Smithsonian Releases New Graphic Novel Series Available in February

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Smithsonian Books is publishing a graphic novel series called Secret Smithsonian Adventures in which four middle schoolers visiting the Smithsonian discover that someone is tampering with history, so they must use their history and science knowledge to thwart these evil plots. Each book in the series will tie in with a different Smithsonian museum or gallery and its subject area.

This first volume, available Feb. 23, is The Wrong Wrights. Dominique, Eric, Josephine and Ajay are excited about a field trip to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, but when they get there, they find a very different museum than the one they were expecting. Not only is it much smaller, it is also filled with balloons, blimps, and dirigibles. Where is the Spirit of St. Louis? Where is the Apollo 11 command module? Where is the Wright Brothers' 1903 flyer? With the help of a museum "fabrications specialist," they travel through time to try and restore the Wright brothers to their well-earned place in history. Along the way they also learn about aerodynamics and other aviation principles from a wise-cracking computer named Smitty.

The Wrong Wrights is a can't-miss educational adventure that is best suited for 9- to 12-year-old readers and their parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians.

About the Authors

Hockensmith is the New York Times-bestselling author or co-author of 10 books, most recently the Nick and Tesla series of middle-grade mysteries. Chris Kientz is the writer and producer of the international award-winning Smithsonian Channel television production Raven Tales. Lee Nielsen is an animator, illustrator, concept artist and designer.

SOURCE Smithsonian Books

Knopf To Publish Book By Journalist Nancy Jo Sales About Teenage Girls And Social Media

Photo Credit: PRNewswire

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Next month Knopf will release a new book about social media and its impact on the lives of today's youth. Written by Nancy Jo Sales, and based on reporting she has done over the past 30 months, AMERICAN GIRLS: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers, will go on sale February 23 with a first printing of 150,000 copies. It will also be available as an eBook and from Random House Audio. First serial rights have been sold to Time Magazine.

In AMERICAN GIRLS, Sales reports on what teenagers are doing online, and, more importantly, what their life online is doing to them. It is a disturbing and often shocking narrative. Sales documents a new kind of adolescence – one dominated by frightening new social and sexual norms and with a constant digital tether. It's about being a teenager at a time when a girl's first crushes and experiences of longing occur in an accelerated electronic environment; when issues of identity and self-esteem are magnified and transformed by platforms that provide instant judgment; when pornography and images of sexual violence have become ubiquitous; when girls encounter both misogyny and sexism in a barrage of feeds, and they are pushed to reveal all on apps like Instagram, Snapchat, Whisper, Tinder, and Vine. "This shift in how girls spend their time is having a profound effect on the way they think and act," writes Sales. Sales describes the effects of this "pornification of American life" and suggests we are witnessing a shift with seismic repercussions for all teens, but especially for girls.

From being asked by male classmates to send nudes and racy videos – as recently seen in the sexting scandals that rocked Cañon City, CO and Kings Park, NY – to starting "finstas" (fake Instagram accounts) and hard-to-trace Facebook pages that bully others, to consuming and producing porn, the years of middle and high school have become both threatening and dangerous, even more so when you consider how their social lives are concealed from the eyes of parents (Sales was recently asked "What don't parents know about their children's lives online?" She responded "Too much.")

Sales spent the last 30 months in the company of teenage girls, interviewing more than 200 teenagers from coast-to-coast, getting them to open up about their experiences, and documenting the massive change in the way they are growing up, with social media and smartphone technology, a phenomenon that often transcends race, geography, and household income. "I couldn't have written this book without the honesty and generosity of the girls I interviewed," says Sales.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nancy Jo Sales is an award-winning journalist and author who has written for Vanity Fair, New York, Harper's Bazaar, and many other publications. She is known for her reporting on youth culture and for her profiles of pop-culture icons. In 2000, she became a contributing editor at Vanity Fair.

SOURCE Alfred A. Knopf

Former ABC Bachelorette Emily Maynard Reveals All In New Tell All Book

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- America's sweetheart, Emily Maynard, is known by millions for her unprecedented appearances on both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. When her high-profile search for true love led Emily to a dead end, she felt empty and utterly embarrassed. Yet somehow in the wake of her nationally televised failures at romance, Emily discovered strength she never knew she had and a truth she just couldn't shake.

In Emily's upcoming tell-all, I SAID YES: My Story of Heartbreak, Redemption, and True Love (Thomas Nelson, March 2016), she candidly reveals her never-before-told-story of life before and after The Bachelorette and the profound new reality she discovered when she forsook fame in favor of serving God.

"Heartbroken, embarrassed, and feeling completely unlovable, God found me, picked me back up and showed me His love was all I've ever needed all along," says Emily. "I finally say 'yes!' to something much more than a guy's love. I said 'yes!' emphatically to finally resting in the peace and love that can only come from Christ. And that love has dramatically changed my life."

From the heartbreaking and tragic loss of her fiance, to the events that led her to a psychiatric wing in high school, to her new-found 'normal life' with 10-year-old daughter Ricki, husband Tyler Johnson and brand-new baby Jennings, readers will come to know Emily like never before and be inspired to discover the same love she found in the arms of God.

"This is a book about God's love and redemption, no matter how many mistakes you've made. Or in my case, failed television engagements! I want the reader to be encouraged to know that there is hope and you can say 'yes!' to a life of joy and peace."

You can pre-order I Said Yes today by going to www.ISaidYesBook.com, Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

About the Author

Emily Maynard Johnson experienced the tragic and sudden loss of her fiance, NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick, when she was eighteen. Days after his death, she discovered she was pregnant with her now ten-year-old daughter, Ricki. Navigating life as a single mom spawned an initial whirlwind of trying to balance finding her identity as an individual and being a parent. Known best for hoping to find love on camera, Emily appeared on season 15 of The Bachelor and season 8 of The Bachelorette. In 2014, Emily found the real deal and married Tyler Johnson. A fashionista at heart, she fulfilled one lifelong dream and created her own jewelry line. Emily lives in Charlotte with her husband Tyler, daughter Ricki, and son Jennings. They attend Forest Hills Church, pastored by David Chadwick.

