FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sarasota, Fla. – Set on the Eastern front of World War II, C.S. Taylor’s intense new novel, “Nadya’s War” (Tiny Fox Press, Sept. 19, 2017), dives into an often-overlooked force in the Red Army, the 586th all-female fighter regiment. A long-overdue story highlighting the combat roles of women, this female-centric novel ties intricate characters with a plot that matches both the fascination of a tumultuous time and the devastation brought by war.

Taylor’s mastery of character arcs and stellar pacing will leave readers with a dazzling glimpse into the past, enticing readers who love World War II fiction, female-empowerment stories, and unusual facets of history. Emotionally raw and meticulously researched, “Nadya’s War” finds its rightful place in the canon of World War II fiction.

About the Book: Nadezdah “Little Boar” Buzina, a young pilot with the Red Army’s 586th all-female fighter regiment, dreams of becoming an ace. Those dreams shatter when a dogfight leaves her severely burned and the sole survivor from her flight.

For the latter half of 1942, she struggles against crack Luftwaffe pilots, a vengeful political commissar, and a new addiction to morphine, all the while questioning her worth and purpose in a world beyond her control. It’s not until the Soviet counter-offensive at Stalingrad that she finds her unlikely answers, and they only come after she’s saved her mortal enemy’s life and fallen in love with the one who nearly kills her.

C.S. Taylor is a former Marine and avid fencer (saber for the most part, foil and epee are tolerable). He enjoys all things WWII, especially perfecting his dogfighting skills inside virtual cockpits, and will gladly accept any P-38 Lightnings anyone might wish to bestow upon him. He’s also been known to run a kayak through whitewater now and again, as well give people a run for their money in trap and skeet.

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About the book

“Nadya’s War”
C.S. Taylor September 19, 2017 Tiny Fox Press
ISBN: 978-1-946501-01-1 (Paperback)
Price: $14.95 (Paperback) $8.99 (Ebook)
Historical Fiction World War II Fiction

An Interview with C.S. Taylor

How did you first learn about the Red Army’s 586th all-female fighter regiment, and what drew you to write a story featuring a member as the lead protagonist?
Initially, I stumbled upon an online article dealing with the Night Witches, who were part of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment for the Red Army Air. The 588th was also an all-female regiment, and they flew outdated biplanes into battle.

Their recounts and bravery astounded me, and I thought they’d make an excellent focus for a new book. In researching the 588th, I learned a lot about the other two female squadrons, the 586th and the 587th. Eventually, I settled on the 586th, as I always loved a good dogfight and the 587th and 588th were strictly bomber regiments and didn’t have any fighter planes.

How did your own military experience as a Marine play into your writing?
On the surface, being a grunt on the ground doesn’t share a lot of commonality with an officer in the air, seventy-plus years ago, fighting in a war and coming from a culture about which I can only read. That said, there’s still shared experiences common to all those in the military: being out in the field, operating under a fog of war, respecting chains of command, etc.

But what helped the most were the contacts I’d made in the Corps who knew a lot about the Eastern Front, or could point me to people who knew even more, to iron out sticky details.

You did an impressive job researching the Red Army and Nadya’s regiment. How did that research shape your plot, and did you have to change anything along the way to make it line up with the history?
Up until the Battle of Stalingrad, the 586th guarded targets behind friendly lines, so I had to come up with plausible reasons for Nadya to find herself patrolling or even assisting in strikes into German-held territory without them being a gross violation of what the 586th’s orders were at the time.

Second, I had to make sure who shot down what didn’t interfere with well-established events, such as which female pilot scored the first aerial victory, who made ace first, etc. while at the same time showcasing Nadya’s growing skills as a pilot.

What do you find to be the most interesting aspect of historical fiction, both as an author and as a reader?
I think that would be bringing to life something foreign in vivid detail. Though it’s natural, we see the world around us through a 21st century lens. I’ve always liked when that view shifts and a new take on life is had.

Did you ever find Nadya’s character challenging to write? How did you break through hurdles you faced?
Always. Without spoiling the plot, she decks an officer early on. I didn’t plan it, but when it came out on page, I couldn’t deny that’s what she’d do. From then on, she ran loose and destroyed my outline of what I wanted to have happen.

By the end of the first draft, I had her mostly down as a character, but it took a lot of revisions and many fantastic beta readers to point out all the reasons “this doesn’t work” or “that makes me hate her” until she got to where she is now.

Are there any other unusual historical topics that you might write about in the future?
World War II was such an interesting war, so the natural answer is to continue with the 586th or maybe jump to one of the other two sister regiments. However, there are a plethora of novels for that period in history, so finding untouched subjects can be difficult.

I’ve also been looking at some of the lesser-known sieges in history that are impressive in terms of what the attackers and defenders went through. There’s a lot to work with there, too, but not as many dogfights.

You mention saber, foils, and epees in your bio. For us fencing novices, what are the differences between the three, and how did you spark an interest in fencing?
I took an early interest in fencing in elementary school when I found my dad’s old fencing gear. I didn’t start fencing in any serious manner until high school, as there weren’t any clubs around until them.

Essentially, the three styles of fencing—foil, epee, and saber—come down to what duel they were modeled after. Foil mirrors a to-the-death encounter with a rapier, where points are scored only by sticking someone in the chest. Epee centers around first blood, so a stick anywhere on the body (big toe included) scores you a point. Last, saber models cavalry hacking at each other. Anything from the waist up counts, and unlike foil and epee, you can use the edge of your weapon as well as the tip to score.

www.JKSCommunications.com
2819 Vaulx Lane, Nashville, TN 37204
Angelle Barbazon
(615) 928-2462
angelle@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

Dayton, OHIO –– In “Raising the Bottom: Making Mindful Choices in a Drinking Culture,” author Lisa Boucher unearths the buried narratives of women’s addiction, shedding light on overlooked perspectives and the unique experiences of women’s complicated relationship with alcohol.

Boucher’s personal experience as the daughter of an alcoholic mother and her own recovery, alongside her professional experience as a nurse witnessing the effects and misdiagnoses of alcoholism, strengthen her ability to provide an honest narrative of addiction and its impact. Boucher along with dozens of mothers, daughters and health professionals profiled in “Raising the Bottom” courageously and vulnerably share their stories of addiction, and gives voice to an issue that’s often shoved under the rug or quietly pushed to the sidelines. Their willingness to turn the spotlight on themselves, while to the outside world their drinking still looked entirely normal, is what sets “Raising the Bottom” apart from the many addiction stories out there. Boucher not only establishes trust with “Raising the Bottom’s” readers, but also helps its stories rise above the run-of-the-mill statistics to help break down the stigma of addiction.

“If we better understood those stories, we could shed light on and help reduce the frequency of addiction,” Boucher says.

Boucher deftly encourages women to establish a mindful relationship with alcohol that challenges frequent and often excessive drinking ideas that have become normalized in our society. In addition, she helps women, and men, recognize the early signs of disordered drinking and ties alcohol to the many underlying mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, that might fuel the desire to use alcohol as a coping skill.

In her 28 years of sober living, Lisa Boucher has worked with hundreds of women to overcome alcoholism, live better lives and become better parents. Published by She Writes Press, “Raising the Bottom” is her fifth book and available at roughly 150 libraries throughout the United States. She was prompted to write “Raising the Bottom” when she realized after 20-plus years of working in hospitals, that doctors and traditional health care offer few solutions to women with addiction issues. She is the mother of twin sons and lives in Ohio with her husband. For more information, visit RaisingTheBottom.com.

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About the book

“RAISING THE BOTTOM”
Making Mindful Choices in a Drinking Culture

Lisa Boucher • June 20, 2017 • She Writes Press
ISBN: 978-1-63152-214-7 • $16.95 (paperback) • $9.95 (ebook)
Self-Help

Have you ever wondered if social drinking has unintended consequences to your health, family, relationships, or your profession? Have you ever thought that losing control of your drinking couldn’t happen to you or someone you love? All the women you know are too smart. Too rich. Too kind. Too together. Too much fun. Pick one.

We live in a boozy culture, and the idea of women and wine has become entrenched. Is your book club really a “wine club?” Do you crave the release a drink can bring to cope with anxiety, parenthood, the pressures of being a mom, a wife/partner, a professional? In “Raising the Bottom,” mothers, daughters, health professionals, and young women share their stories of why they drank, how they stopped, and the joys and rewards of being present in their lives once they kicked alcohol to the curb.

Praise for “Raising the Bottom”

“[Boucher] demonstrates that alcoholism is a disease that doesn’t discriminate by income level, education, or gender. Contrary to the thinking that women have to lose it all before making changes, she hopes that, by reading her book, women can recognize and deal with their potential alcoholism early on. Highly recommended.” ―Library Journal (Starred Review)

“Raising the Bottom brings to the forefront a very necessary and under-discussed subject. Our healthcare system is currently ill-equipped to deal with the complicated problem of alcohol and drug dependence. Now more than ever, it is imperative that physicians receive better training on recognizing, understanding, and treating addiction. Only then can we be truly effective at assisting our patients in their recovery.” ― Richard Saxen, MD, Internal Medicine

“Raising the Bottom is an excellent resource for anyone who suspects they or a loved one has a problem with alcohol. It doesn’t just focus on the problem of alcoholism, it emphasizes the solution and demonstrates that alcoholics can live wonderful, productive lives through sobriety. This is a book of hope.” — Leslie R. Dye, MD, President, Medical Toxicology Foundation

“Raising The Bottom provides a vivid glimpse of a family in crisis, but you’re left with a feeling of hope and an understanding that addiction is a disease. One cannot simply have the willpower to overcome addiction; it’s a battle that can be won through God’s grace.”
―Jill Kingston, Executive Director, Brigid’s Path

“Spoken from the heart. Raising the Bottom is a refreshing take on the issues women have as caretakers and enablers. Boucher writes in a straightforward manner that both the long-time worker in our industry and those new to recovery can comprehend. The stories are relevant to the trials that all women share. Entertaining as well as educational!” ― Stanley Stone, President, Resources for Recovery

“Extremely helpful to women (and men) who have been in the grip of alcohol and drugs, Raising the Bottom will help alcoholics understand why they do what they do, and provide hope and courage for them to take the steps to overcome. I can especially relate to the stories in the book as they are so similar to my own victory over addiction. Boucher outlines the steps and principles that help so many to rise above the hopelessness of addiction and take back control of their lives.” ― Norbert H. Kox, visionary artist

“Raising the Bottom reveals the truth about alcohol in a bold and personal way. Boucher shares the warning signs to help women before it’s too late. It gets to the heart of the problem, but offers hope for recovery and a life after alcohol.” ― Barbara Daniel, Publisher/Editor, The Cleveland Women’s Journal

An Interview with Lisa Boucher

The stories shared in “Raising The Bottom” demonstrate that alcoholism does not follow a single narrative, that people from all walks of life can be affected in one way or another. What do you hope people will better understand after reading your book?
I purposely choose to highlight women who were professionals, mothers, teachers, and grandmothers. I wanted to show that the stigma of addiction is what keeps so many people out there drinking. Women, especially, are terrified to think of themselves as an “alcoholic” so they continue to drink even when many are so dissatisfied with their lives. Women don’t realize that much of their unhappiness may be due to drinking too much. Alcohol is a depressant. Too many women fail to make that connection. Instead, they go to the doctor and start on antidepressants. The drinking and the unhappiness ensues. It’s a vicious cycle. I wanted to show that women don’t have to live like that and that there is a great life awaiting them on the other side of the booze.

