January 2009 Archives

YBP Library Services, Inc. today announced the availability of fully customizable MARC records for all titles included in Oxford Scholarship Online eBook Collections. Oxford University Press initially launched Oxford Scholarship Online, a vast and rapidly expanding cross-searchable library which now offers quick and easy access to the full text of 2,556 Oxford books, in a subscription database in 2003, and added the perpetual purchase option in 2005. At least 450 new and recently-published books are added each year. YBP Library Services, a Baker & Taylor company and the world's largest provider of materials to academic libraries, began offering Oxford Scholarship Online to its customers late last year.

Now, whether you choose to purchase one, two or all of the 16 available subject collections YBP can easily deliver cataloging for the content of those collections, including the new updates as released. "This eContent Cataloging Service enhances our extensive technical service offerings to libraries and consortia with the option of full and customized MARC records for all titles in the Oxford Scholarship Online (OSO) library. At YBP, we continue our commitment to provide an unparalleled level of service and workflow support to our customers," said Mark Kendall Senior Vice President of Sales at YBP Library Services.

"Oxford University Press is pleased that YBP Library Services is able to provide this excellent service, enabling our mutual customers to more easily and quickly integrate Oxford Scholarship Online titles into library catalogs to ensure visibility to the end users," noted Rebecca Seger, Marketing and Sales Director, Oxford University Press. "Scholarly monographs are the foundation of the Oxford University Press publishing program and enabling the acquisition and cataloging of the e-versions to be more seamless to libraries is an essential development. YBP's eContent Cataloging Service is a perfect fit for our Oxford Scholarship Online Collection."

About YBP Library Services

YBP Library Services, a Baker & Taylor company, provides books and supporting collection management and technical services to academic, research, and special libraries in North America and around the world. GOBI(R), YBP's online, interactive bibliographic information service, provides access to 2.0 million titles in an English-language database. YBP's corporate headquarters are in Contoocook, New Hampshire, USA. Further information about the company is available on their web site, www.ybp.com.

About Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press, Inc. (OUP-US) is affiliated with Oxford University Press in the United Kingdom (OUP-UK), a department of Oxford University. OUP, Inc is a nonprofit publisher and the largest university press in the US. OUP, Inc. publishes works that further Oxford University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship and education. OUP, Inc. has become familiar to millions through a diverse publishing program that includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, Bibles, music, school and college textbooks, business and economic books, online scholarly resource sites, dictionaries and reference books, and academic journals.

OUP, Inc. produces approximately 500 new titles a year, of which about half are scholarly research monographs, and imports close to 800 titles from OUP-UK and other branch offices around the world. OUP, Inc. has ~5,000 scholarly books in print and stocks another 8,700 import titles. All publications are first vetted by OUP delegates, who are leading scholars at Oxford University and other top US institutions.

Between its offices in New York City and the Research Triangle of North Carolina, OUP, Inc. employs close to 700 individuals in the US. The U.S. books garner numerous awards each year from academic and professional societies.

 
 
SOURCE YBP Library Services, Inc.
 

Publisher is Children's Book Press of San Francisco www.childrensbookpress.org

The Texas Library Association named Quinito, Day and Night / Quinito, dia y noche from San Francisco's Children's Book Press (http://www.childrensbookpress.org) one of the top 20 books in 2008, selecting the book for their prestigious Texas 2 x 2 Reading List.

Quinito, Day and Night, a delightful story about opposites, is a follow-up to the hugely popular and well-received title, Quinito's Neighborhood / El vecindario de Quinito. Author Ina Cumpiano reunites with artist Jose Ramirez to craft a playful reminder that no matter where you look -- high or low, left or right -- opposites are everywhere.

The Texas 2 x 2 List represents the best new books published each year for two-year-olds to second graders. Over 840 books were considered this year, and the finalists are recommended for use to parents, teachers, librarians, day care providers, and early childhood specialists. In addition to preparing the list, children's librarians also developed reading tips designed to help parents and educators enhance a child's reading experience and develop healthy learning patterns.

About the Author & Artist:

Jose Ramirez was born in Los Angeles California. A gifted artist, he is also a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. His paintings, sculptures, and tile murals have been shown in museums, galleries, bookstores, coffee shops, and public spaces in the United States and abroad.

