Damask Rose

DAMASK ROSE is a well written, encyclopaedic book by rose enthusiast and herbalist Stuart FitzSimons which combines all the romance, sensuality and drama that surrounds one of the world's best loved plants.

In this 127 page book Stuart tells everything you could want to know about this beautiful plant including its romantic history, extensive and much prized cosmetic uses as well as the historical and medicinal properties. Also included is a chapter on horticulture which contains a section on troubleshooting to help gardeners solve their rose growing problems and a list of the top UK rose nurseries to help them locate the perfect plant. Full colour photographs illustrating the beauty and colour of each rose are shown throughout and links are also included so the reader can access additional on-line information throughout the web.

The book is available either as a down load or can purchased pre-loaded onto an illustrated, credit card size memory stick making it as easy to read as it is to store -- just flip the stick and plug into the USB port of any computer wherever you are.

DAMASK ROSE is a perfect present for either the gardener in your life or those who are just hard to please. It’s size also makes it easy to slip into a greetings card without adding to the cost of postage which makes it an ideal gift

DAMASK ROSE by Stuart FitzSimons retails at £12.97 and is available from www.plantasmagorical.com and local garden centres.

Watch out, watch out: The Body Collector’s about!

Charlie Stench the Body Collector collects bodies: the heads he turns into floating skulls with all the powers of evil (except that in the case of Boris the skull something went wrong and he did not turn out evil at all). Boris loves the wicked witch Griselda (who treats him mean and keeps him keen) but as fans of Frank Hinks’ ‘Ramion Collection’ will know Boris longs to have his body back. After saving Griselda from the mini-skulls Boris persuades her to visit the Body Collector, but when Griselda finds the boys (Julius, Alexander and Benjamin) amongst the dead nothing works out as they expect.

Can the warrior cat Snuggle protect the boys from THE BODY COLLECTOR who wants their bodies for his collection and Griselda who as always wants to eat them?!

This is the 15th story in the Ramion collection and arguably the most controversial.

A mix of dry humour and adventure ‘The Body Collector’ delivers boyish delight of muddy hands and ghostly globs, but adults will find a deeper message within its pages, a reminder of parental love, making ‘The Body Collector a unique bedtime story for adults and children alike.

Robin Stuart-Clark Readers’ Forum Book Club says of ‘THE BODY COLLECTOR’,
“The irrepressible Frank Hinks strikes again in his latest book, The Body Collector.
Number 15 in the Ramion Series Collection, The Body Collector is as fresh and funny and exciting as Book 1, The Land of Lost Hair.
Here Boris the Skull is allowed his own flight of fancy: to find his body. Told in simple, no-nonsense, take-it-or-leave it language, Boris’ quest is a story demanding giggles and guffaws.
I wonder if I should have a duvet day and read the whole series from start to finish?”
Robin Stuart-Clark www.bookblurb.co.za

The illustrations are better and brighter and funnier than ever – whether as vignettes or as full page images which break the boundaries of spine and integrate with the text without losing readability. Boys and fathers who remember being boys will love the latest Ramon story by Frank Hinks ‘The Body Collector’
‘THE BODY COLLECTOR’ stands alone. Love it or hate it you will not forget it.
Ramion rises again in October 2012 - hooray!!
www.ramion-books.com

The Body Collector

Before Boris the skull rescues Griselda from the mini-skulls (who want to eat her) he gets her to promise that she will give him back his body. But she keeps her fingers crossed (so the promise does not count) and arranges with the Body Collector to have Boris reconditioned (he is not evil enough). However, when Griselda and Boris visit Charlie Stench the Body Collector nothing works out as they intended.


ISBN 9780954704674
Series: Ramion
Title: The Body Collector
Published 15 October 2012
Key ages 7/8
Description: Classic fantasy adventure about the Body Collector and a skull who wants his body back.
Series description: Fantasy adventures about three boys, a witch, a cat and the magical land of Ramion
Hard back
Price: 12.99

*SPECIAL OFFER!
2 for 1 price deal on THE BLIZZARD WIZARD & THE BODY COLLECTOR.
MRP for each book £12.99. Special offer price, buy THE BLIZZARD WIZARD & THE BODY COLLECTOR together for £12.98.
Free delivery
Offer & buying information only available from http://www.perronetpress.com/special-offer
This is a one month exclusive offer only available through Gazelle-book services.
The special offer will be available from 15 October to 15 November. Offer ends 15th November*
www.gazellebookservices.co.uk

Media Contact: Jacqui MacCarthy: jacqui@d-image.co.uk Tel +44 (0)1628 522982
Orders and distribution: Gazelle Distribution: Tel +44 (0) 1524 68765; Fax +44 (0) 1524 63232; E-mail sales@gazellebooks.co.uk
www.ramion-books.com
Ramion children’s book collection titles below:-

Paperback

Ramion
The Land of Lost Hair
The Vicar’s Chickens
The Crystal Key
Creatures of the Forest
Realm of Ramion
The Dim, Daft Dwarves
The Bands of Evil
The Magic Magpie
The Cruel Count
Swords of Ramion
The Seven Stones of Iliana
The Black Marchesa
Gary the Frog Prince
The Embodiment of Evil

Hardback

The Kingdom of the Deep
The Blizzard Wizard
The Body Collector
The Embodiment of Evil

IT Governance Publishing & itSMF USA Launch ‘Thought Leadership’ Book Series

IT Governance Publishing, the specialist publishing arm of IT Governance, is partnering with Information Technology Service Management Forum (itSMF) USA on a new series of books called ‘Thought Leadership’.

The first book in the series – The Definitive Guide To IT Service Metrics – is being launched today.

Alan Calder, Chief Executive of IT Governance, says: ‘This new co-published series of ‘Thought Leadership’ books will improve the global ITSM best practice knowledge base.’

Doug Tedder, President of itSMF USA, adds: ‘IT Governance already manages our official bookstore with great success. As we were planning the ‘Thought Leadership’ series, expanding on our relationship with IT Governance seemed a natural evolution.’

Assessing The Definitive Guide To IT Service Metrics, Calder continues: ‘Metrics are an invaluable tool for measuring the effectiveness of IT service provision, so we are delighted to launch the series with this book. The Definitive Guide To IT Service Metrics explains everything from management and measurement to implementation, so businesses can be certain the IT services they offer add real value. Metrics enable businesses to ensure the economical use of resources, identify areas for improvement and plan productive expenditure. Furthermore, intelligent use of metrics can inform the decision-making process and drive change in an organisation.’

The Definitive Guide To IT Service Metrics, written by Kurt McWhirter and Ted Gaughan, is aimed at all levels of ITSM practitioner globally, from students of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL®) to expert professionals.

Officially launched on August 30, details of how to order The Definitive Guide To IT Service Metrics now, priced at $49.95 in softcover and eBook format, can be found at: http://www.itgovernanceusa.com/product/431.aspx.

How to Achieve Career Success, Be Happier and Earn More by Not Planning Your Career or Having Just One

“What do you do for a living?” used to be an easy question to answer. At school you were asked to make a black and white choice to the question of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and for the rest of your life you were One Thing or Another. You were a designer, or an accountant, or a doctor, or an artist. But now a new book reveals how a generation of ‘mashers’ are leading a work and careers revolution where you can be both a designer and an accountant, a doctor and an artist, and be happier, more fulfilled and better paid at the same time.

In their new book, Mash-Up: How to Use Your Multiple Skills to Give You an Edge, Earn More Money and Be Happier published by Kogan Page in September 2012, authors (amongst other things) Ian Sanders and David Sloly show readers how to get in on the act and ‘mash-up’ their full skill set to carve out a more fulfilling work life and be more than just their job titles.

Along the way Ian and David introduce readers to an army of ‘mashers’ who are already making the most of all their multiple interests and skills to live more authentic lives. Interviewees include Dave Stewart, Phill Jupitus, Sarah Beeny and a platoon of mashers whose plural careers include making an award-winning film series, running a spice trading company, writing a bio of Florence and the Machine, founding a famous series of ‘ideas’ lectures, setting up a DJ agency, and blogging for the London 2012 Olympics.

