Author: Marissa DeCuir

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DENVER, Colorado – The bonds of friendship are tested in the newest chronicle of the Adventures of Jason Lex. “The Forge of Bonds,” (Feb. 25, 2020, Camashea Press) by best-selling author Wendy Terrien, finds Rampart Guard Jason and Yowie Sadie Callahan adjusting to the aftermath of their previous separate adventures.

Recalling the lives he was forced to take, Jason’s reluctance to kill again doesn’t go unnoticed by Sadie, who faces her own struggles as she attempts to embrace her new powers and evade her nemesis Garrison Devine. With loyal dogs Shay and Finn, the two continue their quest to protect humankind from the malevolent cryptids among them.

The latest installment of Terrien’s award-winning YA contemporary fantasy is a coming-of-age story where friendships thrive despite adversity — and ultimate danger.

ABOUT THE BOOK

“The Forge of Bonds” (Chronicle Three in the Adventures of Jason Lex)

Wendy Terrien | Feb. 25, 2020 | Camashea Press
Paperback | 978-0-9983369-5-4 | $15.99 | Hardcover | 978-0-9983369-4-7 | $28.99
Ebook | 978-0-9983369-6-1 | $5.99 | YA Contemporary Fantasy

Praise for Wendy and The Rampart Guards series

“[The Rampart Guards is] a delightful novel that delivers a tightly plotted, character-driven story. This paranormal fantasy is not only wildly entertaining, but also undeniably unique. The cast of authentic and endearing characters is one of the novel’s many strengths, along with the brisk pacing, action-packed narrative and creation of the novel’s fascinating creatures. Both adult and YA audiences should find this book appealing.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review), named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2016

“Terrien has created an intriguing world that seamlessly integrates the fantastic with the realistic and is supported by a relatable cast of characters.”
— Foreword Clarion 5-star review

“The undeniable strength of Terrien’s writing is not in the action scenes (although they are exhilarating and adeptly rendered), or in the plot (which is intelligently designed and skillfully executed), but in her ability to warmly express the very human nature of her characters as they stumble, grow, and triumph, always with the genuine support of one another.”
— Colorado Book Review of The Forge of Bonds

“In Sadie, Terrien presents readers [of The Clan Calling] with a strong, relatable female protagonist. She could have remained merely an important secondary character in the series–a curious Hermione Granger to Jason Lex’s adventurous Harry Potter; instead, she’s entrusted with the lead role here, and Terrien makes sure that she plays it very well … A fresh installment with a realistic protagonist whom teens will want to follow into the realms of the paranormal.”
— Kirkus Reviews

WENDY TERRIEN is an international best-selling author and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2017-18 Independent Writer of the Year. Her debut novel, “The Rampart Guards,” earned a Kirkus starred review and was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2016. Wendy graduated from the University of Utah and transplanted to Colorado where she completed her MBA at the University of Denver. She is on the board of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and is a member of Pikes Peak Writers, the Colorado Authors’ League, and the Author’s Guild. Wendy lives in the Denver area with her husband, Kevin, and their dogs, Shea and Boon. She is also committed to promoting pet adoption from rescues or shelters.

An Interview with Wendy Terrien

How has your journey into writing helped you grow as an author?

I’d considered myself to be a good writer and thought I was well prepared to write a novel, but I was so wrong. I had tons to learn and it was fantastic. My brain lit up like a fireworks finale. I could not get enough. That has since led to meeting incredible people and establishing myself as a member of a writing tribe here in Colorado where I feel really comfortable, really at home. I’m also in a position to give back and help new writers, and I enjoy that very much.

What do you think will surprise readers most about “The Rampart Guards” series?

Every cryptid that appears in the book actually exists! At least on the internet. There are numerous sites that follow and discuss the likelihood that certain creatures exist, and many share photos, videos, historical stories, etc. So if a reader is intrigued by any or all of the cryptids, they can Google that cryptid and make the decision for themselves if that particular creature does or does not exist.

What’s your goal when you’re writing for your readers?

I hope my book lights up their imagination. I want to write stories that are fun to read and give the reader a chance to visit another world for a while. It’s great to let your imagination run free and see where it takes you — it’s energizing.

What has been your favorite or most exciting experience as an author to date?

Have I mentioned I can’t pick favorites? And regarding this question, that is definitely true. The entire experience has been one thrill after another. The first time I typed “the end” was amazing, when I found out my story was selected as a finalist in the San Francisco Writers contest I was giddy, the starred review from Kirkus Reviews for “The Rampart Guards” knocked my socks off, the first review from a young reader made me glow inside — and I could go on. Bottom line, being an author makes me happy.