Ina Cumpiano is a Puerto Rican poet and translator who lives in a bustling neighborhood in San Francisco, California. She has published nearly twenty books for children. She edits books for teachers, plays with her eleven grandchildren (big and small), writes poems (good and bad), and travels (near and far).

About Children's Book Press:

Founded in 1975, Children's Book Press (CBP) has been a pioneer in creating authentic, first-voice literature that aims to give young readers a sense of their history, culture, and importance. The award-winning press currently publishes cutting-edge literature from the Latino, African American, Asian American, and Native American communities.

For more information about Quinito, Day and Night or to arrange an interview with the awarding-winning author and artist team, contact Christina Troup at ctroup@childrensbookpress.org or (866) 935-2665 ext. 13.

 
 
SOURCE Children's Book Press
 

'The Hundred-Year Diet': Guidelines and Recipes for a Long and Vigorous Life

One in every 1,000 Americans will spend today in a hospital bed. By some estimates, half of those hospitalizations could have been prevented. As obesity replaces smoking as the leading cause of degenerative illness, many people are attempting to adopt better eating and health habits. However, with so much information floating around about what's healthy and what's not, sorting through it all can be a daunting task. In their new book, "The Hundred-Year Diet: Guidelines and Recipes for a Long and Vigorous Life" (published by iUniverse), Dr. Blair and Sue Beebe separate what is fact and what is fad to present a true roadmap for a long and healthy life.

The life span of the modern human should be around 100 years. However, the National Center for Health Statistics states that the average life span is approximately 78 years. Why is this? Many people succumb to degenerative illness and premature death as a direct result of their health habits over the course of their lifetime. The first chapter of "The Hundred-Year Diet" says it all: "We Can Prevent Most Causes of Early Disability and Death."

From the first page the Beebes deliver suggestions based on hard data presented by institutions such as the CDC, Johns Hopkins, the Department of Health and Human Services as well as years of personal experience as a physician and researcher. Whether they are talking about proper diet or the recommended duration of exercise in relation to age, "The Hundred-Year Diet" is based solely on clinical research and medical fact.

However, "The Hundred-Year Diet" doesn't just preach the tenants of healthy living; it gives the reader suggestions on how to implement those ideas in everyday life. "The Hundred-Year Diet" even includes a series of recipes from around the world that combine healthy cooking with haute cuisine.

"'The Hundred-Year Diet' reviews the principles of disease prevention with an emphasis on reducing risk factors that pose the greatest danger to good health. Although it does not pretend to offer a magic formula for fast weight reduction, following the nutritional guidelines consistently will result in a more permanent normalization of weight. Strong evidence supports the conclusion that a poor diet underlies many serious chronic diseases."

While born in Detroit, Sue Beebe grew up in New Jersey. She attended Rutgers University and went on to earn her Master's in Microbiology from San Jose State. She has taught microbiology on the collegiate level at two universities and was the Chairman of Biology Department at Pinewood Prep School in Los Altos, CA.

Dr. Blair Beebe is Board-certified in Internal Medicine. He grew up in New Jersey and holds degrees from Penn State, Thomas Jefferson University and Stanford. He has been a professor of medicine, as well as having worked in private practice, for over thirty years.

The Beebes live in Portola Valley, just south of San Francisco, and have four children and eight grandchildren.

iUniverse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit www.iuniverse.com.

    EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:

    Promotional Services Department
    Tel: 800-288-4677
    Fax: 812-961-3133
    Email: pj.rutar@iuniverse.com
    (When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

 
 
SOURCE iUniverse
 

MRC members to be placed at sites across the state to help at-risk students learn to read

Last year, Minnesota Reading Corps exceeded its ambitious recruitment goal, enlisting and placing a record 367 AmeriCorps members in Minnesota schools for the 2008-2009 school year. But the need for trained reading tutors continues to increase. To help ensure that all of the state's children are on track to read, Minnesota Reading Corps has increased its recruitment goal to more than 400 members for the 2009-2010 school year. Applications are being accepted starting this week. As part of the increased effort to recruit additional members, MRC has also launched a revamped Web site, www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org.

Minnesota Reading Corps (MRC) recruits and trains AmeriCorps members to provide extra support for children who are at risk for not reading at their grade level. Full-time and part-time positions are available in locations around the state, including elementary schools, Head Start programs, community preschools, and ECFE classrooms.

