Frank Bennack’s Leave Something on the Table Coming in October

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10 July 2019

Simon & Schuster announced today that it will publish Leave Something on the Table: And Other Surprising Lessons for Success in Business and in Life by Frank Bennack. Bennack is the executive vice chairman and former CEO of Hearst, an $11.4 billion leading global, diversified media, information and services company with more than 360 businesses around the world. In Leave Something on the Table, which debuts in October 2019, Bennack shares insider anecdotes and hard-won lessons of an American success story, incorporating his encounters with U.S. presidents, industry leaders, top editors, news influencers and broadcasters, among others. The book highlights the core principles he stuck to and the wisdom he gained through one of the most accomplished and illustrious careers in the history of media and business.

A self-starter, Bennack held his first job at 8, hosted his own television show at 17, and brought the energy of an entrepreneurial mindset to a venerable publishing firm. As chief executive of Hearst for more than 28 years beginning in 1979, Bennack helped solidify the company’s reputation as a leader in consumer media with the acquisition of more than two dozen television stations, major newspapers including the Houston Chronicle and the San Francisco Chronicle, and the launch of magazines, including O, The Oprah Magazine and HGTV Magazine. He also led the $1 billion acquisition of over 100 titles, including iconic brands like ELLE and Road & Track.

Under his watch, Hearst marched toward diversification and global expansion with the company’s purchase of healthcare information leader MCG and acquisitions of business media assets including global ratings agency Fitch Group. Just as importantly, he drove Hearst’s expansion into television and cable networking, partnering with ABC, now the Walt Disney Company, to launch the cable networks A&E, HISTORY and Lifetime. One of his greatest achievements was when, in 1990, he negotiated a 20 percent stake in ESPN for $167 million. Market analysts have estimated the value of the network at roughly $30 billion.

“My journey is one built on institutional culture and character—building it, maintaining it, passing it on,” Bennack said. “I firmly believe there is one unchanging North Star. It isn’t what you know, and how hard you work, and how clever you are. It’s not even who you know. It’s how other people know you. It’s who you are. This book is about the importance of values in our work and personal lives—it’s about the value of values.”

“Frank Bennack has one of the most innovative minds in business and is always looking ahead, as exemplified by his leading Hearst’s early acquisition of a stake in ESPN and its construction of New York City’s first green office building,” Simon & Schuster Senior Editor Sean Manning said. “But with this book, he takes a rare and welcome glance backward, sharing the inspiring wisdom he’s gained over the course of his storied career. Bennack transformed a 1950s magazine and newspaper company into the highly successful 132-year-old startup that Hearst is today.”

Bennack served as Hearst’s CEO for more than 28 years. He directed the company through an unprecedented period of growth from when he began his first tenure as CEO in 1979 through June 2013 when he stepped down—increasing revenues 14 times and growing earnings more than 30 times, through investments, acquisitions and start-ups. Bennack is also chairman of the company’s Executive Committee, a director of Hearst and a trustee of The Hearst Family Trust established under the will of William Randolph Hearst. In addition, he sits on a number of corporate committees and the Hearst Foundations Boards, where he has served for more than 25 years. Bennack is currently a director of Ralph Lauren Corporation. He is chairman of Hearst Magazines UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst. Bennack is also a governor and former chairman of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and its Healthcare System, a managing director of the Metropolitan Opera of New York, chairman emeritus of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and chairman of The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio).

The Power of Song to Unite and Shape Our Nation

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Readers Entertainment

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9 July 2019

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July’s Igloo Book Buzz selection is the New York Times bestselling Random Housetitle SONGS OF AMERICA: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music that Made a Nationby Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw. From “The Star-Spangled Banner” to “Born in the U.S.A.,” this creative partnership between a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and a chart-topping country music superstar takes readers on a moving and insightful journey through eras in American history and the songs and performers that inspired us. Meacham chronicles our history, exploring the stories behind the songs, and McGraw reflects on them as an artist and performer. Their perspectives combine to create a unique view of the role music has played in uniting and shaping a nation.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW WITH MCGRAW AND MEACHAM.