You write such exciting young adult fiction. What advice would you impart to a young, aspiring writer?

When someone criticizes your work, and they will, don’t let that knock you down. Take feedback, good and bad, and use it to your advantage. Learn from it and make changes. That may mean you take classes or workshops to improve your skills, or it may give you more awareness of how your work appears to others versus how you see it, or it could give you insight into something else you didn’t realize you needed. There are a million possible lessons, but I promise none of them are, “You should quit.”

We know writing makes you happy. What else brings delight to your day?

I love the dogs we share our life with: Shea and Boon. They’re both rescues. Shea is our mighty dog. She came to us through the Boulder Humane Society after she’d been transferred from Kansas. Her mom was a stray and was going to be euthanized until they saw how far along she was in her pregnancy. A kind soul fostered her and the puppies until they could all be moved to Colorado where they had a better chance at adoption. And I’m happy to say they all found homes, mom-dog included. And Boon is a sweetheart we adopted from a shelter in Arizona where my mom was living at the time. He’d been there for nearly a year, likely because he looks like he may have some pit bull in him. He’s as sweet as sweet can be and we’re lucky to have him. Boon’s personality and the misinformation about the pit bull breed inspired me to make Finn — a very cool canine character in the Jason Lex series — a pit bull mix.

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

Author follows up impressive debut novel and film adaptation featuring all-star cast

MALIBU, California – An accomplished author, screenwriter, and lyricist, Roy Freirich adapted his celebrated debut novel, “Winged Creatures” into the feature film “Fragments,” with Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson, and Dakota Fanning among an all-star cast. He’s written screenplays for Fox Searchlight, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, and Sony. His lyrics have been sung by Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and Patti Labelle. And now he’s releasing a new speculative psychological thriller, “Deprivation” (Meerkat Press, March 3, 2020).

Struggling with insomnia, Freirich was haunted by a terrifying question: What if we’re unable to ever sleep again? Those sleepless nights catalyzed “Deprivation,” hailed by Kirkus as “cinematic” and a “well-paced action thriller” that will “shake readers awake.”

August, Carratuck Island, New York: A silent child is found abandoned on the beach clutching a handheld video game, and residents and tourists alike are stricken with relentless insomnia. Denied the outlet of dreams — fears, guilt and primal urges find other ways to surface. Delusions deepen into hysteria as the island becomes cut off from the mainland, plunging into mob rule, murder, and suicide.

Freirich’s first novel, “Winged Creatures,” was hailed by Publisher’s Weekly as a “stark, impressive debut,” and Booklist said, “This well-crafted debut packs a wallop.” Now his newest page-turner, “Deprivation,” will certainly ensure readers are in for a sleepless night.

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Deprivation”
Roy Freirich
March 3, 2020
Meerkat Press
Psychological Thriller
Paperback
978-1946154217
$17.95

ROY FREIRICH leads multiple lives as a writer — of lyrics, movies, and novels. His lyrics have been sung by legends Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and Patti Labelle, among many others. He’s written screenplays for Fox Searchlight, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, and Sony, and adapted his novel, “Winged Creatures,” for the film, “Fragments,” featuring Forest Whitaker, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Josh Hutcherson, and Kate Beckinsale. He has also served as editor for the national desk of The New York Times and for the renowned Beloit Poetry Journal. He lives with his wife, ever-patient editor, and frequent co-writer, Debrah, in Malibu, California. Together, they’ve written the libretto for a musical adaptation of Anne Rice’s “Cry to Heaven,” for Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre. Visit him online at www.royfreirich.com.

In an interview, Roy Freirich can discuss:

*How his personal experiences with insomnia influenced his new novel
*The benefits and unique challenges of creative versatility, as Freirich finds success as a screenwriter, novelist, poet and lyricist
*The experience of adapting his hit debut novel “Winged Creatures” into the feature film “Fragments” starring Dakota Fanning and Forest Whitaker
*How sleep deprivation impairs one’s sense of reality and judgment, while increasing stress, fear, depression, and primal urges
*His mission to create an online community for people suffering from insomnia and sleep deprivation

An Interview with ROY FREIRICH

Is there any sort of common theme in your work?