Why did you decide to write “Raising the Bottom” at this point in your life? 
My mother had passed in 2011. I believe this is the book she’d always hoped I’d write some day. Many times, when I wrote fiction she’d ask, “Why don’t you write a book about alcoholism? So many families are in trouble.” I think I needed to wait until I had the angle and the perspective that I have now. After working with so many women for so many years, I realized that almost all of the women I helped were employed. They had families. They went on vacations. They shopped and cooked and did all the things that other people do. These women had lives that looked nothing like the life of what people think of when they hear the word “alcoholic.” It was time to show the other side alcoholism to help end the stigma.

How did your own personal experience as both a recovering alcoholic and the daughter of a recovering alcoholic impact the way you approached this topic?
I watched my mother for 21 years look to medical professionals to help her. None of them ever did. In fact, they made things worse with all the medication they prescribed. I got sober very early in my disease because I didn’t want to hit a low bottom like my mother did. She broke her neck when she fell down the steps. The other lie people believe about this disease is that a person has to lose it all before they will quit. I lost nothing. I didn’t hit a low bottom at all. I quit before I was even a daily drinker. I never blacked out. People hear that and immediately think, well then you can’t be alcoholic. My hope is that if people could understand what early alcoholism looks like, maybe they could make a better choice and stop drinking before it destroys their life, and the lives of their family. One alcoholic in the family impacts everyone in some way, and you don’t have to ruin your life before you decide to get sober.

How much of a role did your professional experience as a nurse contribute to your motivation for writing this book?
It contributed mightily. I got sick of watching doctors do the same thing day after day to other people that they did to my mother. I don’t believe the medical professionals are malicious; most doctors don’t understand alcoholism so they do what they were trained to do and that’s prescribe medication. Too many people come to the hospital with drugs and alcohol in their systems. The doctors NEVER or only rarely address the substance abuse. Also, even if they do acknowledge it, they still don’t do the right thing. You cannot medicate someone into sobriety. Doctors also enable patients by allowing them to come to the hospital over and over again without talking to patients about their drinking and drugging. I’ve yet to see anyone get well. Instead, the hospital has an abundance of repeat business. They offer a place for customers to come instead of cures.

Why did you choose to focus on women, specifically, in your book?
The biggest surprise is that men have loved the book as well as women. There are a few men in “Raising the Bottom,” but I wanted to focus on women because that’s what I know. Men may have some different issues and feelings and I didn’t think I could speak to that as accurately since most of my experience has been in working successfully with women.

Why do you think women’s drinking is under-discussed?
The alcohol companies spend $3.45 billion on advertising, and it’s working. Wine companies are now starting to use gender based marketing. Wine is linked with yoga, painting, available at salons and bridal boutiques. “Wine Time” is all over t-shirts. Plastic wine glasses that have bright colors with lids are everywhere. People now drink at times and places that were never acceptable before, like toddler play-dates. Adults even sneak alcohol into games at kids sporting events. Parents come home from work and drink every night. It’s all so over the top and it’s not normal, but we’ve normalized daily drinking, and for too many, it’s how alcoholism starts. Furthermore, it’s under discussed because all the advertising and marketing has people believing they can’t have fun without alcohol. Women are also afraid to stand up to the nonsense because they fear if they do, they will lose friends.

Where do you personally draw the line between social drinking and disordered drinking? 
When you have to drink around your children. When you have a toddler on your hip and you keep pouring more wine. If a woman has to drink “to calm her nerves” or “relax,” these can be early signs that alcohol has become their coping skill, and it’s a very good indication that their drinking will escalate at some point in their life. Social drinkers never use alcohol as a reward or a coping mechanism.

What are some of the early signs of disordered drinking that others might not recognize?
The woman who always complains of depression and anxiety. The person who is emotionally immature is often a drinker. The person who can’t seem to ever get it together even though they may have all the necessary education and whatnot; the person who can’t hold a job because of their “attitude” problems. The person who has conflict in all of their relationships—alcohol is often the underlying reason. The person who dates abusive partners may have low self-esteem and use alcohol as a means of coping. The person who goes to the doctor constantly may be drug seeking. The person who makes everything an excuse to have a drink may be too attached to alcohol. The person who never wants to take personal responsibility and often blames others for everything could be someone who drinks a lot and is heading into alcoholism. People who buy foldable wine bottles to hide in their clothes, or people who buy purses with spouts so they can hide wine boxes. People who drink a lot are often very controlling. If someone is a control freak, my first reaction is always, I bet they’re a drinker, and most times the assumption is correct, or they’re a doormat and allow people to walk all over them. Those that are self-absorbed are often people who drink a lot. The party-people who think about no one but themselves and the next party. That sort of mindset is not healthy, and alcohol is already a significant player in that person’s life. Healthy people don’t have the need to micromanage or control others. Quantity does not have to be the only factor. The emotional immaturity is often more telling than even how much booze they drink. People don’t understand the way that alcohol stunts a person’s emotional growth.

The subject of alcoholism can be intimidating. What would you tell people who might be hesitant to read this book, whether due to denial or stigma?
Don’t be afraid! I have yet to meet one woman or man who decided to address their issue with alcohol who wasn’t thrilled with their life on the other side. It’s the fear of the unknown that keeps so many people stuck. People fear a new life because they feel they still need to control how things will go, and sobriety is all about the letting go.

The book is not just for alcoholics though. We all need to understand addiction, what it can look like, how it manifests in people’s lives, and what to do about it. There is a solution—and it’s not more medication. If people could walk away from the book with even that, I’d be thrilled! Besides, more and more families are having to deal with the issue. Everyone has that friend, coworker, significant other or spouse who may need help. Alcoholism is only intimidating when you ignore it.

I also did a chapter to highlight how kids feel about their parent’s drinking. I think parents need to be more mindful of what they role model. Kids do pay attention. The drinking culture helps cultivate future addicts and alcoholics. What else do these kids see but their parents and friends drinking quite a lot and quite often? Parents are stunned when their kids start drinking or end up on heroin. If we don’t dial back the drinking culture and show them something different, how can we continue to be surprised?

www.JKSCommunications.com
2819 Vaulx Lane, Nashville, TN 37204
Angelle Barbazon
(615) 928-2462
angelle@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 FRANCISCO – A fresh new voice has emerged with an exquisite short story collection about modern Asia and the Asia of imagination. Ho Lin’s clearly defined voice as a debut author is a welcome surprise, as he ferries the reader to far-off destinations that they may not otherwise have a chance to experience.

Vivid characters populate China Girl: A modern woman adrift in modern China. Would-be lovers connected and separated by random chance. A drunken dissident and his less-than-happy minder. A researcher of war atrocities who must come to grips with her own family tragedies. A princess of a kingdom that no longer exists. Actors placed at the service of comedies and tragedies, depending on a filmmaker’s whim.

The stories range from contemporary tales of urban life to fable-like musings on a diverse assortment of people and places. Readers from all backgrounds will empathize with the struggle to find one’s place in an often-baffling world.
Foreword Reviews gave China Girl five stars and said “Throughout these stories, emotional storms gather in original, biting scenes.” Lin writes with an incredible sense of place and an astonishing intensity — this collection will earn a place on your shelf and is not to be missed.

Ho Lin is an author, musician and filmmaker, and the co-editor of the literary journal Caveat Lector. He has degrees from Brown University and Johns Hopkins University, and he currently resides in San Francisco.

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About the book

In its nine tales, China Girl documents the collisions between East and West, the power of myth and the burden of history, and loves lost and almost found. The stories in this collection encompass everything from contemporary vignettes about urban life to fable-like musings on memories and the art of storytelling. Wide-ranging and playful, China Girl is a journey into today’s Asia as well as an Asia of the imagination.

“China Girl and Other Stories”
Ho Lin | Oct. 1, 2017 | Regent Press
paperback | 978-1-58790-384-7 | Price: $19.00
Hardcover | 978-1-58790-403-5 | $29.00
E-book | 978-1-58790-385-4 | $7.95
short stories

An Interview with Ho Lin

The characters in all of your stories see things from such different viewpoints. Is it difficult to write from so many perspectives?
As a Chinese-American, having different perspectives is a way of life! I’m drawn to variety in characters and viewpoints — the wonderful thing about fiction is that you’re free to imagine different worlds and approaches. Many of my stories find characters placed in unfamiliar or bizarre circumstances, and how their own perspectives impact the situation, or are changed because of it.

What made you decide to publish a book of short stories rather than a novel?
I love novels and plan to complete a few in my future, but I’m also drawn to the concise yet complete experience of a short story. A writer once compared a short story to a kiss in the dark from a stranger, and I like the surprise and immediacy such an experience offers. Why not offer a kiss in the dark as your first published work?

How did your travels in China and Taiwan influence your writing?
We live in a multi-cultural world and I enjoy reading and writing stories that concern themselves with the intersections and divergences between East and West. Living in Asia and experiencing its history and culture — getting “back to roots,” so to speak — certainly solidified these interests for me.