**‘Personal Unifiers’ replace job titles (and help when writing a Twitter bio)**
Practical advice on how to make the jump from a restrictive single job title existence to the unlimited possibilities of a plural career includes how to answer the dreaded dinner-party question all mashers hate: “What do you do?” and how to use social media platforms such as Twitter where mashers have to condense their plural identities into 140 characters, whilst still standing out from the crowd. As mashers are more than their job titles, David and Ian coin the brand new concept of the ‘personal unifier’. For Ian it’s ‘communicating ideas’; David is a ‘change agent’; Sarah Beeny ‘makes things simple’; and for Jose Castillo whose varied work life has included writing about new media, speaking at conferences, and consulting with Fortune 500 companies and start-ups it’s ‘adding spice’.

**Goodbye to the ‘Five-Year Plan’**
Calling time on the concept of the ‘five year plan’, David and Ian also show how it’s mashers who ‘unplan’ that are most successful. The ‘unplan’ is at the heart of the Mash-Up philosophy and is about being agile enough to adapt to unexpected opportunities. The happier more fulfilled masher realises that in a world that’s more connected than ever, but increasingly unstable and uncertain, it’s those who adopt an agile mindset, who can do more than one thing and be adaptable and enterprising, that stand the best chance of success.

To further help readers unleash themselves from the black and white single career mindset Ian and David also offer advice on:

• How to use the concept of ‘mash’ to give you a competitive edge in the job market
• How you can get satisfaction and stimulation by getting close to the work-life that reflects you
• How to go plural when you already feel time poor by making the most out of hobbies
• How the native masher is more productive when portable rather than chained to a desk

...and even more tools and tips to manage a mashed-up life.

About the authors
Ian Sanders is passionate about capturing and communicating ideas. He works with businesses turning their thinking into marketing content that tells a story across multiple platforms. His career has seen an obsession about 'doing', driven by curiosity and insight rather than a big plan. Ian applies a rapid mindset to all projects, recognising that the value lies in execution. Through his own ideas and writing he's on a mission to disrupt the business status quo. His books have inspired readers to change their lives; Tom Watson the British MP who famously challenged Rupert Murdoch, said "thanks Ian. You helped me rediscover the inner rebel". Watch Ian interview Dave Stweart, Guy Vaynerchuck and more.

David Sloly trained as a journalist with the BBC. Fired for humiliating a politician, he became highly sought after and was soon snapped up to create award-winning content for the UK's first independent radio production company. David is also a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist, so if an employer tries to fire him now, he hypnotizes them into drastically increasing his salary.

Notes to the editor: Mash-Up!: How to Use Your Multiple Skills to Give You an Edge, Earn More Money and Be Happier by Ian Sanders and David Sloly. To be published September, 2012. ISBN: 978-0749465902, Paperback, 256 pages, £14.99.

Child Prodigy Writes New Novel of Heroic Adventure in the Wild

Twelve-year-old Reena Bakir gives us the story of “HOPE,” a hybrid wolf leader who would become a legend of a hundred generations.

 

Born on a mountain from a wolf mother and a husky father, Hope is an orphan of a month and a half when he is found nearly frozen to death by a human. HOPE by Reena Bakir is the fascinating tale of how this hybrid orphan grows up under human care, leaves their domain to become a hero among his kind in the wild, in a fabulary place ruled by the intelligence of “beasts” (bears, wolves, leopards and such) called The Snowy Forest. It is a unique spin on many animal tales – a fascinating study of animal psychology and the virtues of the animal world that are otherwise not given too much mileage in other works. 

Dan, the human who saved Hope (and gave him his name) gives a foreshadowing of what Hope would become when, from experience working on the dogfarm, he touts the young pup as somebody who would grow up to be a leader. On the farm (the pup sanctuary) where Dan has taken him to, Hope displays his leadership qualities early on - his strength, intelligence and reflexes are better than all of his friends in his age group. Perhaps it is the influence of human care in the farm for working dogs (raised and trained to carry loads and pull sleds).One more thing that distinguishes him from the rest is a thinking, practical conscience affirmed by a strange episode with a snow leopardess who tells him how kind and trustworthy he is. The wild wolves, bears, and other denizens of The Snowy Forest have seen and observed these amazing qualities of Hope’s.

The spark in the pup’s ocean-blue eyes has turned brighter and brighter with the passing months. As the bonds with his human and sanctuary friends grew stronger, he had never imagined the day he’d have to leave it all behind. But the leopardess finds him again after that first strange meeting and by following her, he heard the most magnificent howls of the wolves of a hunting pack. It spoke to him of freedom and choosing to live how he saw fit. When Hope is faced with a choice of survival or comfort, what would he choose? What, among the many virtues and bonds that have been given to him, would he have to give up to fulfill his dreams?

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to www.Xlibris.com.  

Reena Bakir is a twelve year old student who is passionate about animals, especially wolves. She has great respect for nature and living creatures which is manifested clearly throughout her stories. Her stories spread great joy and morals to readers of her age and older. 

Visit her online at www.myanimaldoorway.com

HOPE * by Reena Bakir
Publication Date: December 23, 2011
Trade Paperback; $19.99; 121 pages; 978-1-4653-1028-6
Trade Hardback; $29.99; 121 pages; 978-1-4653-1029-3
eBook; $4.99; 978-1-4653-1030-9

Remarkable Life of a Cockney Kid Revealed in New Book

Author Veronica Pinckard recounts the story of her life through cheerful writing

As a promise to her inquisitive children and friends, Veronica Pinckard relives the earlier years of her life and writes it in a way with the richness of the ever-cheery Cockney. Her book, A Damn Fine Growth: Autobiography of a Cockney Kid, makes readers reflect that “Life is never as bad as we think.”

Born in London opposite the Houses of Parliament, Pinckard was the last of 16 children. She was educated at a prestigious school founded in 1666, and became an evacuee in WWII while in High School. While her seven brothers and her father served their King and Country, she worked as a wartime secretary for the inventor of in-flight refuelling and where the first British jet planes were tested; she was also a medical and legal secretary and Court Reporter.

Pinckard left England in 1954, emigrating to Canada and New Zealand. She emigrated to California in 1960, finally settling in the Santa Clarita Valley. She was married first for 26 years and now happily married for 35 years and counting. She has been a docent for 22 years at the Los Angeles Zoo touring school children, visiting schools to show slides on the plight of endangered animals, and reading to children at a local school.

Despite challenges along her walk through life, Pinckard continues to maintain a happy attitude up until today, as can be seen through her writing. With illuminating detail, A Damn Fine Growth: Autobiography of a Cockney Kid will bring smiles, tears, and rich memories to its readers. 

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.

Married with 4 children, 6 grandchildren and a great grandson, Veronica Pinckard has travelled extensively with her husband and at 85 remains active in Tai Chi Chu’an, handiwork and learning to play the piano.

She has written and published many short stories, including an award-winning one.

A Damn Fine Growth * by Veronica Pinckard

Autobiography of a Cockney Kid
Publication Date: June 22, 2012
Trade Paperback; $23.99; 406 pages; 978-1-4771-2411-6
Trade Hardback; $34.99; 406 pages; 978-1-4771-2412-3
eBook; $3.99; 978-1-4771-2413-0

UKs Love of Reading Sparks the Great Book Migration

UK’s Love of Reading Sparks the Great Book Migration
Jonathan Edwards jumps on board to launch national reading campaign
 The UK is a nation of Bonds, Bennetts and bookworms
Hermione beats Harry in the top fictional character polls

A list of the UK’s favourite fictional folk has been revealed, placing James Bond and Elizabeth Bennett as the characters we’d would most like to be.

According to the poll of over 2,000 people, the average UK resident spends 7 hours and 54 minutes immersed in a good book each week. Over half of the nation (53%) will read on a daily basis for at least an hour and seven out of ten people still prefer the feeling of a real book over an e-reader.

The findings, conducted by vision correction specialist Ultralase, also revealed that the average UK bookworm will get through two and three quarter books each month. The most popular reasons for reading are escaping everyday stresses and broadening knowledge. However, for some people, books provide the perfect retreat for a different reason! Over a third of people have hidden behind a book to check on someone they admire, avoid a conversation or simply sit back and indulge in a spot of people watching.

This national joy of reading has prompted Ultralase to launch The Great Book Migration with the support of former Olympic athlete, and patient, Jonathan Edwards. The campaign will track 100 books, and their travels, across the UK. Varying from classic horrors such as Dracula to modern romances such as One Day, the titles will be found in a range of public places with ‘Read Me’ labels attached to their covers.