SOURCE Thomas Nelson

Two Free Buzz Books Offer 60 Excerpts from Top To-Be-Published Spring/Summer Titles

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- What do President Obama, independent booksellers, librarians, and the largest online bookstore have in common? They all singled out a Buzz Books 2015 title, Fates and Furies, for accolades ranging from best book of the year to top book of the month.

The free digital Buzz Books have proven themselves an accurate predictor of bestseller, best of the year, and top monthly lists for the last four years. Once again, Publishers Lunch has gathered substantial excerpts from 60 of the most buzzed-about books scheduled for publication this spring and summer in two exclusive  ebooks, BUZZ BOOKS 2016: Spring/Summer and BUZZ BOOKS 2016: Young Adult Spring/Summer.

Book lovers get an early first look at new books from New York Times bestselling authors Louise Erdrich,Tracy Chevalier, and Chris Cleave, and popular, critically acclaimed writers such as Emma Straub, Joe Hill, Robin Wasserman, Kathleen Grissom, and Michael Harvey. Discover powerful debut novels by Flynn Berry, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, and many others. Nonfiction heavyhitters Chuck Klosterman andNathaniel Philbrick, among others, round out the volume. BUZZ BOOKS 2016: Young Adult Spring/Summer offers new work from 20 bestselling and award-winning YA all-stars including Richelle Mead, Maggie Stiefvater, David Levithan, Tosca Lee, and Matthew Quick.

Buzz Books help readers cut through hundreds of potential reads to discover the buzziest books published in the upcoming months. As one reviewer writes, "I love Buzz Books. It's one of the best and easiest ways to find out about upcoming book releases. I look forward to every edition." An extensive overview of the Spring/Summer publishing season, with over 100 titles to look out for, and convenient click-throughs to pre-order the full books on major platforms are great added value.

BUZZ BOOKS 2016: Spring/Summer and BUZZ BOOKS 2016: Young Adult Spring/Summer are always free. The consumer edition is available in the U.S. and Canada on all major ebook platforms: Kindle/Amazon, iBook Store/Apple, Nook/Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo. 

SOURCE Publishers Lunch

Barnes & Noble Booksellers & Customers Donate More Than 1.5 Million Books to Children in Need via Annual Holiday Book Drive

New York, New York–January 4, 2016 –Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the nation’s largest retail bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced that it collected and donated more than 1.5 million books to more than 650 local charities across the country that provide services to children during its 2015 Holiday Book Drive program.
 
The donation was made possible through the generous support of Barnes & Noble customers and booksellers who purchased books for donation at Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide between November 1, 2015, and January 1, 2016. Community partners have already begun distributing the books collected by Barnes & Noble booksellers to hospitals, children’s learning and advocacy centers, literacy organizations, and social service organizations.
 
“Our annual Holiday Book Drive is one of our favorite community relations initiatives,” said Sarah DiFrancesco, Vice President, Business Development for Barnes & Noble. “An honored tradition for more than 20 years, our booksellers and stores have partnered with a wonderful array of local charities, that they chose, and donated thousands of books to local children in need. On behalf of Barnes & Noble, I want to thank our customers and booksellers who have reflected the spirit of the generosity. Thanks to their efforts and kindness, millions of children across the country received the gift of reading.”
 
Local recipients of books from the Holiday Book Drive include: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital; Toys for Tots; Big Brothers Big Sisters; the YMCA; Salvation Army; First Book; Children’s Hospitals from around the nation; Reach Out & Read; Ronald McDonald House; Head Start; United Way Children’s Advocacy Center; Texas Boys Ranch; and hundreds of other deserving organizations.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is a Fortune 500 company, the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.  The Company operates 647 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com) and UK (www.nook.co.uk), plus periodicals, comics, apps, movies and TV shows, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS® and Windows®.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is a Fortune 500 company, the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.  The Company operates 647 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com) and UK (www.nook.co.uk), plus periodicals, comics, apps, movies and TV shows, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS® and Windows®.

Barnes & Noble Kicks Off Annual “My Favorite Teacher Contest”

New York, New York – January 4, 2016 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the nation’s largest retail bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced the start of the 2016 “Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest,” which provides middle and high school students the opportunity to tell their communities how much they appreciate their teachers. 
 
Students can nominate their teacher by writing essays, poems or thank-you letters that share how their teacher has influenced their life and why they appreciate and admire their teacher.  Participating schools collect the essays and submit them to their local Barnes & Noble store for consideration. Entries will be judged on the compelling nature of the teacher’s qualities, the sincerity of the student’s appreciation and the quality of expression and writing. 
 
Teachers from grades 1 through 12 are eligible for nomination. Awards for winning teachers, schools and students include cash prizes, NOOK® by Samsung devices and more. The contest is broken down into local and regional winners, from which the Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year will be chosen.
 
The local winning teacher will be recognized in the spring at an event at their local Barnes & Noble store, where they will receive a special award acknowledging their achievement and additional recognition and praise from their community. The student who wrote the winning essay or poem will receive a certificate of recognition and also be honored at the ceremony. 
 
Each regional winner will receive a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card and a NOOK by Samsung.   From the pool of regional winners, Barnes & Noble will name one teacher the Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year. The winning teacher will receive $5,000 and the title of “Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher of the Year.” The national winner will be recognized at a special community celebration at their local Barnes & Noble store, and the winning teacher’s school will receive $5,000. The student who writes the national winning essay, poem or thank-you letter will win a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card and a NOOK by Samsung device.
 
“I never imagined I would win for the store or region. I certainly didn’t expect to win the national title,’ said Tara Hefner from Riverbend High School in Fredericksburg, VA, the 2014-2015 national winner and Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year. “I gave half of my $5,000 to my student, Jeimy Alfaro, who crafted the essay to help her with her future education. My principal gave half of the $5,000 awarded to the school to the ESOL program. Everyone benefited, and that brought me so much joy. However, the letter that Jeimy wrote was the best reward! To know that in my student’s eyes, I am making a difference, is the greatest reward in teaching.”
 
