Author: Marissa DeCuir

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEATTLE, Washington – It’s all too easy to be unkind. A telemarketer calls and interrupts dinner. A driver cuts you off in traffic. The repairman is running late. Depending on your mood, your reaction might be an abrupt hang up, a waved fist, an angry Yelp review. We’ve all done it. But we can choose a different response.

After spending more than 30 years working with nonprofit organizations, where she saw kindness in action daily, author Donna Cameron was inspired by its potential to change the world. Releasing on Sept. 25, 2018, by She Writes Press, “A Year of Living Kindly” explores what it means to lead a kind life and illustrates both the challenges and the benefits, providing readers with thought-provoking questions and practical actions throughout the book. She explores both the why and the how of choosing kindness.

What sets Cameron apart from other personal development authors is that she does not claim to be a paragon of kindness; she has struggled with all the issues that other people have – lack of time, obliviousness, impatience, fear – she’s human, after all, and has learned that we all have lapses, but with practice and intention, kindness can become our default setting. And when that happens, the world changes for us.

“Many people perceive kindness as a weakness, or as something soft and insubstantial,” Cameron says. “The truth is that kindness is a strength – a superpower. It takes courage, trust and confidence to be kind and to face unkindness or incivility without succumbing to it.”

Cameron encourages readers to commit to kindness. She not only explains the importance of kindness and why it is good for you, but she also explains the difficulties and barriers we face in extending and receiving kindness, as well as the skills we can cultivate to grow and spread kindness. Kindness, in the end, is a muscle we must strengthen to bring peace and happiness into our lives, and to our world. And Cameron’s book provides the welcome exercise to strengthen that muscle.

About the book

A YEAR OF LIVING KINDLY
Choices That Will Change Your Life and the World Around You
Donna Cameron | September 25, 2018 | She Writes Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-63152-479-0 | $16.95
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63152-480-6 | $9.95
Personal Development

Most of us aspire to be kind. But being kind isn’t always easy. Our best intentions often fade when the realities of daily life intrude: traffic, telemarketers, crowded spaces, time constraints, and our own ineptness. Being kind when we don’t feel like it, or when all of our buttons are being pushed, is hard. But that’s also when it’s most needed.

In these pages you’ll see how a commitment to kindness will improve your life in countless ways, and ultimately can be world-changing. You’ll discover:
* Why choosing kindness is good for you
* Why extending and receiving kindness is often difficult
* What the barriers are to kindness and how to overcome them
* What to do when you’re faced with unkindness and incivility
* How kindness is a strength that will bring you peace and happiness

Want to change your life and also change the world? It begins with choosing kindness.

DONNA CAMERON is the author of “A Year of Living Kindly.” She has spent her career working with nonprofit organizations and causes as an executive, consultant, trainer, and volunteer. She has seen kindness in action and been awed by its power to transform. While she considered herself a reasonably nice person (with occasional lapses into bitchiness), she knew that true kindness was a step above. When she committed to a year of living kindly, she learned that it takes practice, patience, and understanding…and a sense of humor helps, too. The recipient of multiple awards, Cameron has also published numerous articles and, in 2011, coauthored “One Hill, Many Voices: Stories of Hope and Healing” with Kristen Leathers. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Cameron and her husband now live in a suburb of Seattle.

Praise for “A Year of Living Kindly”

“A Year of Living Kindly is a beautifully rendered exploration of kindness as a way of life, arriving at the right moment, with the right guide. Donna Cameron writes with humor and grace about this essential virtue. She makes it easy to follow her path–and to want to follow it.” – Sarah L. Kaufman, author of The Art of Grace and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic of The Washington Post

“Donna Cameron’s contagious warmth, compelling stories, persuasive logic, and useful advice make this gem a joy to read. After I finished each lovely little chapter, I understood the path to kindness a bit better, my inspiration to keep moving down that path increased, and my resolve to forgive myself and others when we slip into unkindness grew stronger.” – Robert Sutton, Stanford Professor and bestselling author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide

“This book will absolutely light your heart on fire for kindness! In A Year of Living Kindly, Donna Cameron encourages us to suspend our spectator status and fully embrace what’s happening around us. Through collected research and her own wise observations, she generously shows us how to lead fuller lives through kindness.” – Nicole J Phillips, author of Kindness is Contagious and host of The Kindness Podcast

“It’s irrefutable that being kind—on purpose—improves health and wellness. With fifty-two delicious, bite-sized chapters containing actionable examples that help readers weave intentional kindness into their daily lives, you can be sure A Year of Living Kindly is a book I’ll prescribe to my clients.” – Laurie Buchanan, PhD, holistic health practitioner, life coach, and author of The Business of Being and Note to Self

“Although being kind sounds a lot like being nice, Donna Cameron shares how these two acts are very different. A Year of Living Kindly has remarkable insights on how you can increase your dose of happiness by adding kindness into your daily encounters. In most situations, it doesn’t cost a dime and yet you will feel better than ever. I’ve been inspired!” – Linda Atwell, author of Loving Lindsey: Raising a Daughter with Special Needs

“Most people are kind, but don’t always know how to express it. In A Year of Living Kindly, Donna Cameron shares both the whyand how of kindness. She’s written a wise, captivating guide for those wishing to claim the power of kindness and use it to change the world.” – Leon Logothetis, Bestselling author of The Kindness Diaries

An Interview With Donna Cameron

What inspired your journey to live kindly? What was your first step?
I’ve always admired kind people, and I wanted to be like them. For many years, I would set an intention of being kind, or being kinder. But the resolution faded in the face of rudeness or inconvenience. I was kind mostly when it was easy or convenient. At the end of 2014, still hearing the call of kindness, I decided to hold my feet to the fire. I thought if I made the goal more public and blogged about it to a few friends who might want to follow, it would be harder for me to let the commitment fade when it got hard. There’d be some built-in accountability. So, I declared 2015 my “year of living kindly” and blogged about it. The result was that kindness was on my radar all the time. And it has stayed there.

How has your life changed as a result of your year of kindness?
I am a kinder person. I’m certainly no paragon, but I’m kinder. I’m more willing and able to go out of my way to extend kindness. Throughout each day I actively look for ways to express or encourage kindness. At the end of 2015, I knew that my year of living kindly wasn’t just something I would do for 12 months and then move on to the next thing—it’s the path I’m walking for the rest of my life. And I’m better able to use the kindness skills I’ve learned and developed. Plus, I feel more engaged with the world. I’m paying attention to my life and the life around me. I feel more open-hearted.

Why does kindness matter?
I think few of us would dispute the fact that over the last couple of years, we’ve seen an enormous worldwide increase in unkindness and incivility. We see it on social media, on our highways, at political rallies, and in the way people talk to and about one another. Quite literally, we are in the midst of an epidemic of incivility. Science has shown that incivility spreads like a virus, but it’s also shown that kindness is equally contagious. So, each of us has a choice: We can choose to widen an epidemic of incivility or foster one of kindness. If enough of us choose to come down on the side of kindness, eventually it will become our “default” setting in our interactions with one another. When that happens, we’ve changed the world.

What’s the difference between being nice and being kind?
Nice doesn’t ask too much of us. It isn’t all that hard to be nice. It’s benign. Passive. Safe. One can be nice without expending a lot of energy or investing too much of oneself. One can be nice without taking risks. Being kind—truly kind—is hard. Being kind means genuine caring. It means making an effort. It means thinking about the impact I’m having in an interaction with someone and endeavoring to give them what they need at that exact moment, without worrying about whether I get anything in return. It means more than just tolerating other people, but letting go of judgments and accepting people as they are. Kindness requires me to do something my upbringing discouraged—it demands that I reach out and take a risk, knowing that I might be rebuffed or rejected. If I were asked to sum it up in two words, I’d say that kindness means “extending yourself.”

What’s the biggest misconception about kindness?
I’ve seen time and again that a lot of people perceive the notion of kindness as weak and bland and insubstantial. They see it as a pleasant but powerless quality. For some, it may even be viewed as a weakness to be exploited or taken advantage of. That couldn’t be further from the truth. My experience and research have convinced me that kindness is really a super-power. It takes strength and courage. It means putting yourself out there—sometimes in ways that may be uncomfortable, awkward, and may even seem dangerous.

Is there a difference between kindness and generosity?
I think a lot of us think of kindness first as giving—perhaps money, perhaps time. But if neither time nor money are available to us, we can still be kind in so many ways:
* We can load the dishwasher even if they aren’t our dirty dishes.
* We can make eye-contact, smile, and say “good morning.”
* We can say “thank you” or “I’m sorry.”
* We can hold a door or offer help in carrying a heavy load.
* We can let the car merge in front of us.
* We can say something nice about an absent friend when others are gossiping about her.
* We can give the benefit of the doubt

I think a big way to express kindness is to listen for the music rather than the missed note. To not be one of those people—we all know them—who spend their time looking for the typo, catching others’ errors, and playing “gotcha” with life. Instead, we can practice looking for what’s right and letting go of the rest.