Those who find one of the marked books will then be invited to join the migration and log where they found it using QR codes, twitter handles, Facebook or email. Readers wanting to find out more about The Great Book Migration should visit http://on.fb.me/JX5CR4 for more details.

Tony Veverka, Chief Executive at Ultralase, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be launching our book migration and we can’t wait to see how far and wide the titles travel. As we can see from the research, reading may be one of our oldest past times but it’s certainly still a favourite - with so many people devoting their spare time to this hobby.

“It was, however, disturbing to see that so many people still let their sight compromise their joy of reading. In fact, 15% of people in the UK struggle with their sight whilst reading and one in ten (12%) also said they’ve felt intimidated or embarrassed by not being able to see when they’re reading in front of others.

“One of the most common causes of poor vision when reading is Presbyopia. It will affect everyone one of us as some stage in our life and can set in as early as 40-50 years old in some cases. Unfortunately, it’s not something you can avoid but there are treatments available, such as Supracor to combat the condition and we urge people to explore those options before sacrificing the enjoyment they deserve when reading.”

One in ten people feel that reading glasses are a symbol of getting old and a further 10% would rather opt for treatments such as laser eye surgery than wear glasses.

The top 10 fictional characters include:
1. James Bond
2. Elizabeth Bennett (Pride & Prejudice)
3. Jane Eyre
4. Hermione Grainger (Harry Potter series)
5. Miss Marple (Agatha Christie)
6. Harry Potter
7. Gandalf
8. Bella (Twilight)
9. Poirot
10. Jack Ryan (Tom Clancy)

New Book Offers Readers an Inspirational Guide to Mastering Life

Author William L. Di Carlo reveals how readers can learn to control their thoughts and actions to live a more fulfilling life.

Most of mankind fear change. Recent studies show that people will not undertake a new activity because if there is a chance of difficulties, they will not start it. “Mankind needs to face their fear, and do it anyway. If you wish to achieve something and it appears threatening, investigate it, find out the facts, and get started on it!” William L. Di Carlo declares in his book, Mastering Life.

Over the last 30 plus years, the author has taught people to achieve their goals, mainly through the art of Kenpo Karate. His teaching goes beyond martial arts as he helps them to change outlook on themselves, on everyone they interact with, to how they walk and talk, look people in the eye, in other words, create a new individual. Mastering Life expounds more on this process as it reveals how to control one’s thoughts and actions for a more fulfilling life. Through these enlightening pages, readers can see the great men that Di Carlo has called upon to assist him with his understanding of goal reaching.

In this book, the author explains cognitive reconstruction, a process of learning to alter their faulty thinking with those that are correct, positive reinforcing and enable them to achieve their goals in self-protection as well as in life. He reiterates the importance of taking the next step despite the risk of failure, emphasizing that when man falls down, he gets up and learns from it. He encourages readers to take advantage of this book and apply it to their daily life as they take the next step to fully Mastering Life.

This book will be featured at the New York Library Association Book Exhibit in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on November 7-10, 2012.

For more information, visit www.Xlibris.com.

William Di Carlo has published this book after a life time of study and experience. “I have always wanted to help others become empowered and this book will help them do it,” Di Carlo said. Di Carlo has spent his life helping people face their fears and achieve their goals in the martial arts for over 30 years since achieving his 8th Degree Black Belt. Having trained and promoted national champions and many black belts he has also owned diversified businesses and tested his principles on living the life he has dreamed of, repeatedly having ‘started over’ many times. Di Carlo also said, “I’ve always did what I dreamed of, others would say to me, ‘How can you do that?’ and I’d say, ‘Watch.’ ”

Mastering Life  by William L. Di Carlo
Publication Date: April 25, 2012
Trade Paperback; $15.99; 99 pages; 978-1-4568-7501-5
Trade Hardback; $24.99; 99 pages; 978-1-4568-7502-2
eBook; $9.99; 978-1-4568-7503-9

To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.

For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit www.Xlibris.com. To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274.

Are we all mad? In his book Back to Sanity, psychologist Steve Taylor claims we are

In Back to Sanity Steve Taylor (Leeds Metropolitan University) suggests that the human race is suffering from a psychological disorder, which he has coined ‘humania’. The book provides a fascinating exploration of the madness of human beings – both as individuals and collectively - and explains how we can begin to heal this madness, and create a saner world.

Taylor argues that this madness is so intrinsic to us, we aren’t even aware of it, but that when you start to examine our behaviour it isn’t hard to see evidence of insanity. Why for example are so many of us driven to accumulate more and more wealth, status and success without any evidence that they provide us with contentment and fulfillment? Why are we restless or uneasy when not occupied, and constantly looking for distraction, as if we are incapable of just ‘being’? And on a collective level, why is human history an endless, depressing saga of warfare, conflict and oppression? We now live in an age where the world’s three richest people are wealthier than the 48 poorest countries combined, and where almost 800 million people are malnourished while millions of others are obese – as Taylor says, ‘what could be more insane than this?’

Taylor argues that humania is the root cause of all our dysfunctional behaviour, both as individuals and as a species. The first part of the book explores the madness of human beings, looking at the symptoms of humania:

- Living outside of ourselves: our inability to just ‘be’ and our need to immerse our attention in something external – TV, radio, the internet or anything else that will distract us from that sense of ‘lack’ we feel when unoccupied.
- ‘Thought Chatter’: the constant stream of thoughts that whizz around our head, taking us away from the moment and often leaving us feeling unsettled and uneasy – that feeling that ‘something’ is amiss.
- Elsewhereness: our inability to give our full attention to the present and really live each experience (is the bride who spends hours getting ready and several more hours being photographed actually at her wedding, or is she already in the future, looking at the photographs in years to come?)
- Looking forward: we spend our lives ‘looking forward’ to things, not to enjoy them more but as a strategy for escaping from the present.
- The madness of constant wanting: our pursuit of increased status and wealth and the idea that we can buy our way into happiness.
- The collective madness of warfare, colonialism, inequality and social oppression (including the oppression of the female half of the human race): this collective pathological behavior can be seen as the result of the desire for wealth and status together with a lack of ability to empathize with other groups.
- The collective madness of environmental destruction: would a sane species see the natural world as nothing more than a supply of resources to exploit, and be destroying the life-support systems of our planet with such abandon?
- Group identity: because of a deep-rooted sense of insecurity, human beings have a strong need for identity and belonging, which manifests itself in ethnicism, nationalism, religious fundamentalism and other types of group identity, which lead to rivalry and conflict with other groups.

In the second part of the book Taylor explains how to overcome this psychosocial discord. Taylor suggests practices and ways of living – including practical exercises – to help create a more harmonious inner state, so that we can begin to live inside ourselves, in the present and attain a real state of sanity.

‘Taylor is right: humans are mad as cheese. Back to Sanity shows us how to make a sandwich out of our madness and enjoy the meal.’ Oliver James, author of Affluenza

Steve Taylor is a lecturer in psychology at Leeds Metropolitan University and the bestselling author of several books on spirituality and psychology, including The Fall, Waking from Sleep and Out of the Darkness, which was recently featured on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. He lives in Manchester with his wife and three young children.

Back to Sanity: Healing the Madness of Our Minds by Steve Taylor is published on 25th June 2012, £10.99 paperback, also available as an e-Book.

New Short Story Collection Paints Historic and Personal Portraits

Authors Clark Hawkins and Geraldine “Gerri” Bianchi Wolfe co-write unique book of short stories

Clark Hawkins and Geraldine “Gerri” Bianchi Wolfe offer “Through the Window: A Diverse Collection of the Past and Present” (published by Trafford Publishing) a new book of short stories drawing from the history and their own life experiences.

In “Through the Window” Hawkins and Bianchi Wolfe share stories touching on a broad range of subjects, settings, characters and themes. They introduce readers to a young lieutenant in the 1950s, a sister who recounts her brother’s experiences in Vietnam, and a soldier who returns home after going to war.
Hawkins and Bianchi Wolfe use the short stories to explore human nature, writing with humor and irony about humanity’s faults, foibles and innocence. The book also takes a somewhat unexpected turn, casting its explorative eye on books and literature.