Random House EVP, Executive Editorial Director & Associate Publisher Kate Medina says, “This book was lit from within, in a special way, from the start, growing, as it did, out of the friendship between two neighbors in Nashville who share a love of America and of history, and a belief in the power of song to inspire, lead, and unite us. It was for me a joy to work with them, to read Jon’s beautiful and concise history of eras in America, and Tim’s reflections on music and life. It was fun, and inspiring, for Erica Gonzalez and me, to experience how the great people at Random House work together to produce and publish a beautiful and important book. “

McGraw recalls, “Reading Jon’s last book, THE SOUL OF AMERICA, I got to thinking about how music really marks times in people’s lives, and not necessarily inflection points or seminal moments in people’s lives, but mundane, everyday moments a song can put you back into. And I got to thinking, if music can do that on an individual basis, what can it do on sort of a mass consciousness basis? [What impact can music have on understanding] the history of our country?”

Meacham says, “My hope is that people will read this [book] and realize two things. One is the past was not as simple as they might’ve thought. And there’s a lot more capacity and reason to hope about the future because you can hear the tension and the tumult of the past in the music that shaped us. There was not this world that was ‘once upon a time,’ in some perfect kingdom, and there was one election or one event and then everything got difficult.”

“Jon always says, ‘What we have to do is not romanticize history in a lot of ways, and not think that it was all glorious.’” McGraw says, “We have to look at it square in the eye and see what we can do to improve and go forward… We’re going to have setbacks, and we’re going to make wrong decisions, but we’re going to move forward, if we keep a spirit of hope about us, and a spirit of looking to the future.”

To watch video of Meacham and McGraw talking about how their book came about, click here. To watch video of their discussion of the meaning of this project, click here.

The SONGS OF AMERICA book tour included both talk and music, with events in New York, NY; Charleston, SC; Washington, DC; Charlotte, NC; and Raleigh, NC.

According to Meacham, “This is not going to be your typical book thing that’s over in a week. We’re hoping to keep doing these shows, keep adding to [the project], because the argument is important and if we’re right that music is unifying and not dividing, we’re going to need a lot more of this.”

SONGS OF AMERICA explores both famous songs and lesser-known ones, expanding our understanding of the scope of American music and lending deeper meaning to the historical context of such songs as “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” “God Bless America,” “Over There,” “We Shall Overcome,” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.” As Quincy Jones says, Meacham and McGraw have “convened a concert in SONGS OF AMERICA,” one that reminds us of who we are, where we’ve been, and what we, at our best, can be.

Quick and Easy Guide to Signing by Lauren K. Bell

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Readers Entertainment

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8 July 2019

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Quick and Easy Guide to Signing by Lauren K. Bell

Trilingual Publications Presents Quick and Easy Guide to Signing. American Sign Language in English and Spanish. Includes DVD with over 200 Signs

Volume 1 covers Alphabets (Alfabetos), Numbers (Numeros), Education (Educacion), Careers (Carreras), and Feelings (Sentimientos)

Volume 2 covers Family (Familia), Home (Hogar), Clothing (Ropa), and Food (Comida)

Volume 3 covers Sports (Deportes), Action (Accion), Animals (Animales), Colors (Colores), and Religion (Religion)

Volume 4 covers Medical (Medico), Time (Tiempo), and Opposites (Opuestos)

Volume 5 is a Children’s Book (Libro De Los Niños) which covers a variety of signs

American Sign Language is a natural language that serves as the predominant sign language of Deaf communities.

Visit the Trilingual Website: buytrilingual.com
The Quick and Easy Guide to Signing | English Spanish American Sign Language

The Quick and Easy Guide to Signing – These learning tools provide the basic building blocks with which a creative and active mind will succeed. This is a significant contribution for American Sign Language. English and Spanish are dominant languages. Lauren K. Bell has provided the hearing impaired community with the strategies and tools needed to improve student retention and performance.

The five books in this series, with clear illustrations and DVDs, are required for anyone who wants to understand the most important means of communication for the Deaf. Lauren K. Bell has thrown open the doors, revealing distinguished ways to share learning previously known to only a few. She has written a whole new chapter in American Sign Language.

–Dr. Odie H. Tolbert, Jr., Deaf for 30 years
Associate Professor Emeritus (retired), University of Memphis, TN

(REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM BLACK PEARLS MAGAZINE)

Happy Independence Day!

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Readers Entertainment

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4 July 2019

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A Very Happy Independence Day USA!!!

