a meat-eating family, or living with a meat-eating partner?

In this case, you are likely to meet some resistance, especially if you are not the person preparing the meals. This is my situation, as well. Breakfast and lunch are easier for you to control. Dinner is more challenging. As a short answer, try to find an item on your dinner menu that has common ground. Perhaps it’s a bowl of soup. Boil some sprouted lentils on the stove for 3 minutes and add them to your bowl of soup. That can function as your plant-based protein source. Use a steamer pot to prepare a medley of green veggies each night that you can eat as a side dish. These are quick and easy, no-fuss ways to find common ground with a meat-eating partner or family member.

Additionally, each weekend I cook garbanzo and black beans to store for the week. For dinner, you can prepare so many easy and creative dishes with them. It might be as simple as beans and freshly cooked brown rice or quinoa, with your veggies. Or another great go-to is tacos with black beans and salsa or guacamole, possibly with tofu sauteed in your favorite sauce.

For someone wanting to undergo a complete lifestyle change, where would you recommend they begin?

For a start, read the book. There is usually a driving factor behind the desired change(s). It might be as simple as body weight, and an inability to lose it. It might lack of energy or poor sleep, anxiety, or depression. It might be elevated blood cholesterol and a desire to avoid taking a statin drug, or the desire to live long and remain strong enough to watch your children and grandchildren grow up. Or maybe you want to improve your marathon time or your performance in you sport of choice. Take that medal home this year!

As a medical doctor, I begin with a medical assessment. How is your health? What is your weight, blood pressure, blood tests? How are you sleeping? Does your mind race in bed? How is your energy? What’s going on in your life? We need a diet log to see what you’re eating. Comprehensive blood work is done to evaluate your blood lipids, cholesterol, aging markers, and hormones. What is your percent body fat? (This is used to determine your ideal body weight). What exercise and strength training are you currently doing, if any? Then we recommend completing a treadmill stress test, measuring your blood lactate level with increasing running speed on the treadmill (or energy on the exercise bike) at each 5 minute interval. Then, we put all of this data together for you to comprehensively understand where your “starting point” is.

How is “The Vail Method” accessible for any and all readers?

This is my goal for 2020. To increase the accessibility of The Vail Method. We plan to offer a “boot camp” this summer, where we can open the program to more people, getting you evaluated for current fitness performance and areas of improvement. We want to send you home with a personalized program to follow and set you off to a strong start in improving your life and health. I hope to be traveling and speaking for both the public and health professionals soon. We might also explore creating a podcast! Please check our website www.vailmethod.com and our Facebook and Instagram (@drmattehrlich) for more information.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A seasoned family therapist and one of D.C.’s premiere divorce lawyers provide helpful advice to navigate marriage’s tricky and emotional situations

Olney, MD – Many of us have heard about the five love languages, but is there a realistic alternative for the messy and serious conversations that arise in every relationship? Enter David and Julie Bulitt.

Who better to serve as an example than a successful couple of 33 years that has navigated some of life’s toughest pitfalls? Between David’s work as an accomplished divorce attorney and Julie’s perspective from her 25+ years as a therapist, the Bulitts have had these sincere conversations, and found healing in them.

What they’ve learned about saving a marriage could fill a book — and it does. The 5 Core Conversations for Couples tackles every corner of relationships with the wisdom, knowledge, and best advice culled from David and Julie’s unique experiences. Drawn from notes of their discussions, chats and arguments — not always sober — and filled with frank, funny stories, it tackles the basics with openness and honesty. From getting along to parenting, communication, and sex, it also covers hard-to-discuss issues like addiction, infertility, pornography, and family silence.

Peek inside one of the most unique and articulate examples of modern marriage today. What happens when a top divorce lawyer and a family therapist close the door and really talk?

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

JULIE BULITT is a licensed clinical social worker who has spent more than 25 years working with individuals, couples and families. Her private practice focuses on family, couples and individual therapy, ADHD and Executive Functioning coaching. She has served as a Clinical Supervisor and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant for the Montgomery County (Maryland) Mental Health Association, an Adoption Therapist for the Center for Support and Education in suburban Washington, D.C. She presently serves as the in-house therapist for The Discovery Channel in Silver Spring, Maryland. For more,, visit www.livesane.com.