Tara added, “It is truly a humbling honor to represent Barnes & Noble as National Teacher of the Year. My greatest hope is to use this platform to share the inspirational story of what can happen when a child has an advocate that believes in them and the importance of supporting our English Language Learners, as they possess so many skills, talents and abilities to better our world.”
Barnes & Noble has long supported teachers through Educator Appreciation Weeks, special discounts, personalized service, in-store events, bookfairs, store tours for classrooms, and, since 2011, the My Favorite Teacher Contest. 
 
“Teachers are a vital influence in the lives of children. They deserve all the recognition we can give them,” said Sarah DiFrancesco, Vice President of Business Development for Barnes & Noble. “There’s rarely a dry eye in the audience during a My Favorite Teacher event at Barnes & Noble. Our booksellers love this program, because it makes such an impact on everyone participating. A bookstore, after all, is much like a school – both are places of learning and aspiration.”
 
The Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest begins January 4, 2016, and ends March 1, 2016. Students who want to participate must submit their essay or poem to their local Barnes & Noble store by March 1. Only middle and high school students and active teachers employed in elementary, middle or high schools in the United States are eligible to win.  More details on the contest rules, and photos and the winning essay from the 2015 Contest, can be found at www.bn.com/myfavoriteteacher.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is a Fortune 500 company, the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.  The Company operates 647 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com) and UK (www.nook.co.uk), plus periodicals, comics, apps, movies and TV shows, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS® and Windows®.

Benetech Partners with New York Public Library to Bring Bookshare to Patrons with Print Disabilities

Photo Credit: PR Newswire

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Benetech, provider of Bookshare, is proud to announce a new partnership with The New York Public Library (NYPL), making over 370,000 accessible ebooks free to their patrons with print disabilities. Every New Yorker with an eligible print disability will now have free access to Bookshare's vast online library including bestsellers, literature, non-fiction, picture books, educational texts, career guides, and more with their New York Public Library card or Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library membership.

This partnership is the first of its kind between Bookshare and a large U.S. public library.  Currently, all U.S. students with qualifying disabilities can access Bookshare's library for free under an award from the Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

This new partnership serves eligible patrons of all ages, whether or not they are students. 

The partnership provides unlimited downloads of accessible materials for personal use and more than doubles the number of titles available to NYPL patrons with print disabilities. All of Bookshare's ebooks can be used in a wide variety of ways, depending on user need and preference, and on nearly any computer or mobile device. Books can be enlarged on screen and read aloud using high quality text-to-speech voices. In addition, users can hear and see highlighted words on a screen and also read every book with digital braille.

"We are proud to partner with the NYPL to open up new horizons for New Yorkers with print disabilities by offering them access to Bookshare's extensive collection of accessible ebooks free of charge, for use on a wide variety of devices including mobile phones and tablets," says Brad Turner, Vice President of Global Literacy at Benetech. "This is a major step forward towards our shared vision of barrier-free access to books for all."

Benetech looks forward to continuing the collaboration with NYPL and hopes to set up similar agreements with other public library systems across the U.S. so that all persons with print disabilities have full access to the world of books. 

New Yorkers with qualifying disabilities who are interested in signing up for free access to Bookshare should go to the NYPL website for more information or call 917-ask-nypl.

About Benetech

Bookshare is an initiative of Benetech, a Silicon Valley nonprofit technology company that provides software tools and services to address pressing social needs. Each of Benetech's program areas—Global Literacy, Human Rights, and Benetech Labs—offers the greatest social impact on funds invested. Social entrepreneur and MacArthur Fellow Jim Fruchterman founded Benetech in 2001 and leads the organization as its CEO.

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New Yorkand beyond. With 92 locations throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more.  

SOURCE Benetech

New Podcast Series, "Scholastic Reads," Launches With Behind-The-Scenes Stories About The Harry Potter Series

Photo Credit: PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- "Scholastic Reads," a new podcast about children's books and the joy and power of reading launches today with a behind-the-scenes look at the Harry Potter series as told by Cheryl Klein, the continuity editor for the 6th and 7th books in the series. This new, biweekly podcast from Scholastic, the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, will feature in-depth interviews with bestselling children's book authors and illustrators, editors and experts, who will provide their insights about writing, publishing and trends in children's books – as well as their personal book recommendations in "ask an editor" episodes.  Suzanne McCabe, Scholastic Editor-at-Large, hosts "Scholastic Reads."

Sneak Peek Clip: Getting the Final Manuscript for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" through AirportSecurity

"From the magic of the Harry Potter series to insider stories from the world of children's books and publishing, our new podcast series is perfect for anyone who loves to read, as well those who want to inspire children to discover the power and joy of reading," said Suzanne McCabe, Editor-at-Large, Scholastic and host of the "Scholastic Reads" podcast. "We plan to offer listeners behind-the-scenes insights, book recommendations and much more from the Scholastic family of YA and children's book authors, illustrators, editors and experts who are passionate about great stories and the power of books to 'Open a World of Possible' for children."

Photo Credit: PR Newswire

Upcoming "Scholastic Reads" episodes include:

• Podcast Episode #1: The Magic of Harry Potter: What sets the Harry Potter series apart from other popular children's series? How did it become the most recognizable in all of children's literature? Cheryl Klein talks about her work as continuity editor on the series and shares harrowing stories about keeping the final manuscripts secret. Literacy expert Pam Allyn, Founding Director of LitWorld, weighs in on how Hogwarts and the lessons Harry Potter teaches us can be valuable for educators.
• Podcast Episode #2: Kids' Books Holiday Hotline: Giving the gift of reading can be difficult, especially when you have a reluctant reader on your holiday shopping list. Children's literature experts David Allender and Preeti Chhibber of Scholastic Reading Club answer parents' trickiest book-buying questions. 
• Podcast Episode #3: Every Child a Super Reader: Literacy experts Pam Allyn, Founding Director of LitWorld, and Dr. Ernest Morrell, Columbia University Professor and former NCTE President, talk about their new book, Every Child a Super Reader, and how parents and teachers can develop students' seven key strengths to transform them into "super readers."
• Podcast Episode #4: Book Trends of 2016: What are the big trends in children's books for 2016? Children's literature experts David Allender and Preeti Chhibber of Scholastic Reading Club share their projections for the New Year. 