Review: I Am a Secret Service Agent: My Life Protecting the President

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Readers Entertainment

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3 July 2019

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I Am a Secret Service Agent: My Life Spent Protecting the President by Dan Emmett (Author), Charles Maynard (Author)

Book Blurb:

Dan Emmett was just eight years old when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. From that moment forward, he knew he wanted to become a Secret Service agent, one of an elite group of highly trained men and women dedicated to preserving the life of the President of the United States at any cost, including sacrificing their own lives if necessary. Armed with single-minded determination and a never-quit attitude, he did just that. Selected over thousands of other highly qualified applicants to become an agent, he was eventually chosen to be one of the best of the best and provided protection worldwide for Presidents George Herbert Walker Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George W. Bush.
I Am a Secret Service Agent skillfully describes the duties and challenges of conducting presidential advances, dealing with the media, driving the President in a bullet-proof limousine, running alongside him through the streets of Washington, and flying with him on Air Force One. With fascinating anecdotes, Emmett weaves keen insight into the unique culture and history of the Secret Service with the inner workings of the White House. I Am A Secret Service Agent is a must read for young adults interested in a career in federal law enforcement.

REVIEW:
This book is aimed at young adults and it does this very well. The author Dan Emmett was a Secret Service Agent for many years, and gives some remarkable insight into the service. His life was one of dedication, hard work, and continual practice at striving to be the best. He talks about significant moments that impacted his decision as a kid, how he had to double-down to enter the military, the sacrifices he made to become one the most elite law enforcement officers in the world, and small moments to make the reader smile, such as the first time he met the POTUS.

As I said, this book is aimed at younger readers, but I found myself rather enjoying the emotion, the determination and the discipline the author speaks of, and how those can be used in any career a young person may choose. I would highly recommend this book for any high school student considering the military or law enforcement, as well as any adult who likes a simple, unpolticial look inside Washington, D.C.

Binc Foundation and Macmillan Diversity Scholarship Returns

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Readers Entertainment

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2 July 2019

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Binc Foundation and Macmillan Diversity Scholarship Returns Nine Scholarships Will be Awarded in 2019

Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation and Macmillan Publishers announced today that they would be offering the Macmillan Booksellers Professional Development Scholarship for the third year in a row. Nine scholarships in total will be awarded to booksellers from underrepresented groups to cover the cost of travel, lodging, and meals (up to a maximum of $500) to attend a fall regional show for NEIBA, SIBA, NAIBA, MPIBA, NCIBA, MIBA, SCIBA, GLIBA, and PNBA.

The application period opened on June 15th and will close on July 15th.

One of the recipients from 2018 Julie Jarema from Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia told Binc, “Thanks to the Binc/Macmillan Booksellers Professional Development Scholarship, I was able to attend my first SIBA Fall Trade show in Tampa. Without the scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to travel to meet other booksellers; listen to an amazing lineup of lectures and panels; and get excited about the upcoming books! It was a great introduction to the larger bookselling community.”

“We have received such overwhelmingly positive responses from recipients of past years, and are delighted to continue our partnership with Binc,” said Macmillan Diversity & Inclusion Co-Chairs Malati Chavali, VP, Publishing Strategy Operations and Angus Killick, VP, Associate Publisher, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. “We believe the program is exposing a new and diverse generation of booksellers to a critical industry forum for exchange of ideas and knowledge, and setting a path for a healthy future for independent bookselling.”

“The Binc Foundation exists to help booksellers thrive,” said Binc Executive Director, Pam French. “By working with Macmillan Publishers to bring diverse voices to regional trade shows, we’re enriching conversations and improving the bookselling industry as a whole.”

Booksellers can find out more details and apply at https://bincfoundation.submittable.com/submit/141545/2019-macmillan-booksellerprofessional-development-scholarship.

Applications must be completed by July 15, 2019. To be eligible to apply for a scholarship;

1. Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:

1. People of color, defined as people of African/African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latin American, Middle Eastern, or Native American/Indigenous descent.

2. People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. 3. People with disabilities (includes but is not limited to physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses).

2. Applicant’s store must be a member of one of the regional independent bookseller organizations.

3. Applicant must be a regular part-time or full-time employee of the bookstore.

4. Applicant must be currently employed and have 90 days of continuous employment with the bookstore.

The applicant will answer three brief essay questions and the winners will be anonymously selected by a panel composed of Binc board members, booksellers, bookstore owners, and a representative from Macmillan Publishers.