DAVID BULITT is a partner in the Washington, D.C. Metro law firm of Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, PA. For more than a decade, he has been chosen as one of the area’s top divorce lawyers by multiple publications and recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” and a Washington, D.C. Metro “Super Lawyer.” Praised as “the lawyer who epitomizes stability and old fashioned common sense” by Bethesda Magazine, David has a particular interest in families with special needs children as a result of his personal experiences. He is the author of two fiction novels and multiple articles in legal publications and has appeared on several local shows. For more information, visit www.davidbulitt.com.

DAVID AND JULIE have been married for 33 years. They have four daughters, two of whom are biological and two adopted, and three grandchildren. They divide their time between suburban Washington, D.C. and Bethany Beach, Delaware. Learn more about David and Julie at www.thebulitts.com.

In an interview, David and Julie can discuss:

*What authentic conversations look like between a married therapist and divorce lawyer at home behind closed doors
*How to start the hard conversations with partners about everything from finances to addiction
*The experience of raising both two biological children and two adoptive children
*The “The Cocoon of the Uninformed” financial dynamic between partners David has seen through his law practice
*The consequences and realities of “the silent treatment” and other communications hurdles Julie has seen as a family therapist

Recent appearances:

• Fox 5 Good Day DC: https://www.fox5dc.com/video/653262
• ABC/WJLA Good Morning Washington: https://wjla.com/features/good-morning-washington/core-conversations-every-couple-should-have
• Big Blend Radio, TV and in Magazine: https://en.calameo.com/read/0039965667ea126c26317?page=68

More about The Five Core Conversations for Couples

David Bulitt and Julie Bulitt | February 4, 2020 | Skyhorse Publishing/Simon & Schuster
Paperback | 978-1510746129 | $16.99
Ebook | 978-1-5107-4613-8 | B07TD6JW7X | $12.99
Nonfiction: Relationship

A Top Divorce Lawyer and a Family Therapist Show You How to Really Talk—for Better or for Worse

Married for 33 years, David, a divorce lawyer, and Julie, a family therapist, have both been witness to families struggling with life’s most difficult challenges. At the same time, they have weathered their own challenges at home: raising four daughters, two biological and two adopted, and dealing with one child’s mental health and behavioral issues. What they’ve learned about saving a marriage or knowing when to call it quits, when to turn to professionals or when to try tough love, could fill a book—and it does.
The Five Core Conversations for Couples tackles every corner of relationships with the wisdom, knowledge, and best advice culled from David and Julie’s unique personal and professional experiences, organized topically into the five core reasons that people come to their offices. Topics include: disability, abuse, serious illness, estrangement and much, much more.
Take a look inside the hearts and minds of two marriage professionals to gain a fresh perspective into your own relationships and to have valuable and more frequent conversations with those you love.

An Interview with David Bulitt and Julie Bulitt

How do you think your occupations have affected your relationship?

Julie: David will be the first to tell you that as a divorce lawyer, he spends a lot of his workday fighting with people. I still tell people that whenever David came home from a day at the office, he was too tired to fight with me. He let me do whatever I wanted. Most times that was a good thing. Most times. As a therapist, I saw first hand what was bothering people in their relationships and I think it helped me be mindful of what I should do more of and also try to avoid in my own marriage.

David: Julie is right. With my job, the emotions, the fighting, it can really wear you down. A lot of my day is spent talking to people in varying degrees of distress. By the time my day ended, I was just happy and appreciative for what I had in my marriage, with my own family. I mostly learned to let the small things pass, give her space and avoid conflict where there wasn’t much point to it.

How has your passion for communication between partners impacted your dynamic with the rest of your family?

David: We have always encouraged our kids to talk to us, to each other, friends, whomever. When one of our girls had a difficult situation recently, but Julie and I urged her to see a therapist, even if just for a few sessions, just to help her work her way through things.

Julie: In a lot of ways, it came naturally for us. We are always talking to each other, and our kids could not help but be exposed to it. We often had the more difficult conversations with our kids present. Nothing that wasn’t age appropriate, but I think that both David and I felt that talking openly to each other and making sure the girls could see us doing that was a good way to show communication in a positive light, even if we disagreed about what we happened to be discussing.