Who is the kindest person you know?
I have been blessed to know so many kind people in my life, and to be the beneficiary of so much kindness. When I think of kindness, my business partner, Lynn Melby, comes to mind. In addition to being my mentor as I entered and grew in the non-profit world, Lynn was—and is—an encourager to everyone he meets. And he treats everyone the same, whether it’s a senator, a CEO, or the janitor. There’s an old saying that “a person who’s kind to you but unkind to the waiter is not a kind person.” Lynn is kind to everyone, and he inspires others to be kind.

Are there health benefits to living a more kind life? Have you noticed any personally?
There’s been a lot of research into the health benefits of kindness, and there are indeed many. Kindness produces in us the hormone, Oxytocin, which lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation, fights heart disease, and slows aging. Kindness has also been shown to reduce chronic pain, extend longevity, increase happiness, and reduce depression. And for people who may be debilitatingly shy, kindness has also been proven to alleviate social anxiety. Personally, I can attest to increased happiness and a reduction in stress. And while I’m not debilitatingly shy, I have never been comfortable in crowded social gatherings. Focusing on kindness has increased my comfort and enjoyment in the dreaded business reception or cocktail party.

You worked in the nonprofit sector for years, how can the messages in your book apply to organizations and businesses?
Just as there’s been a lot of research on kindness and health, there’s also been considerable research on kindness in the business world. Whether a nonprofit organization, a Fortune 500 corporation, or a small business, there are certain elements that are essential to success. Organizations with kind cultures have far less turnover; they are more productive and more profitable; they have better performance, better customer service, better health and lower absenteeism among employees. Kind workplaces also have greater employee engagement and commitment, and an atmosphere where learning, collaboration and innovation are more likely to flourish. The bottom line is that in business, kindness is your competitive advantage.

What are some everyday actions people can take to embrace kindness?
There are a lot of tools we can cultivate. I sometimes think of them as tools in our kindness toolbox, or apps we download into our brains.

One of the biggest is just learning to pause before we respond. Another is letting go of judgment and engaging our curiosity to look for what might be behind unkindness. Paying attention is another huge one. So often, we operate on automatic pilot, oblivious to what’s happening around us and oblivious to opportunities to extend kindness or experience kindness. Being able to accept kindness is as important as being able to extend kindness. Some of us are terrible at receiving from others. We need to remind ourselves that accepting the kindness of others is a gift to the giver. Sometimes, even engaging in self-care is an act of kindness. If we’re depleted, we won’t have energy or interest in helping others. As simple as it sounds, we can remind ourselves that we can always choose peace. All of these things are simple, but they aren’t necessarily easy. They take practice and they take awareness.

I would caution, though, that declaring one is going to turn over a new leaf and be as kind as the Dalai Lama or Mother Teresa is probably not practical. Start small. Say that you’re going to be ten percent kinder for the next week, and when you see how good that makes you feel, add another ten percent.

What are the biggest struggles people face with displaying kindness?
Many things can get in the way of our kindness. Fear’s a big one: fear of embarrassment, rejection, being viewed as “weak,” fear of doing it wrong, of being vulnerable or different. Other barriers include uncertainty, obliviousness, thinking we don’t have the time, maybe even the perception that kindness doesn’t matter. The good news is that it gets easier with practice, and with the awareness of just how much difference it can make in our lives and in the world.

Why did you decide to continue exploring kindness after your “year of living kindly” was over?
It became evident to me before my year was even half over that kindness isn’t something I could “do” for a year and then move on to the next thing—a year of playing the clarinet or learning Italian. Kindness is a way of life, a path—for me, at least. It’s how I want to be and who I want to be. It has made me happier and enhanced my life in countless ways. It’s what I have to offer the world. If, after I die, someone says of me, “She was a kind person,” then my life will have been well-lived.

Is it still ok to be angry or to have negative reactions?
I don’t think we want to deny our feelings or reactions. It’s what we do with those feelings that defines us. One of the keys is not to let someone else’s incivility trigger the same behavior in us. Just because someone else is behaving like a jerk, it doesn’t mean we have to. That takes strength and practice. It also takes self-control and courage—these aren’t qualities that we can simply switch on at will. We develop all of these with practice, awareness and intention.

You discuss something in your book that you call “micro-kindness.” What is that?
I think some of us bypass opportunities to extend kindness because we think they’re just too puny. Kindness should be big and impressive. While there’s nothing wrong with grand gestures, a kind life is composed of countless, ordinary, day-to-day kindnesses that may seem small but really aren’t. A micro-kindness might be a smile, a word of appreciation, an offer of assistance, or the genuine interest we have for the people in our lives. None of these actions is grand or earth-moving, but cumulatively they change moods, change lives, and maybe even can change the world. Our days are filled with these micro-kindnesses and also with micro-unkindnesses. We have a choice.

How do you manage situations in which people are being unnecessarily unkind? How do you shift your perspective?
There are degrees of incivility and unkindness. How I respond to the guy who deliberately speeds up to block me from merging onto the highway is going to be very different from the person who I see bullying another person, or someone who makes hateful and bigoted remarks about an individual or a group of people.

In the case of the aggressive driver, I usually just shrug and feel sorry for the guy; maybe I’ll even make up a story for why he’s rushing and acting thoughtlessly.

In the case of bullying or bigotry, my goal is to stand up for the victim without resorting to the tactics of the bully. I don’t want to name call or make the person even more belligerent. If I see someone being talked to rudely in a store, an office, or on public transit, I might just go stand next to them and make it clear that they have my support.

Do you have any thoughts about all the unkindness and incivility we see online and on social media?
In a perfect world, the on-line community—whatever it may be—should establish norms and enforce them. And should say in no uncertain terms that bullying, name-calling, and trolling aren’t acceptable. Every time we click on something on the internet or on social media, we make a choice. It may seem like a small thing to click to some salacious celebrity gossip, or to some site that promises dirt on some bigwig. But those clicks matter—they determine what other people put out there. If there’s a market for mean, false, and crude content, more people will post it. If more of us stop clicking to that stuff, purveying it becomes less profitable.

It’s hard. We see a provocative headline and we almost automatically click on it. But if we pause and think about what we want to perpetuate, perhaps we’ll choose differently. Each of us has the power to change the unkindness being spread online and through social media by not clicking on it, and by posting kind comments when we have the opportunity. With every click, we make a choice.

What’s next for you?
I want to continue to write about kindness and to speak about kindness. I love connecting with other people who are choosing to walk a path of kindness. Perhaps there’s some opportunities for collaborating to bring kindness to our schools, our communities, our workplaces.

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Ellen Whitfield
ellen@jkscommunications.com
615-576-0554

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

Join the fun as Dr. Brainchild and Radar discover how a little bit of creativity, some wacky inventions, and a whole lotta science can transform the ordinary into something EXTRA tasty! Boy, girl, wolf, or anything in-between–it doesn’t matter so long as YOU are there! Science is for everyone, so come along and enjoy the ride!

Cole W. Williams is an arrow-slinging idealist, advocate for critical thinking and curiosity, an all or nothing type of girl, a gold miner for truth. Passionately supporting emerging artists, randomly writing her own words, she stands for water, and for the river, she plants seeds of inspiration wherever she goes as the muse of being exactly who you are. Rivers, prairie and farm country weave their way into her writing, as well as healthy doses of science and biology. Each title Williams delivers is released within the theme of books that dig, meaning they contain topics that relate, teach and delight the readers. Offering expert advice, or a resource section to the end of a book can help bolster and magnify the reading experience. Her dream is that a reader digs even further into something that strikes them as interesting when reading her work. Updates on her whereabouts and writing projects are found at www.colewwilliams.com. She believes to get a little, you must give a little, by way of supporting local authors and bookstores and building a literary community. Williams currently resides in St. Paul, Minnesota.

About the book

“Dr. Brainchild & Radar: A Popcorn Discovery”
Cole W. Williams | Oct. 2, 2018 | Burning Belly Press
Hardcover | 978-1543940886 | $20.05
Children’s picture book | Fiction

An Interview with Bryan Robinson

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I spent my a lot of my life wondering what I should “be,” this question largely being generated by the American education system with a pre-selected bevy of choices. The idea of choosing one thing plagued me, I wanted the freedom to go where my wings and wind invite and with writing I can do this.