Some of your stories touch on the immigrant experience. Do you, your family or friends have personal experience with this? As the son of parents who emigrated to Taiwan and then the U.S., the immigrant experience is part of the fabric of my life. While I respect the “fresh off the boat” tales of previous writers, I’m hoping to offer a different take on the experience with some of these stories: less about recounting family narratives and more about the emotional shifts and dislocations that come when you’re moving between East and West.

One of your stories talks about a Chinese “ghost bride” tradition. Is this a real tradition?
It is indeed, and I’ll let the story speak for itself about the tradition. It’s a fascinating remnant of Chinese history that I hope to explore in more detail in future writings.

What is something you’d like to communicate to readers who don’t have a lot of knowledge about Chinese culture?
China is a vast place, both geographically and culturally, and my stories just scratch the surface when it comes to presenting a full picture of the place. I’ll just say it’s a vivid country where tradition and modernity co-exist and collide every day. “Every story you hear about China is true,” one of my characters says, and I believe that.

If you were able to have an author roundtable with three peers, who would you like to sit down with, and what would you ask them?
So many to choose from! It would be a bit difficult since some of them are no longer with us, but I would love to meet Haruki Murakami, Italo Calvino and Paul Bowles. They all have very distinctive, unique visions, and I admire them for their creativity and consistency. I’d be happy to just sit there and listen to them talk about what inspires their stories, and how they approach their craft.

What’s next for you?
My next major project is a novel set in Shanghai — suffice to say that mysteries and ghost brides will play a role. I’m also editing my late mother’s travel diaries, which cover four decades of travel in China and are a fascinating document of personal history and cultural change.

www.JKSCommunications.com
2819 Vaulx Lane, Nashville, TN 37204
Angelle Barbazon
(615) 928-2462
angelle@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

TETON VILLAGE, Wyoming – Everyone recognizes the essential role that parents play in their children’s education, yet there is no prevailing guide for families…until now. Jim Baumann attended public schools, as did his wife and their three kids. He has been a teacher, led a billion dollar business and a national nonprofit organization, served as a local school board member and a member of a state board of education. But to Baumann, his most important role is being a thoughtful, engaged, supportive and loving parent. Now, Baumann is using the knowledge he’s accumulated as a result of his unique blend of experiences over the past three decades to share his wise perspective in “Common Sense For Our Common Good: A Parent Guide to Good Schools.”

Releasing on Sept. 15, 2017, “Common Sense For Our Common Good” puts power, through knowledge, into the hands of parents, providing them with a compelling resource and useful tool to support their children and their children’s school.

Every parent wants their children to realize their full learning and human potential, and they recognize that education and schools are central to fulfilling that aspiration. Baumann’s welcoming and credible approach provides answers to two crucial questions – what makes a good school good and what can parents do to help make their child’s school better? Baumann has a passion for bringing clarity and simplicity to the education conversation and believes in the brilliance in every human being – especially in the potential of every child.

Jim Baumann also brings the magic of “Common Sense For Our Common Good” to life in a 60-minute multimedia presentation and 30-minute Q&A session that is compelling, informative and has interactive elements. Baumann takes his audience through his unique methodology that brings clarity to what makes a good school good and what parents can do to help make their child’s school better.  Any organization that is education, parent, child or family focused or is committed to the wellness of their employees and their families, will benefit from Baumann’s incredibly engaging and informative conversation… And this topic is one of the most important to discuss of our time. For more information, visit www.cscg.education.

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About the book

“Common Sense For Our Common Good: A Parent Guide To Good Schools” is about how you, as a parent, can most effectively support your child and your child’s school. That takes both individual passion and collective commitment. But it also takes some basic knowledge about what a good school, public or private, looks and feels like. Supporting your child and your child’s school is not just the right thing to do but also the most sensible and productive thing to do. Education is a thoughtful and prudent investment in the brilliance and potential in your child and all children… and will reap human and societal benefits both today and into the future.

“Common Sense For Our Common Good: A Parent Guide To Good Schools”
Jim Baumann | Sept. 15, 2017
Paperback | 9780692439128 | $14.95
E-book | 9780692439241 | $9.99
Nonfiction | Education

An Interview with Jim Baumann

You started your career in education more than 30 years ago. Was there a specific experience with the school system that made you want to write this book?
Yes, a three plus decade experience of being a parent and having had the privilege of being a teacher, coach, business leader, nonprofit leader, local school board member and state school board member. All of my experiences have reinforced my belief that every child is brilliant, and providing a good education and good schools is central to us fulfilling our obligation to make certain that every child has the opportunity to realize their full learning and human potential. “Common Sense For Our Common Good: A Parent Guide To Good Schools” partners with parents so that they understand what makes a good school good and also provides them with the knowledge to know what they can do to help make their child’s school better.

What’s helpful about the perspective you bring to this book, having experience in so many leadership roles and as a father to three children?
I believe my blend of experiences is unique. I have been in the classroom as a teacher and in a boardroom as a CEO, I have been on the playing field as a soccer coach and been engaged in nonprofits as a CEO and a board chair. I am a parent of three public schooled kids and have served on my local school board and my state school board. All of these experiences have informed me in powerful ways about the education of our children, the condition of our schools and that working together we can ensure that every child learns, grows and lives a purposeful and meaningful life.

Why is “Common Sense For Our Common Good” a must-read for parents?
Because it is a valuable, welcoming and unique education resource for parents that helps them champion and support their child’s education. “Common Sense For Our Common Good” recognizes that many of the aspirations that parents hold for their children are shaped by how education and schools impact their children. At the same time “Common Sense For Our Common Good” understands that parents have the closest involvement with and the most passionate opinions about schools and that greater knowledge about what actually makes a good school good is in everyone’s best interest. “Common Sense For Our Common Good” provides useful information and tools that underscore the critical role that parents play in helping to make their children’s school the best it can be. And, importantly, whatever the current curriculum direction may be and/or whatever the current education policies may be, the answer provided to the crucial question put forward in “Common Sense For Our Common Good” – what makes a good school good – is a foundational requirement that must be in place for any curriculum or education policy to be implemented effectively.

What’s the most valuable lesson you can give a parent entering the school system?
That it is best that parents speak from a solid base of information rather than from their emotions or frustration. Emotions and frustrations are real and valued, but let’s remember that schools are at their best and opportunities for children are at their greatest when parents, educators and the community work together and are focused on and committed to every child realizing their full learning and human potential.

You, your wife and your kids all attended public school. Did you enjoy your own school experience?
My wife and I and our three kids all benefited from being in very good public schools. I was an engaged student and athlete and had positive and productive relationships with many teachers and coaches. I enjoyed my schooling tremendously and was always learning and growing, and that experience helped me to obtain my college degree. My teachers and coaches had such a positive influence on me that I spent the first ten years out of college being a coach, teacher and school administrator. Once I entered the business world my engagement with education continued. I chaired a foundation that recognizes and celebrates highly effective teachers and also recruits and prepares future teachers to serve in schools of need. I was a member of my local school board and also was a member of our state board of education and chaired our finance and audit committee. I remain in awe and admire effective educators and I am forever grateful for the public education that I was given.

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges parents face today?
Making sense of all there is to know about education and schools is a challenge for us all. Schools are buffeted by demands from every corner of society. Everyone has strong opinions on what schools should do. Issues around too few graduates prepared for employment demands and college, inequitably distributed resources, low graduation rates and minority achievement gaps, to list just a few, are regularly cited as examples of why American education needs to improve. There are demands for school enhancements and innovations: greater access to quality early childhood education, technology use and training, teaching world languages, education/workforce development, proactive data use, implementation of learning standards… and technology and a global economy have created learning competition that is no longer measured at just state or national levels but through worldwide comparisons. And teaching is a profession requiring specialized training and skills sets, with a language all its own – one that is too often hard to understand for most non-educators, parents included. The challenges are many, and that is why “Common Sense For Our Common Good” is a must-read for our nation’s 100 million parents so that parents know when a school is operating to its full potential around maximizing the learning and human potential for their child and every child.

What’s next for you?
Because I believe that “Common Sense For Our Common Good: A Parent Guide To Good Schools” can significantly assist our nation’s parents in helping their children to realize their full learning and human potential, I am going to continue to spread the word about my book and make myself available to all. I am mission driven, and there is nothing more important than to care about and prepare our children for a purposeful, productive and fulfilling life. Education and schools are central to fulfilling that obligation. I am also hoping to have the opportunity to share my thoughts with audiences nationwide through my “Common Sense For Our Common Good” multimedia presentation that features compelling, informative and interactive elements and engages audiences in one of the most important conversations of our time. And I will also continue to try to be the very best grandparent to our four very young and adorable grandchildren. My wife and I love our three grown children with all our hearts, but we may love our grandchildren just a little bit more…they are truly pure joy.

www.JKSCommunications.com
2819 Vaulx Lane, Nashville, TN 37204
Angelle Barbazon
(615) 928-2462
angelle@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

ONTARIO – While staying true to the traditions of legendary authors J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, Christian A. Brown is breathing new life into the world of dark fantasy by allowing diversity to take center stage.

Brown, a bestselling and award-winning author, took a page from his own life while writing “Four Feasts till Darkness,” a four-novel series that sweeps readers on an epic adventure as the rise of evil leads to a struggle for power. While sinisterly entertaining, his books are peppered with themes of sisterhood and family bonds. They also touch on hot-button social issues, like race, sexism and class, all of which have played a role his personal life. A biracial gay man married to a Métis amputee, Brown has experienced his share of self reflection and overcoming intolerance.

When the adventure begins in “Feast of Fates,” the peace that has ruled the land is disrupted by the menacing Black Queen. Morigan, a handmaiden, is more powerful than she seems, and the discovery and development of her abilities could lead to Geadhain’s salvation. As the Black Queen’s control grows in “Feast of Dreams,” Morigan and a fierce band of rebels continue their quest to defeat her. At the same time, the queens of the East and West grapple for dominance. The Black Queen’s hunger spreads across the land in “Feast of Chaos,” and Morigan and her companions must venture deep into the mystical realm to find ancient secrets. Will Geadhain be saved, or will the Black Queen’s wrath plunge thousands into darkness?

Brown’s characters dare to question destiny and the weavers of fate themselves. The books show off his unique ability as an author to capture the darkness and light found within every person. Laced with magic and elements of science fiction and romance, “Four Feasts till Darkness” brings the fantasy genre to a new level. 