“We are all products of our past whether it be a positive or negative influence,” says Bianchi Wolfe. She and Hawkins hope readers find inspiration in the characters’ ability to meet their obligations and struggles with honor and dignity.

FACTFILE:
Clark Hawkins grew up in the small Penn. towns of Dagus Mines, Toby and Kersey. In later years, he divided his time between Toby Valley and Gilbert, Ariz. Hawkins received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Penn State University and his Ph.D. in economics from Purdue University.

He taught at the University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, University of Arkansas and Florida State University. While at Florida State, Hawkins, along with Charles L. Hubberd, coauthored the book “Theory of Valuation” in 1969. Hawkins was invited to present his extensive financial and investment background expertise to universities and institutions of higher learning throughout the country and the world. Throughout his career, Hawkins conducted continuous, extensive research in the area of utility regulations, specifically gas price regulation.

Geraldine “Gerri” Bianchi Wolfe grew up in Dagus Mines, Penn., and she presently resides in the nearby town of St. Marys. Bianchi Wolfe received her bachelor’s degree in the field of secondary English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and completed her graduate work at Clarion and Penn State Universities. Bianchi Wolfe, a retired educator from the St. Marys Area School District, is an active member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association-Retirees, Seneca Highlands, serves on the governing board of the Office of Human Services, is president of the Fox Township Senior Center, and is actively involved in various other community and church organisations.

Trafford Publishing, an Author Solutions, Inc. author services imprint, was the first publisher in the world to offer an “on-demand publishing service,” and has led the independent publishing revolution since its establishment in 1995. Trafford was also one of the earliest publishers to utilise the Internet for selling books. Over 10,000 authors from over 120 countries have utilised Trafford’s experience for self publishing their books. For more information about Trafford Publishing, or to publish your book today, call 1-888-232-4444 or visit www.trafford.com.

New Memoir Explores Author’s Life of Struggles

Author Jean Alexander shares his dark memories and triumphant victories.

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. – In Jean Alexander’s new memoir “Fear My Surrounding” (published by iUniverse), he shares his journey as a Haitian-born boy who overcame difficult circumstances, immigrated to the United States and started his life anew.

Alexander shares memories of horrendous acts from his time growing up in Haiti. As he explains, he witnessed the mass murder of women and children whose lives were cut short because of political beliefs or opinions. These horrendous experiences were never able to stifle his determination to overcome his circumstances and strive to find his true purpose in life.

An excerpt from “Fear My Surrounding”:
“I’m in disarray, angry at society’s treatment of humankind. I believe society is the main culprit to the destructive path the world is on. Things will only get worse unless each and every one of us, individually, takes responsibility for our actions and capitalizes on past mistakes. Looking forward, we need to be optimistic toward the future and make our environment a better place. Otherwise, we will drive our world to the brink of extinction.”

According to Alexander, some of his darkest moments were manifestations of the fear and anxiety his environment caused him to feel – emotions amplified by his struggles with social anxiety disorder. In Haiti and later in his life in the United States after reuniting with his mother, Alexander learned to rely on his inner strength to survive.

“Fear My Surrounding” shares the inspirational story of how one man faced countless ordeals, yet somehow managed to reach his full potential by believing in himself, dreaming big, and never underestimating the power of the human will.

About the Author
Jean Alexander was born in Haiti in the midst of political turmoil. He settled in the United States in 1997. He lives in New Jersey with his family. “Fear My Surrounding” is his first book.

iUniverse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse has a strategic alliance with Indigo Books & Music, Inc. in Canada, and titles accepted into the iUniverse Rising Star program are featured in a special collection on BarnesandNoble.com. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Reader’s Choice, Rising Star and Editor’s Choice designations—self-publishing’s only such awards program. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse also operates offices in Indianapolis. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. For the latest, follow @iuniversebooks on Twitter.

New Children’s Book Finds Value in the Little Things

Author Delores Allan pens “Magical Moments with Roy and Toni”

In her new children’s storybook “Magical Moments with Roy and Toni: Come on Let’s Go” (published by AuthorHouse), Delores Allan shares a delightful story teaching young readers to be grateful for the little things in life around them.

Set on a Midwestern farm in the late ′40s to early ′50s, “Magical Moments with Roy and Toni” tells the story of an older couple – Roy and Toni – who love spending time with children. They always remain playful, fun and have a great sense of humor, helping children to appreciate the simple pleasures in life and to take in the beauty of nature and the wonderful things in day-to-day life.

“People today are looking for ways to bring some of the values back into our society and children’s lives,” says Allan. “These books have subtle lessons in them that encourage those values that have somehow gotten lost in our hustle and bustle world.”

Allan hopes the book shows young readers that the best things in life are free and that magical moments are everywhere. The simple story and colorful illustrations will grab young readers’ attention, and the lessons will stay with them each time they take a moment to appreciate their surroundings.

FACTFILEL
Author Delores Allan has a country home in the Midwest. She is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Allan enjoys reading, writing, gardening and spending time with family and friends. She loves telling stories to the small children in her life – a love which inspired her to pick up a pen and put her stories down on paper.

Allan is a Golden Quill award winner, having won the honour for a short story she wrote in college. She plans on continuing to follow her passion to write children’s book and touch the hearts of children everywhere. “Magical Moments with Roy and Toni: Come on Let’s Go” is a five part series of books from Allan.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industry’s only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services.

Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrated 15 years of service to authors in Sept. 2011.

For more information or to publish a book visit www.authorhouse.com or call 1-888-519-5121. For the latest, follow @authorhouse on Twitter.

New book reveals shocking health truths!

In The Health Delusion (Hay House, 4th June 2012, £12.99 pb), Glen Matten and Aidan Goggins bring together the wealth of compelling and exciting academic research into our health and make it accessible to all, in an unadulterated form. The authors have one simple aim: to bring you and your family better health. They not only reveal what has gone so horribly wrong with our collective health, but also show us how we can put it right. Combining their backgrounds in nutritional medicine and pharmacy, they set out a guide to achieving optimal health at every stage of life and for future generations to come, offering a detailed plan of the foods, supplements and lifestyle changes needed for total wellness.

In the 21st Century we are more health conscious than ever before, and have a wealth of information on healthy living at our disposal, as well as access to the incredible advancements of modern medicine. Yet despite all this, a stark fact remains: if you are a healthy adult in today’s society, you are in the minority. More than one in three people have cardiovascular disease, one in six has high cholesterol and an incredible six in every ten has raised blood pressure. One in ten has diabetes and nearly another four out of those ten are on the verge of getting it. If all that wasn’t bad enough, two out of every five people will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives.

Surprisingly, many of the answers to these modern-day epidemics of chronic disease are already within our grasp. The problem is that much of the research carried out into our health remains stuck in the world of academia or gets distorted by the media, self-proclaimed health gurus or the food industry. This book cuts through the misinformation to expose the shocking truths behind our diet, health and pharmaceutical industries, looking at how they consistently put our health in jeopardy in favour of boosting profits. The authors demonstrate how the media compounds these problems by overloading us with information, often misleading us in the process, and reveal how outdated the official advice we receive on health and diet really is. Packed with the latest scientific research, The Health Delusion provides the blueprint for achieving exceptional health in the 21st Century.

‘At last,learn the truth about how badly "the system" is lying about your diet. A must read!’ Dr Georges Mouton

The Health Delusion: How to Achieve Exceptional Health in the 21st Century by Glen Matten & Aidan Goggins is published by Hay House on 4th June 2012, £12.99 paperback, also available as an e-Book.

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Book launch - The Army & Navy Club Double Anniversary

The Army & Navy Club, has commissioned Prior & Partners, the global communications agency founded by entrepreneur and television personality, James Caan and Annie Prior, one of the UK's leading editors, creatives and publishers, to create an integrated multimedia campaign to celebrate its 175th Anniversary coinciding with its patron HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

For the past 175 years, the Army & Navy Club (or ‘The Rag’ as it is affectionately known) has provided a base for its members – men and women who hold or have held a commission in the British or Commonwealth Armed Forces, as well as non-military corporations and blue chip companies mostly based around Mayfair and St. James – in which they can socialise and relax.