In retrospect, yes: we’ve all had unresolved experiences, from unfulfilled wishes, desires for a “do-over,” or l’esprit d’escalier, from small regrets to more serious trauma from violence, catastrophe, death. How do we unknowingly reenact these in our lives and in our dreams, in disguised or symbolic forms? How do unresolved experiences in the past inform our choices in the present?

“Winged Creatures” follows a few survivors of a traumatic mass shooting: a doctor who fails to save victims refuses to allow dying patients to die; a man whom a bullet narrowly missed thinks he’ll be lucky at casinos, too. A girl who survived fixates on birds like the ones she saw out the window where the horrific shooting occurred.

“Deprivation” focuses on re-enactment, as well, but in dreams, where we replay versions of unresolved experience more safely, variously disguised or symbolized, as a way to process and work through them. It’s vital to our emotional stability. As we lose more and more sleep, we lose the emotional stability that dreams help us maintain, and each of our unique preoccupations, desires, misconceptions and fears can spiral into obsessions, urges, delusions and paranoia. Multiply by an entire town cut off from the world for weeks where no one can sleep and you have anarchy, chaos, mob rule, violence: the novel “Deprivation.”

A common inspiration for both, if not for everything: Judith Herman’s perspicacious and compassionate “Trauma and Recovery, and “Fearless” by Raphael Iglesias — both a study of the unconscious urge to re-enact trauma.

How did your own struggles with insomnia inspire the novel?

It started with screeching tires and car horns — I was making a left through a red light across three lanes of oncoming traffic, suffering from what I learned was a micro-sleep, from having missed just two hours of sleep the night before. Just a small example of the diminished capacity we suffer from deprivation. Add the decrease in emotional stability, and eventually — depending on how long without sleep — delusions, hysteria, hallucinations. Multiply by an entire town cut off from the world for weeks, and you have the chaos of the novel.

People suffer insomnia late at night, alone. How can they feel less alone?

I’ve been posting some of my own experiences on my website and social media, and I’d love to see people post their own stories and struggles. The internet is a funny thing — it makes us more alone, sometimes, but it can also be a way to find a connection and community … Am I the only trying to find the perfect sleep mask? Who else wonders if the far-off barking dog is the same one from the other night?

You’ve been a songwriter with songs recorded by Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Smokey Robinson and others. And a screenwriter, too, with Oscar-winning actors in your own film adaptation of your first novel, “Winged Creatures.” Which medium do your prefer?

Right now, it’s certainly novels. So much more indulgent navel-gazing permitted; all the information in screenplays is external action, more immediately plot-driven. It’s a broad generalization I’ll probably regret 10 minutes from now. I’ll probably dream about being wrong in public in some disguised form, I’m sure.

Any specific inspirations for your fiction?

There’s spite, definitely — to spite the naysayers in my life. And envy, always — of my first literary crushes as an English major, who were really poets. I desperately, childishly yearned to possess some infinitesimal fraction of their ability to express so definitively. The Moderns, first, then going back through the eras, Victorian, Romantic, weaker on the Restoration, progressively weaker going back, I admit, and then I fell hard for Greek Language and Lit despite my absurdly challenged ability to translate. In Greek class I hid behind a tall woman with enormous hair so I wouldn’t be called on to sight-read. But it didn’t keep me from envying the emotional wisdom and authenticity of the Tragedians, Homer, Hesiod, the lyric fragments that survive. So, yes, through poetry, I gained a sense of how a wrought sentence fires on all cylinders —figurative, literal, connotational, denotational, rhythm and music. And also from Greek studies – Aristotle, whose Poetics taught me about the demands of story, certainly required reading for screenwriters.

Any specific inspirations for “Deprivation”?

I have to credit my own issues with sleep loss. My first wake-up call was the screech of tires and blare of horns as I attempted a left through a red light across three lanes of oncoming traffic. I later understood it to be a micro-sleep, due to just two hours of missed sleep the night before.

Then came the realization of diminished capacity from deprivation in other areas of my life, from working for too many hours for seriously diminishing returns. If I write a crap sentence or scene or song lyric, we all live to tell, but what about doctors, pilots, Presidents?

And, yes, I might be a little more emotionally unpredictable when sleep deprived: I’m not saying completely ranting paranoid stress ball crybaby, except maybe for that one time, or the other, but without sleep I’m not quite as utterly serene as usual.

Film adaptation of “Deprivation”?

Absolutely. I think this one lends itself to a film adaptation.

What’s next for you?