Chernobyl: Thirty Years Later

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Readers Entertainment

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1 July 2019

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HBO’s acclaimed “Chernobyl” miniseries has just been reported by Forbes Magazine as the highest audience-scored show in history on IMDB (International Movie Database). With talk and interest in the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster seeing such a resurgence, here are some great reads from PenguinRandom House:

Fallout by Fred Pearce FALLOUT: DISASTERS, LIES, AND THE LEGACY OF THE NUCLEAR AGEby Fred Pearce

From Hiroshima to Chernobyl, Fukushima to the growing legacy of lethal radioactive waste, humanity’s struggle to conquer atomic energy is rife with secrecy, deceit, human error, blatant disregard for life, short-sighted politics, and fear. Fallout is an eye-opening odyssey through the first eight decades of this struggle and the radioactive landscapes it has left behind. We are, he finds, forever torn between technological hubris and all-too-human terror about what we have created.

CHERNOBYL PRAYER: VOICES FROM CHERNOBYL by Svetlana Alexievich, Anna Gunin, Arch Tait

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award

On April 26, 1986, the worst nuclear reactor accident in history occurred in Chernobyl and contaminated as much as three quarters of Europe. Voices from Chernobyl is the first book to present personal accounts of the tragedy. Journalist Svetlana Alexievich interviewed hundreds of people affected by the meltdown—from innocent citizens to firefighters to those called in to clean up the disaster—and their stories reveal the fear, anger, and uncertainty with which they still live. Comprised of interviews in monologue form, Voices from Chernobyl is a crucially important work, unforgettable in its emotional power and honesty.

Radiation by Robert Peter Gale and Eric Lax RADIATION: WHAT IT IS, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW by Robert Peter Gale, Eric Lax

In this fascinating book, the authors explore the science, benefits, and risks of radiation exposure, drawing on the most up-to-date research and Gale’s extensive experience treating victims of radiation accidents around the globe. Here is an illuminating and essential guide to our post-Chernobyl, post-Fukushima world.

Visit Sunny Chernobyl by Andrew Blackwell VISIT SUNNY CHERNOBYL: AND OTHER ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD’S MOST POLLUTED PLACES by Andrew Blackwell

Visit Sunny Chernobyl fuses immersive first-person reporting with satire and analysis, making the case that it’s time to start appreciating our planet as-is—not as we wish it to be. Equal parts travelogue, expose environmental memoir, and faux guidebook, Blackwell careens through a rogue’s gallery of environmental disaster areas in search of the worst the world has to offer—and approaches a deeper understanding of what’s really happening to our planet in the process.

Coming soon in August, 2019

Springtime in Chernobyl by Emmanuel Lepage SPRINGTIME IN CHERNOBYL by Emmanuel Lepage

As the world moved on, find out what happened to those left behind in this memoir of tragedy and death, people and land, and what comes after disaster. April 26, 1986. The reactor core of the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl began to melt, setting into motion the greatest nuclear disaster of the twentieth century. While Europe slept, a cloud laden with radiation traveled thousands of miles in every direction, contaminating five million people who were unaware of its danger and unable to protect themselves. At the time, Emmanuel Lepage was 19 years old, watching and listening to the news reported on television. 22 years later, in April 2008, a group of nuclear energy-adverse activists and artists visit Chernobyl to document the lives of survivors and their children living on the highly contaminated land. Sent to sketch brutal landscapes of disaster and the folly of man, Lepage is surprised at the unexpected beauty he encounters. Often wondering to himself: What am I doing here?

For more information on these authors’ titles available from Penguin Random House visit: Chernobyl

Hot Mysteries for Hot Summer Days

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Readers Entertainment

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30 June 2019

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Into The Frying Pan: A Ditie Brown Mystery #2 Sarah Osborne

Mabel Aphrodite Brown has quickly learned that motherhood can sometimes be a real skirmish. But when death visits a Civil War reenactment, it’s murder that’s a battlefield . . .

In the thick of a hot, muggy Atlanta summer, all Ditie Brown wants to do is keep her kids occupied and get them ready for school in the fall. When her ex-boyfriend, Phil Brockton, shows up for a Civil War reenactment, she thinks it might be fun and educational for the kids. Plus, her best friend Lurleen wants to put on the costumes and get in on the action, and Ditie isn’t one to rebel.