"Despite last year's successes in recruiting and placing more members in the state's schools than ever before, it quickly became apparent that we needed to ramp up our efforts even more in 2009," says Sheila Piippo, Director of the Minnesota Reading Corps. "There's still a huge need for trained people to help Minnesota children learn this critical skill." In 2008-2009, MRC placed 367 members in 161 schools across the state.

Minnesota Reading Corps members commit to a year of service that begins in August. In addition to receiving valuable hands-on experience, MRC AmeriCorps members earn up to $4,725 to pay for college or to pay back federal student loans, a modest living allowance and for full-time members, health insurance. Members can also defer federal student loans while they serve. MRC members surveyed frequently report that their career plans have been positively influenced by their service.

"What we do helps determine children's futures," says David Freedman, a Minneosta Reading Corps member placed at Bamber Valley Elementary School in Rochester. "Helping kids make significant and measurable progress in literacy skills is important, but it doesn't match the delight in seeing light bulbs go on and watching kids cultivate a joy of reading. We are helping to make profound differences in children's lives."

MRC places members as either a Classroom Member, embedded into a classroom of children ages 3 to 5 to help kids develop early literacy skills in preparation for kindergarten; a Literacy Tutor, who works one-on-one with children in kindergarten through third grade; or a Volunteer Coordinator, who is placed in an elementary school to recruit, train and manage volunteers who dedicate time to help young children learn to read. Members receive extensive training and are equipped with effective literacy instruction methods.

ABOUT MINNESOTA READING CORPS

Minnesota Reading Corps is a statewide initiative to help every Minnesota child become a successful reader. The program matches trained AmeriCorps members and community volunteers with children from age 3 to third grade who are at risk for not reading at grade level. AmeriCorps members either serve directly with children to provide individualized literacy instruction or recruit community volunteer tutors to work one-on-one with children. Members serve in multiple locations around the state. For more information, visit www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org, or call (651) 251-9075 or toll-free (866) 859-2825.

 
 
SOURCE Minnesota Reading Corps
 

At an early age, Nevine Salvade was blessed with the gift of life among many different lands, cultures, races, creeds and religions. Having lived on three different continents, Salvade quickly learned to love the differences in people as well as to sing and speak five different languages. In her first novel, "C OM PASSION: A journey into self - into the light - and a path toward peace" (published by AuthorHouse - http://www.authorhouse.com), Salvade now strives to awaken inner voices and aid in bringing about a new consciousness.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Salvade grew up in war-torn Lebanon, and spent summers in Switzerland and France. Witnessing her parents' struggle in their passionate marriage, Salvade also experienced the struggle of war and man's inhumanity to man due to greed, lack of compassion and lack of connectedness. Salvade's search for meaning and purpose soon led her to the discovery of her own inner, innate gifts as well as a connection with the spiritual realm. That connection brought forth in Salvade a message of love and understanding she hopes to spread throughout the world: the message of compassion and the introspection into one planet and one humanity.

Synchronicity, a coincidence that seems to be meaningfully related, is something in Salvade's experience that has driven events in her life that she believes were meant to occur for her spiritual growth. Through witnessing war, the different faiths in the world, and humane imperfections, she was encouraged through synchronicity to write "C OM PASSION."

Salvade believes the world could find peace if only its inhabitants could learn to search within, and accept others' differences with more compassion. Discover through Salvade's experiences the message of "C OM PASSION": C - for Compassion, Creating life, Caring, inner Calm; OM - meaning "mother" in the Arabic language - one that creates, nurtures, and safeguards life; PASSION - a word that can carry the weight of anger, destructiveness, fanaticism, and murder or that can embrace the meaning of love, creation, and enlightenment.

Salvade writes in the Foreword to "C OM PASSION": "I hope that through my experiences you can recognize and accept the imperfect humanity of each and every one of us, and allow yourself the space and acceptance to grow slowly, not pressured by the outside world, the media, or your surroundings. My wish is to help you renew with the initial reason for your being; that of loving oneself and others, that of forgiving self and others, that of reconnecting with our inner self, humanity, and the universe. Above all, to learn how to let go of judgment, anger, greed, ego, pride, fear, and to embrace forgiveness, happiness, generosity, compassion, acceptance, plurality, differences and self."

About the Author: Nevine Salvade continues to travel throughout the Middle East, Europe, America and beyond. Salvade resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her family.

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher (http://www.authorhouse.com) for emerging, self-published (http://www.authorhouse.com/GetPublished/FAQ.aspx) authors. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com.

    EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:

    Bobbi Vaughn
    Tel: 800-839-8640 ext. 5560
    Fax: 812-961-3133
    Email: rvaughn@authorsolutions.com
    (When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address)

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

 
 
SOURCE AuthorHouse
 

Anyone who has suffered a rocky relationship knows that words left unspoken can cause more damage than confrontational conversations. In her new novel, "Things Not Said" (published by AuthorHouse - http://www.authorhouse.com), Mitzi G. Tzerman introduces readers to three characters dealing with personal tragedy whose lives impact each other more than they realize.

Tzerman whisks readers to the South, where the beautiful beaches and rich history of Charleston, S.C. set the background for this suspenseful tale of romance, friendship and a touch of fear.

What should have been the happiest day of Melissa Isaacson's life takes a terrible turn. Having just received news that she is expecting a child, she waits for her husband, John, to come home to share her excitement. Before she can break the news, he announces he is leaving her. What John does not say is that he has just been diagnosed with cancer and feels Melissa is better off with someone else.

Melissa goes through her pregnancy alone, still in the dark as to why John suddenly left. Just as suddenly as her husband's departure, a new friend enters her life. Jennifer Crawson, a new resident of Charleston, applies for a job at Melissa's store and the two instantly click. When Melissa suffers a serious accident, Jennifer rescues her and stays by her side as mother and newborn child recover.

Coincidentally, Jennifer and John have known each other since college, and Jennifer seeks out her old friend soon after she moves to town. Melissa catches the two sharing an innocent moment in the hospital, where John is being treated for his cancer. Devastated, Melissa escapes to Edisto Beach, a place that has always comforted her. Despite her friend's sudden cold shoulder, Jennifer insists on tagging along in case Melissa has not fully recovered from her traumatic childbirth.

The two women struggle with mounting tension in their secluded spot at Edisto Beach. Because of things not said, misunderstanding threatens to break apart their friendship. Jennifer holds the key to Melissa's peace of mind, as only Jennifer knows the truth about what John is going through.

As the suspense builds, readers learn whether this beautiful stranger has the power to bring Melissa and John back together. At the same time, Jennifer has her own demons she must face, and a dangerous part of her life becomes a threat to them all.

About the Author: Photographer and freelance writer Mitzi G. Tzerman has displayed her work throughout Columbia, S.C. The cover art for "Things Not Said" is a photograph she took at the Shorter Mansion in Eufaula, Ala. Tzerman earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing at the University of Tennessee and completed The Writer's Digest School of Novel Writing and Writing for Profit. She has been poetry editor and editor of "Early Spring Literary Magazine." An avid writer at a young age, Tzerman received awards for her work in high school. She has been published in "Treasured Poems of America" (Sparrowgrass Press, 1997), "Best Poems of the '90s" and "Beneath The Harvest Moon" (National Library of Poetry). She currently works at The Korn Law Firm in Columbia, S.C. "Things Not Said" is her first book.

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher (http://www.authorhouse.com) for emerging, self-published (http://www.authorhouse.com/GetPublished/FAQ.aspx) authors. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com.

    EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:

    Promotional Services Department
    Tel: 888-728-8467 ext. 5192
    Fax: 812-961-3133
    Email: rvaughn@authorhouse.com
    (When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

 
 
SOURCE AuthorHouse
 

The senior care marketplace is booming, and so is the demand for products and services relating to the care of older Americans. In response, SeniorCareMarketer.com has released a new eBook designed to help suppliers reach buyers and stand apart from the competition.

The complimentary eBook -- titled "How to Reach and Engage Buyers of Senior Care Products and Convert Them to Leads" -- is authored by Mark Willaman, founder of Fisher Vista, LLC, and SeniorCareMarketer.com. Willaman draws from nearly 20 years of expertise to help readers achieve increased publicity, web site traffic, improved SEO and greater sales leads.

"Increasing numbers of companies are entering the senior care market, ranging from medical supply firms to assisted living," said Willaman. "Yet many senior care suppliers are unprepared for the competition they will soon face. The challenge is to deliver a targeted message to each potential purchasing influencer without breaking the bank."

Chapters focus on the following topics: "Strategy, Messaging and the Search-Optimized Marketing Website," "Promotion," "Integration with Other Marketing Activities" and "Content. Content. Content." Webinars, blogs, advertising, social networking and events are also covered, and the eBook concludes with a sample six-month marketing plan.