What’s your best advice for couples looking for better communication habits?

Julie: I think it is important to talk about things often. Be open and honest. Don’t remain silent and let things build up. I have often seen how one partner tries to ignore the other, what he or she has said or done, and instead of whatever it was being over, it just builds and leads to some sort of blowout or explosion. That type of thing is toxic and often ends relationships.

David: Being cognizant of when to say something and not to say it. One of my biggest complaints about Julie is not what she says, but when or how she says it. I can’t tell you how many times she gets up in the morning, comes downstairs and immediately tells me about something I need to do or gives me some instructions. No smile or ‘good morning’, but instead rolls right into how I didn’t make the bed or close my drawer or what I need to do – something along those lines. She is right, of course, I may have not done something, but because that is how I am greeted, I shut down, or snap back at her.

How has your marriage changed over the course of 33 years?

Julie: We learned to be more patient, to give each other space. Both of us understand that we need time apart just as much as we need time together. That was something that we had to learn; it came with time and maturity.

David: Like most couples who have stayed together for as long as we have, Julie and I have had our challenges. Our one daughter caused or was the source of what seemed like never ending conflict between the two of us and between our girls. Sometimes, we handled things well but sometimes we did not. We did what we thought we could to try to help her be happy and healthy. All of that came at a big cost, both financially and emotionally. That entire situation I really do believe made us stronger, more trusting of each other and, in a lot of ways, better parents and partners.

What is it like navigating the experience of raising both biological and adopted children?

David: When the girls were younger, I went out of my way to try to avoid the ‘she looks like her mom’, ‘you have the same eyes’ kinds of discussions with other adults. Often, people were not sensitive to how a little girl who is adopted can be made to feel when an adult is gushing over her sister (a biological child) and how much she resembled one of us. I made sure to talk about how one or both of the adopted girls had likes, dislikes – that kind of thing – that were similar to me or Julie.

Julie: It’s been a gift and a challenge raising four daughters. There is no doubt that our biggest challenge as a couple and a family was our third daughter. She also caused the most conflict between the two of us. We are grateful to have an adopted child that isn’t challenging – if we didn’t, it may have adversely altered our own views of adoption.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO, Illinois — Amberjack Publishing is pleased to announce the forthcoming release of the coming-of-age novel, “Salt the Snow,” (Feb. 4, 2020) by sophomore author, Carrie Callaghan.

“Salt the Snow” follows the story of American journalist Milly Bennett. Milly has covered murders in San Francisco, fires in Hawaii, and a civil war in China, but 1930s Moscow presents her greatest challenge yet. When her young Russian husband is suddenly arrested by the secret police, Milly tries to get him released. But his arrest reveals both painful secrets about her marriage and hard truths about the Soviet state she has been working to serve. Disillusioned, and pulled toward the front lines of a captivating new conflict, Milly must find a way to do the right thing for her husband, her conscience, and her heart.

“Salt the Snow” is a vivid and impeccably researched tale of a woman ahead of her time, searching for her true calling in life, and love. In today’s era of women speaking out, this novel take a fresh look at the extraordinary women whose legacies have been nearly lost to history.

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Salt the Snow”

Carrie Callaghan | Feb. 4, 2020 | Amberjack Publishing
Hardcover | 978-1948705646 | $24.99 | Historical Fiction

CARRIE CALLAGHAN is a historical fiction author living in Maryland with her spouse, two young children, and two ridiculous cats. She is the author of A Light of Her Own (Amberjack, 2018), a portrait of the recently rediscovered Dutch artist Judith Leyster. Her short fiction has appeared in Weave Magazine, The MacGuffin, Silk Road, Floodwall, and elsewhere. Carrie is also an editor and contributor with the Washington Independent Review of Books.

Praise for “Salt the Snow”:

“With meticulous research and insightful prose, Callaghan lifts American journalist Milly Bennett’s voice free of the sexism and censorship that often stifled her words in 1930s Moscow and beyond. Honest, vivid, and bold in the face of historical truths, Salt the Snow is a captivating story of a woman whose vulnerability and hopeful idealism resonate even today.”

— Jennifer Klepper, USA Today Bestselling Author of “Unbroken Threads”

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/