For a while, I figured I should be a scientist and science writer, but kept making up stories in my head of the model we were studying at any particular time and personifying it, exaggerating it. As a result of that story-making, I was able to get others really excited about something they had never thought of that way before, “What do you think a Tardigrade does for fun?” In general, writing was less of a knowing per say, and more of a propulsion from another dimension, so as a kid, I registered for poetry camps and wrote in journals, made up stories with my friends, it has always spewed forth unsolicited. Figuring out what to do with all that requires skill and the ability to trust in literary professionals. I have always loved everything about the literary arts: reading, writing, creation, stories, smells of books, magic of books.

Why do you think it’s important to present scientific topics to kids in a fun way?
There is an immediate shut down in some kids, triggered by certain words, and it happens at a young age. How shocking to hear a child say they are not “good at” science or math or ping-pong. A-what? How long does it take to give something a fair shake? This idea comes from somewhere else, from permission to not try, not challenge oneself to have the patience for deep learning. I think this comes from mainstream marketing. What’s easy and makes a quick buck is prioritized to sell. It is getting better with the STEM movement. I think parents that read to their children are wanting more and so are the children themselves. For many reasons children are still growing up thinking science is too difficult or unapproachable. What I believe is that children are capable of incredible challenge and complex thinking if they are given the chance to embrace that exploration, free of judgment. What is hidden behind the theory and vernacular of science, are beautifully rich stories of what we are comprised of, how the world works, and what we know of exquisite adaptions to life on earth. It is unfortunate if these stories can’t be shared because of the lack of diversity in publishing and delivery modus. Writing science in fun ways takes some of the pressure off the learner, not to the point that they are not connecting to the topic but enough so that they can stick with it.

How is writing a kids’ book different than other projects you’ve worked on?
Writing a picture book is very different than any other book I’ve written. In fact, I was in a session at the Minnesota Writers Conference on creating picture books and the speaker said, “Picture books are the most difficult books to make, don’t believe me? Try it.” That is all it took to get me interested in taking the challenge and I am on the other side now, coming to you to report that I think she was spot on. It’s hard to explain. It is sort of like writing haiku. Take an idea and distill it down until there are hardly any words left; and then still relate an expression to the reader that is moving. I love the idea of picture books, the process of editing, and development. As we went along, I became more and more in awe of picture book authors. Try it! That is the best way to know.

What is the process like to collaborate with an illustrator?
This is by far my favorite part of creating a book. I adore seeing an artist free to express words with how they see the story. It is magical to get a file for the first time with new sketches. It is such a beautiful marriage of art; writer with illustrator. I could live in that part of the process.

Did your kids have input on Dr. Brainchild?
Believe it or not, no. I follow Stephen King’s advice with the creation process and do not share any first drafts with anyone, not even my children! It is dangerous to have other people’s voices in your head when you are creating, unless they are your trusted proofreader.

Was Radar inspired by a real dog?
When I was researching for Dr. Brainchild, I found it unavoidable to ignore the connection between war-time and technologically advancements, laudable discoveries that were happenstances of researching war devices. Radar represents this presence in these labs. He was meant to be a dark figure in the halls of the labs, silent but always there. Originally he was more sinister but I could not resist the companionship between the two characters. Maybe in future books he will become more sinister.

Why did you choose to focus on the microwave?
Because the Magnetron is one of the most exquisite inventions created and this is what is at the center of all microwaves. The fact that each home has a microwave with this level of sophisticated machinery in it is a minor miracle of human invention, and there are more! Start asking yourself how things actually work or what was required to make something streamlined, it gets fascinating, like building an old BMW motorcycle from scratch–exquisite.

What’s next for you?
Currently obsessed with haiku. I have been writing this form for a couple months and am about to challenge myself to write one haiku for every word in the Japanese Nature Dictionary. I am teaching poetry and hosting other classes at Creators Space in St. Paul including my Banned Book Club, The Hearty Book Club, Embracing Beginner class and more. I have one novel done and another in the works, not sure if I will publish either! As for Dr. Brainchild and Radar, they may move on to more inventions in a second book debut.

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Ellen Whitfield
ellen@jkscommunications.com
615-576-0554

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

“Bryan Robinson is a leading-edge voice in the world of work addiction recovery. Born from his direct experience, these meditations are chock full of warm and powerful wisdom, guidance, and empathy.” –Alanis Morissette

ASHEVILLE, NC–How many times have you worked late into the night or even on weekends to perfect that presentation or just catch up on email rather than relaxing with a hobby or spending time with friends? Well lucky for you—and for all overachievers in the workforce—Dr. Bryan E. Robinson, a licensed psychotherapist and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has given you permission to stop working and just #CHILL: Turn off Your Job and Turn on Your Life (William Morrow Hardcover; on sale: 12/31/18).

Between camps, classes, podcasts and apps, practicing meditation and mindfulness continues to rise in popularity and is on track to be *the* wellness trend of 2019. In #CHILL, Robinson explains how ending work addiction can be achieved by reframing priorities and cultivating mindfulness in daily life. Perfect for “New Year, New You” goals, work-obsessed folks and others will learn how to let go of anxiety and achieve and maintain a healthy work/life balance that so often we lament doesn’t exist.

Structured with month-to-month guides that are crafted to ground even the busiest of minds, #CHILL provides advice, inspiring quotes, and gentle guidance needed to calm anxiety, break the addiction to work, and foster a peaceful, balanced life. Robinson’s wisdom in #CHILL will assist in helping the overworked relearn and realign what truly matters so that they can still excel at their job without sacrificing their joy.

Dr. Bryan Robinson is a licensed psychotherapist and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He currently has a blog on Psychology Today called “The Right Mindset.” He has been interviewed by Forbes, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among countless other magazines. Robinson’s prior books have been published into thirteen different languages including Arabic, Korean, French, Italian, and Japanese.

EARLY PRAISE FOR BRYAN ROBINSON AND #CHILL

“Bryan Robinson is a leading-edge voice in the world of work addiction recovery. Born from his direct experience, these meditations are chock full of warm and powerful wisdom, guidance, and empathy. This front-line contribution helps us to recognize work addiction’s corrosive effects on health, relationships, and livelihoods and to recover daily with more work/life balance. On a personal level, I am grateful to know that these many glimpses of wisdom are available for all of us who suffer from this quiet and so-called “respectable” addiction and for how I have been helped by Bryan Robinson on my own journey of recovery.”—Alanis Morissette, singer-songwriter

“Perhaps the biggest challenge to practicing mindfulness is being mindful enough to remember to be mindful. Bryan Robinson has solved that problem by offering daily tidbits of insight, encouragement, and advice to remind us to focus on what’s important in our busy lives. Reading each day’s reflection is a step toward greater clarity, balance, contentment, and peace.”
—Mark R. Leary, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University

“The suffering of addiction runs deep and wide in this world; work addiction, in particular, is an important and underestimated one. I’m truly grateful to Bryan Robinson for bringing it to greater awareness.”—Tara Brach, Ph.D., author of Radical Acceptance

“Only when I, like Bryan Robinson, was forced by one too many episodes of burnout to uncover childhood sadnesses did I begin to see work as an irreplaceable part of my life, but not the whole of my life. And only then did I begin to focus on what I could uniquely do instead of trying to do everything—thus beginning to be far more effective as a worker.”—Gloria Steinem, activist/writer

In an interview, BRYAN ROBINSON can discuss:

• How to approach work environments that are not conducive to living a #CHILL life
• #CHILL as a way of being in the world. It’s about finding that sweet spot between “taskingf,” and staying in the present moment where life really happens
• How to achieve balance between doing (your job) and be- ing (your personal life)
• How workaholism affects people on a cellular level
• How to do “Great Work” and what that means
• Ways to incorporate healthy meditation and self-care to pursue living a #CHILL life

An Interview with Bryan Robinson

In your book you talk about the difference in being “driven” and being “drawn.” What’s the difference?
When you’re “driven,” you’re the slave of external circumstances and demands (hurrying, rushing, doing). When you’re “drawn,” you’re coming from Chill, your center (your being)—you’re the True Self.

What’s the difference in a chilled worker and a workaholic?
A chilled worker is in the office dreaming about being on the ski slopes. A workaholic is on the ski slopes dreaming about being back in the office. If you’re a workaholic, you have difficulty turning off your “task mode.” If you’re chill, you are able to balance work and the other areas of your life: relationships, play, work, and self-care.