    Two key challenges are identified:
    *  The need to reach purchasing influencers such as family caregivers,
       medical doctors, nurses, homecare agencies, hospitals, geriatric care
       managers, pharmacists, assisted living facilities, social service
       agencies, physical therapists, financial planners and even seniors
       themselves.
    *  Standing out in an increasingly-crowded marketplace. Willaman noted
       that many vendors view marketing as a luxury, and pay for sporadic
       marketing campaigns only when they have a few extra dollars in their
       budget."Many locally-owned companies who once enjoyed a near monopoly in their area are waking up to find competition, often from companies or franchises based out of state with significant marketing budgets," he added. "Suddenly, what worked yesterday no longer works as effectively and the little things like a quality web site begin to make a big difference."

The complimentary eBook is available for download at http://www.seniorcaremarketer.com/ebook or http://www.seniorcaremarketer.com/

About Fisher Vista, LLC

Fisher Vista, LLC (http://www.fishervista.com) is a marketing and information services firm focusing on the senior care and human capital industries. The company's flagship product is HRmarketer.com, the No. 1 online marketing and PR service in the human resources industry, and Senior Care Marketer (http://www.SeniorCareMarketer.com). Both help service providers get noticed and get sales leads through increased publicity, website traffic and improved search engine rankings.

 
 
SOURCE Fisher Vista, LLC

First public briefing for executives, economists, government leaders, and the press to be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC

"An informative must-read for anyone interested in taking corporate health care to the next level by better serving employees and saving money." Adam Zagorin, Senior Correspondent, Time Magazine

Sreedhar Potarazu, M.D., M.B.A., has worked as an industry leader in all aspects of health care. His mission in Get off the Dime is simple and profound: to change the purchasing and delivery of health care for the benefit of every consumer in the U.S.

His answer to the many woes that inhabit the current system is helping corporations and consumers understand how technology can improve the cost and quality of health care. As he maintains, consumers use technology to make decisions when purchasing cars, computers, clothes, and the like, so why hasn't this same approach worked for health care?

Because, Dr. Potarazu emphasizes, "There simply isn't enough transparency in the system to help heath care consumers make informed decisions." Launching a software company that enabled employers and employees to leverage technology to become smarter purchasers of health care gave Dr. Potarazu a comprehensive perspective on how dollars flow through the system. As he explains, empowering the purchasers of health care will drive the same kinds of quality changes that have occurred in other industries.

Many large companies have taken note and changed the way they purchase health care based on Dr. Potarazu's recommendations. If you want to understand how to purchase health care or better understand how your health care currently is purchased, Get off the Dime is a must read, and participating in Dr. Potarazu's national tour is likewise recommended.

"Smart engaged consumers will eventually drive efficiency into the health care system. Get off the Dime offers a blueprint to accelerate this movement." Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, health expert for The Oprah Winfrey Show and co-author with Dr. Michael Roizen of You: The Owner's Manual; You: The Smart Patient; and You: On a Diet

See book cover and download complete information in PDF here: http://www.independentpublisher.com/includes/target_media/tm_potarazu.pdf

 
 
SOURCE National Press Club - Catering
 

Solano County Library will welcome the New Year by offering several financial programs to inform the public on the current financial climate, and provide information and tips for weathering present economic issues. The free programs offered in eight locations between San Francisco and Sacramento provide "in person" help to go along with the Library's collection of books, magazines, DVDs and databases on personal finance and business matters. A homebuyers seminar, credit repair workshop, Quicken class, reverse mortgage seminar and a visit from a foreclosure expert are examples of some of the programs to be held from January through March 2009.

In addition to these workshops, and with tax season quickly approaching, Solano County Library has also prepared a financial fair to address banking options, financial aid resources, foreclosure information, and credit counseling. The Super Saturday Free Tax Prep will be available three different Saturdays over three months, and will be focused on individuals making $45,000 or less.

For teens the library is offering several workshops addressing the issues of college financial aid and admission. College-bound students will have several opportunities to take a free practice SAT/PSAT exams. Also available to students will be discussions about vocational careers and military occupations.

A complete listing of events is available at www.solanolibrary.com .