To listen to the podcast, visit http://www.scholastic.com/scholasticreads

For more about Scholastic, visit: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com 

SOURCE Scholastic Inc.

Atria Books and Paragraph to Launch CRAVE, a New iOS App for Romance Books

NEW YORK (December 3, 2015) – Paragraph and Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, today announced the launch of Crave (ThisIsCrave.com) – a new app that matches bestselling authors with the hottest actors to offer romance fans an entirely new reading experience. Crave will be available for download on iOS at launch with Android to follow shortly after.

The first books to launch on Crave are Atria’s November 9, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, followed by books from #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines,  and USA Today bestselling author K.A. Tucker.

Subscribers will receive one installment from the book each day, and every new segment of the story is coupled with instant notifications, videos and photos from the lead character.  Books are released serially, typically in advance of their official publication date, creating a new reading paradigm where the only place to experience the enhanced story will be in the app.

“The way we consume information has changed dramatically in the past few years,” said Ziv Navoth, Paragraph’s CEO. “We took the romance novel and asked ourselves how can we create an experience that fits the way people like to experience stories these days. The result is Crave.”

The Crave Studio scours the world and polls fans to discover actors who resemble the actual book characters so much that they might have well been the inspiration for them. Crave then turns them into real-life stand-ins for their characters, turning the audience’s fantasy into reality.

“Today’s romance reader isn’t satisfied with simply reading a story,” said Colleen Hoover. “She wants to be immersed in the story and get closer to the characters, while also building a relationship with the author who created them.”

“This is an exciting endeavor for us.  Truly the way readers consume, share and talk about books has changed greatly, and with Crave we are able to marry new methods of delivery with high-quality, value-added content to engage readers in an entirely new type of experience,” says Judith Curr, President and Publisher, Atria Publishing Group.

Crave is a subscription-based service. Fans subscribe to an author’s channel for less than a dollar a week ($3.99/month) and receive daily installments from their newest books over a period of 90 days. Crave is available starting today through the Apple App Store [http://bit.ly/1IrNKl2], and will be available soon on Android. Crave requires an iPhone 5s, 6 or 6+ running iOS 8 or later or an Android phone running OS 4.0.3 or later.

Atria Books is an imprint of Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. For more information about Atria, visit our website at http://imprints.simonandschuster.biz/atria.

Paragraph builds products and services that re-imagine the way people discover, tell and experience great stories. For more information on Paragraph, visit http://www.paragraph.com.

Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, This Girl, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Maybe Someday, Ugly Love, Maybe Not, and Confess. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

Abbi Glines

Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Field Party, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted book lover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at Facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.

KA Tucker

K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. Today, she is the author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and the Burying Water series. She currently resides outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures. Please visit her at katuckerbooks.com.

Acclaimed Comedian Releases New Humor Book

BOSTON, Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclaimed comedian Paul D'Angelo has released a new humor book, Stories I Tell: A Comic's Random Attempts to Make Some Sense Out of Nonsense, that the Los Angeles Times called, "wild and brilliant."

Paul D'Angelo, a former Essex County (MA) assistant district attorney and criminal-defense trial attorney, is now one of the nation's top stand-up comedians. Known as a prolific creator of intelligent, introspective and reflective humor that everyone can relate to, there are still numerous comedy routines, funny stories and anecdotes that Paul rarely gets an opportunity to share with his live audiences.

For that reason, Paul now presents many of these comedic treasures in a random collection of entertaining musings, which range in subject matter from hilarious courtroom stories, to the dilemma facing an unhappy Eva Braun as she contemplates breaking up with Hitler; from a stand-up comic's life in Hollywood, to being attacked by a Great White Shark in his own water-bed; and from satirical commentary on contemporary society, to Paul's awkward attempts at conversation while having lunch with Jesus.

Paul says, "It's just one funny story after another presented in the style of my act… stories from my childhood, my days in law school, and working as a prosecutor prior to defending criminals; stories about show business, struggling to make it in L.A., and celebrity encounters; plus social sarcasm, original comedy routines that rarely make it into my act, and material that comes across better on the page. It's a fast, fun read."

Paul D'Angelo has opened for over sixty internationally known acts, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, Tony Bennett, The Beach Boys, Chicago, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Jerry Lee Lewis, Huey Lewis & The News, Lyle Lovett, George Carlin, Joan Rivers and Dennis Miller; in famed entertainment venues from the legendary Friar's Club and the main ballroom of New York City's Waldorf Astoria, to the main showroom at Harrah's Casino and Caesar's Palace. Paul has also entertained hundreds of prominent corporate clients throughout the country and recently co-starred in Showtime's popular stand-up comedy movie, 'The Godfathers of Comedy'.

The book can be purchased through Paul's web-site at www.pdangelo.com or directly on Amazon.com.

SOURCE Paul D’Angelo

New Christmas Book, Oliver the Ornament, Spreading Hope and Optimism to Children Everywhere

Photo Credit: PR Newswire

CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly released Christmas book, Oliver the Ornament, is spreading hope and optimism to children everywhere.

Oliver the Ornament is a tale of one family's cherished Christmas ornaments. The story centers on Oliver, who has been with this family since Mom and Dad's very first date.Years later, Oliver, now injured and bullied, still has the magic of Christmas in his heart. The story follows Oliver's excitement for Christmas, his heartbreak, and his determination to overcome all odds to save the day. Oliver, along with his friends, will warm hearts with his kindness, humility, and love for his family and friends.

The author of Oliver the Ornament, Todd Zimmermann, shares his goal for the book: "I hope the story will bring families together to tell the stories of their own ornaments and the special meaning that so many of them possess. Because, after all….Every Ornament Tells a Story.™ I also hope the messages of bullying, redemption and forgiveness will resonate with readers everywhere."

Oliver the Ornament is the first in a series of seven books that will be published by Zimmermann and parent company Oliver & Friends, Inc. Each of the subsequent books will highlight how the ornaments that adorn this family's Christmas tree tell their own beautiful and special stories. The book is currently available on Amazon, www.olivertheornament.com and select retailers.