But things go south after a cannon misfires, resulting in the death of Phil’s med school rival. Was it an accident or something more sinister? Ditie soon realizes the past rarely stays buried, and her digging reveals longstanding enemies, killer motives, and new jealousy. When another reenactor is “accidentally” shot, the pressure is on for Ditie to solve the murders—or else her friends may be history . . .

Includes Family-Friendly Recipes!

You can purchase INTO THE FRYING PAN at:
Kensington Books

Crepe Expectations: A Pancake House Mystery #5 Sarah Fox

When a murder case from the past heats up again, it’s up to Marley McKinney to sort through a tall stack of suspects in the latest Pancake House Mystery. . .

Although it’s a soggy start to spring in Wildwood Cove, the weather clears up just in time for the town to host an amateur chef competition. Marley McKinney, owner of the Flip Side pancake house, already signed up to volunteer, and chef Ivan Kaminski is one of the judges. But when Marley visits her landscaper boyfriend Brett at the site of the Victorian mansion that’s being restored as the Wildwood Inn, she discovers something else pushing up daisies: human remains.

The skeleton on the riverbank washed out by the early-spring floodwaters belonged to eighteen-year-old Demetra Kozani, who vanished a decade earlier. While the cold case is reopened, Marley must step in when some of the cook-off contestants fall suspiciously ill. Stuck in a syrupy mess of sabotage and blackmail, it falls to Marley to stop a killer from crêping up on another victim. . .

Includes pancake recipes right from The Flip Side menu!

“Readers will cheer this brisk, literate addition to the world of small-town cozies.” —Kirkus Reviews on Wine and Punishment

You can purchase CREPE EXPECTATIONS at:
Kensington Books

Changing Of The Guard Dog: A Pet Palace Mystery #3 Lane Stone

At Buckingham Pet Palace doggy daycare, the (canine) customer is always king—but when a killer strikes, owner Sue Patrick is the queen of crime-solving . . .

An early morning beach jog takes a somber turn when Sue Patrick and Lewes, Delaware’s Chief of Police, John Turner, encounter a gentleman dressed in a tux—and indisputably dead. While John runs to alert police, Sue witnesses an interloper rummaging through the victim’s pockets, right before he’s shot by a second stranger who attacks Sue. Two trusty doggy friends come to her aid, but the shooter escapes.

The well-dressed corpse was Danish conductor Georg Nielsen, darling of the classical music world. Lewes is hosting the world debut of Georg’s new sonata, and the show must go on . . . but there’s major discord amongst the musicians. Lady Anthea, Sue’s aristocratic business partner, joins her in trying to bring the curtain down on a killer. But they’ll need four-legged help to stop a maestro murderer who seems to have orchestrated the perfect crime . . .

You can purchase CHANGING OF THE GUARD DOG at:
Kensington Books

Murder At Morrington Hall: A Stella And Lyndy Mystery Clara McKenna

Stella Kendrick is an all-American heiress who can’t be tamed. But when the lively aspiring equine trainer tangles with British aristocracy, she meets her match—and a murderer . . .

Spring, 1905: Free-spirited like the Thoroughbreds she rides across the Kentucky countryside, Stella takes adventure by the reins when she’s asked to attend a mysterious wedding in rural England. But once she arrives at the lush Morrington Hall estate, her cold and ambitious father confesses that he won’t only give away his best racehorses as gifts—he has also arranged to give away his daughter as bride to the Earl of Atherly’s financially strapped son . . .

Stella refuses to be sold off like a prized pony. Yet despite a rough start, there’s something intriguing about her groom-to-be, the roguish Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst. The unlikely pair could actually be on the right track with each other . . . until they find the vicar who was to marry them dead in the library.

With culture clashes mounting between families, a scandalous murder case hangs over Morrington Hall. Now, Stella and Lyndy must go from future spouses to amateur sleuths as they team up to search for the truth—and prevent an unbridled criminal from destroying their new life together right out of the gate . . .

You can purchase MURDER AT MORRINGTON HALL at:
Kensington Books

Southern Sass And Killer Cravings: Marygene Brown #1 Kate Young

Life has always been sweet on Georgia’s Peach Cove Island, but a case of murder has Marygene Brown down in the pits . . .

For generations, the women of the Brown family on Peach Cove Island have been known for their Southern sass and sweet homemade desserts at their beloved Peach Diner. Since their mother’s passing two years ago, Marygene has been stuck in Atlanta while her sister Jena Lynn has been running the family business. Now Marygene has left her husband and returned to her hometown, where she can almost feel Mama’s presence.