Christian A. Brown – Bestselling author of the critically acclaimed “Feast of Fates” Christian A. Brown received a Kirkus star in 2014 for the first novel in his genre-changing “Four Feasts till Darkness” series. He is currently working on the fourth and final book in the series, “Feast of Darkness.” He has appeared on Newstalk 1010, AM640, Daytime Rogers, and Get Bold Today with LeGrande Green. He actively writes a blog about his mother’s journey with cancer and on gender issues in the media. A lover of the weird and wonderful, Brown considers himself an eccentric with a talent for cat-whispering.

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About the books

Feast of Fates (Volume One)”
Morigan lives a quiet life as the handmaiden to a fatherly old sorcerer named Thackery. But when she crosses paths with Caenith, a not wholly mortal man, her world changes forever. Their meeting sparks long buried magical powers deep within Morigan. As she attempts to understand her newfound abilities, unbidden visions begin to plague her — visions that show a devastating madness descending on one of the Immortal Kings who rules the land.

With Morigan growing more powerful each day, the leaders of the realm soon realize that this young woman could hold the key to their destruction. Suddenly, Morigan finds herself beset by enemies, and she must master her mysterious gifts if she is to survive.

Christian A. Brown
Paperback | 978-1495907586
Dark fantasy

“Feast of Dreams (Volume Two)” 
As two queens plot each other’s destruction, a small band of adventurers continues its quest for the knowledge needed to defeat the mad King Brutus and his unearthly parasite, the Black Queen. Their search brings Morigan and the Wolf to the perilous forests of Alabion, where they and their companions will face the darkness of their pasts — and discover equally dark destinies. Meanwhile, far from Alabion, the queens of the East and West continue their deadly dance. One seeks a relic of great power, while the other puts her faith in a mix of military and technomagikal force. Both are aware they have a slim window of opportunity to settle their power struggle — after all, Mad Brutus’s recent defeat is at best a setback. The mad king is already amassing a new army of soulless husks in the wastelands of Mor’Khul.

Unknown to the great powers struggling for control, a father and son wander those same wastelands, scavenging what they can as they weather Brutus’s gathering storm. They too have a role to play in Geadhain’s fate — a role which may just provide a last remnant of hope.

Christian A. Brown
Paperback | 978-0994014405
Dark fantasy

“Feast of Chaos (Volume Three)”
Menos has been destroyed. No corner of the realm of Geadhain is safe from the Black Queen’s hunger. Zionae—or the Great Dreamer, as she has been called in ancient tongues—has a thirst that cannot be quenched until all of Geadhain burns and bleeds. She preys on the minds of weak men and exploits human folly for an unhuman end. She cannot be defeated in her current state, but the answer to her downfall may lie in the land of her past.

It is with this aim that a Daughter of Fate, Morigan, and her brave and true companions venture to the mysterious Pandemonia, the land of chaos itself. Ancient secrets and even older power lurk in its swamps and deserts. Life itself becomes uncertain, but the Hunters of Fate have no choice: Pandemonia must give up its secrets if they want to find the Black Queen’s weakness.

Elsewhere in the realm, alliances form and break. Dead men rise and heroes fall. Eod prepares for war. In hiding, Lila, the bearer of its destruction, will be given a chance to atone and answer for her sins. Will her actions save Eod, or has she damned it with her crimes?

Christian A. Brown
Paperback | 978-0994014429
Dark fantasy

Praise for FEAST OF FATES
“No tired story lines or boring characters here; Brown has created a thrilling, action-packed fantasy suffused with elements of folklore and legend, and spiced with a bit of metal magic for some steampunk flair. At a glance, Feast of Fates seems like pure fantasy, but there are also traces of science fiction, paranormal romance, action/adventure, and even a historical feel for those who enjoy knights and queens and kingdoms. Strong female leads and equally intriguing male characters ensure that Feast of Fates will have mass appeal.” — Foreword Clarion Reviews

“In this rousing epic-fantasy debut, two unlikely lovers forge a bond in the midst of a war between immortal kings. It would have been difficult for Brown to present a more sensual, or satisfying, debut. His motifs run the epic-fantasy gamut, from ancient forests pulsing with life to malevolent phenomena looming in the depths of space. His excellent prose, however, truly sets this book apart from the fantasy herd. Every page crackles with images full of vibrant emotion. An unmissable fantasy tale that marries gorgeous prose to a lavishly detailed plot.” — Kirkus (Starred Review)

“You will not put this book down once you pick it up…”  — HuffPost Books

“Christian A. Brown’s prose is authoritative, yet thoughtful and delicate…”  — Chris Longo, Deputy Editor/Print Editor, Den of Geek U.S

Praise for FEAST OF DREAMS
“With gorgeous settings and memorable characters, this fast-paced fantasy is a book that can’t be put down.”  — Foreword Clarion

About the Author

Bestselling author of the critically acclaimed “Feast of Fates” Christian A. Brown received a Kirkus star in 2014 for the first novel in his genre-changing “Four Feasts till Darkness” series. He is currently working on the fourth and final book in the series, “Feast of Darkness.” He has appeared on Newstalk 1010, AM640, Daytime Rogers, and Get Bold Today with LeGrande Green. He actively writes a blog about his mother’s journey with cancer and on gender issues in the media. A lover of the weird and wonderful, Brown considers himself an eccentric with a talent for cat-whispering.

An Interview with Christian A. Brown

In your books, you’ve created an incredibly detailed, immense world — how did you keep all of it straight when you first started writing?

At first, and when starting any story, I feel it’s important to simply write. Make that messy first chapter and see how, what and who you want to portray; get a feeling for where the Muse is leading you. If you’re writing a “show” and not “tell” tale, the mechanics and laws of the (fantastical) world will fall into place as your characters and narrative voice move through the story. Once the details of the world start fleshing themselves out, I start writing down everything pertinent to the tale, even if it’s just as margin notes that are later compiled into a “World Bible” if you will. Geadhain (my world) now has both a bible and a style guide for reference for my work.

Why was it important to you to have so many strong female characters in your series, good and evil?
Historically, women (and minorities, of which I am one—well, two, actually) have been grossly under represented in fantasy; typified into the maiden, witch, whore, mother stereotypes. I grew up in a house of dominant successful women, and those influences and personalities found their way into my work. My mom, for example, was once a roller-skate waitress (just to make ends meet), then later a real estate broker, a bank teller, and finally a lawyer—after putting herself back into university as a mature student at the age of 50. And of course, during all these vocations, she juggled the needs of her children, her partner, and herself. She built a business with my father. She helped to elevate us from poverty to working middle class—she, herself, once in foster care and utterly destitute after her parents’ marriage collapsed. Despite all of the negative forces conspiring against her, she was a woman of hope, strength and character. I couldn’t not have written strong women, given her role model behavior. My mom, my sister, my aunts, my teachers, my primary editor…I’m blessed to have known so many accomplished, inspirational women.

From their physical descriptions to their personalities, your characters are so vivid — where does the inspiration for them come from?
I read a lot of comics as a child; watched plenty of anime and horror; played video games till my eyes shriveled. Before that darned Nintendo ruined my eyesight, and when I was younger, my parents also used to take my sister and I on walks through the woods, and the richness of a woodland stirs even the most stagnant imagination. In our adolescence we played outdoors and read, extensively, since we couldn’t afford luxury items (like NESes) at the time. I’m much more into physical disciplines now, though my mind still works in a sensory format.

How do you think your approach to the fantasy genre differs from other writers?
Well, there’s the portrayal of women, first and foremost. Although, these characters stand toe-to-toe with men and other forces who are equally as formidable. I’ve lived through the reality of oppression, intolerance and poverty, and likewise many of my characters deal with the same issues. While the series is definitely dark fantasy, and not for the faint-of-heart or those shy to reading about violence and oppression, there is a definite undercurrent of hope: this sense that even though the odds are impossible, the movements of many, disparate brave souls can make a difference. Structurally, the world is an interesting blend of science fiction, mythic and high fantasy elements, too, where some advancements dwarf what we here on Earth have accomplished, while other advancements are stymied by natural (mystical) forces that inhabit prosperity. So there’s this really cool play of old vs. new, Tecnhnomagik vs. Nature. Which leads into a subtle environmental dialog on man’s use and participation in a planet’s sustainability or destruction. “Four Feasts till Darkness” are dense books that deal with topical and sensitive subject matter, which certainly helps them to stand apart from lighter or more traditional fantasy stories.

If you were able to sit down and discuss writing with three authors, who would you choose, and what would you talk to them about?
Ursula K. LeGuin. Clive Barker. Stephen King. Ursula and I would chat about her Earthsea trilogy, which is one of the greatest fantasy series I’ve ever read. Clive Barker and I would talk about how he’s fared as an openly gay author, and what that process of being public and gay has been like. Whereas Stephen and I would write something horrible together, a ghastly masterpiece with his wit and my penchant for visceral verbosity.

Do you think the diversity in your own life reflects in your writing and the characters you’ve created?
Definitely! I’m a biracial gay man married to a Métis amputee. Just so we’re clear, I’m not a “diversity fetishist,” it just so happened that a.) I fell in love with a man and b.) he happened to have one leg. But whatever weight he’d lost in flesh, he’d gained in heart, and he’s an absolute gem. Between the two of us, and as men of color (I, more than he), we’ve experienced the full onslaught of intolerance and slurs—N-word, jigaboo, faggot, you name it. Now the funny thing about hate is that it either makes the victim hateful, or ideally, it makes the victim sympathetic, a warrior, one passionate about dismantling bigotry. My partner and I are of the latter camp, as was my mother, who married a black man in an era when that wasn’t too popular. Therefore, in Feasts you’ll see a real menagerie of characters, and none so bizarre as to simply tick a “diversity checklist” (blind, transgender, PoC in a wheelchair—cause reasons), just real people, with real issues that come in a variety of shades, sexualities and makeups. Every hero has their flaws—flaws that others see and to which they react—just as none of us are perfect. Without my negative experiences and positive enforcements and reactions, I could never have written a cast so patently human.