Oliver the Ornament is illustrated by Teddy Lu. In creating each of the characters, Lu says, "I wanted to make each of the ornaments as iconic and special as possible." The book is being sold with a beautifully hand-painted ornament of Oliver himself. Additionally, an entire line of Oliver-related merchandise is also being introduced, including a snow globe, night lights, family puzzle, doll, firetruck, and set of cookie cutters. Zimmermann is also publishing Oliver the Ornament Coloring Book, and Oliver the Ornament Christmas Memories.

Zimmermann has pledged 5% of the profits from the sale of all books to two children's charities: Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Each subsequent book will donate an increasing 5% of its profits to charity, until the seventh book is published when 100% of the profits will be donated to children's charities.

Supporters of Oliver the Ornament are able to purchase a copy of the book for hospitalized children on the Oliver the Ornament website. These books will then be distributed to children during the Christmas season of 2015. Initially, Oliver the Ornament is partnering with Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Comer Children's Hospital at The University of Chicago, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

SOURCE Oliver the Ornament

"Return to Robinson Island" Ebook Now Available for .99 Cents for Limited Time

Photo Credit: PR Newswire

SEATTLE, Dec. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- "Return to Robinson Island" is the first Swiss Family Robinson sequel in over one hundred years – now available for .99 cents for a limited time. Based on the original 1812 Swiss Family Robinson novel, "Return to Robinson Island" picks up where Johann David Wyss left off over 200 years earlier with a whole new adventure. Get your copy TODAY! http://amzn.to/1lZFmiZ Available on Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble.

What ensures is a page-turning, action-packed adventure in which the Robinson Family must use survival skills and guerrilla tactics to safeguard their lives and island home. Weaved throughout the adventure story, is a thread of love and romance that becomes threatened by the betrayal of a family friend. The Robinsons must use their knowledge of the island and ingenuity like never before. Will the Robinson Family survive this attack? Will Ernest see his fiance again?

Synopsis:
"Return to Robinson Island" begins 15 years after the Robinson family became shipwrecked on a remote island in the East Indies. The year is 1815. Ernest Robinson is 27 years old, and a 1st Lieutenant in the British Royal Navy. When Ernest's commanding officer, Captain Charlie, is court-martialed for war crimes, Ernest is forced to tell the truth even if his testimony sends his former Captain to prison. Meanwhile, to the surprise of the Robinsons, a vast trove of treasure is found on the island, and the Robinsons soon find themselves in mortal danger when Captain Charlie vows to make the treasure his own. 

"From the beginning to the end this story of The Robinson family and their adventures had me trying to guess what was coming next. If you are looking for a book that has a story of great adventure with a hint of a love interest The Return to Robinson Island delivers! I highly recommend! ......I can't wait to see what happens next." – ClimberchicColorado, Amazon 5-Star Review

"This book is a very interesting read, especially if you have read the original story, or seen the movie. The description of the innovative ways used to live on the island has always fascinated me. And this story definitely does continue where the other leaves off, making a thrilling and fun ride to the end!" – Zainey Laney, Amazon 5-Star Review

About the Author

"Return to Robinson Island" is TJ Hoisington's first work of fiction. TJ Hoisington is the author of the international bestseller, "If You Think, You Can!: Thirteen Laws that Govern the Performance of High Achievers" and several other books. TJ Hoisington is a motivational speaker and organizational performance consultant.

Source: Aylesbury Publishing

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Laura Schroff Celebrates #GivingTuesday with An Invisible Thread Christmas Story

Photo Credit: PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Invisible Thread comes AN INVISIBLE THREAD CHRISTMAS STORY.  This true, heartfelt, and extraordinary account of how one woman's decision to help a young boy on the street changed both of their lives is the perfect story to share with your children and discuss the importance of small acts of kindness on this global day of giving back known as #GivingTuesday.

In An Invisible Thread, New York Times bestselling author Laura Schroff tells the remarkable story of her lifelong friendship with a boy named Maurice who she met on the street while he was asking for change. Schroff was a successful ad sales rep in Manhattan. Maurice was a homeless, eleven-year-old panhandler. He asked for spare change; she kept walking. But then something stopped her in her tracks, and she went back. And she continued to go back, again and again. They met up nearly every week for years and, from that one small gesture of kindness, two lives were changed forever. Now, in the picture book follow up, AN INVISIBLE THREAD CHRISTMAS STORY, Laura details the first Christmas that she and Maurice spent together. She shares how Maurice gave her a small white bear and, as she later learns, the only thing he had that he could truly call his own—to show her how grateful he was for their friendship.

In the spirit of #GivingTuesday, a global celebration of generosity, AN INVISIBLE THREAD CHRISTMAS STORY illustrates the power of giving back and captures the true meaning of the holiday season with a reminder that a gift from the heart is always the best present under the tree.  For more information on AN INVISIBLE THREAD CHRISTMAS STORY, visit:  www.aninvisiblethread.com

Now in its fourth year, #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources (Information taken from www.givingtuesday.org).

Laura Schroff is a former advertising executive who has helped launch three of the most successful start-ups in Time Inc. history—InStyle, Teen People, and People StyleWatch. Schroff has also worked as the New York Division Manager at People magazine and as Associate Publisher at Brides magazine. She lives in New York City.

Alex Tresniowski is a former human-interest writer at People and the bestselling author of several books, most notably The Vendetta, which was purchased by Universal Studios and used as a basis for the movie Public Enemies. His other titles include An Invisible Thread and Prepared for a Purpose.

Barry Root is the illustrator of many books for children, including Gumbrella, which he also wrote; Dream Big; By My Brother's Side; and Game Day, which received a Christopher Award in the category of books for young people. He lives with his family in Quarryville, Pennsylvania.    

About Simon and Schuster

Simon & Schuster, a part of the CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital and international companies in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.simonandschuster.com.

SOURCE Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Barnes & Noble Launches Black Friday Weekend with Amazing Offers

New York, New York – November 24, 2015 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the nation’s largest retail bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, is kicking off Black Friday Weekend with deals customers can’t miss at its nearly 650 stores nationwide and online at BN.com/blackfriday. Since there’s no discovery more exhilarating to a booklover than finding a favorite author’s signature inside a beloved book, Barnes & Noble is offering customers nationwide signed copies of books from over 120 acclaimed authors in stores only beginning on Black Friday and continuing throughout the holiday season, while supplies last. Plus, Barnes & Noble is offering exciting deals throughout the weekend including a buy 1, get 1 50% off offer on over a thousand educational toys and games in stores and online, and so much more.
 