What goes on at the cellular level when we’re busy versus chill?
Our nervous system is composed of 2 branches: the sympathetic (fight or flight) and the parasympathetic (rest and digest). We need both to function in the world. The sympathetic branch is the gas. It speeds us up, gets us motivated, and carries us where we need to go. The parasympathetic branch is the brakes. It slows and calms us down so we don’t burn out our motor.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where the gas is more valued and people who cave to that life approach end up giving short shrift to loved ones and themselves. And they suffer the consequences of stress, burnout, and relationship collapse. A chilled person is able to use their gas and brakes in an integrated way so they accomplish tasks in a clear, confident, and competent way. They don’t burn out. They have more energy. And they enjoy the outcome of doing as well as the process of being.

What role does meditation play in #CHILL?
Meditation has gotten a bum rap over the years. Many people still associate it with the drug culture of the 1970s: sitting on a cushion, burning incense, playing “weird” music, mumbling a strange mantra, and sitting there for hours on end. The 21st version of meditation has been backed by hundreds of scientific studies. There are 1440 minutes in a day. I suggest taking just 5 of those minutes to meditate. It will change your life and help you experience it in a different way. Meditation is nothing more than focusing. You can do it anywhere: in your office chair, car (as long as you’re not driving), at home—and you don’t need any of the old 1970s accoutrements. Just you, your mind, and your desire. In #CHILL, I describe a cafeteria of different ways to meditate that you can choose from.

In your book you talk about “Great Work.” What do you mean by that?
Great Work is more than winning accolades, earning fat paychecks, getting that promotion, or staying ahead of deadlines. Great Work is toiling with greatness—compassion, empathy, self-care and care for others, honesty, integrity, lovingkindness, admitting mistakes and fixing them, self-correction.

In other words, it’s not simply the product of your efforts or completion of tasks; it’s the process you go through to get to the task. That’s what #CHILL is all about.

What does a reader learn in your book about how to chill?
You learn that Chilling isn’t just something you do; it’s a perspective—a way of being in the world. It’s not just finding a hobby, exercising, meditating, or relaxing, although that’s part of it. It goes deeper. When you’re in Chill, you are leading your life from 8 states of being all of which start with the letter “C”: Calm, Clarity, Confidence, Curiosity, Compassion, Creativity, Connectedness, and Courage. When you are in one or more of these states of being, you’re in what I call CHILL. You can use these 8 C words to become intentional about “being” instead of “doing.”

What role does survival coping mechanisms have to do with the ability to chill?
We are hardwired for survival. Mother Nature wants us to survive and perpetuate the species. She doesn’t give a hoot about us being happy. That’s where we have to do Great Work. She has hardwired us to overestimate threats and underestimate our ability to handle them. So we react automatically to people and situations that are not actually threatening. #CHILL shows you how to not see everything as threats and surmount them by underestimating threats and overestimating your ability to handle them.

You have a quote, “Ask not what your life can do for you; ask what you can do for your life.” What does that mean?
It means that life is not personal. It will throw us curveballs every day. So we are not victims of life’s circumstances. We have a choice every minute of every day to overcome the hurdles or obstacles or roadblocks. When you #CHILL, you empower yourself and find a solution to scale the wall of roadblocks. That builds those “C” words: Calm, Clarity, Confidence, Curiosity, Compassion, Creativity, Connectedness, and Courage.

Parting thoughts?
Everything has bookends. If you want to #chill, you must be willing to accept its opposite. You can’t have an up without a down, a front without a back, a bottom without a top. We must be willing to accept the opposite of our desires. If I want to succeed, I must be willing to accept defeat. Here’s the paradox. When I can accept both triumph and failure and happiness with disappointment and pain with pleasantness—when I can embrace everything life sends my way—then I’m in what I call the state of #Chill.

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Sara Wigal (615) 640-0630
Sara@JKSCommunicatons.com

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

Picture-book series facilitates peer understanding of children with spectrum disorders

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Drawing from her own experiences as a parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, author JM Sheridan introduces autism to young children, using situations a child can relate to, in her latest installment of the Brianna & Mrs. Moomoo series, “French Fries in the Park.” Driven and inspired by her daughter Brianna’s experiences with ASD, JM Sheridan compassionately offers a tool to help children and adults understand disabilities they’ll encounter among their classmates.

“JM Sheridan created a warm and welcoming story with endearing characters that introduces young children to the idea that their friends, siblings, cousins and/or neighbors with autism really are more like them than not, just like their other friends,” Joanne G. Quinn, Executive Director of The Autism Project says. “It provides opportunity for adults to describe differences in a non-judgmental manner in language young children will understand.”

To JM, early education is essential to greater acceptance. In the series’ first book, “Dragonfly Magic,” children are encouraged to never give up believing in themselves. With “French Fries in the Park,” she helps readers understand behavioral differences such as eye-contact avoidance, non-verbal and parallel play vs. interactive play. In doing so, she provides a tool for children to become a better friend, sibling, cousin or even neighbor. In the series’ upcoming third book, Mrs. Moomoo and Brianna will learn about service dogs and how to appropriately interact with service animals and their owners.

About the Book

“French Fries in the Park”
JM Sheridan | September 2017 | AuthorHouse
Paperback ISBN: 9781546209638 | Price: $15.00
Children’s picture book

About the Author

JM Sheridan lives in New England with her husband, Kevin, her daughter, Brianna, and four very mischievous kitties: Peabody, Shermanis, Thistle and Poppy. She attended the Institute of Children’s Literature in Connecticut, as well as numerous children’s book writing workshops, events and classes. “Dragonfly Magic” and “French Fries in the Park” are the first books in the Brianna and Mrs. Moomoo series designed to educate and inspire our children, as well as support local children’s charities. You can find out more about her at her website https://www.jmsheridan.com.

In an interview, JM SHERIDAN can discuss:

• The unique challenges faced by high-functioning children with special needs and their families and how to raise awareness of these unique challenges

• How her daughter Brianna inspired the main character in her books

• How to help children and parents non-judgmentally identify subtle differences in child behavior that might indicate Autism Spectrum Disorder

• The limits of the differences between children with ASD and those without ASD, and how to recognize the wants and desires these children have that are the same as other children.

• The importance of supporting charities dedicated to Autism research

• The stigma around special needs

An Interview with JM Sheridan

How, when and why did you decide to base your main character on your daughter? Did you ever hesitate to make your family’s private life public in this way? How did you overcome those concerns?
Brianna has always been my muse. The fact that she is high-functioning autistic has made me a better person by helping me be a more understanding and accepting person. She inspires me in so many ways. Bri was actually thrilled to be one of the main characters in the Brianna & Mrs. Moomoo series. The original Mrs. Moomoo is a small beanie baby cow that my good friend Mina gave Brianna when she was about one year old. Now that she’s a celebrity, Mrs. Moomoo sits on a book shelf in Bri’s room guarded by other stuffed animals.

My family never really looked at this series as infringing on our private lives, and we are all very passionate about the messages and the purpose behind the books!

How does your book help children understand differences among their peers? Can you explain some of the specific differences you help children understand?
In “French Fries in the Park” I carefully selected specific behavioral differences a child around the age of six would recognize and identify with. For example, no eye contact, non-verbal, stimming and parallel play vs. interactive play. Not only does Brianna notice each of these behaviors throughout the book, she gains a better understanding of them with the help of the boy’s father, and she accepts this boy and his differences by continuing to stay with him in the park and play right alongside him. Learning about and accepting someone’s differences is very important, but Brianna also learns that the boy likes a lot of the same things she does, and recognizing similarities is just as important.

What’s next in Brianna and Mrs. Moomoo’s adventures?
Well, in their next adventure Brianna and Mrs. Moomoo learn all about service dog and why some children need to have a service dog. They learn how to behave around them and how they are trained. Some service dogs, she finds out, even know how to surf!

There are thousands of children with disabilities who would benefit from having a service dog. Unfortunately, the expense to have one trained can run a family upwards of $25,000. Canines for Disabled Kids is an organization in Massachusetts that has a scholarship fund program to help families in need of a service dog but cannot afford the high cost.

A percentage of the proceeds from my new book will go to help support this important scholarship fund program.

Tell us more about your cat-pack! They seem to be important figures in your life… Do they crawl on the computer while you’re trying to write? How do they relate to Brianna?
♫ Everybody wants to be a cat, because a cat’s the only cat who knows where it’s at. ♫
We love our cats. All four of them were adopted from our local shelters. About five years ago we adopted Poppy and Thistle (two girls), and one year later we adopted Peabody (aka P-Man) and Sherman (two boys). Or so we thought! We found out shortly thereafter that Sherman wasn’t a Sherman after all. She was a girl! So we named her Shermanis. For the most part, they all get along pretty well. Shermanis is Brianna’s baby. She loves to climb in her lap for a good scratch and rub down. But watch out – she’s a drooler!