But all is not peachy back home. Marygene has barely tied on an apron when a diner regular drops dead at the counter. When it turns out the old man’s been poisoned, Jena Lynn is led away in handcuffs and the family eatery is closed. Now, to save her sister and the diner, Marygene must find the real killer. With some startling assistance from her Mama’s spirit, Marygene will be serving up a special order of just desserts . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Marygene’s Kitchen!

You can purchase SOUTHERN SASS AND KILLER CRAVINGS at:
Kensington Books

Author and musician Jim Christina Releases Poignant Poetry

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Readers Entertainment

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29 June 2019

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Musings from a mind not yet healed from the ravages of years gone by, a standout collection of thoughtful poetry and heart-tugging lyrics.

Author and musician, Jim Christina lays himself bare in That’s All You Get, a raw and poignant collection of lyrical prose. In his latest release, Christina’s talent is evident as he takes the reader on a journey of discovery and the lives, real and fiction, that have inspired his writings. Each song lyric or poem is accompanied by a moment of thoughtful, unwavering honesty and reflection, or shares the missing piece of the dream plucked from the night that became desperate to be written on the page.

Opening the collection, Christina says, “I spent hours crafting prose, poetry and lyrics for music written or yet to be written and in doing so discovered one basic truth of life and writing. Whereas music bars and notes come and go, the lyric or poetry of the song, if you will, is immortal.” Not only will readers of That’s All You Get get a sense and understanding of who Jim Christina is, the man behind the pen and melody, but a deeply personal and immersive look into his soul, and it will stick with you long after you’ve finished.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Hours crafting prose, poetry and lyrics for music written or yet to be written and in doing so discovered one basic truth of life and writing. Whereas music bars and notes come and go, the lyric or poetry of the song, if you will, is immortal. They can take you far away to exotic lands or leave you on your couch watching the rain fall endlessly during the fall, winter and spring. Follow a whaling vessel in search of the blue whale, sing the lament of a young man alone on the ocean, follow the musings of an ancient scribe as he follows life trails or follow the battles raging or yet to be raging in a young soldier’s heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Christina was born into an Air Force Family in 1949. Living all over the world before finally landing in Del Mar, California. A musician, historian, writer, poet, playwright… all things describing Jim Christina. A graduate of San Dieguito High School in Encinitas, Ca, and Old Reliable University in Washington State, Jim spent almost ten years in the US Army before joining his father in the family’s paint business.

While managing a territory in Washington and Oregon, Jim began composing music and writing the lyrics. Forming a band in Tacoma, Washington, “Sundown”, Jim’s music and the melody of Sundown played up and down the state before Jim moved to California. For years a character had been rolling around in his mind and in 2008,, the character became the Hunter and the series was born. They are stories of an aging man hunter and his protege’ in Arizona in the last half of the nineteenth century.

Jim is available for interviews, media appearances, speaking engagements, and/or book review requests – please contact mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com by email or by phone at 403.464.6925

Amazon Launches Off-to-College Store Launch: A One-Stop Shop for College Students

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Readers Entertainment

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26 June 2019

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The store allows students to browse millions of college must-haves, from Amazon devices and textbooks to duvet’s and picture frames, with low prices and one convenient destination

New this year, Amazon teamed up with Ava Phillippe to outfit her dorm room with the latest picks from Amazon Home, Devices and more – her college must-haves are all shoppable on amazon.com/avaspicks

Customers can also be inspired by four additional college influencer-curated style guides, including earthy artsy, casual throwback, modern minimal and eclectic chic

With Prime Student, college students can enjoy the best of shopping and entertainment all year round, including exclusive college deals and popular dorm room essentials that can be delivered in one day or less.

Details from Amazon:

The Off-to-College store, the ultimate destination for your college shopping needs. Available on desktop and the Amazon App, students can browse a wide range of essentials with low prices for their dorm, classes and extracurricular activities in one place, without sacrificing valuable summer vacation time. New this year, Amazon enlisted the help of Ava Phillippe to share her own dorm room must-haves. Customers can shop Ava’s list or browse college influencer-curated style guides, including earthy artsy, casual throwback, modern minimal and eclectic chic.