Aside from continuously beating the drum for my screenplays, I have a new novel I’m close to finishing. It’s best not to say too much — but there’s the key dramatic unity again — of a few very different characters united by a similar experience (here a clinical trial for an antidepressant that may or may not work, or make them worse) that forces them to make peace with their unresolved if not traumatic pasts. This one, titled “Bright Noise,” doesn’t judge the separate peace each attains — via delusions, domination, repression, or otherwise twisted strategies. If we think we’re happy, who’s to say we’re not? So there’s my attempt at purposely being vague and intriguing for the moment.

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

“The Arab Business Code” by Judith Hornok releases in March

We all know that the key to success is to take the right steps. But how do we identify the steps to business success in one of the world’s toughest and most dynamic markets?

After more than 15 years of research in the Arab Gulf, Judith Hornok has unequivocally earned the title of The Decoder among entrepreneurs around the world for her exceptional ability to understand and interpret international business practices, philosophies and culture. And now the native Austrian is translating her knowledge for American businesspeople in “The Arab Business Code” (March 10, 2020, Routledge).

Instead of dwelling on dry theories or relying on mind games, Hornok guides business leaders in the U.S. to create and maintain long-term relationships with their peers in the Arab world and beyond with insightful case studies of renowned international and Arab businesspeople and a colorful new concept that she calls The Seven Emotional Hinderers. This approach introduced in “The Arab Business Code” aims to help readers overcome the barriers to conducting business in the Middle East through the method of decoding.

“I think it’s helpful for people to visualize their emotions as living, breathing creatures with personalities and imperfections,” Hornok says. “This makes them, in a sense, more real. Recognizing The Seven Emotional Hinderers is the first step to a positive business relationship. Decoding gives you the edge.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

“The Arab Business Code”

Judith Hornok | March 10, 2020 | Routledge
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0367265021 | Price: $38.95
Nonfiction, Business

JUDITH HORNOK is the decoder and founder of Hornok & Partner, an internationally recognized innovations company for business success. Hornok has worked as a journalist for publications throughout Europe and the Middle East, writing about people and business, as well as producing TV documentaries such as, “The Makers Behind the Stars – The Man Behind Michael Schumacher.” She is the author of the book “Modern Arab Women”, in which she decoded “the quiet reformers.” The book is featured in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. While writing her second book, “The Arab Business Code,” she created the figures of The Emotional Hinderers.

For more than 15 years she has studied the codes of businesspeople. She discovered that to conduct successful business, you must first speak the “socio-emotional language” of people and understanding their true motivations. Since 2009 Hornok and her team have shared this approach with CEOs, managers and employees at international trade organizations.

After researching “codes” in various relationships, Hornok develops techniques to identify “The Emotional Hinderers”. In addressing these, she and her team of experts help businesses forge long-term successful relationships.

Hornok is known for her lectures, including her presentations at IDEO/Stanford University and the European Forum Alpbach. Her key message: knowing the “codes” of people will foster success in business and private life, while also giving you the ability to create peace. She spends her time traveling between Europe, the U.S. and the Arab world.

In an interview, JUDITH HORNOK can discuss:
*What American business leaders can glean from her 15+ years of experience researching the business culture of the Arab Gulf
*What decoding entails and how she became a “decoder”
*How to identify and handle The Emotional Hinderers
*How Americans can be successful in the Arab Gulf business market

An Interview with JUDITH HORNOK

What is “decoding” and how did you become a “decoder?”
Decoding means to know “the passwords” that spur or hinder people in their actions or reactions. It may be a word, a gesture, a facial expression, a ritual or a traditional kind of food.

As a child, I was frail and afraid. I had asthma and was often in the hospital. The outside world made me anxious. As a teenager, I started to study people around me; this lessened my fear. I realized what’s important to them and without realizing I already had started to “decode” their behavior towards me. Only much later I realized how important it is to know idiosyncrasies for any kind of relationship.

Why is decoding important, especially in the business world (and especially in the Arab Gulf)?
Decoding is the “fast track” to the emotional and intuitive state of your counterpart. You communicate on the same level but much quicker. It´s like “speaking the same language,” but on a social-emotional level. This saves time and money, and one can concentrate on the really important things.

Knowing “the codes” is not only essential in the business world in the Arab Gulf – it´s essential for all kind of relationships.