They all love being with me when I’m in my office writing. It’s comforting to have them there with me – right up until they jump on my desk and get in between me and the keyboard. They remind me every once in a while that I need to take a break!

What are some of the misunderstandings people have about children with high-functioning autism? How can we, as a society, help to alleviate and correct some of those misunderstandings?
With low-functioning ASD individuals there are clear behavioral differences that are easily recognizable (as described in “French Fries in the Park”). Children and teens seem more accepting and patient of another child who is significantly disabled. It is the middle and high-functioning children who, because they can stand up straight, walk, talk, write and speak that are expected to be able to navigate the mainstream and act like everyone else. But they can’t. Their brains are not wired the same way. They do not process things like a typical child.

Education is key to a better understanding and a more accepting community. I would recommend that all school teachers and personnel be educated in ASD, and that the administrators and school systems support this education.

How have you experienced the stigma around special needs? How do you handle it?
Oh yes, all the time. I’ve lost track of how many times I have heard, “She doesn’t look autistic,” or “No, she speaks too well to be autistic.” During Brianna’s riding lesson one afternoon, I was engaged in a conversation with the woman sitting next to me on the bench. I mentioned that Brianna had autism and she turned to me pointedly and said, “She doesn’t have autism. I work with kids with autism. Trust me she does not.” I replied, “Yes, she is autistic. She is high-functioning-” She interrupted, “That’s what they say about all kids who are a little weird these days.”

I simply smiled, told her that was an interesting opinion and walked away. Unfortunately it is tough to change a traditional way of thinking, but I certainly hope books like “French Fries in the Park” will help raise awareness.

Do you have any concrete pieces of advice for helping society accept and understand those with high-functioning ASD?
Top on the list would be that there is nothing “wrong” with people who are high-functioning autistic. They are not broken, demented, sick or my least favorite word, “retarded.” They just process things differently, uniquely. Most high-functioning people are very smart, especially in math. Brianna closed the school year in June with a 100 in her math class.

They are very honest, especially children. And they have a hard time reading emotions. This is because children with ASD are self-directed. They are not thinking of the emotions of others or even their surroundings – not because they are rude, spoiled or self-absorbed, but because it is simply how they are wired.

Prior to your experiences with Brianna, did you have much experience with children with ASD? How did you educate yourself? How has your perspective changed?
My younger brother, Jon, is high-functioning autistic. Growing up in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the medical industry did not know as much about ASD as they do today, and they would diagnose many children with ADHD and put them Ritalin.

I remember being in middle school with a boy much taller than everyone else and about 50 pounds heavier. He was clearly low to mid-functioning ASD. He got picked on so much, just like my brother. I was constantly running to their defense, shoving away the children who were picking on them. Even back then I knew it was wrong to not be accepting of others.

It wasn’t until I had Brianna that I truly started to educate myself. My husband, Kevin, and I would attend classes, read reports/books, watch documentaries, and do literally anything we could get our hands on that would help us better understand Brianna and make us better parents.

What do you ultimately hope readers will get out of your book?
With adults, I hope the little bit of information on ASD I provided in “French Fries in the Park” ignites a spark within them to learn more and start researching on their own. I also hope that both children and adults gain better awareness of ASD and will recognize these signs and ultimately be more patient and accepting of everyone’s differences.

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Ellen Whitfield
(616) 258-5537
ellen@jkscommunications.com

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

Novel inspired by author’s unique adoption story and rare genetic disease

Charlotte, NC – Gary McPherson’s debut novel “Joshua and the Shadow of Death” examines the inner workings of the human psyche, delving into how one man’s suicide impacts the lives of many. Separation anxiety, hyperactivity and berserker (blind rage) syndrome plague this tale, causing readers to wonder if the beast within can ever be rewired.

The book is the first of the new Berserker Series inspired by McPherson’s unique adoption story. Much like the character in his book, he had a good childhood and felt especially lucky to grow up with a father who worked on rockets that got the U.S. into space in the 60’s and 70’s. But McPherson suffered from a rare genetic disease doctors were unable to identify until he was 32 years old.

Researching his biological history with the help of the Children’s Home Society of California, the service his parents used to adopt him, McPherson discovered his international ties. He had a biological mother who immigrated from Denmark and father of Turkish descent. While Behcet’s disease is a rarity in the U.S., it’s far more common in the eastern hemisphere. It was this experience that gave birth to the idea of the Berserk legend – half-siblings carrying a gene they don’t know about.

McPherson has not let his battle with Behcet’s, which has also caused Fibromyalgia and Fibromatosis that make it difficult to physically type, slow his writing. He has written dozens of short stories which are publicly available on his blog. McPherson will be donating a percentage of proceeds to the Baptist Children’s Home of Charlotte.

About the Book

“Joshua and the Shadow of Death”
Berserk Publishing | October 30, 2018
Paperback | ISBN: 978-1-7323373-0-5 | Price: $11.99 ($9.99 pre-order)
EBook | Price: $3.99 ($1.99 pre-order)
Genre: Thriller

About the Author

Gary McPherson’s breakthrough thriller “Joshua and the Shadow of Death” tackles relevant, real world issues. National security, government contracts and greed fuel this dramatic, quick read. McPherson’s battle with Behcet’s disease, as well as his own personal adoption story, provide a unique perspective on a tale that explores suicide, separation anxiety and berserker (blind rage) syndrome. Joshua, and his journey through the shadows, encourages us to think about how we react to life’s traumas. Visit him at https://gmacwriter.com/ to learn more.

In an interview Gary McPherson can discuss:

• His own personal adoption story and how it influenced the book
• How the book tackles current social issues such as immigration through the character Maria based on real people in southern California
• The theme of forgiveness woven in throughout the novel
• How his battle with Behcet’s disease gave birth to the idea of the Berserk legend
• How he overcomes a rare genetic disease (Behcet’s) that results in other systemic disease especially rare among men (Fibromyalgia and Fibromatosis) to continue his writing
• The role the Baptist Children’s Home of Charlotte, NC. and Children’s Home Society of California play in the book, and why he felt important to include them

An Interview with GARY MCPHERSON

Lots of acclaimed writers are late literary bloomers. You began a new career in writing at age 52. How did you leverage your life experience to start writing?
The best advice I’ve heard about writing fiction came from The Creative Way course, led by New York Times bestselling author and founder Ted Dekker. Dekker talks about writing from the heart and putting a part of yourself on the page. That’s easy to do at age 52 because I have a lot of baggage to unload. I drew from the experience of losing my father when I wrote the death scene. I used my grief to create Joshua.

The underlying theme of “Joshua and the Shadow of Death” is forgiveness. What would you like for readers to take away from the book?
When I first conceived the idea for this novel, I had no idea how timely this series would be or how close to reality “Joshua and the Shadow of Death” would become. Society is becoming toxic. It is increasingly easy to get pulled into a negative mindset. Joshua, and his journey through the shadows, encourages us to think about how we respond to life’s insults and disagreements. At the end of the day, forgiveness is not to help the people who wrong us, it is to help us move forward and heal.

Can you speak about your own personal background and how being adopted, and making the decision to find out about your biological parents, inspired the premise of this book and what the main character is dealing with?
I spent a big part of my childhood being very ill. For decades, no one was able to diagnose my disease. Behcet’s is difficult to pinpoint because the symptoms usually don’t appear jointly and can be identical to those of other illnesses. Once diagnosed, I opted to research my biological parents since Behcet’s is a genetic disease. I found information about my birth mother, who hails from Denmark, but was unable to locate material about my birth father. I turned to genome mapping to learn more and discovered that there were Turkish markers in my genes. In short, there are two old world conquering empires duking it out inside of my body.

I started reading about Danish and Turkish history and learned that the Berserkers, champion Norse warriors said to have fought in a trance-like rage, really existed. The term “going berserk” comes from these fighters. There are lots of theories as to who they were and how berserk they actually became. This research inspired the idea of a modern day berserker who didn’t know that they were a berserker because of their orphan status.

Which writers inspire you?
James Michener’s ability to write compelling historical fiction not only takes a lot of research but a lot of talent. His writing inspired me to use places I have visited or lived for my fictional settings. I also think that the diversity and depth in Ted Dekker’s stories is amazing.

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Ellen Whitfield
(616) 258-5537
ellen@jkscommunications.com

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

TAMPA BAY, FL – In the first installment of the “Lessons for Lawyers” series, “50 Lessons for Lawyers: Earn More. Stress Less. Be Awesome.,” law firm coach Nora Riva Bergman introduces mindfulness into the legal world. In communities where lawyers have previously been expected to attend to the needs of clients and staff above all else, Bergman discusses the benefits of redirecting focus to oneself. By working with the latest strategies in productivity, marketing, and leadership, Bergman allows her readers to consider themselves—as individuals—key to their practice.