In addition, amazing NOOK® deals will be available at Barnes & Noble throughout Black Friday Weekend, including unbeatable prices on select devices. The 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK, which combines Samsung’s leading technology and NOOK’s extraordinary content and reading experience, and the new NOOK GlowLight Plus, Barnes & Noble’s waterproof* and dustproof best ever NOOK eReader for worry-free reading anywhere, are each available for the lowest-ever price of only $99.99 in stores and online, while supplies last.   
 
And to start the weekend off right, customers who come and shop at Barnes & Noble stores on Black Friday, November 27, will receive a complimentary tall hot coffee until 10 AM, no purchase necessary. There will be a limit of one per customer.  
 
Incredible offers at Barnes & Noble on Black Friday** include:

• Second Annual Signed Editions Offering with Over a Half-Million Books Signed by More Than 120 Acclaimed Authors:  Barnes & Noble is offering customers nationwide the opportunity to find a favorite author’s signature inside a beloved book, with signed copies of books from over 120 acclaimed authors. With over 500,000 books available – the largest ever offering of its kind – representing a wide variety of genres and subject matter, customers will have the opportunity to purchase these coveted editions in stores only beginning on Black Friday, November 27, and continuing throughout the holiday season, while supplies last.

These Signed Editions include works from award-winning authors including Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Doerr (All the Light We Cannot See) and National Book Award winner Nathaniel Philbrick (In the Heart of the Sea), admired authors with enduring works including Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist) and S.E. Hinton (The Outsiders), favorite authors who went from page to screen including Diana Gabaldon (Outlander) and Veronica Roth (Allegiant Collector’s Edition), internet sensations including Tyler Oakley (Binge) and Dan Howell & Phil Lester (The Amazing Book is Not on Fire), and so many more.  For more information on Signed Editions and a full list of authors and works included, customers can visit BN.com/signededitions.  

• Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off Over a Thousand Educational Toys & Games: Barnes & Noble has all the hottest, must-have, high-quality educational toys and games of the season perfect for kids of all ages and interests, making it an unmatched resource for gifts to help children learn and grow. This incredible buy 1, get 1 50% off offer applies to over a thousand educational toys and games in Barnes & Noble’s leading selection, and is available in stores and online.
   
• Special NOOK Device and Content Offerings: Amazing NOOK deals will be available at Barnes & Noble on Black Friday weekend, including the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK and the new NOOK GlowLight Plus, each available for the lowest-ever, incredible value of only $99.99 in stores and online while supplies last. Customers will also receive a $5 credit to help them get started building their library as they explore the expansive NOOK Store®.

Plus, Barnes & Noble offers all customers who purchase a new NOOK GlowLight Plus to choose complimentary NOOK content including: three books from a selection of 20 great titles featuring favorites such as The Gravedigger’s Daughter by Joyce Carol Oates, Think Big, Act Bigger by Jeffrey Hayzlett and On A Night Like This by Barbara Freethy, and three magazines from a selection of more than 25 popular publications such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire and Food Network Magazine.
 
To make NOOK an even greater value, there will also be special content offers available, including bestselling NOOK Books® available for under $10 including Friction by Sandra Brown, The Royal We by Heather Cocksand more, and there will be a special sale on select romance NOOK Books including Second Chance Summerby Jill Shalvis and Wait for Me by Samantha Chase. In addition, new and favorite movies from NOOK Video™will be on sale up to 50% off including Paper Towns, The Longest Ride and Fifty Shades of Grey.
 
Additional savings include:

• 50% off Special Gift Books: Customers can enjoy a spectacular 50% off offer on a wide selection of popular gift books for readers of all ages and interests both in stores and online, including Guinness World Records 2016, George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones Leather-Cloth Boxed Set (Song of Ice and Fire Series), Harry Potter: The Character Vault by Jody Revenson, The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt, The Nightmare Before Christmas (B&N Exclusive Edition) by Tim Burton, The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set by C.S. Lewis, and many others.

• $100 off the da Vinci Jr. 1.0 3D Printer from XYZprinting: This affordable printer is perfect for anyone from a first-time 3D designer to an aspiring inventor, and is the number one 3D printer for the home, office or classroom (K-12). Customers can purchase the da Vinci Jr. 1.0 3D Printer for the incredible value of $249.95 – a $100 discount – beginning on Black Friday through 12/24 in stores and online, while supplies last.

• Buy 1, Get 1 50% off Collectible Classic Editions: This huge buy 1, get 1 50% deal on classic collectible editions, available in stores and online, includes To Kill a Mockingbird (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions), Moby-Dick (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions), The Star Wars Trilogy (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions), and so much more. Exclusions apply, ask a bookseller for details.

• 30% off All Print Magazines: Customers can receive 30% off all print magazines in stores only, one day only, on Black Friday, November 27. This fantastic one-day offer applies to thousands of titles, including Bon Appetit, Glamour, HGTV, National Geographic, and so many others.

• Buy 1, Get 1 50% off Godiva® Gold Ballotins: This irresistible buy 1, get 1 50% off offer on signature Godiva Gold Ballotins, available in stores only, is perfect for gift-giving.

Plus, customers who shop at Barnes & Noble during Black Friday Weekend can take advantage of  Barnes & Noble’s best Gift Card offer ever: a free $10 Reward Card with the purchase of $50 or more of Gift Cards. The $10 Reward Card can be redeemed 12/26/15 through 3/31/16. And, as always, Members receive an extra 10% off almost everything in stores every day***.  
 
Customers are invited to visit Barnes & Noble’s nearly 650 stores nationwide or shop online at BN.com/blackfriday to experience the amazing Black Friday Weekend deals that Barnes & Noble has to offer.
 
* IP67 certified. Waterproof in fresh water for up to 30 minutes at a maximum depth of 1 meter (3.28 feet). Avoid immersion in saltwater or other liquids. USB port must be completely dry before use.
** While supplies last. Restrictions apply. See BN.com/blackfriday for details.
*** Select items excluded. See Terms & Conditions.
 