At the heart of this campaign is a hardback commemorative publication, which includes beautifully written profiles of the exclusive international brands selected to sponsor the Army & Navy Club celebrations. These brands cover a range of sectors including Food & Wine, Restaurants, Fashion, Jewellery, Arts & Culture, Luxury Travel, Aviation, Yachting, Interiors, Architecture and Education. The publication will also chronicle the history and development of the Club, and its relationship with the Royal Family and the military. As patron of the Army & Navy Club, HM The Queen will receive a copy of the album, as will each of the 137 affiliated clubs, worldwide. Alongside the publication, a dedicated website, e-book and phone application have all been produced to complement these prestigious celebrations.

The campaign will come to fruition at an official launch event at the Army & Navy Club Headquarters in Pall Mall, London on May 31st 2012. Guests will include Army & Navy Club members, affiliate club members, participating luxury brands and select affluent individuals, who will have the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail reception, live entertainment, speeches from high-profile individuals and a live charity auction from which proceeds will be donated to Veterans Aid, the Army & Navy Club’s affiliate charity.

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That's Home and Household: 'from you to me’ launch new Journals of a Lifetime...: ‘from you to me’ launch new Journals of a Lifetime designs for Father's Day Multi award-winning gift journal publisher ‘fro...

The Varieties of Religious Experiences

The Varieties of Religious Experiences, written by William James in 1902 is a widely renowned classic book.

It covers a wide range of different topics. How do we define evil? What is evil? How is the difference between a mind that is well and a mind that is not well defined?

It examines religious beliefs, looks at how our religious beliefs are view not only by ourselves but by other people, too.

He drew on several wells for this seminal work, philosophy and psychology and also on the great body of work that made up literature until the very last part of the 19th century.

He examines saints and sinners, looks at the works of people who have claimed to be prophetic and of others who served as their scholars or acolytes.

It is an extremely interesting and captivating book, remarkable easy to read. The introduction and notes, by the editor of this edition, Matthew Bradley, are of considerable benefit to the reader.

It is published by the OUP in paperback at £10.99.

The Ancient Olympics by Nigel Spivey

We hear much about the Olympic ideal, of how the modern Olympics are a reflection of the ancient, 'pure' Olympic ideal.

Nothing could be more removed from the truth about the ancient Olympics!

In this erudite, yet extremely easy to read book, Nigel Spivey turns his expertise on to a very interesting look at what the ancient Olympics were really like.

Cheating and bribery were common, contests were not only fierce but incredibly bloody because the Olympics were not a gentile exercise in unity of mankind, they were war without the killing. Well, without a great deal of killing because as Spivey points out some Olympic clashes proved to be fatal to some of the Olympians.

Spivey also has some interesting facts on the origins of the Olympics and dispels some myths, too. For example, there was no Marathon race in the ancient Olympics and victory really was all.

It will be of great interest to fans of the modern Olympics and those studying the history of ancient Greece. It is in paperback, published by the OUP at £9.99.

New Book Encourages Men to Speak Out about Childhood Sexual Abuse

Jan L Frayne wants men to know there is no shame in admitting they suffered abuse.

According to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 17,727 sexual crimes against children under 16 were recorded in England and Wales in 2010-11. Timed to coincide with the U.S Child Abuse and Awareness month in April, author Jan L Frayne offers readers his poetic memoir Beyond Survivor – Rising from the Ashes of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Collection of Writings (published by AuthorHouse).

In Beyond Survivor Frayne, who boasts Welsh Poet Dylan Thomas in his ancestry, offers his own history, hoping to help other victims of abuse find the courage and strength to seek help to triumph over it, and to increase awareness and education among the general public. “Child abuse is in the headlines almost every week,” he says.

“Very few men are prepared to come forward and be counted. I hope this shows them there is no shame in doing so.”

An excerpt from Beyond Survivor, the poem “A New Dawn”:

My heart’s empty hallways echo forlornly.
My eyes but broken windows to my soul.
Blinded by my own fractured self,
So that I would be ignorant to truth,

My flesh aching and writhing in remembrance,
Spirit disfigured and grounded with clipped wings,
Silent tears fall for innocence long dead.
But beneath the chaos a light flickers dimly.

From the all-consuming madness comes hope,
A new tomorrow, a new dawn, a new hope.
Out of the ashes of a childhood destroyed,
I will rise, stand firm, and be strong.

Author Patricia A. McKnight, in her review of the book, says, “This expertly written book shows the path of standing strong and achieving what all mankind desires; retrieving the happiness once destroyed by the wicked. This collection of outstanding poetry and prose is a must read for all as inspiration to prevail against the challenges put forth in the battle to obtain our own freedom.”

About the Author
Mr Jan L Frayne is a 44-year-old male survivor of childhood sexual abuse. An advocte for survivors of childhood sexual abuse worldwide, he has written both prose and poetry since he was 11 years old.

First Preserves: Marmalades Now Available On iBook®

Vivien Lloyd, the country's leading authority on preserves, has released First Preserves: Marmalades as an iBook®, featuring recipes that can be made throughout the year. It combines the interactive nature of the iPad® with elements of Vivien's acclaimed first book, also entitled First Preserves.

This multi-touch iBook offers detailed explanations of each stage of the preserving process, from the preparation to how to fill and seal the jars, with galleries of informative colour photographs and embedded video demonstrations from Vivien.

A helpful "Define, Highlight, Note and Search" facility allows the reader to obtain definitions, explore further information online and set up a personal notebook to record all their thoughts during the preserving process, and all the equipment needed for successful marmalade-making is described, with direct links to suppliers' websites.

First Preserves: Marmalades also features the original book's popular chapter on competitions, utilising Vivien's extensive judging experience by providing anyone planning to enter a preserves competition with that crucial edge. Vivien offers advice on preparing for the competition, divulges the key elements that judges are looking for and reveals the common faults in unsuccessful entries. 

All the recipes in the book advocate Vivien's strong belief that preserve-making is a simple science. She says: 'Follow a few straightforward rules and you have an inexpensive and rewarding activity you can enjoy over and over.'

With First Preserves: Marmalades, Vivien aims to bring the tradition of marmalade-making to a new audience, informing and inspiring beginners and enthusiasts alike to get into the kitchen to make the popular preserve, and to perhaps even experience the excitement of entering a competition.

FACTFILE:

• Vivien Lloyd has 25 years' worth of experience of making and demonstrating award-winning preserves
• Vivien won 'Best of the Best' at the 2008 World's Original Marmalade Festival
• First Preserves: Marmalade is available to download from the Apple iBookstore in 32 countries, priced £5.49 http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/first-preserves-marmalades/id513881112?mt=11
• First Preserves, the original book, covering jams and chutneys as well as marmalades is on sale now, priced at £14.99 and available from amazon and www.vivienlloydpreserves.com
• Twitter: @Vivienlloyd and Facebook.

New from author Lee Baldwin

Author Lee Baldwin, writer of Angle of Attack reports that his book Angle of Attack has now come out in a special second edition, with a rewrite on the last two chapters.

Lee Baldwin has launched a new website Baldwin Books to promote Angle of Attack and his other books.

The Diary Of A Student Midwife

"Journal of a Student Midwife" by Ellie Ryan

Candid diary documenting the reality of being a student midwife

Ever since she had her own children in her early twenties, Ellie Ryan was determined to become a midwife - 'the best job in the world'! After her children started school, Ellie began the demanding training she needed to achieve her ambition.

Ellie kept a blog-style journal throughout her training; the result combines laughter and friendship with poignant reminders that life is never as simple as we would like it to be. There are high points as Ellie takes steps towards reaching her goal; gaining confidence in her profession and helping women bring their babies into the world.

On the other hand, Ellie worries that she will never have what it takes to become 'a proper midwife' and feels terrible guilt about the detrimental effect her pursuit of this career could be having on her family. This real-life story provides an intimate and candid account of the author's journey towards becoming a midwife and the struggle to balance her professional and family life.

After being made redundant from her job in a call-centre, Ellie Ryan decided she would return to college to train as a nurse. After working as a nurse for a year she returned to university in order to achieve her dream of becoming a midwife. Ellie is now a practising midwife.

31st May 2012.  £12.99 Paperback.  ISBN 978-1-84624-708-8

• This real-life blog-style journal will appeal to student midwives and the midwifery and nursing professions, plus women in general who will identify with the pressures of combining work and home life
• Candid account of midwifery training and the workings of the profession
• Working wife and mother balancing the demands of her career with those of her young family

The Oracle of Life: a sci-fi book for children of all ages, bringing together extraordinary powers of the mind, a holographic playground and the return of long sworn enemies in one explosive adventure story.