Each chapter in the book covers a single lesson, allowing readers to either engage with the book sequentially or skip through according to what seems most relevant or interesting. The lessons in each chapter are simple, easy to implement, and practical above all else.

Read through lessons such as:

• Lesson 14: Do it. Delegate it. Defer it. Ditch it.
• Lesson 20: Think of marketing like brushing your teeth. Do it every day.
• Lesson 29: Join the social media conversation. Teach — don’t sell.
• Lesson 32: See your firm from your client’s eyes. Create a unique experience.
• Lesson 44: Money matters, but it’s not the most important thing.

Packed with tools for success, the book takes a motivational approach, aiming to help the inert lawyer get back in motion through self-awareness and reflection. Bergman not only seeks to change the current mindset of her readers, she also concludes every lesson with practical ways to use her advice in the real world, demonstrating her call to action. Bergman understands that in law, as in all fields, it’s not only about the knowing, it’s about the doing.

About the Book

“50 Lessons for Lawyers: Earn More. Stress Less. Be Awesome.”
Nora Riva Bergman | October 1, 2016 | Berroco Canyon Publishing
Softcover | $24.99 | 6 x 0.6 x 9 in | 250 pages | ISBN 9780997263701
E-Book | $9.99 | 250 pages | ISBN B01M7O5MYF
Nonfiction; Self-Help

About the Author

Nora Bergman’s instruction is crafted from her firsthand experience as an attorney as well as her work as a business coach. Additionally, she has had teaching experience as an adjunct professor at both Stetson University College of Law and the University of South Florida. “50 Lessons for Lawyers” not only displays Bergman’s expert knowledge, it also reveals her unique ability to impart her knowledge on others in ways that inspire real action

Interview Questions For Lori Rader-Day

1. Did you have your own mentors help you along your journey to success?
2. When did you know you would make a good mentor to others in your field?
3. What was the most difficult lesson for you to learn when you were first starting in the field?
4. How does your book relate personal wellness to business strategy?
5. Of all the lessons in your book, which lesson is most important for your readers to take away?
6. What plans do you have underway for writing additional books in this series?

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Ellen Whitfield
(616) 258-5537
ellen@jkscommunications.com

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

New novel by Mary Higgins Clark and Anthony Award-winner releasing in August

CHICAGO – Mary Higgins Clark-award winning author Lori Rader-Day is releasing her latest thriller, “Under a Dark Sky,” on Aug. 7, 2018, offering a terrifying twist on a locked-room murder mystery that will keep readers guessing until the last page.

Since the death of her husband, Eden Wallace is terrorized by darkness. She has succumbed to grief, given up on things she once loved, and forced awake by night terrors requiring her to sleep with the lights on. Deciding to conquer her fear, Eden travels to a dark sky park in Michigan, where darkness becomes the least of her fears.

She unwillingly shares her suite with 20-somethings tenaciously hanging on to the college friendships they’ve yet to outgrow. She plans a getaway from her getaway, post-poning her fear-conquering quest with intent to depart the next morning. Until she hears a scream.

One of the friends has been murdered. Now everyone—including Eden—is a suspect. As accidents overtake the group, Eden must navigate lies and find truth in chaos to avoid becoming the next victim when darkness falls.

Lori Rader-Day is a three-time Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee, winning the award in 2016 for her second novel, “Little Pretty Things.” She is the author of “The Black Hour,” winner of the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and “The Day I Died,” an Indie Next Pick. Lori’s short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Time Out Chicago, and Good Housekeeping. She lives in Chicago, where she is active in Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime and co-chairs the mystery conference Murder and Mayhem in Chicago. Lori’s next novel, “Under a Dark Sky,” will be published by Harper Collins William Morrow in August.

About the Book

“Under a Dark Sky”
Lori Rader-Day | Aug. 7, 2018 | Harper Collins William Morrow
ISBN: (hardcover) 978-0062846143 | $26.99
ISBN: 978-0062560308 (paperback) | $15.99
ASIN: B071VBHQ3P (ebook) | $26.99
Mystery

Only in the dark can she find the truth . . .

Since her husband died, Eden Wallace’s life has diminished down to a tiny pinprick, like a far-off star in the night sky. She doesn’t work, has given up on her love of photography, and is so plagued by night terrors that she can’t sleep without the lights on. Everyone, including her family, has grown weary of her grief. So when she finds paperwork in her husband’s effects indicating that he reserved a week at a dark sky park, she goes.

She’s ready to shed her fear and return to the living, even if it means facing her paralyzing phobia of the dark. But when she arrives at the park, the guest suite she thought was a private retreat is teeming with a group of twenty-somethings, all stuck in the orbit of their old college friendships. Horrified that her get-away has been taken over, Eden decides to head home the next day. But then a scream wakes the house in the middle of the night. One of the friends has been murdered. Now everyone—including Eden—is a suspect.

Everyone is keeping secrets, but only one is a murderer. As mishaps continue to befall the group, Eden must make sense of the chaos and lies to evade a ruthless killer—and she’ll have to do it before dark falls…

Interview Questions For Lori Rader-Day

1. How does “Under A Dark Sky” differ from your previous award-winning novels?
2. How long did it take you to write “Under A Dark Sky?” Do you write your books in order of their release?
3. Why did you decide to set “Under a Dark Sky” in Mackinaw City, Michigan? Do you have a personal connection to this setting?
4. Is it more difficult to write a place you know well? Do you feel increased pressure to accurately portray the setting?
5. Why do you think it’s important to pen women-driven mystery novels?
6. You have a background in journalism and now you’re writing thriller fiction. How and why did you make this writing-genre shift?
7. What does fiction offer to a writer that non-fiction doesn’t?
8. Did you visit dark sky preserves for this book? What was that like?
9. Why did you write a character who is afraid of the dark?
10. What’s next for you?

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Ellen Whitfield
(616) 258-5537
ellen@jkscommunications.com

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

One woman’s trailblazing journey through abuse, prejudice, and overcoming it all.

DETROIT, MI – An African-American/Italian biracial 20-year-old marries a 45-year-old former Roman Catholic priest in mid ‘60s Saginaw, Michigan, triggering a religious and racial scandal in the community. Ignoring the contempt and adversity she faced for the decision to be with the one she loved, that 20-year old would one day become the longest-serving Chief Judge in the history of Detroit’s 36th District Court.

Given the name “Rosemary,” at birth, Judge Marylin E. Atkins was born to an unwed Italian teen and a married black man in Detroit in 1946. After being put in foster care by her birth mother, a black couple from Saginaw adopts her. Her adoptive mother’s abuse shapes Atkins into a tough survivor who decides that she would forge her own fate, unwilling to allow this abusive woman to smother her ambition.

Publishing on Oct. 9, 2018, The Triumph of Rosemary is a raw, awe-inspiring tale of one woman’s unrelenting spirit in the face seemingly insurmountable adversity, the love of a family, and achieving the American Dream.

Judge Marylin E. Atkins was appointed six times by the Michigan Supreme Court to run Detroit’s 36th District court. After serving on the court for 21 years, she retired in 2012. Judge Atkins earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Saginaw Valley State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit School of Law. Atkins enjoys exercising, playing the piano, doing carpentry, relaxing with friends, and baking banana-nut-raisin bread that she delivers to her friends, family, and others. She lives in Detroit. She is the author of The Triumph of Rosemary: A Memoir, published by her daughters’ company, Two Sisters Writing and Publishing.

About the Book

“The Triumph Of Rosemary: A Memoir”
Marylin E. Atkins | October 9, 2018 | Two Sisters Publishing
Hardcover | $27.99
Paperback | $19.99
Memoir

In an interview, Marylin can discuss:
* Interracial marriage and its stigmas
* How her children were raised to confidently identify as biracial
* Marrying a former Roman Catholic priest, who was forbidden by the Church to marry
* Her search for her birth parents
* How she cultivated a tough mindset surviving the emotional and physical abuse of her adoptive mother
* Her career path to becoming a district’s Chief Judge

An Interview with Judge Marylin E. Atkins

It takes a lot of courage to put your personal story out there for the whole world to read. Why did you decide to write this memoir?
For about 15 years, my daughters had been urging me to write my story. I always resisted because I did not believe I had a story worth sharing. The things I did during my life, I thought everybody did, that is, make a plan to take care of yourself and your family and see that plan through to the very best of your ability. I also resisted because I was not sure that I wanted to share such personal events in my life with the world. Finally, I relented and began writing in December 2016, just before Christmas. As I wrote, I realized and appreciated that I do have a story that is unique and worth sharing with the world.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
My hope is that by sharing my experiences, good and bad, I can encourage others to first, make a life plan that is realistic given one’s circumstances, assess and review the plan as time goes on, amend the plan if necessary and never give up, no matter what obstacles are thrown in your path. Resolve within yourself that you know what is best for you and how to reach your goals.