About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is a Fortune 500 company, the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.  The Company operates 647 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com).  The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com) and UK (www.nook.co.uk), plus periodicals, comics, apps, movies and TV shows, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS® and Windows®.
 
General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company's corporate website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com.
 
Barnes & Noble®, Barnes & Noble Booksellers® and Barnes & Noble.com® are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. or its affiliates. NOOK® and the NOOK logos are trademarks of Nook Digital, LLC or its affiliates.

Timbre Press Announces New Multimedia Book That Highlights Music's Impact on the Human Experience

Photo Credit: PR Newswire

DENVER, Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Timbre Press today announces the release of Stories of Music, a multimedia book that features works from more than 40 contributors—many who are award-winning authors and artists—from 11 countries. Focused on capturing music's impact on the human experience, the stories explore music's role in healing, community, family and cultural traditions, musicianship, and travel.

Readers will learn how rock and blues music helped to heal the war-torn country of Bosnia, about the tradition of candombe drumming in Uruguay, and about the history of musicians who travelled on foot—from the balladeers of Victorian England and the Delta bluesmen of the early 20th century to present day musicians who participate in the Massachusetts Walking Tour. Along with these and other stories, the book includes photography from around the world, poetry readings, and original music from more than 10 artists, including a song that was performed to honor first responders at Ground Zero.

Holly E. Tripp, who compiled and edited Stories of Music, had commented, "Music is something we all have in common. It transcends religion, race, language, and even time. This universal nature of music is what I wanted to capture in this collection, and it was important to create a reader experience that would mirror the depth and dimensions of music itself."

Photo Credit: PR Newswire

In an effort to help increase access to music, the publisher will donate 10 percent of book proceeds to nonprofit organizations Hungry for Music and Music & Memory. Hungry for Music supports music education and cultural enrichment by acquiring and distributing quality musical instruments to underserved children who have willing instructors and a hunger to play. Music & Memory brings personalized music into the lives of the elderly or infirm through digital music technology, vastly improving their quality of life.

Stories of Music includes a foreword from Music & Memory's founder and executive director, Dan Cohen, MSW. The book is presented in print with a free web edition for accessing the audio and video works. The print book is available for $29 at www.storiesofmusic.com.

About Holly E. Tripp

Holly E. Tripp is a songwriter and freelance writer, editor, and marketing consultant based in Denver, Colorado.

About Timbre Press

Timbre Press is an independent publishing company based in Denver, Colorado, which publishes books about music, including nonfiction, poetry, and photography.

For more information, visit www.timbrepress.com or www.storiesofmusic.com.

Source Credit: Timbre Press

Barnes & Noble Announces Free Children’s Storytimes Events For Holiday Season

New York, NY – November 24, 2015 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the nation’s largest retail bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced its lineup of holiday traditions for the family—free Storytime events for children and families, all designed to celebrate the joy of reading and the magic of the holiday season.
 
This month-long series of events kicks off with the Scout Elf Return Boot Camp on Saturday, November 28, at 11 a.m. at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide. To celebrate The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, Barnes & Noble stores will host a special Boot Camp featuring crafts and activities children and families can do to prepare for a holiday season full of fun with their Scout Elf! Customers are encouraged to take pictures and post to their personal social media sites using the hashtag #BNElfBootCamp.

The Polar Express Pajama Party Storytime – On Friday, December 4, at 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble stores nationwide invite customers to come aboard the Polar Express to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the beloved classic. Join us for a pajama party Storytime with activities and tons of fun!
 
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Storytime – On Saturday, December 5, at 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will host a special Storytime celebrating all things Grinch. Coloring and activities round out the fun.  
 
Waiting Is Not Easy! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) Storytime – On Saturday, December 12, at 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will feature an event celebrating patience and friendship. In Waiting Is Not Easy!, Piggie has a surprise for Gerald, but he is going to have to wait for it. And wait. And wait some more... In the end Gerald discovers the surprise was worth waiting for! Activities will round out the fun.
 
How to Catch Santa Storytime – On Saturday, December 19, at 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble stores celebrate the newest story from the creators of How to Babysit a Grandpa and How to Babysit a Grandma. This hilarious and charming holiday story is filled with advice for aspiring Santa-Catchers! Join us for a jolly How to Catch Santa Storytime for the whole family to enjoy! Coloring and activities to follow.

Special Offers: Customers can purchase How to Catch Santa at the special price of only $7.99 (regularly priced $17.99) and Little Blue Truck’s Christmas for the special price of $7.99 (regularly priced $14.99). These offers end on December 25 or while supplies last.

Additionally, through December 28, customers can buy two Little Golden Books or Dr. Seuss books and get the third free (excluding What Pet Should I Get? and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, regular edition). This offer applies to titles on this fixture only and to titles of equal or lesser value.

During all Barnes & Noble Storytime readings and activities, parents and guardians are encouraged to take pictures and post to their personal social media sites using the hashtag #BNStorytime.

Many stories shared during Barnes & Noble Storytimes may be read on NOOK® by Samsung, a full-featured Android tablet that combines Samsung’s leading technology and NOOK’s extraordinary content and reading experience.
 
Barnes & Noble Storytimes are free and open to the public. All events are subject to change. Customers should visit www.bn.com/storelocator for more information about events at their local store. 

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is a Fortune 500 company, the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.  The Company operates 647 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com).  The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com) and UK (www.nook.co.uk), plus periodicals, comics, apps, movies and TV shows, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS® and Windows®.

One of the Most Sought-After Out-of-Print Children's Books Now Available

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the most sought-after out-of-print children's books, according to Bookfinder.com, is available once again! The Pink Dress, a coming-of-age novel by Anne Alexander, has been a favorite of pre-teens and teens since it was first published in 1959. Out-of-print for decades, editions of The Pink Dress have been selling for as high as $1,000. Readers can now purchase the e-book from their favorite ebook retailer (Apple iBookstore, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, etc), or purchase the print version from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers.