Thirteen-year-old Julius McCoy is about to start his second year at Tijara Academy, in the Zed Lunar Perimeter. With the threat of the Arneshians averted for the moment, he can get on with the important part of his school life: developing his rare mind-skills.

Of course, what any student on Zed looks forward to most is competing in games in the Hologram Palace. But who is the mysterious lady hidden in one of the games? 

An encounter with her will set in motion an exciting and dangerous treasure hunt that will give him a whole new perspective on the real history of Zed, and ultimately beyond to a shocking truth that could jeopardise the safety of everyone he holds dear.
 

When an old enemy returns, it becomes clear that the Arneshians are back with a new plan for taking over Zed and seizing control of Earth. As the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, and he is drawn towards a climactic showdown, it will take all of Julius’s mind-skills as he is forced into a deadly final confrontation.

The Tijaran Tales series brings the complex genre of science fiction easily within grasp for readers of all ages. The books look at the trials of growing up, the joy of friendship and the need to stand up for what's right, as seen through the eyes of a particularly unique group of children.

A sample chapter from Tijaran Tales: The Oracle of Life is available to read at: www.authorsonline.co.uk

FACTFILE:
Francesca Tristan Barbini was born in 1976 and raised in Rome, Italy. After years of volunteer work around the world, she completed an MA Honours in Religious Studies, focusing on the Ancient Near East and the Dead Sea Scrolls. She currently teaches R.E. in a Scottish high school.

Her free time is divided between family and writing children's novels. An active member of the Tolkien Society, she also runs a kinship on Lord of the Rings Online. Barbini is currently working on the third instalment of her Tijaran Talesseries.

Visit: www.ftbarbini.com

Imprint: Bright Pen
Published: 02/04/12
ISBN (Paperback editions): 978-0-7552-1440-2
eBook Download Price: £3.95
PaperBack Purchase Price: £7.99

Is employment red tape preventing growth? HR expert thinks not

Happy Working Relationships

In recent months, there have been calls from ministers and influential MPs to reduce employees’ legal protection and create a “Hire and Fire” culture as a way to boost economic growth.

But experienced HR consultant and businessman Simon Jones believes the real issue for many businesses, charities and social enterprises is a lack of knowledge of employment regulations and an incorrect assumption that the law prevents them from running their business effectively.

In his recently published book, Happy Working Relationships – the small business guide to managing people and employment law he argues that employers who behave in a positive manner will achieve greater staff motivation and business success.

Simon says: ‘There are plenty of business owners and managers who’re terrified at the idea of staff issues. Words like “TUPE”, “constructive dismissal” and “tribunal” strike fear into the hearts of many bosses, but most of the time there’s nothing to fear if you make sure you follow a few simple guidelines, use some common sense and exercise a bit of compassion. The book’s designed to demystify some of those scary HR terms and make sure employers get the best out of their most valuable assets – their employees.

‘There are plenty of books about finance and marketing for small business owners and charity managers,’ says Simon, ‘but not very much about this so-called – but vital – “soft skill”.’

Caroline Hinds, HR and Operations Manager of Creative England described the book as “A very clear outline of the working relationship process, with a very clever use of analogies to ensure clear understanding rather than confusing legal jargon. I’d recommend this book to anyone who has preconceptions of employees having the ultimate right in holding a business to ransom. It explains that a positive approach to people management in always the best option”

While HR Zone, the online HR magazine, commented “it provides a common sense view of all aspects of recruiting, managing, employing and ultimately dismissing staff... concise and extremely readable”. The book has also been featured nationally by the Federation of Small Business in their “First Voice” magazine.

Happy Working Relationships – the small business guide to managing people and employment law is published by Wordscapes, ISBN number 978-0-9566344-3-6, and is available online, or via Amazon, priced at £12.99. It is also available as an e-book from Amazon, iTunes, Waterstones and other leading e-book retailers (RRP £6.99).

New books shows that treating yourself like a brand can create a ‘Brand New You’

Brand New You: Reinventing Work, Life & Self through the Power of Personal Branding

by SIMON MIDDLETON

Published by Hay House on 7th May, £10.99. Also available as an ebook.

A unique guide explaining what personal branding is and how to brand yourself professionally and personally to create a new you from one of the UK’s best-known experts on brands and personal development.

In an increasingly tough jobs market and an ever more competitive world in general, it is more vital than ever to stand out from the crowd to get the most from the opportunities given to us. UK expert on branding and personal development Simon Middleton’s answer to this: create a killer personal brand.

This is not a prescriptive business book that will explain how to swot-up for an interview or merely improve your CV, instead Middleton shows you that by examining your story, finding your strategy, paying heed to your audiences and establishing a ‘brand’, you really can build a ‘brand new you’.

Middleton promises that by creating a strong personal brand you will improve your prospects at work (and might just get that promotion!), stand out dramatically from the crowd and secure the job you really want, and even improve your prospects in finding a romantic partner.

Offering a fascinating glimpse into the art of successful company branding and marketing strategy, and then applying it to the individual reader, Middleton shares his expertise so that by the end of this book you’ll be thinking about yourself like the CEO of a global company thinks about their business. In the process you’ll be on your way to developing your killer personal brand, developing your own marketing strategy and achieving ambitions which previously seemed out of reach.

This book shows you how to build your personal brand and create a new you by explaining:

- How to turn ambition and dreams into a personal brand strategy
- How to identify the competitors to your personal brand and how to stand
out from the crowd.
- Strategies for ‘positioning’ yourself to best promote your personal brand
- How to craft your personal brand story and ‘sell’ yourself
- How to bring your personal brand to life in everything that you do, to build an authentic, distinctive and compelling brand ‘identity’.

Explaining what personal branding is and full of examples of how people have successfully created their personal brand – from Reggae Reggae Sauce entrepreneur Levi Roots to model turned charity-campaigner, Katie Piper – this book is a unique insight into creating a new you.

Simon Middleton is one of the UK’s leading brand consultant and an expert on branding and a highly-experienced reinventor. His consultancy firm Brand Strategy Guru advises organisations and individuals all over the world and Simon has appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC Breakfast, Bloomberg, Sky and CNN to discuss brand stories. He is the author of popular business books Build a
Brand in 30 Days and What You Need to Know About Marketing. www.simonmiddleton.com

New Book Is a Love Letter to Berkeley, California

Jack McLaughlin wears his heart on his sleeve and his heart says ‘Berkeley’.

Readers diving in to Jack McLaughlin’s mR. bERZERKELEY: The Naked Mayor of Berkeley (published by iUniverse) are sure to gather one thing off the bat: McLaughlin loves Berkeley.

“I wanted to create a series that expresses my love for Berkeley, Berkeley citizens, Berkeley institutions, Berkeley lore, Berkeley mythology and memories of the '60s and provides insights into situations and conflicts faced by a multitude of individuals in a humorous, light-read atmosphere,” says McLaughlin about his new book.

In mR. bERZERKELEY McLaughlin paints a vivid satire as he brings the '60s into the 21st century. Featuring a mythical, naked mayor and a cadre of fictitious boarding-house characters in political, controversial, sexual and mysterious conflicts, the high-flying spoof is sure to keep even non-Baby Boomers in fits of laughter.

 At the centre of the story is Jim Sain, a pompous, naked, free thinker, who is also the mayor of Berkeley. The mayor has been dubbed “mR. bERZERKELEY” by a cartoonist who is determined to embarrass the incumbent and undermine his bid for re-election.

Through this humorous take, McLaughlin hopes readers are both entertained and intrigued. “I hope readers develop an understanding of political controversies and influences, growing pains of young people attending higher education away from home, struggles of individuals facing extreme hardships caused by others and the attitude that there are possible solutions to all conflicts.”

About the Author Jack McLaughlin’s love for Berkeley – its citizens and its past, present and future – inspired him to invite others to experience a taste of another city by the bay. Now a resident of Carson City, Nevada, he keeps Berkeley close to his heart and promises to keep his retreat near the “Gourmet Ghetto” .

forever. iUniverse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse has a strategic alliance with Indigo Books & Music, Inc. in Canada, and titles accepted into the iUniverse Rising Star program are featured in a special collection on BarnesandNoble.com. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Reader’s Choice, Rising Star and Editor’s Choice designations—self-publishing’s only such awards program. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse also operates offices in Indianapolis. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. For the latest, follow @iuniversebooks on Twitter.