Why was it important to you to include a message of hope despite the dark nature of the books?
The story starts, actually, with a romance, and while it’s steamy and seems as if it might lead to bodice-ripped escapades, it never does. The romance between Morigan and the Wolf is merely the hook and foundation for a story that’s built on love: romantic, fraternal, love for power, love when corrupted into hate. If you look at the history of human success and folly it is predicated by passion, by love or hate. In the grand sweeping plot arcs of epic fantasy, the drive that has begun a campaign of war or terror is often overlooked. “Feasts” has a gargantuan plot, and many moving parts, and to tell a more personal, more involving story, each of those most necessary parts needs to have their desires and wants explored. It makes for an immersive and heavy read, but I feel (and readers seem to agree) that the focus on characterization pays dividends. Besides, too much darkness and blood, and not a moment of levity or love in-between, and the story will crush the reader. In the words of Josh Whedon, “Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough, but then, for the love of God, tell a joke.”

What’s next for you after the completion of “Four Feasts till Darkness” series?
I’m working on a super secret project (standalone from Geadhain’s novels), which requires me to plan a second trip to England. I had the idea for the manuscript when last I was there and it’s a thought-bug that’s finally gnawed it’s way into my brain, and into a grand idea!

www.JKSCommunications.com
2819 Vaulx Lane, Nashville, TN 37204
Angelle Barbazon
(615) 928-2462
angelle@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

Former NIKE & Lucy executive Shaz Kahng’s  ‘writing inspired by true life

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Sometimes the best man for a job is a strong woman. In the first book in her Ceiling Smasher series focusing on positive powerful female leaders, senior executive Shaz Kahng fictionalizes her decades of top business experience to create a thrilling story of the first female CEO in the sports industry. Kahng’s vast experience working in male-dominated boardrooms enables her to provide a behind the scenes look at what it’s like to work in the sports sector as a woman and what it takes to shatter the glass ceiling.

In The Closer, we meet Vivien Lee who has spent her entire consulting career helping CEOs look good. When she finally has the chance to go after her dream of running a business, she grabs it. A lifelong athlete, Vivien arrives at the Smart Sports campus in Portland, Oregon and is introduced as the first female president over the women’s apparel business. It’s one of the highest-profile jobs in an industry inhospitable to women. Principled but slightly naïve, Vivien believes her male peers will give her a fair shot.

Vivien stumbles early on, making a series of rookie mistakes. With guidance from the Ceiling Smashers, a secret society of successful professional women, Vivien learns to navigate the treacherous business terrain. A tight-knit group of male sports executives is determined to show that an industry outsider cannot prevail. The challenge is all too clear: will Vivien triumph in the sports industry against impossible odds? The Closer is a fresh, riveting tale about a strong woman endeavoring to succeed with smarts, scruples, and style.

Fans of Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In will love this book for its strong, talented, and likeable female characters and the supportive environment they foster through their secret society, the Ceiling Smashers. The Closer sends a message of hope and positivity to all working women out there striving to achieve
more.

Shaz Kahng is a visionary leader and inventive thinker adept at turning around and scaling businesses in the retail, sports/active apparel, and footwear industries. From Global Women’s Director at Nike, to CEO/President of Lucy Activewear, she has led teams to achieve success in very male-dominated industries. She has previously worked as a research scientist, a global consulting partner, a builder of e-businesses, and a brand strategist. She graduated from Cornell University and has an MBA from the Wharton School. Shaz currently works as a global startup mentor and advisor to PE and VC firms. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and twin daughters

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About the Book

In an interview, Shaz Kahng can discuss:

• Growing up first generation American and how that influenced her work ethic
• Her educational path toward big business success
• Being one of the first females to head a global business at Nike
• Balancing motherhood (and infant twins) with an enormous executive position at Lucy Activewear
• Her successes in fast company turnarounds—both at Nike and Lucy, Ms. Kahng lead her teams toward profitability in a fraction of the time requested of her
• Female business leadership—how to embody the characteristics needed for success as well as inspire other women to pursue executive careers
• Women supporting other women, and real life “Ceiling Smashers”
• The Super Powers of Ceiling Smashers—what qualities do these women embody?
• Her writing process, from concept to manuscript in just 10 months
• Real life anecdotes from her career and the adversity she had overcome to achieve her goals

An Interview with Shaz Kahng

You were born in the U.S. but your parents came from Korea and Japan. What are some of your earliest childhood memories of the challenges of being a minority in America and how did that influence you?
My father taught me a valuable lesson: even if you came to this country with nothing if you work hard you can be a success. He arrived with a few dollars in his pocket yet he ended up getting four law degrees from Tulane, Yale, and NYU and became a law professor and human rights activist. Along the way my father endured a great deal of discrimination and this is something I also experienced first hand at a young age.

I was about six years old and my family went to visit some friends in the countryside for the day. My sister and I went to the market with their kids and on the way back we ran into three older white boys who started hurling racial epithets and insults at us. I was shocked at how vicious these kids were acting and the ugly things they were saying. My older sister told me to keep going and ignore them, but I couldn’t just let their behavior go. I was so angry I whirled around and marched right up to them and told them to shut their mouths. I explained that we were Korean, not Chinese, so their insult was not applicable to us. I also said, “My father came to this country not speaking a word English and he worked hard to become a law professor. What does your father do, drive a dump truck?” I was a small, skinny kid and I think the boys were so shocked that someone like me would stand up to them they were cowed into silence.

How did you choose what to study in school and what career to target?
Everyone in my family was either in the education field or law and I found science to be the most interesting and challenging, so I knew I wanted to major in science in college. My father gave me some practical advice and told me to pick a major that was specific enough to allow meto get a good job right out of school. So I looked at the classifieds in the NY Times and WSJ and saw many openings for Food Scientists, and that field appealed to me. I chose that major and went to Cornell because it had the best Food Science department and a fantastic science program in general so I minored in Chemistry. I spent a couple of years working as a scientist and really enjoyed it, but I realized I wanted to run a company someday and I didn’t see any scientists running companies so I knew I had to get an MBA. I went to Wharton and then thought about what career would give me the broadest exposure to business problems (focusing on retail and consumer products) so I would be well equipped to run a business, so I chose consulting. I continued to seek out opportunities to round out my skill set until I finally had the chance to run my first business at Nike. I think for me it was important to have an overall goal guiding my choices, but I will say for many women out there don’t be afraid to take on a new challenge or change careers.

You’ve worked in a number of male dominated industries as a scientist, strategy consultant, ebusiness builder, brand builder, and executive. What enabled you to succeed in each field?
I ignored naysayers. When people told me “It can’t be done” or “You can’t accomplish this” it would only strengthen my resolve. I’m a pretty stubborn person and I like proving people wrong. There’s nothing more satisfying than taking a disaster of a situation and turning it around much to the surprise of others.

At Nike you were in charge of the global cycling business and were the first woman in that role. What was it like taking that leadership position?
It was interesting and challenging. The business had been run for seven years by a former professional track cyclist, but had never made a cent. The team was mostly male and certainly not welcoming of a female leader. I had to do a number of creative things to get the team on board, transform the business, and get results. In my first full team meeting I knew I had to get the team to recognize the many problems with the business, so I took them through some exercises that made them rethink how they were approaching things and to open their thinking to new ideas. Ultimately, we grew revenues 300% and got the business profitable in a year.

You inherited a troubled business when you ran Lucy Activewear, yet you and your team turned it around and made it profitable for the first time in history. How did you accomplish that?
It was not easy. I was the third CEO/President in three years and the business was struggling, bleeding cash, dealing with product problems, experiencing poor performance at retail, and having so many other issues. We also had to physically move the company to the Bay Area, hire a completely new team, change all our business processes, move onto new IT systems, and change our factory sourcing base- all in the first quarter of my leadership. My team and I worked hard to completely overhaul the business and set it on a new path and we actually got the company profitable within thirteen months, which was one-third of the time expected by the corporate parent. Also, my husband and I had twin girls and I took only a two-week maternity leave, which I definitely do not recommend to other new moms.

As a woman leader what are some of the pitfalls you need to watch out for when taking a new and visible role?
For some reason when people, especially some men, encounter a new female leader they don’t expect certain things from her that are key to being a great leader. They don’t expect her to come with a bold vision for the business. They don’t expect her to be strong and determined. They don’t expect her to be decisive. They don’t expect her to hold people accountable. They don’t expect her to be tough when necessary.

The upside is that people are very often surprised when they encounter a female leader who actually does bring these characteristics- it may throw them off a bit at first, but when they start to see the results she’s getting they tend to get on board pretty quickly.

You wrote this book when you were working and had newborn twins- what was your writing process like?
I did most of my writing in my head. I’d think about my writing first and then capture everything on my computer when I had a chance. My twin daughters were less than a year old when I started working on this book and we didn’t have a full time nanny, so things were busy. I outlined the book and then would think about a chapter and how the story would unfold, then when they girls were napping I knew I’d have one precious hour to sit down and write it all down. I found that doing the writing first in my head made the physical writing process was fairly quick and I finished the book in about ten months. Of course the editing process was a lot longer and more painful than that.

Explain what you call the “Superpowers” of Ceiling Smashers
I have noticed a consistent set of strengths or what I call “superpowers” of successful women who have broken through the glass ceiling. When I mentor other businesswomen I try to weave in some of the lessons I’ve learned where using one or more of these “superpowers” had enabled me or other women to overcome a tough situation. I’ve been asked many times if there was a great book on career tips for women and there wasn’t one like this, so I’m writing a nonfiction book that lists out the “superpowers” of Ceiling Smashers to help other women trying to move up the career ladder.

What made you want to write this story?
Frustration. In nearly every fiction book I’ve read where there was a female leader or a successful woman they were always portrayed as evil, or cunning, or deceitful. Or they were allowed to be good at their jobs but were required to be neurotic or desperate for a man. I personally know so many smart, successful, honorable women leaders and I wanted to write this book for them. It was important to me to create a positive female role model and I believe you can have a character who is accomplished and has integrity who is still a fascinating person to learn about.