What challenges did you face when you first got married to your husband, Thomas Lee Atkins?
The challenges that I faced when I married my husband in 1966: My husband was white, he was a former Roman Catholic priest (15 years) and he was 25 years my senior. When we married, I was a 20 year old biracial (African American and Italian) girl and he was 45 years old. In the 1960’s interracial marriage was not popular, nor was it popular for priests to leave the priesthood. And everyone was skeptical that a May-December union would work, especially with all these other factors. The Bishop of the Saginaw Diocese ordered us to leave Saginaw, my husband’s family did not speak to him, and my mother was furious. My father, however, was not because my husband was a gentle man and he knew he would take care of me. Except for the demands of the Bishop and the alienation of his family, we did not endure outright racism, at least to our faces. We always knew there were whispers behind our backs and people always stared at us as if trying to figure out how we “fit together,” especially after we had our daughters, who looked totally white. While interracial marriage in Ohio where we married was not illegal, we were aware of the laws forbidding such unions in the south. We rejoiced when the United States Supreme Court in 1967, ruled that states could not outlaw interracial marriages in the Loving vs. Virginia case. All of the negatives we were faced with made our love for each other all the more strong.

You found out that you were adopted before you hit your teenage years. How did that revelation affect you?
I found out that I was adopted when I was 10 years old. My adoptive mother told me the whole story after a little girl who had heard her parents talking about the fact that my brother and I were adopted, asked me what my “real” name was.

In explaining what happened, my mother used the word “special” over and over because I told her that the little girl said that adopted babies were babies that nobody wanted. I did not feel any different emotionally after the revelation and I distinctly remember thinking that this is why I did not look like a newborn baby in the first picture that my parents had of me. I was 6 months old!!!! Being adopted only bothered me when I suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of my adoptive mother. It was at these times I wondered why she adopted me.

Had you always known you wanted to be a judge?
I decided that I wanted to be a judge in the late 1980’s while I was a member of the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Qualifications Committee. It was the committee’s responsibility to interview all judicial candidates, rate their qualifications and forward them to the Governor of Michigan for consideration and selection. After several years on the committee and having a job where my responsibility was to decide cases, I decided that it would be a good position for me.

If you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing while you were living with your abusive adoptive mother, what would it be?
If I could go back to the time that I was being abused by my adoptive mother, I would tell myself the same thing I told myself then: I have to “go along, to get along” until I can get away from her. She was in complete control of my life until I began seeing my husband to be. When I think back, I realize that her abuse made me the strong person that I am and it made me the good, loving mother that I have always been to our daughters. One thing I might have asked her if I could go back: “Do you love me?” I never heard those words from her.

What’s next for you?
What is next for me is to continue enjoying my retirement by traveling, spending time at our family cottage, watching my daughters grow their writing and publishing business, and watching my grandson grow to manhood. And I am thinking about visiting schools in Detroit as I did when I was on the bench. I enjoyed putting on my robe and talking with students about keeping their eye on the prize and becoming good, productive citizens. I would also like to have lots of speaking engagements/book signings to tell my story. I was the 2018 Commencement speaker at my alma mater, Saginaw Valley State University, because the President of the University read my book. He insisted that I include some of my life story in my remarks. My address was described as heartfelt and powerful.

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Ellen Whitfield
(616) 258-5537
ellen@jkscommunications.com

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

SAN MATEO, California – Set during one of the most politically divisive eras in American history, Thread for Pearls is a coming-of-age tale that takes the reader on a wild ride as they experience for what it was like to be a child of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Readers follow young heroine Fiona Sprechelbach as she experiences bomb scares and be-ins, ashrams and acid trips, finding her path to adulthood.

“Those were unsettling times to grow up in, and many were left feeling a bit estranged and unseen, like unicorns” author Lauren Speeth said, adding, “I wrote the book to help heal that feeling, while still honoring that unique element in us all.”

Like the book, the author book tour will celebrate resilient hope and post-traumatic growth. Author readings will take place at selected nonprofits whose issues resonate with the storyline in some way audience purchases during those evenings to the nonprofit host.

Lauren Speeth has shared her stories in film and print over the years with audiences around the world, to critical acclaim. Her diverse storytelling interests cover many mediums: from books about the American experience to 3-D films about Irish spirituality, to music about love and life. In this, her first novel, she shares what she has come to understand as the fundamental human experience of resiliency and hope. When not dreaming up stories, Speeth leads Elfenworks Productions, LLC, a pro-social business with internationally acclaimed media content, and The Elfenworks Foundation, where she has assembled a team of social entrepreneurs who work together daily on projects that foster the greater good.

About the Book

A near-death experience in a car with her ; running from tear gas at a Vietnam War rally hand-in-hand with her op; a year in India learning side-by-side the country’s untouchables the highs and lows of living on a rural Pennsylvania commune…and all before Fiona Sprechelbach’s thirteenth birthday.

Set during one of the most politically divisive eras in American history, Thread for Pearls is a coming-of-age tale that takes us on a young heroine’s journey to faith and freedom amidst a turbulent family dynamic. Two decades of American history, 1962 to 1982, are conveyed through the eyes of young Fiona Sprechelbach. It’s a story of resilient hope that questions whether it’s the events of our lives that define us or the thread on which we choose to string them.

“Thread for Pearls: A Story of Resilient Hope”
Lauren Speeth | Elfenworks Productions
Paperback | 978-0-9997071-0-4 | 16.95
eBook | 978-0-9997071-1-1 | 9.99
Historical Fiction | Coming of Age

An Interview with Lauren Speeth

How long did this book take to write?
It took about ten years. Why it took so long is that I had a lot of research to do, and I did it in fits and starts, also taking care of the other responsibilities of my life.

You have a very busy life. When do you make time to write?
I write on Fridays. I carve out the day and don’t go in to work at all.

Why did you write this book?
Why does anybody write anything? I wrote because it just had to be written. There was a story that wanted to be told and wouldn’t let me alone until I told it.

Any suggestions for would-be authors?
Get started. Just get everything down on paper. Then, you can edit later. Don’t be your worst critic.

What are your hopes for this book?
I love getting lost in a book, and entering another world. I wanted to try my hand at giving people that. My hope is that people will immerse themselves in the world of young Fiona Sprechelbach, and emerge with more hope – plus a few tools for life’s journey.

Who’s the audience?
Everyone… I hope. But seriously, maybe students who are the same age as Fiona towards the end of the book, or else people who’ve lived through the times I tell.

There are some very hard moments in the book. Yes, there are. But then, every one of us faces hard moments. A book without them wouldn’t be very interesting or real. It certainly wouldn’t be a book that would interest me to write.

Why did you include the ones you did?
Fiona is a young girl, and with the #metoo movement, it felt right to touch on something that’s so common as to be almost universal in our consciousness. But I could have chosen any number of other issues to write about the aftermath. What do you do with such experiences? That’s a key question explored in the book. I speak to students all over the world and some of them have faced things that are much worse than I depict in Thread for Pearls. Some are almost crushed by them. Others seem so lost and depressed. I think we could all use more stories of hope. I have tried to craft a book with post-traumatic growth, ending it on a strong note of hope.

Do you think a book set in the 1960s and ‘70s has relevance?
Absolutely. I started with the idea of focusing on a time in our American history that was quite difficult in a lot of ways, to bring an overarching message of transcending our circumstances that is always relevant. But as the writing progressed, I began seeing so many echoes from the ‘60s and ‘70s . There are protests, unrest, war… so many parallels to those days. Let’s see if the readers agree.

Why did you choose some of the character names that you did?
I tried to choose names that told you a little about the character you were meeting. For example, I had a lot of fun with a character who nicknamed himself “Cassowary” Cass. People who know their zoo animals understand that the cassowary is a bird that can be deadly, so this fellow was trying to say, “Look out!

Last book to make you cry?
The book by Ursula LeGuin called No Time to Spare, because I was reading it at the time I found out she passed away. She was one of my favorite authors, growing up, and I’d so wanted to send her a copy of my book, imagining that somehow, she might say something kind to me about it. I miss her, even though I’ve never met her. Getting to know an author feels personal, somehow.

What genres do you avoid?
As a reader, I find I avoid horror. I have a vivid imagination, and my mind tends to run with the images I see, so I like to feed myself images of consolation, not desolation. That said, horror can be a great genre for really exploring some important social issues. In my own case, though, I opt for a sci-fi setting, because it helps me remember that what I’m seeing isn’t actually real.