Random House Selects Aspera To Power Worldwide Production Of Audiobooks

Aspera, Inc., creators of next-generation software technologies that move the world's data at maximum speed, has announced Random House, the world's largest English language trade publisher, has selected Aspera for high-speed data transport and workflow automation and management. By replacing their existing transport technology and in-house workflow orchestration tools with Aspera software, Random House will shorten production cycles as they scale operations and expand distribution channels.

Random House is the leading audio publisher in the industry today, with an audiobooks library of over 2500 titles from bestselling authors available on CD and audio download. Content creation is a worldwide, collaborative operation, with voice talent, audio editing, graphic design and distribution activities dispersed across cities and across continents. Their sophisticated workflows require increasingly flexible and scalable high-speed file transport and workflow automation systems to meet their recent and future business growth.

After rigorous evaluation of available solutions, Random House chose a full suite of Aspera distribution, collaboration, and automation software products.

The deployment at Random House is centered on faspex™, a global collaboration platform based on Aspera's patented fasp™ transport technology. The software solution enables disparate groups to collaborate quickly and efficiently by exchanging files and directories of any format and size at maximum speed, regardless of transfer distance and network conditions.

"At Random House, we currently publish over 300 titles per year with content creation activities throughout the globe," said Joshua Crone, vice president, infrastructure, technical services at Random House. "We need efficient, reliable automation tools that can meet the demands of our workflows today and will allow us to scale and adapt to new requirements in the future. With Aspera, we get a full suite of solutions that accelerates almost every aspect of our highly customised workflows, giving us a key strategic advantage over other audio publishers."

Rounding up the automation, universal access and reporting requirements of the system, the following Aspera components are also included in this comprehensive software deployment:

Aspera Orchestrator for automating complex workflow sequences with a logical execution engine, a library of plug-ins for asset transformation, quality control and other functions, and an SDK for future integrations. Aspera Console for reporting, including the ability to filter reports based on metadata for fine-grained content and resource tracking. Aspera Mobile and the Aspera Add-in for Microsoft Outlook, which extend Aspera's global person-to-person file delivery to mobile devices and Outlook users. Aspera Cargo, which automatically downloads and consolidates content on a single client, keeping team members in sync with the latest files.

"With hundreds of content creators dispersed worldwide, not only do publishers like Random House need high-speed data transport, they need integrated tools to help them manage complex, proprietary workflows," said Michelle Munson, CEO and founder at Aspera. "We are excited to work with Random House as they deploy Aspera solutions for a broad range of automation, collaboration and distribution activities within the large-scale, global workflows that help make Random House a leading publisher of bestselling audiobooks."

FACTFILE:Aspera is the creator of next-generation transport technologies that move the world's data at maximum speed regardless of file size, transfer distance and network conditions. Based on its patented fasp™ protocol, Aspera software fully utilizes existing infrastructures to deliver the fastest, most predictable file-transfer experience. Aspera's core technology delivers unprecedented control over bandwidth, complete security and uncompromising reliability. More than 1,500 organisations across a variety of industries on six continents rely on Aspera software for the business-critical transport of their digital assets.

Please visit asperasoft.com and follow us on Twitter @asperasoft for more information

For Media Please Contact:

The City-State in Europe, 1000-1600

The City-State in Europe, 1000-1600 by Tom Scott is an extremely fascinating book that examines an interesting part of European history, that of the independent or semi-independent city-state.

Curiously enough although the city-states were an important part of the development of the political fabric of Europe (some might argue that echoes of these institutions still reverberate through the fabric of society down to modern times) no detailed comparison of the city-state in the medieval period of European history was undertaken within the last 100 years.

Whilst it is true research work was undertaken (and quite detailed work, too) on their role as harbingers of the modern state, their great cultural achievements and the like, little regard was paid to what might be described as the 'bigger picture', as it were.

For example, their desires for territorial expansion, how they dealt with neighbours and other city-states and so forth.

In his book Tom Scott looks beyond the normal. He looks at lesser known city-states, he examines city-states of Switzerland and looks deeply into the imperial cities of Germany.

He examines how the city-states fitted in with the rest of the regions and nations in which they existed and how they co-existed with other city states.

He has views on how the city-states worked and how they developed through time which tend to disagree with some other experts. But his analysis is extremely compelling. 

He shows that rivalries between city-states could become fraught and how alliances came and went, sometimes over periods of time, sometimes rather rapidly.

Anyone who is a student of medieval European history needs a copy of this thought-provoking and compelling book. It is academically rigorous  and extremely well researched but it is written in a very approachable style.

It is published by Oxford University Press in hardback the ISBN is 978-0-19-927460-4. It is available form the That's Books bookshop.

Wenlock Olympian Games Book Launch

Graphics and Print, the award winning Shropshire based commercial printers, are proud to have recently been chosen by Ellingham Press, the Much Wenlock based publishers, to print three books. Two of the three books are extremely timely as they have a direct link with the Olympian Games - the inspiration behind the modern Olympic movement. The third is a book of poetry featuring the current Poet Laureate.

Managing Director Martin Kells explains: “We have a strong commitment to the communities in which we operate, so to be chosen by Ellingham Press, a local firm of publishers to print these books was a real honour.

Graphics and Print started in 1980 as a small family-run business in Telford, just down the road from Much Wenlock, and we know how important it is to have local support in order to succeed. To therefore support a local firm of publishers has been fantastic and the three books come highly recommended.”

“The Olympian Games in Wenlock” provides a pictorial history of the games from their creation in 1850 by Dr William Penny Brooks to the present day. Pictures range from sepia tone images of penny-farthings to full colour pictures of recent events, including a visit to the town by the Wenlock mascot last year. At £12.99, this is a must for anyone interested in the history of the Olympian Games.

“How Peggy the Much Wenlock Piglet Took Part in the Olympian Games” is the second of the books recently published, providing a simple little story which aims to fire the imagination and spur the interest of children in the events in Victorian Shropshire which were a forerunner to what has been dubbed the greatest show on earth. This is Shropshire author Jocelyne Adams first book and she has teamed up with the talented illustrator Isobel Bushell and publisher Ina Taylor, to create a winning local team. For £4.99 children not only get to learn a little about the history of the games but will have fun doing it at the same time.

The third book to have been printed is the “Wenlock Poetry Festival Anthology for 2012”. This features the work of 60 poets appearing at this year's festival, the anthology includes poems by Carol Ann Duffy, patron of the Wenlock Poetry Festival and current Poet Laureate, Gillian Clarke, Jackie Kay and Daljit Nagra. Again priced at £4.99, this is a must for poetry enthusiasts.

All three books are available online and post free from www.ellinghampress.co.uk.

Graphics and Print are dedicated towards establishing relationships with organisations in the local area to help strengthen the community infrastructure. They aim to use local suppliers where possible to help support neighbouring businesses, and encourage employees to actively get involved with charitable events in their region. They also regularly offer work experience opportunities to nearby schools and colleges as well as the mentoring of university students who wish to pursue a career in print.

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - The book that became an instant internet phenomenon!

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing, Hay House, £10.99
by Bronnie Ware

After too many years of unfulfilling work, Bronnie Ware began searching for a job with heart. Despite having no formal qualifications or experience, she found herself in palliative care.

Over the years she spent tending to the needs of those who were dying, Bronnie's life was transformed. Later, she wrote an Internet blog about the most common regrets expressed to her by the people she had cared for.

The article, also called 'The Top Five Regrets of the Dying', gained so much momentum that it was read by more than three million people around the globe in its first year. At the requests of many, Bronnie now shares her own personal story. Bronnie has had a colourful and diverse past, but by applying the lessons of those nearing their death to her own life, she developed an understanding that it is possible for people, if they make the right choices, to die with peace of mind. In this book, she expresses in a heartfelt retelling how significant these regrets are and how we can positively address these issues while we still have the time.

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying gives hope for a better world. It is a story told through sharing her inspiring and honest journey, which will leave you feeling kinder towards yourself and others, and more determined to live the life you are truly here to live. This delightful memoir is a courageous, life-changing book.

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
"This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it."