As a minority woman in big business, you have faced much of the scrutiny that your character Vivien encounters in the book. What are some real life episodes you have experienced?
Too many to cover in one interview. But one situation really stands out for me because it was so outrageous. I was a manager at a consulting firm working my way up to being promoted to partner level. I was leading a project for a retail client in Atlanta and had just sold a huge follow on engagement that was the largest project in our firm’s history. The CEO of my firm called me in for a chat. He congratulated me on selling the biggest project ever, but then he dropped a bombshell. He told me that the CFO of the client wanted to replace me with a new leader or they wouldn’t sign the contract. Confused, I said, “But I delivered the first project ahead of schedule, under budget, and with nearly three times the revenue benefits we predicted. They were happy with the project, and I assume me, or they wouldn’t have bought more work. What’s the problem?” It was sickening to learn what the client’s problem was with me—my gender and my race. They insisted upon replacing me with a white male manager…and my firm was going to accommodate the client’s request. After all my sweat equity and the great performance I turned in for my firm, they were not going to stand up for me. That stung. The CEO said, “What other choice do we have?” I said, “You can do the right thing and tell the client you’re walking away from their business over their unreasonable request. If I can sell this size project once, don’t you think I can do it again?” The CEO was too afraid to lose the business and told me he was sorry but was moving forward with his decision. I said, “You have a daughter, don’t you? Well tonight when you sit down at the dinner table I’d like you to tell your daughter about your decision and see if she thinks you make the right choice.” I was so disgusted with the experience I knew that once I made partner I was out of there- I would not stay at a firm without values. A funny postscript to the incident was that they did bring in a white male manager to replace me and when he started struggling I was asked to “coach him from behind” which meant I was working on the project without the client’s knowledge. After two months they were so unhappy with the white male manager that the client CEO requested to have me come back and lead the project. At that point I was already leading another client project so I wasn’t available.

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

Explosive Conclusion to Cowgirl Philosopher Mystery Trilogy Offers Killer Suspense, Humor, and White-Knuckle Girl-Power Action

Mystery author and Vanderbilt University philosophy professor Kelly Oliver is releasing the explosive final installment to her award-winning Cowgirl Philosopher Mystery Trilogy, featuring kickass heroines taking on ripped-from-the-headlines issues like date-rape on college campuses, sex trafficking, and fracking. The series (which can be read together or as standalone novels) offers up an epic conclusion with FOX (Kaos Press, Paperback $11.99, E-book $4.99, May 1, 2017), in which Jessica and her friends must combat insidious black market sales of Ivy League women’s eggs.

FOX: When Jessica James wakes up half naked behind a dumpster in downtown Chicago, she thinks the hot intern feeding her Fiery Mule Slammers slipped her a Mickey. But after a pattern of similar incidents around Northwestern Research Hospital, Jessica realizes she wasn’t raped, she was robbed. Robbed of something as valuable as life itself. Hunting for the predator drugging and dumping Ivy League co-eds, Jessica discovers secrets about her own identity that force her to rethink her past. The solution to the mystery lies in the cowgirl philosopher’s boot-cut genes.

The “dumpster girls” are all top of their class, attractive, college girls, who are drugged and dropped behind dumpsters with tiny mysterious incisions in their vaginal walls. The police are baffled. When a girl turns up dead, armed with her quick wit, cowgirl grit, and philosophy, it’s up to Jessica to solve the mystery to save herself and her friends before they become the next victims.

In Kelly Oliver’s stunning page-turner, Jessica and her friends must fight not just for their own lives, but also for the very future of human life.

WOLF (Kaos Press, Paperback $11.99, E-book $4.99, June 2016): Montana cowgirl Jessica James’ professor Wolfgang “Wolf” Schumtzig is found dead in his office, the murder weapon turns out to be a campus date-rape drug, supplied by the Russian mafia—and Jessica could be the next target. Jessica and mafia heir Dmitry team up to wrangle mobsters, encounter a trio of feminist avengers, and lasso frat boys in order to rope in a murderer who’s read too much Existentialism. Together, the brooding Russian and the cowgirl philosopher learn that sometimes virtue is just the flip side of vice. Wolf is a 2016 Foreword INDIES finalist in the mystery category.

COYOTE (Kaos Press, Paperback $11.99, E-book $4.99, August 2016): After her cousin dies in a gruesome accident at the lumber mill, Jessica is pulled into a fight against the corruption and greed ignited by the oil frenzy on the Montana plains. Her roommate, Kimi RedFox is determined to stop powerful Knight Industries from drilling oil on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation. Corrupt Richard Knight has assigned his younger brother David to oversee fracking operations on the Blackfeet reservation. But is the handsome young businessman his brother’s henchman or his dupe? And, will Jessica and Kimi quit sparring long enough to team up and expose sex trafficking, prostitution rings, and murder schemes involving some of the biggest frackers in the country? Or, will they become the murder’s next victims?

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HUNTING GIRLS

Sexual Violence from The Hunger Games to Campus Rape

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games), Bella Swan (Twilight), Tris Prior (Divergent), and other strong and resourceful characters have decimated the fairytale archetype of the helpless girl waiting to be rescued. Giving as good as they get, these young women access reserves of aggression to liberate themselves—but who truly benefits? By meeting violence with violence, are women turning victimization into entertainment? Are they playing out old fantasies, institutionalizing their abuse?

In Hunting Girls, Kelly Oliver examines popular culture’s fixation on representing young women as predators and prey and the implication that violence—especially sexual violence—is an inevitable, perhaps even celebrated, part of a woman’s maturity. To underscore the threat of these depictions, Oliver locates their manifestation of violent sex in the growing prevalence of campus rape, the valorization of woman’s lack of consent, and the new urgency to implement affirmative consent apps and policies.

Praise for HUNTING GIRLS

“Corpse chic, mounted trophy, dead girl, tough girl — Kelly Oliver explores media representations of a new empowered heroine in her compelling exploration of the dark side of the modern fairytale and its fascination with violence and rape. Oliver asks the reader to think seriously about the forces that drive rape culture and the eroticization of violence. A challenging, disturbing and enlightening book.” —Barbara Creed, University of Melbourne

“Oliver’s brilliant analysis of how young girls’ path to woman-hood is filled with beating, battery, abuse and sexual assault is shocking and timely. Oliver’s meticulously researched volume moves back and forth between myths and fairy tales linked to rape, contemporary films, TV shows and ads featuring violence to girls, along with studying rape culture, and ambiguities of ‘consent’, on college campuses. It is essential reading, showing that women may not have liberated themselves after all.” —E. Ann Kaplan, Stony Brook University

ABOUT KELLY OLIVER

KELLY OLIVER is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University and well-known feminist philosopher.  She is the author of thirteen scholarly books, ten anthologies, and over 100 articles. Her work has been translated into seven languages, and she has published in The New York Times.  She has been interviewed on ABC television news, various radio programs, and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. Learn more at KellyOliverBooks.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 Debut WWIII Military Thriller Sweeps Readers to Frontlines of “New Cold War” as U.S. Spars with Russia

The next read for fans of Tom Clancy, Red Storm Rising, and The Third World War

NEW YORK CITY – Walt Gragg explodes onto the literary scene with an electrifying debut military thriller about the outbreak of World War Three, as Russia and The United States enter a new Cold War in The Red Line (Berkley, Paperback, $17.00, May 2, 2017), which will thrill lovers of Red Storm Rising and The Third World War.

John Batchelor (Host, “The John Batchelor Show”), praised the novel’s gripping style and eerie similarity to current world events, saying, “It reads brilliantly. It’s a techno thriller in the school of Tom Clancy.” The novel breaks genre stereotypes and is enjoyed equally by men and women.

The Red Line: World War III explodes in seconds when a resurgent Russian Empire launches a deadly armored thrust into the heart of Germany. With a powerful blizzard providing cover, Russian tanks thunder down the autobahns while undercover Spetsnaz teams strike at vulnerable command points.

Standing against them are the woefully undermanned American forces. What they lack in numbers they make up for in superior weapons and training. But before the sun rises they are on the run across a smoking battlefield crowded with corpses.

Any slim hope for victory rests with one unlikely hero. Army Staff Sergeant George O’Neill, a communications specialist, may be able to reestablish links that have been severed by hostile forces, but that will take time. While he works, it’s up to hundreds of individual American soldiers to hold back the enemy flood. There’s one thing that’s certain. The thin line between victory and defeat is also the
red line between life and death.

WALT GRAGG lives in the Austin, Texas area with his family. Prior to law school, he spent a number of years in the military. His time with the Army involved many interesting assignments including three years in the middle of the Cold War at United States European Headquarters in Germany where the idea for THE RED LINE took shape.

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About the Book

WWIII explodes in this electrifying debut military thriller in the tradition of Red Storm Rising and The Third World War.

“Delta-Two, I’ve got tanks through the wire! They’re everywhere!”

World War III explodes in seconds when a resurgent Russian Empire launches a deadly armored thrust into the heart of Germany. With a powerful blizzard providing cover, Russian tanks thunder down the autobahns while undercover Spetsnaz teams strike at vulnerable command points.

Standing against them are the woefully undermanned American forces. What they lack in numbers they make up for in superior weapons and training. But before the sun rises they are on the run across a smoking battlefield crowded with corpses.

Any slim hope for victory rests with one unlikely hero. Army Staff Sergeant George O’Neill, a communications specialist, may be able to reestablish links that have been severed by hostile forces, but that will take time. While he works, it’s up to hundreds of individual American soldiers to hold back the enemy flood.

There’s one thing that’s certain. The thin line between victory and defeat is also the red line between life and death.

Praise for THE RED LINE

“A superb political as well as military thriller, THE RED LINE stitches an all-too-plausible doomsday scenario that pulls no punches in scoring a literary knockout. Terrifyingly prescient in its premise and scarily spot-on in its execution, Walt Gragg’s debut novel channels both Tom Clancy and W.E.B. Griffin in crafting a masterfully researched tour de force of a tale.  Gragg puts his own military experience to great use in focusing on a war-time mindset in which the time, place and people change, but not the stakes or nature of heroism itself.  Riveting and relentless.” —Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author

“The Best World War Three Epic I’ve Read Since RED STORM RISING.” —Grant Blackwood, New York Times Best Selling Author of TOM CLANCY DUTY AND HONOR

“You’re going to hold this book so tight you’ll leave thumbprints on the page.” —Mark Leggatt, Author of THE LONDON CAGE

“It reads brilliantly. It’s a techno thriller in the school of Tom Clancy.” —John Batchelor, Host, “The John Batchelor Show”

“The best World War Three epic I’ve read since RED STORM RISING.”  —Grant Blackwood, New York Times Best Selling Author of TOM CLANCY DUTY AND HONOR

“You’re going to hold this book so tight you’ll leave thumbprints on the page.” —Mark Leggatt, Author of THE LONDON CAGE

Q&A with WALT GRAGG

1. Where did you receive inspiration for THE RED LINE?
I have probably always had a strong anti-war view of the follies of needlessly killing our fellow man.  I’m not saying war is never justified (World War II for example where we had no choice but to defend ourselves) but that we are far too casual with the lives of others and the cruel toll such events take on all of us.