Can you briefly explain The Seven Emotional Hinderers? Why is this important and who does it benefit?
The Emotional Hinderers are the “aggressive, negative” form of emotions and feelings. I have given them names to describe them better, such as The Frustrated Expectation and The Paralyzed Fear for example. I created seven of them. By studying the business world, as in the Arab world, I realized how dangerous these “creatures” can be. Sometimes they even ruin a business deal.

As I have always thought in pictures, I started visualizing them as “characters” like real people – with faces, hair and clothes. Looking at these creatures made me smile – how they struggled with themselves. I trained myself to visualize them in different situations, in business meetings or just shopping at a supermarket – it helped me to see situations from a different perspective, enabling me to “decode” people. My team and I started to analyze situations by identifying The Emotional Hinderers. With tips and techniques from experts such as brain researchers, psychologists, athletes, our goal was how to manage The Emotional Hinderers. I report about it on my blog.

Does empathy play a crucial role in business?
Being empathetic is a fantastic gift and a great personal trait. It’s a valuable basis for every kind of relationship – “to feel other’s feelings;” it´s a tool that will certainly aid success. But I am not sure if everybody can learn to be empathetic in every situation.

However, what I certainly know is that you can train yourself to recognize “codes” of people (in groups or individuals).

Can you share a moment in your business ventures when a misunderstanding or a difference in views could have led to conflict and how you navigated that situation?
Managing expectations was certainly my first lesson during my beginnings in the Arab Gulf. I remember a meeting with an Arab business personality. I was waiting for over 15 minutes; the secretary came in, told me the person will arrive soon. After waiting for another 20 minutes I felt frustrated and it felt like my body “heated up inside me” – I heard internal voices having a dialogue. It sounded like, “I never expected that? This person seemed to be respectful about time… Why? Why does that happen to me?” … “Are they crazy? Letting me wait for over half an hour! This is so disrespectful!” – The characters Frustrated Expectation and Aggressive Anger Rascal had arrived and started manipulating me. Exactly at this moment, the businessman entered the room, smiled at me and excused himself for being late. If I hadn’t trained visualizing The Emotional Hinderers, if I hadn’t known how to use one of the techniques at this moment, to calm “the creatures” down, I am certain that I would have communicated very aggressively in the meeting. But I was able to reply in a very friendly way, didn´t mention the lateness of the businessperson for a second and had a great meeting with good results.

How can businesses profit from your guidance?
Business is nothing abstract, it is always a deal between people, real people. With my work I try to highlight the obstacles that exist in relationships. Not only in the counterpart but also in oneself.

Understanding my work will ultimately save businesses a lot of time, be it by choosing the right partners or recognizing when to stop a deal.

How can the ideas introduced in your book be applied in different facets of life, not just in business?
Relationships are a big part of our lives. Many psychologists today are busy trying save marriages and preventing pupils from being mobbed at school. I believe that recognizing your own Emotional Hinderers will help you in every relationship. Starting with yourself, from the inside-out can make a change in how people look at you and deal with you.

Why is this project so important to you? What inspired and motivated you to help decode the businesspeople of the Arab Gulf?
After a lot of international and Arab businesspeople complained that it’s so hard to do business in the Arab Gulf, I took it as a personal challenge to decode what creates success in this part of the world. I love to talk with people, and it makes me really happy to see people communicating well with each other.

How can the concepts in “The Arab Business Code” help the USA establish long-term and successful relationships in the Arab Gulf?
Each culture has its own codes and American businesspeople are not necessarily aware of the codes of Arab businesspeople. My book is a guide to understand the other side, not just through spoken language. The book gives many examples of American managers and how painfully they had to learn the codes. I want to save American businesspeople time and money.

Tell us about your previous book, “Modern Arab Women.”
This book highlights how successful women operate in the Arab Gulf to reform the situation of women. I included the first female racing driver, the first female filmmaker, the first female minister and so on. These women followed “their own codes;” that´s why they became successful. I personally call them the quiet reformers. They all used “From Inside To Outside” (FITO) technique, that I also describe in my new book.

Do you have a background in business?
No, after school I started training in the hotel industry but quickly changed to journalism. I have a curious nature and love to communicate. I was very fortunate to learn from the best and trained in one of Austria’s well-reputed publishing houses.

What’s next for you?
Having written two books already, I see a third one coming soon. I would very much like to write a book that applies my techniques to a broader audience.

I am also looking to work more with my creatures, The Seven Emotional Hinderers. I have an idea at the back of my mind to bring them to life. And of course, there are the lectures to larger organizations that will take up part of my time.

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/