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
"This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence."

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
"Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result."

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
"Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying."

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
"This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again."

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How the Secrets of a Better Memory Lead to Success – Tony Buzan's 'Most Important Graph' Reveals All

Every so often a truly ground breaking idea comes along. This is one. In his latest book ‘The Most Important Graph in the World’ published by Proactive Press, Tony Buzan, a world-acclaimed author and speaker on the brain and thinking, offers an eye-opening and energising theory for what lies at the heart of any kind of personal or business success – your memory.

How to Remember….And Be Remembered

Tony’s much spoken about and long awaited ‘Most Important Graph’ shines a spotlight on the 7.5 key principles of human memory and demonstrates how you can apply an intelligent and practical approach to both remembering and staying memorable, for the right reasons, in all aspects of your life.

Through a blend of wit and wisdom, common sense and scientific knowledge, he explains how even a simple understanding of memory can open up new possibilities for managing yourself and influencing others, helping you make the jump from ‘average’ to wildly successful in very little time.

Memory – No Longer a Dull Subject

‘The Most Important Graph in the World’, co-written with Jennifer Goddard and Jorge Castaneda, is a culmination of decades of research on learning, recall and achievement. It provides a whole new take on what is traditionally a dry and sterile subject, encapsulating the important memory principles of Primacy, Recency, Von Restorff (Imagination), Association, Understanding and Misunderstanding, Interest and Meaning all in one unique, vivid, vibrant and life-changing graph.

The ‘Most Important Graph’ proves what all great CEOs, speakers, teachers, athletes, parents, professionals and students already know – that being aware of how you and others learn is paramount to what you can do and achieve. Using the Primacy principle (which states that people remember more information from the beginning of an experience) you can make all your first impressions count. Similarly, the Recency principle (which holds that people remember more information from the end of an experience), helps you finish any task, communication or venture on a positive high. Better yet, the Von Restorff principle (people remember anything outstanding, different or unique about an experience) is there to encourage you to add that ‘wow’ factor in everything you do, bringing more and more peaks to your own success graph.

In Tony’s book, you will also learn the value of regular breaks and of making associations, how to overcome misunderstandings, and how to sustain high levels of interest (yours and others) at all times.

A Graph? Or a ‘Formula for Life’?

Tony Buzan says, “The Most Important Graph in the World is far more than just a graph about memory - it’s a formula for life! {{This graph unleashes powerful truths about how we all learn and behave.}} It is my sincere hope that people will pay attention to these truths and, from this moment on, embrace them wholeheartedly to plot new paths of success.”

The vital knowledge presented by this graph empowers you to:

• Deliver speeches and presentations that hit the mark
• Acquire more and more new skills
• Enjoy positive social interactions and harmonious relationships
• Plan any kind of event or meeting
• Develop PR and marketing with real impact
• Design unique products and services
• Raise your creativity and intelligence
• Bring clients to your door
• Maximise your time
• Protect your legacy

…and create a more meaningful, memorable life.

Learn the Secrets of Successful Orators, Athletes and Business Magnates

The people and organisations that already understand and employ the power of this graph are leaders in their respective fields. In this book, readers learn how US President Barack Obama compels his audiences to sit up and listen; how Richard Branson, head of the Virgin empire, never fails to create a dramatic and remarkable impact whenever he launches a new product or service; and how Sir Steven Redgrave became the ultimate Olympic athlete, winning five consecutive gold medals in rowing. All their secrets, and more, are revealed in this single graph.

From 6 Million Copy Bestselling Author and Inventor of Mind Maps

Tony Buzan is a man on a mission. In his long and prolific career as a speaker, consultant and author of over 100 books, Tony has helped countless people around the globe to unlock their creativity, improve their memory and boost their thinking skills. Known to millions as the inventor of Mind Mapping, he has been the instrumental driving force behind global mental literacy. Tony has worked with some of the world’s most high profile organisations, governments, universities, leaders, athletes, performers and academics, as well as children of all ages.

Now for the first time, he has committed to paper the subject which has long captivated his audiences with his new book ‘The Most Important Graph in the World’. In this completely new work, Tony reveals how a simple understanding of memory and its improvement can instantly and dramatically change our lives and the lives of those around us.

‘The Most Important Graph in the World’, published on 12th April 2012 by Proactive Press (£14.99, 210 pages, paperback, ISBN: 978-1-908934-01-7), is available via Amazon.co.uk.

For more information on the book and the author, please visit the Most Important Graph website

London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew

London Labour and the London Poor was an extremely important book of the Victorian era and is still used as a textbook on Victorian working-class life.

It was the first book of its kind, examining in great, almost forensic, detail the lives of the poor people of London.

It can with great reason be called ground-breaking because it was the first systemic examination of how the poor of London lived and worked.

It is a readable as a novel, so well-written and sympathetically drawn are the real people that Mayhew captured in print for the very first time.

This edition has been edited by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst who has done an excellent job in selecting items from the original two volumes. It includes some of the original illustrations, too.

It contains an introduction to Henry Mayhew and reveals how and why the book came to be written.

It is in paperback and costs £8.99 and is published by the OUP. It is published on 12th April and will be available from the That's Books bookshop.

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An Unbearable Truth By Trudy Dean Cosh

A horrific inner-city attack on a young woman, a tragic shooting accident in the Gloucestershire countryside. These two unrelated events, divided by geography, time and class, set two men on a deadly collision course that will see them both degraded, imprisoned and driven to commit horrific crimes.

Colin Millard grows up on the poverty line, unloved and unwanted and not his father's son. Driven to despair, he leaves home at fifteen, only to have his trust abused once more and end up eking out an existence in London's underworld. He has become violent, unpredictable and cruel, especially to women. When he meets Jane, she believes he can be redeemed through a life of normality and love, but men like Colin do not know the meaning of redemption, as Jane will soon find out.

Oliver Johnson is deeply affected by the sudden death of his brother, an event that tears his well-to-do family apart. But Oliver is strong, he flourishes academically, builds a successful career and dotes on his wife Elise and young daughter Amelia. That Amelia would ever come into contact with the likes of Colin Millard is naturally unthinkable.

Then the unthinkable happens.

Author: Trudy Dean Cosh gained a BA Honours degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Bedfordshire. She has worked variously as an airline stewardess, a graphic designer and currently with special needs pupils at a Bedford school. She lives in Moggerhanger, Bedfordshire.


Book details:

Out: 26th April 2012

£15.99 Hardback

ISBN: 978-1-84624-689-0
216 x 135 mm

136 pages

FA: Modern and Contemporary Fiction

078: Fiction

This will appeal to fans of hard-hitting female thriller writers such Tess Gerritsen and Val McDermid.

Off Beam, Off Side, Off Menu An Appeal From The Catholic Pews By Kevin Clarke

Off Beam, Off Side, Off Menu An Appeal from the Catholic Pews by Kevin Clarke

A personal, impassioned analysis of the failings of the Catholic Church

Kevin Clarke was born into a Catholic household and brought up within a staunchly Catholic community in England. As a youngster, he accepted the teachings and routines of the Church without question. Decades later, he is still an enthusiastic Catholic, but is now prepared to ask questions and demand answers from those responsible for leading the Church.

In an effort to understand just how the Church reached its present condition, he goes right back to basics and the foundations of the faith. He looks first at God's gifts to us, including creation, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and then moves on to examine our own response to God: what makes up the Church, how does it all work, and what effect have the various Church Councils had over the centuries? In the light of Vatican II and its aftermath, he raises some very pertinent questions about change and the Church's current direction. Finally he asks, 'Where do we go from here?' in the positive hope that the future will bring forth a Church more closely 'attuned to the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the peoples of our time'.

Author:
Kevin Clarke is a Chartered Surveyor and has worked in the private sector for 40 years in the UK, US, Middle East and Far East. He gained an MA in Comptemporary Theology and Canon Law both at Heythrop College in the University of London. He lives in London W8.

Book details:

Out: 26th April 2012

£9.99 Paperback

ISBN: 978-1-84624-685-2
216 x 135 mm

234 pages

HRCC7: Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church

079: Non-Fiction

Passionately argued personal appeal to the Catholic Church to rethink its attitudes in today's world. An intelligent and thoughtful approach by an ordinary 'man in the pew'. An inspirational challenge to leaders and laity alike.