According to Mintel’s 2019 Back to School Shopping Report, college students are increasingly expected to use their own money to purchase items they need for college. The store will have deals every day and Prime Student members will enjoy exclusive perks for shopping the store. Shoppers can find the college store at amazon.com/offtocollege. With Amazon’s already low prices and savings on essentials throughout the summer, shoppers can get the products they need without breaking the bank. Plus, they can enjoy free shipping on millions of items, and Prime Student members can get their items delivered even faster with unlimited free One-Day and Same-Day Delivery.

“We want to support students and parents with everything they need to make the transition to campus life comfortable this year,” said Cem Sibay, VP of Amazon Prime. “The combination of Prime Student’s convenient shopping and entertainment benefits and our Off-to-College store’s incredible deals allows students and parents to stretch every dollar, while keeping all of the fun and excitement that comes with getting ready for college.”

Below are just a few of the deals and low prices you’ll find in the store this summer:

Save up to 50% on select Levi’s styles.
Save on everything you need to stay alert this school year, including illy Ready to Drink CAFFÈ and Lavazza Organic Tierra! Whole Bean Coffee Blend.
Save on personal care essentials, including the Panasonic Compact Hair Dryer with nanoe Technology and the Panasonic Electric Shaver and Trimmer for Men.
Save on furniture, including the Novogratz Alivia Accent Overstuffed Chair; Modway Promenade Modern Aluminum Bistro Chair with Bamboo Seat; Modway Aegis Mid-Century Modern Armchair; Modway Sensible Button Tufted Performance Velvet Upholstered Bench; and the Zinus Sleep Master Memory Foam 8-Inch Green Tea Mattresses.
Save on small kitchen appliances, including the BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave; Dash Clear View Extra Wide Toaster; Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle; and Hamilton Beach Countertop Convection & Rotisserie Convection Oven.
Save on cleaning essentials, including the Maytag Speed Heat Steam Iron & Steamer ; Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Vacuum; Eureka PowerSpeed Lightweight Vacuum and Brawny Tear-A-Square Paper Towels.
Save up to 20% on portable AC units from AmazonBasics.
Save on Hamilton Beach TrueAir, Ultra Quiet Allergen Reducing Air Purifier.
Exclusively for Prime members, save over 30% on select Sony 43” Ultra HD LED Smart TVs.
Exclusively for Prime Members, save up to 30% on Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive Clothing, designed for and with people with disabilities, and 30% on women’s basics from Daily Ritual.

Curated Dorm Room Style Picks

Amazon has teamed up with second year college student, Ava Phillippe, to offer her dorm room must-haves, featuring her top picks from Amazon Home. Ava’s list was created to help inspire students to transform a drab dorm room or small space into a personalized oasis, without sacrificing comfort or value. In addition to browsing Ava Phillippe’s dorm room must-haves, students can browse Amazon’s new Dorm Styles feature for inspiration. Expertly curated by college lifestyle influencers, each dorm style guide – earthy artsy, casual throwback, modern minimal and eclectic chic – features suggestions on how to transform a cookie cutter dorm room into your home away from home. From the items you need, like bedding and computers, to the ones that will take your dorm living to the next level, like an Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, and a cozy desk chair, Amazon offers all you need to add a personal touch to any dorm room.

Exclusive Perks with Prime Student

Designed specifically for college students, Prime Student offers students the best of shopping and entertainment from Amazon to make campus life easy and fun. Nowhere else can students stream music and thousands of movies and TV shows, receive discounts on college essentials, and get fast, free shipping all in one place. Prime is evolving to be even faster with Prime Free One-Day Delivery now available on 10 million products coast to coast including the best shopping for college. That means that college students will find popular college items including bedding, furniture and school supplies – delivered the very next day or even faster. Students enrolled in two or four year colleges are eligible to sign up for Prime Student and after a six-month trial, Prime Student is half the cost of regular Prime at just $6.49 a month or $59 a year.