My favorite book in high school was Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front – a story about the reality of being an ordinary soldier in the trenches of World War I.  It is by far the best anti-war novel I’ve ever read. Although told from the perspective of a German soldier it easily transfers over to being a story about all soldiers caught in that nightmare and in all future wars. It was Remarque’s admirable attempt, after seeing what was happening in Germany in the period between the two World Wars, to warn his country away from making the same mistake again. Of course, he failed miserably. Hitler came to power and 70 million of this planet’s citizens ended up dying because of his perversion. But, at least, Remarque tried.

My view was strengthened further by being drafted during the Vietnam War. With hundreds of others I showed up at the induction station in Portland, OR on the morning of June 12, 1968. We were lined up alphabetically in a huge formation. The guy on my left as we were being processed into the Army was named Mark Gorman. We were in the same basic training platoon and were together for over two incredibly intense months. So I got to know him fairly well. With basic training over, we then went off to our further training – Mark across the parade field at Fort Lewis, WA to advanced infantry training and me to the signal school at Fort Monmouth, NJ. By Christmas, while I was still in training, 19 year old Mark was dead in the rotting jungles of a place none of us had ever even heard of until the war began. A number of others from our basic training platoon and company also had their lives cut short for some vague purpose we did not understand. They were just ordinary guys, nothing special really, but they were all great people. They all had reasons to live long, happy lives. My suspicions about needlessly killing were confirmed by those events. Even so, I agreed to remain in the military as a trade off for being allowed to spend most of my weekends and lunch hours for a number of years working diligently through the on-base education programs they offered. I received both my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees that way.

I actually came up with the idea for THE RED LINE while serving at United States European Command Headquarters. in Germany in the mid-1970s at the height of the first Cold War. In my 38 months there, I was able to gain a great deal of insight into how such a ground war in Europe would look and what the American military feared most about a Russian attack. What I saw was a potential nightmare of unspeakable proportions. But at that point I wasn’t ready to become a writer. So I tucked the story into the back of my mind and continued on with my life. After our easy victory over a weak Third World country in Desert Storm, like Remarque, I began to grow concerned by the casual attitude my countrymen were developing about war and its consequences. America was invincible. America could never be beaten on the battlefield. Along with that it was all becoming so impersonal and detached to the average person.  War was being transformed into little more than video games and home entertainment. So in 1994 I decided THE RED LINE needed to be told and began putting together the story of this future war. It was my turn to try.

2. The events of THE RED LINE—particularly the outbreak of the “new Cold War” between a resurgent Russian Empire and The United States—seem especially poignant given recent headlines and our current sociopolitical climate. Do you see similarities between your fictional plot and current politics? Do you think it’s possible that fact may mirror fiction in the future, and we could enter a new Cold War?
You need to remember I actually created the political backdrop for this fictional war in 1994 and at least 90% of what I wrote over 20 years ago remains intact in the story. At that time, Russia gave every appearance of successfully progressing through the difficult transition to democracy. Even so, it was quite obvious that given Russia’s history and the immense pride of the Russian people, they would carry the deep scars of losing the 1st Cold War with them for a long time. You can see those wounds being reflected right now in Putin’s actions.

I cannot deny there are certainly elements in the novel playing out. And I do not expect things to suddenly get better. Russia’s aggression in the Ukraine was just a foreshadowing of things to come.  They are strengthening their nuclear arsenal. They are rebuilding a powerful military and modernizing their conventional weapons. They are engaging in cyber-warfare. The Russian leadership is looking with envy at their neighbors. Putin would like nothing more than to return his country to the preeminent place it held prior to their defeat in 1989.  With our present administration, the NATO alliance is under attack from within that may forever cause it to splinter. Should that happen, Russia will seize the opportunity. The chances of having to face a reconstituted Soviet Union in a 2nd Cold War certainly was something I hoped we would never address but the scenario now appears plausible and growing stronger with each passing day. Hopefully, such an eventuality won’t lead to the occurrence of anything close to what has been foretold in THE RED LINE. Still, given the events that have occurred in the past couple of years it cannot be entirely discounted.

3. What was your publishing journey like?
Unlike many of the writers I know, I never dreamed of being published from an early age. Many of them are compelled to write and to continue writing. Writing to them is as natural as breathing. That’s not me. I write solely because of the belief I have a few stories to tell based on the world I’ve been fortunate to see. I will stop my efforts when my tales reach their natural end. I have written a 2nd novel that Penguin Random House is presently considering. And am part way through a 3rd one.  Nevertheless, my books don’t come from an innate need to write but from a desire to address issues and examine the difficult world that challenges us all.

When I began in 1994, it took a great deal of time to learn how to do this. I certainly wasn’t a natural and since I had never planned to be a writer had given such classes little emphasis in college. The story was there, but getting the words on paper in a manner that people would enjoy took a great deal of time to develop. And as the reader will see, THE RED LINE, describing an entire, complex war in one book, was not a simple one to create. Fortunately, I discovered through trial and error that writing is a skill that can be developed and polished if you’re willing to put in the long hours.

It took me 3 years, but by 1997, I finally had the basic skills to revise the manuscript to a point where it was ready to be seen. So I entered it in a writing contest. It ended up taking 2nd place and while attending the writers conference and receiving the award, I met an editor from what was then Putnam Berkley. He asked to see the entire manuscript so I gladly sent it to him unagented. Three months later to my great surprise he called – he absolutely loved it. The book was “tremendous,” and I was an “incredible talent.” A week later he called again to tell me his publisher had rejected it.  War with Russia wasn’t exactly a hot topic and this was a book filled with controversy the publisher didn’t believe readers would embrace at that time. Even so, this was validation that I had the story I’d hoped to have written. It had clearly made an impact on the editor. I began shopping it around to agents. What I didn’t know, however, was I’d broken a cardinal rule for debut writers – never write a manuscript over 100,000 words. Mine was 150,000.  But it told five different occasionally intertwining stories of the ordinary soldiers and airmen caught in extraordinary events and covered the entire war from beginning to end. Not one of its words were wasted. Yet, none of that mattered.  No one would look at it. I wrote my 2nd novel, still unaware of the length rule. It was just as long as the first. Nothing changed. After a number of years of trying, I set both manuscripts on my shelf where they gathered dust for over 10 years. I promised my wife and my test readers that when I retired we would try one more time. But to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I could stand the endless rejection another time.

In late 2012 I retired. Reluctantly, I tried again – more query letters, and unfortunately, more rejection.  Still we were convinced we had a great book, and my wife continued to push me to not give up. We talked about self-publishing but weren’t quite ready to go there just yet. That’s when my big break came. In early 2014, I stumbled across the ThrillerFest writer’s conference held in New York City every July. I wrote military thrillers and this looked like a conference made for THE RED LINE.  One of the elements that fascinated me was PitchFest – an entire afternoon to speak with some of the 50-60 agents who came to listen to pitches. I put a significant amount of time polishing my pitch and preparing for whatever was about to happen. Along with 400 other aspiring writers I was there, standing in the lines fully prepared to pitch in the 3 minutes I was given a story they would find was like no other. I was able to pitch 9 agents in the time given, with 3 asking for the entire manuscript and 4 others requesting partials. Little did I know, however, that my real break was still to come. The next day, much to my surprise, the editor who had loved it so many years earlier was on a panel. Afterwards, I approached him, reintroduced myself, and thanked him for his kind words. Of course, he didn’t remember me or my novel after 17 years, but that was okay. The next morning, quite by accident, we ended up having breakfast together and talking about my book. Two weeks later, with his help, I had an agent. Three months after that he called, The Berkley Publishing Group at Penguin Random House wanted to publish THE RED LINE.

So 20 years after I began writing the story I’d first thought of nearly 20 years before that the difficult journey ended. And a new journey began. On May 2, 2017, THE RED LINE finally will be released.

4. Who are your greatest literary influences?
Remarque (see above)
Along with that I liked the big, bold books, often with multiple storylines, from the 1970s and beyond – Clavell, Uris, and Michener stand out although there were certainly others.

5. What is the number one thing you hope readers take away from your novel?
The thing I personally like most about the book is that the style is entirely mine. I’m not aware of anyone who writes quite like I do. When I started, I was determined to become the first me, not the 10th someone else. And I’m told I succeeded.

Readers are going to first find that THE RED LINE is highly entertaining, and filled with non-stop, edge of their seat action. This is a book whose vivid scenes are going to stay with the reader for a long time. It is a story with depth. If you let it, it will rock you to your core. It is stark, alive, and filled with realism. Multiple test readers have said they would suddenly find themselves shivering in the snow alongside the American soldiers as the Russian tanks came toward them.

What I would like the potential reader to do is to realize that just because it falls into the techno-thriller category, it really was written as a book that can be enjoyed by a vast audience. Once they begin to read, I hope they will start to analyze what their mind is seeing. After they complete the final page, I hope they will pause, reflect and discuss.

More than anything, I hope when they reach the story’s end, they understand that war, the killing of others, is never something any of us should ignore or take lightly.

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

Youth mentor, nonprofit fundraiser Taayoo A. Murray releasing
new book to help teenagers, young adults maximize their strengths

NEW YORK CITY – Troubled by the lack of drive she has seen in teenagers and young adults, Taayoo A. Murray is setting out to teach the next generation the benefits of goal-setting, a skill that she strongly believes is necessary for a successful future. Her new book, “Making Me Happen,” blends Murray’s personal experience as a mother and her professional career as an educator and major nonprofit fundraiser to create an easy-to-use goal-setting guide.

Releasing on April 25, 2017, “Making Me Happen” is more than just a theory; it incorporates real practices and methods Murray has used successfully with her own children. Murray had a “eureka moment” when teaching her sons how to set their own goals, leading them to develop a sense of self motivation, integrity, work ethic and discipline.