The Pink Dress tells the story of a junior high school student who, because of a boy's ID bracelet, gets in with the cool crowd. When things start to get vandalized, she discovers that maybe the cool crowd isn't so cool. The Pink Dress is a timeless story that still resonates with readers today. The new edition includes a foreword from Sharon Alexander Williams, daughter of the author. 

"After decades of being out-of-print, we are beyond excited that The Pink Dress is available again to readers. Now a whole new generation can enjoy my mom's book," says Sharon Alexander Williams, daughter of Anne Alexander. "If this is your first time reading The Pink Dress, welcome! The original middle-school readers and I are grandmothers now. We are pleased that our daughters and granddaughters love The Pink Dress as much as we did. I bet you'll love it too."

About Graymalkin Media

Graymalkin Media publishes award-winning titles in a variety of formats including print, ebook, and audio. They publish The Pigman by Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Zindel; Nothing Lasts Forever, which was the basis for the blockbuster film Die Hard starring Bruce Willis; The Greatest: My Own Story by Muhammad Ali and Richard Durham; and other prominent authors that include Pulitzer Prize winners, Newbery Honorwinners, and New York Times bestselling authors. They distribute to retailers, libraries, and distribution partners worldwide.

Source Credit: Graymalkin Media

Senior White House Correspondent Releases Funny and Inspiring Book

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 50 years in the White House! That is a long time, and it has been a great honor. Senior White House Correspondent and independent reporter Connie Lawn is now launching the fourth update of her autobiography called, "You Wake Me Each Morning - the Final Chapter."

The book tells of her struggles running an independent news bureau. She also discusses some major highlights. They include one of the last interviews with Bobby Kennedy moments before he was shot in Los Angeles in 1968; beatings in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic Convention; the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia, where she stayed for several months; the 1982 Israeli incursion into Lebanon (where she was briefly kidnapped); and the years of reporting from the White House and other venues.

One of her proudest moments was a meeting with Nelson Mandela who said he listened to her in jail and her reports "gave his people hope." He then picked her up and said, "You are not as big as I thought you were!"

Connie received a Lifetime Achievement Award from New Zealand in 2006 and was appointed an Honorary Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth in 2012.

Connie was born in Long Branch, New Jersey in 1944. She is married to Dr. Charles Sneiderman and has two sons, David and Daniel Rappaport.

Source Credit: Connie Lawn

Former Abercrombie & Fitch Senior Executive Pens Cautionary Tale

NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Nov. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In his new book, FITCH PATH: A Cautionary Tale About A Moose, Millennials, Leadership & Transparency, former chief diversity officerTodd Corley goes inside the iconic brand Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) and explores how Millennials and iGens reshaped the self-conscious symbol of today's American youth, redefined the concept of "coolness," and forged cultural transformation (i.e. Gonzalez v. Abercrombie & Fitch, EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch, Brown et al v. Abercrombie & Fitch).

FITCH PATH examines the needs, wants and expectations of the emerging workforce majority and offers solutions to help prepare today's leaders and organizations for an inevitable reality.  Explains Corley, "We're on the verge of a crisis.  An aging workforce, lack of skilled talent, and outsourced labor are just a few of the significant labor shifts impacting workplaces today. Within five years, 53 percent of the workforce will be women, 50 percent will be Millennials, and 40 percent will be people of color.  Despite increasing demands for inclusion and equality, many global organizations are resistant to change their work models. Leaders must recognize that 'resistance is futile': inclusion is a mandate and transparency is the new normal."

Dubbed by The Huffington Post as "The Man Who Made Abercrombie & Fitch Less White," Corley witnessed the impact of Millennials and rising iGens during his 10 years (2004 – 2014) at A&F.  His vast accomplishments include architecting a landmark diversity initiative that resulted in a 626% increase in racial and ethnic diversity; leading national movements to erase exclusion, ban bullying and champion inclusion; and creating a 10M-strong international groundswell around model behavior and peer accountability. He exited the company in July 2014 to launch the TAPO Institute, a strategic think tank and consultancy focused on inclusive leadership.

Todd Corley is founder of The TAPO Institute, where he advises C-Suite executives and Senior Leadership Teams on how to engage and develop talent, build organizational agility and cultivate innovation. Before Abercrombie & Fitch, Corley created the diversity strategy for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. He was also a senior consultant for global diversity and change management at Towers Perrin (now Towers Watson), working with The New York Stock Exchange, JPMorganChase, Pfizer, Toys R Us, Goldman Sachs, PepsiCo and many others clients.

Source Credit: TAPO Institute

Author Alaric "Al Necro" Cabiling Has Released His Debut Work of Literary Short Fiction

Photo Credit: PR Newswire

RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Author Alaric Cabiling published "Insanity By Increments," in March 04, 2015 in eBook format.  Now, "Insanity By Increments" is available in both electronic and print media formats from all major online retailers worldwide.  Fans of paperback print media will love "Insanity By Increments" bold design. 

"Insanity By Increments," a collection of short stories, examines the darker side of the human condition with characters that reveal humanity in the midst of distress. Author Alaric Cabiling has one of the most distinct authorial voices in literature today, putting his penchant for subtlety and persuasive language on display in his debut work of fiction.

Two brothers test fate. A father mourns the loss of his child. An old abandoned home is the scene of a final journey into the past. A man revisits the scene of a one-night stand. Each story is unforgiving in its attempt at revealing the transcendental from the mundane.

Reviews of Insanity By Increments have helped spread acclaim for Cabiling's work. 

"Modern literary short fiction is not unusual: many attempt it; relatively few do it well - especially in the style of the gothic horror approach so aptly explored by Poe, Hawthorne, and other greats. That's why it's such a pleasure to read Insanity by Increments: it takes some of the methods and madness of these greats and moves a step further, presenting nine short stories of contemplation and quiet horror." - Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review

"Cabiling is a master at creating moods, especially those which border on the macabre, the obsessive and the melancholy. Each word seems selected carefully, examined and put in place just so, and the flawed and flailing characters he peoples his work with become almost familiar to the reader as he himself is...and that's a pretty scary thing, and the handiwork of a powerful and creative writer." - Jack Magnus, Readers Favorite

Source Credit: Alaric Cabiling Ltd.