Here’s the cheat sheet on some of the top benefits students can enjoy with Prime Student:

Get Everything Fast: It’s not easy for students to trek off campus for the things they need – and sometimes, they need it fast. Only Prime Student members get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery on more than 10 million items coast to coast, and Prime Free Same-Day Delivery on more than 3 million items in thousands of cities and towns across 44 major metropolitan areas, along with two-hour delivery with Prime Now in more than 30 major cities.
Unlimited Entertainment: Members get instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows like Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan or Emmy-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as well as The Jonas Brothers’ documentary Chasing Happiness and Guava Island starring Donald Glover and Rihanna with Prime Video. Plus, get two million songs and thousands of stations and playlists ad-free included with Prime. For unlimited access to over 50 million songs students can try Amazon Music Unlimited for free for 30 days.
Soundtrack for Studying: Students looking for upbeat music for studying can check out the Back to School playlist, only on Amazon Music. Simply ask, “Alexa, play the Back to School playlist” in the Amazon Music App for iOS or Android, and on all Alexa-enabled devices.”
Movie Nights with New Friends: When they’re not hitting the books, students can watch all the movies and TV shows they love with Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Edition Smart TVs. Something’s always on with access to tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills and over 500,000 movies and TV episodes from all of your favorite apps such as Prime Video. The 24” Insignia Fire TV Edition Smart TV is the perfect size for any dorm, no matter how cozy.
Game Time: Prime Student members can make their dorm everyone’s favorite game room with exclusive gaming benefits on Twitch. Members can enjoy in-game loot for some of the world’s most popular titles, a selection of free games and a Twitch channel subscription every month, and more.
New Semester Wardrobe: Students can shop for the latest college styles and trends using Prime Wardrobe – an innovative service that lets you try before you buy the latest styles from Amazon. Simply try-on at home, decide what you like and only be charged for what you keep. Return unwanted items for free in the package provided.

Explore More on Amazon

College students can also take advantage of these features to make campus life a breeze this season:

Textbooks: Students can purchase and rent textbooks on Amazon and save up to 85%, with the option to extend the rental period or purchase the book. Students who have textbooks they no longer need can sell them back for Amazon.com Gift Card value via Amazon’s Trade-In program. In addition to textbooks, students can trade in other eligible items for Amazon.com Gift Card value, including video games, Kindle devices, books, and more.
Alexa Skill Blueprints: Customers can create and share their own personalized Alexa skills in minutes using a set of easy-to-use templates. With Alexa Skill Blueprints, customers can create custom ‘Flashcards’ or a ‘Quiz’ for their favorite subject by filling in the blanks. Once they’ve created their own study skills, they can ask Alexa for some personalized help at study time and even share their skills with their study group or other classmates.
In The Moment Shopping: Students and parents can shop using the Amazon App or with their voice on Alexa-enabled devices like Echo anytime. On the go? No problem. Students can add items to their shopping list by saying, “Alexa, add pencils to my shopping list” and then access their list at a store, farmers market or have Alexa send a reminder to their phone so they can purchase later on Amazon.
New & Interesting Finds: Express yourself! Students can be the envy of all of their floormates with New & Interesting finds on Amazon, from meme-inspired school supplies to fresh, fun beauty products.
Same-Day Pickup: College students can now easily pick up their sweet finds at a secure Amazon pickup location on or near campus. To find a pickup location visit www.amazon.com/ulp.

Great Finds with Even Lower Prices

Students browsing for all their college essentials can already shop with confidence, as Amazon offers the widest selection of top quality products with low, or the lowest prices. For even more steals, students can browse the following features:

Bargain Finds: Students can find a wide selection of seasonally relevant products with low prices including clothing, jewelry, gifts and home decor.
Amazon Warehouse: Students can go green AND save some green with deals on quality used products from Tablets, Laptops, TVs, Home & Kitchen, Sports & Outdoors and more.
Amazon Renewed: Students can save and purchase like-new, refurbished and open-box products like computers, tablets, cameras, smartphones, home and kitchen appliances, headphones and more. Products have been inspected and tested by qualified suppliers and come with a minimum 90-day supplier warranty.

About Prime Student

Millions of members around the world enjoy the many benefits of Prime Student. Prime Student is a Prime membership designed for students and offers the best of shopping and entertainment from Amazon. Students of two- and four-year colleges can enjoy unlimited Free One-Day Shipping on 10 million items and Free Two-Day Shipping on more than 100 million items. Plus, members receive exclusive discounts on a wide selection of college essentials, access thousands of movies and TV shows with Prime Video, stream more than two million songs with Prime Music, enjoy a selection of free games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime. The cost of Prime Student is half the cost, or 50% off of regular Prime. Students can learn more at www.amazon.com/joinstudent and enjoy a six-month trial when they sign up for Prime Student.