What’s the most interesting thing you learned in a book recently?
Madeleine Albright’s most recent book Fascism, A Warning, gave me a great new definition of the word. To her, a fascist is “someone who identifies strongly with and claims to speak for a whole nation or group, is unconcerned with the rights of others, and is willing to use whatever means are necessary including violence to achieve his or her goals. So, a tyrant needn’t be a fascist, though a fascist is very likely a tyrant. I love language, and this definition really fascinated me.

Best book you’ve read about cooking?
Oh, that’s a funny question. It’s an open secret that I’m a terrible cook. I’ve actually shattered Pyrex with my attempts. My first cookbook was The Joy of Cooking, though “joy” and “cooking” don’t really go together in my mind. I love cleaning up after other people cook.

What’s something readers don’t know about you?
I have always had dogs, but I’ve always secretly wanted a kitten, even though I’m very allergic to cats. I just think they’re so adorable. I guess The Rolling Stones were right that you can’t always get what you want. I do have what I need though, with my two puppies, Ginger and Nutmeg. They’re the best.

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Ellen Whitfield
(616) 258-5537
ellen@jkscommunications.com

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

Boston, MA – N. Lawrence Mann follows up on the critically acclaimed suspense novel, “Full Breach,” unleashing the second installment of the Blue Warp series. These paranormal thrillers find their core identity in the “Addiction Fiction” subgenre, with “Coma Dreams” (LPS Publishing, September 15, 2018) its latest addition. Stunning action, unexpected sci-fi themes, and realistic addiction-based events make for an unusual blend in a book series meant to be a gateway to conversations about addiction, and an apology to those Mann hurt in his past.

Struggling with inner demons after the loss of his child, Retired Air Force Colonel Brett Stafford is in search of missing pieces in his life when he is involved in a single-car accident and slips into a coma for six months. Using his newfound—and unrefined—ability to heal, Brennen Reynolds attempts to revive the colonel on the day his life support is to be terminated. Brennen is only partially successful, as the person awoken is not Colonel Stafford. This colonel is dangerous. Pressured by time, Brennen and his friends must try to piece together what went wrong and how to reverse the process before further tragedies occur and the colonel loses himself forever.

N. Lawrence Mann is the author of the Blue Warp book series and a lifelong reading fanatic. His works are largely described as suspenseful, but frequently incorporate components of fantasy, science fiction, and humor. As a recovered addict, Mann provides a unique perspective in his books that blends the psychological and physiological effects of addiction. Mann spent many years working as a songwriter, creating soundtracks for independent films. His first novel, “Full Breach,” was a International Book Award Finalist. Visit him at nlawrencemann.com to learn more.

“Coma Dreams”
LPS Publishing | September 15, 2018
Paperback | ISBN: 978-0-692-93995-6 | Price: $ 15.99
EBook | ISBN: To come | Price: $2.99
Genre: Suspense

In an interview Nelson can discuss:
* “Addiction Fiction” as genre and why it matters
* His writing process: the addiction scenes come first, the mystery unfolds after.
* How writing fiction is like songwriting
* N. Lawrence Mann’s own relationship with addiction and how writing has helped him
* His writing process: writing as lived apology
* Blending supernatural elements with a mystery plot
* What is the “Blue Warp?”

An Interview with N. Lawrence Mann

You have addiction in your own background—how has your own recovery story influenced your writing?
Well, if it weren’t for that decade of my life, I probably wouldn’t have ever committed to writing at all. If fact, writing was (and continues to be) a way to make that time period meaningful. Instead of attempting to block it out, I incorporate it into the narratives I write and use it as a reference whenever I need the reader to understand what it is to be puppeted by addiction. For instance, in the first book, our protagonist, Brennen, is at a time in his life where any choice he makes that doesn’t involve quitting drugs is the wrong choice. In this second story, he is struggling with how he perceives his world after quitting, which is a time period rarely talked about in many recovery stories, and is one of the most difficult stages. To write accurately about it in a way that conveys this to an audience, that life experience (as bleak as it was) can be a great asset. Legal thrillers are usually best when voiced through the experiences of a writer with legal experience, whether that experience was as a lawyer or judge. It’s the same with me, except my life experience is a decade of addiction. You could say that I hold a doctorate in poor life choices.

How do your books fit into the “addiction fiction” genre?
Thinking about my work in terms of a genre classification of “Addiction Fiction” helped me to stay on track when writing stories. As mentioned earlier, I want to be able to make meaning of the darker days of my life. To accomplish this, I want to be sure that at least one central character in any given story is battling inner demons stemmed from addiction. Whether it’s alcohol, prescription meds, street drugs, or gambling, I want to make sure the addicts are represented. These books embody that 100%.

What is unique about your writing process?
I spent a lot of time, mostly my twenties and half of my thirties, in front of a computer and a mixing board, working for very little return as a songwriter. Writing stories was a natural progression for me. Since it was no longer feasible to spend money on expensive recording gear, I found a way to get the same creative satisfaction working on a laptop where I can pick it up any time, anywhere. Although it has been liberating to write in a new medium, I still approach my stories the way I approach a song. In fact, I no longer see a difference between the two. You start with a tempo and a beat (a plot), add a bass guitar or synth bass (central character), your rhythm and lead guitars (secondary characters), you make them work together through intros, verses, choruses and bridges (story points and subplots) and add your reverb, distortion and other effects (story enrichment), and you have yourself a book.

Dreams show up as important plot and character motivators in Coma Dreams (and its title focuses on them as well!). What inspired this different take on moving the action along in a thriller?
Dreams, as common as they are, are largely unexplained. The opinions about the meaning of them, and the purpose behind them, have been interpreted through various cultures and sub-cultures since humans began to contemplate them. In my humble opinion, they may be jigsaw pieces to a larger, perhaps infinite puzzle: How exactly the human brain works, what its true potential is, and how it is connected to the universe/multiverse. If it is true that we only use 10% of our brain’s potential, then it is easy to understand why we don’t have a concrete understanding of dreams. If we keep fitting the pieces together and add a few more percentage points, zoom outward to see the puzzle as a whole, we may look back and see that dreams were merely the beginning stages of advanced communication between human beings—evolution knocking from beneath the depth of our consciousness. Of course, I could be entirely off base (and am comfortable with that), but the concept of it was just too rich to pass up without including it into the storyline of the series. Besides,with Brennen’s experiences in the first story, it was only natural that dreams were to play a bigger role in this one.

What is your take on the relationship between science fiction and culture?
Good question—and one that probably deserves much more page space than we are allowing today. I always loved the concept that what is improbable in ten years may be inevitable in a thousand. In other words, science fiction allows us to keep ourselves in check with a far searching eye. That same optical muscle that helped us evolve through our measly 3 plus million years by remembering star patterns at various times of the year is the same we use when thinking of alternate realities, or the realities of the future. I think it’s a muscle that needs to be flexed and science fiction is a way of doing that. It was great revisiting Back to the Future in 2015 to see what they got right and wrong—as it pertains to our current culture—when writing it back in the mid ’80s. There was a surprising amount of accuracy.

So if any given current culture can aspire to the wonderment of its science fiction, or heed the warnings of it, then perhaps the more secure it can be. In a healthy culture, life and art should have some flexibility to imitate each other.

What do you hope readers will take away after reading “Coma Dreams”?
It would be great if people would, after reading it, put the book down and re-examine their ideas as to the nature of reality—if only for a moment.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, the story revolves around the human condition. There are good people who have done bad things. There are people who have caused others pain through no fault of their own. There is forgiveness to be asked for. So I would say that if this story makes just one person to concede that time on this planet is short and release an old grudge, or perhaps call an old friend whom they have been estranged, forgive someone or allow themselves to be forgiven, this story will have been well worth the time.

What the hell is the Blue Warp?
Good question. You came to the right person. The Theory of Relativity (our best explanation of the very large) and Quantum Mechanics (our best explanation of the very small) don’t get along. At all. Like Scott Barrett from the first book says, “Until the two are reconciled, all cosmic bets are off.” In other words, we can’t completely discount the possibility of the impossible just because we don’t currently have the capacity to understand it.

Within this disconnect lies the Blue Warp—the possibility of an infinite consciousness by which we are all connected. The Blue Warp is a proposal—both a “what if” and a “why not” that are tapped into and personified by addict, Brennen Reynolds.

That’s the short version.
So, yeah. There’s that.

www.JKSCommunications.com
237 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37221
Ellen Whitfield
(616) 258-5537
ellen@jkscommunications.com

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/