“I was amazed by what their little minds wanted to achieve and secondly, given the opportunity, they knew how to get it done,” Murray said of working with her children.

“Making Me Happen” is a fantastic resource for parents, educators, and anyone looking for a system for success. Murray emphasizes the importance of developing healthy goal habits.

“I sincerely believe that when youth master the ability to set goals and it becomes a habit, they can take control of the direction of their lives,” Murray said.

“Making Me Happen” is an interactive workbook that leads teenagers and young adults through a personal SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis for goal creation, giving them tools they need to succeed.

Born and raised in Jamaica, Taayoo A. Murray is an innovative youth coach, mentor and public speaker in Brooklyn, New York. She has successfully worked with at-risk youth to create and implement programs that redefined and changed the trajectory of their lives. Murray served as educational director at Children of the Future and a corporate trainer at Mana Group in New York. “Making Me Happen” is her first book.

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About the Book

Making Me Happen
Taayoo A. Murray • April 25, 2017
$19.99 (paperback)
Self-Help

Q&A with Taayoo A. Murray

How did your work with nonprofits influence “Making Me Happen?”
In an effort to meet targets, I was trained to set daily and weekly goals. This systematic approach to achieving preset targets influenced how I operated in other areas of my life. I quickly saw this newfound skillset/habit revolutionizing my entire life. I modified the system and applied it to parenting my sons. “Making Me Happen” was born from that.

What is the biggest setback to success you see with teens and young adults?
The absence of goals in their lives. Teens and adults need goals, no matter what they may be, to keep them focused and prevent aimless meandering throughout life. Absence of goals gives them nothing to look forward to and works toward, so they attach themselves to anything that comes along and is convenient at the time.

How did you develop the eight steps to success?
I am a kinesthetic learner; I learn by doing. I teach the same way and always try to find the easiest and most interactive methods to impart information. So, the 8 steps are “Hey Billy Bob What Would Donkey Kong Think – HBBWWDKT.” This stands for:

1. Have an A+ attitude
2. Be on time
3. Be prepared
4. Work your full 8 hours
5. Work your plan
6. Don’t lose your attitude
7. Know why you’re here
8. Take control

What goal-setting exercises have you used with your own children?
The most effective goal setting exercise I use with my children is their goal boards. Every week they set three goals that they write on their goal boards. I don’t influence these goals, they set them, so they own them. They must however be S-M-A-C-able (Specific, Measurable, Attainable yet Challenging). They then have to articulate to me how they’re going to achieve these goals, detailing specific activities. I then follow up, remind and encourage them.

What would you recommend to parents who are trying to inspire their teenagers to achieve their dreams?
Don’t get overly concerned about what your teens’ dreams and aspirations are (unless they pose imminent harm to themselves or others). Be grateful they have dreams! Focus more on helping them develop the habit of consistently working toward achieving something. This is an invaluable skill and character trait that will transfer into other areas of their lives.

What are some common mistakes parents make when trying to teach their kids about setting goals?
The biggest mistake often made is trying to set goals for our children or trying to make our goals theirs.

How do you think “Making Me Happen” could be incorporated into a classroom?
The “Making Me Happen” program can be incorporated into the classroom as a character

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

Iowa Writers Workshop Alumnus Idabel Allen’s New Southern Literary Novel Explores Rural Family Secrets

Idabel Allen developed her distinctive, arresting literary voice at the Iowa Writers Workshop, and is now making her debut in the world of Southern literary fiction with her new novel, Rooted (May 2, 2017), about a punk musician who crash lands in a small Southern town in the late ‘70s while searching for an inheritance—and discovers much more than he bargained for when he becomes entangled with the mysterious McQuiston family.

Lovers of Southern Literature, Americana and the 70’s New York punk scene will rejoice in this masterfully penned family drama, rooted in the works of Southern storytellers such as William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Truman Capote, Flannery O’Connor and more.

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About the Book

ROOTED

ROOTED: Washed up and drugged out, punk’s poster-boy descends on the southern town of Moonsock like a bat out of hell.

In the late 1970’s, Slade Mortimer is on his last leg. Running from the memory of his dead girlfriend, her revenge-seeking father and the childhood abandonment of his mother, Slade descends on the southern town of Moonsock desperately seeking an inheritance and a new start on life. What he finds is the fractured McQuistons, the family he never knew he had or needed.

Slade’s unexpected arrival blows the door off the McQuiston closet, loosing skeletons and resurrecting questions about the mysterious disappearance of Slade’s mother twenty-five years before.

If the family is to survive, they must account for their past sins. Only then can the McQuistons begin to forgive themselves. Only then can they begin to heal.

IDABEL ALLEN serves up the best in new home cooked Southern Literature. First and foremost a storyteller, Idabel’s books are grounded in the same character-driven reality that holds the reader’s attention long after the story is finished. Idabel brings over fifteen years of experience as a professional writer and editor to the literary table. She attended the Iowa Writer’s Workshop Fiction program and is the author of Headshots, available on Amazon.

Q&A with Idabel Allen

1. How did punk rock and country/Americana music influence Rooted?
Music permeates everything in the South – from New Orleans Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Rockabilly, to Gospel and Hip Hop. In rural areas, Country music, including Bluegrass, is as much a staple as beans and cornbread. To this day, children are raised up on the music of Hank and Haggard, Willie and Waylon, Patsy, Loretta and more.

In the mid 1970’s, years of mellow, hippie rock and smooth, studio country gave way to punk rock and outlaw country. Both were anti-establishment movements and embraced a DIY attitude that gave musicians freedom to say and do whatever they wanted. While these musical revolutions had many things in common, they were not so visible to the naked eye staring at spiked hair and face piercings for the first time.

As a child in West Tennessee in the late seventies, I caught bits of information about the Sex Pistols. There was a sense that the band, and their music, was a clear sign that the world was going to hell in a hand-basket.

When it came time to write Rooted, I was taken with the idea of stranding a New York punk in a small Southern town. I wanted to see how the differences and similarities between a conservative, country culture and the more radical punk culture played out.

2. Are there any specific songs or artists that influenced this story?
There were many songs and artists that ran through my mind when writing Rooted. Music is one of the best ways to set a tone or mood of a story, even the setting.

Slade Mortimer’s character was loosely based on legendary punk rock pioneer, Richard Hell – founding member of Television, the Heartbreakers and Richard Hell and the Voidoids. The originator of spiked hair, ripped T-shirts and safety pins, it was Richard Hell’s look that Malcolm McLaren exported to England and outfitted the fledgling Sex Pistols.

The music of Hank Williams Jr. was used to give the story a sense of the pride and independence that runs strong in Southern communities. The Allman Brothers’ dark, bluesy soundtrack complimented the characters’ struggle to understand their own failings and explore the possibility of redemption.

The music of Memphis Minnie, The Mississippi Sheiks and other artists from the late 1920’s and early 30’s shields Sarah Jane, a reclusive young writer from a world she has seen too much of at too young an age.

A major influence on Rooted was a song called, Come to Jesus, by Mindy Smith. I had just completed the rough draft when I first heard this song and was struck by how well the song captured my characters’ despair and desperation – in who they were and what they had become. Like Rooted, it is a song about being alone and afraid at the end of your rope and discovering there is help and hope available. This song did not make it into the book but was still a big influence.

Instead, I used the old hymn, Washed In The Blood Of The Lamb, at various points in Rooted to help characters come to terms with the past traumas that threaten to destroy them. While these characters are not particularly religious, the song helps them begin to heal.

3. How did growing up in the south influence your storytelling?
If you are Southern, I can almost guarantee you are a storyteller. It’s in your blood. When you get together with friends or family stories just seem to bubble up to the surface. Some new, but many are the same old stories that have been rehashed and regurgitated for years, and are just as loved with each telling.

Children idle up and become part of the circle, listening with big ears and turning questioning faces to this speaker and that. In this way, the love of storytelling is handed down.

Telling stories at gathering’s is such a natural occurrence that I never considered how special this was until I lived out of the South for several years and found myself dying of thirst. I was among a wonderful non-Southern culture that did not play with words the way we do in the South. They did not say, “gettin’ my nails did.” Had never heard the terms, “showing your tail,” or “acting a fool.” When they spoke, they used proper words for things, and it liked to drive me crazy.

And when we gathered together after a potluck or over drinks, stories did not flow. We talked about things like the new transportation bill at the state house.

Each time I returned to the South, I hurried to some kitchen table or backyard fire-pit to hear the stories and say a few of my own. In doing so, something deep in my core was satisfied.

But it’s not just me. How else can you explain the canon of Southern literature and the popularity of country music? The South loves telling stories. And more than that, people love hearing them.

4. Rooted tells the story of a rural American culture clashing with urban American culture in the 70s – how do you think people can still relate to this today?
It must be human nature to be suspicious of things outside your protective circle or control. The world has always been full of “us” against “them”. That’s fine; we don’t all have to agree. But what is important is how the “us” and the “them” learn to work together and keep things going in a way healthy, productive way.

The cultural conflicts in Rooted go beyond that great Shakespearian question: to nose-pin or not to nose-pin?

Slade’s world is all about rebellion, anarchy, and change. It’s about smashing the old rules and ways of doing things and demanding to be heard. Slade’s world doesn’t care about the moral restraints holding tradition in place. They want to force change on the world.

Grover’s world is about working within and protecting those same moral constraints. It is about self-reliance, and self-improvement. About minding your manners and your business. Grover’s world is intent on taking care of itself and does not want outside influences forcing change on them.

These philosophical differences were clearly displayed in the 2016 election results. Maybe these differences have always been there and always will. Perhaps it is the country’s ability and willingness to work together that has changed.

In Rooted, the clash between urban and rural cultures works itself out. But Rooted is a novel, and far easier to bring about a resolution that gets past the “us” against “them” mentality than in real life.

5. What do you want readers to take away from this story?
Rooted is a story about the importance of belonging to a place and a people. The characters in this story are lost souls, alone and at odds with the world and themselves. Disconnected, they struggle with identity: who they are, where they come from and what they’ve become. When the pain and shame of their existence are too much to bear, family roots take hold. Unable to run or hide any longer, the characters are forced to confront a brutal past in the hopes of a better future.

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.

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