 
 
SOURCE Solano County Library
 

FamilyLife Weekend to Remember event to be held Feb. 13 - 15

FamilyLife, the global, non-profit leader in marriage conferences, will present Weekend to Remember in Dallas on Feb. 13 - 15. The Weekend to Remember marriage conference aims to strengthen healthy marriages and heal troubled ones in an engaging, supportive and non-threatening environment. Speakers at the Dallas conference will include Dr. Dennis Rainey, president, CEO and co-founder of FamilyLife. The Valentine's Day weekend event marks Dr. Rainey's only scheduled Weekend to Remember appearance this year.

Dr. Rainey and his wife Barbara, who co-founded FamilyLife in 1976, have chosen to attend the Dallas conference because of volunteer and participant involvement and their strong commitment to strengthening marriages in the area. More than 600 volunteers assist with the FamilyLife ministry in Dallas, and since the city's first Weekend to Remember conference in 1982, attendance has increased by over 650 percent.

"Of the 100+ markets where FamilyLife hosts a Weekend to Remember, Dallas is by far one of our strongest markets. The DFW area has one of our largest radio audiences, and the Dallas Weekend to Remember conferences always draw some of the events' largest crowds," said Dr. Dennis Rainey, who hosts the nationally syndicated radio program FamilyLife Today. "We are so inspired by the Dallas community's commitment to family and marriage, and we are proud to be a part of it."

Valentine's Day weekend will kick off Weekend to Remember's 2009 series of more than 130 scheduled conferences across the US. The Dallas event is expected to be one of the largest events of the year, with more than 2,500 attendees anticipated. The conference is being held at the Gaylord Texan Resort (1501 Gaylord Trail in Grapevine) and will feature Dr. Dennis Rainey as well as three other key speakers.

"While this conference can assist those couples looking for an overhaul, it's also a positive way to impact and fine-tune all marriages," said Dr. Rainey. "We live in stressful, distracting times, and amid the blur of modern life it becomes alarmingly easy for couples to grow apart. That's why it's critical to strengthen your connection before the gap between you grows too wide. We developed the Weekend to Remember program to do just that: help couples enhance and strengthen their marital bonds."

Since marrying in 1972, the Rainey's have been devoted to supporting families by strengthening marriages. They have also have co-written eight books on relationships and family issues, including the best-selling Moments with You, Building Your Mate's Self-Esteem, Pressure Proof Your Marriage and Rekindling the Romance. Dr. Dennis Rainey graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in biblical studies.

"If more than 30 years of marriage have taught me anything, it's that you can really never stop working on your relationship - both struggling and healthy marriages require constant effort," said Barbara Rainey, co-founder of FamilyLife and best-selling author. "It's amazing how quickly complacency can lead to neglect. Weekend to Remember conferences are so beneficial because they provide practical and accessible ways to remind couples why they got married in the first place, so they can reignite that spark and maintain its glow."

Couples interested in more information or registering for an upcoming FamilyLife Weekend to Remember conference can visit www.familylife.com/weekend or call 1-800-FLTODAY (1-800-358-6329). To donate to FamilyLife, a 501c3 non- profit organization that assists couples in Dallas and around the world build healthier marriages and families, please visit www.familylife.com.

About FamilyLife

For more than three decades FamilyLife, a global non-profit organization co-founded by Dr. Dennis and Barbara Rainey, has focused on the mission of using practical, biblical principles to build healthier marriages and families through conferences and media channels. FamilyLife, a 501c3, works in 100 countries around the world to help to transform lives and restore hope through its Weekend to Remember marriage conferences, Homebuilders Bible studies, FamilyLife Today radio broadcasts, Hope for Orphans orphan care ministry, FamilyLife publications, and the internet. For more information visit FamilyLife.com.

 
 
SOURCE FamilyLife
 

 Whitman Publishing, LLC, has released a hands-on "Collector's Vault" honoring Barack Obama's life and historic presidential campaign. The 144-page coffee table book is a combination history, scrapbook, and photo album, packed with souvenir replicas such as buttons, posters, campaign staff passes, and tickets.

The Obama Collector's Vault debuts nationwide at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Costco, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart and other book outlets Tuesday, January 13. It is also available at www.WhitmanBooks.com, or by calling 1-800-546-2995.

Written by political veteran Avery Krut, the $49.95 book covers every aspect of Barack Obama's life and historic campaign for the Presidency, combining elements of scrapbook, photo album and souvenir treasure trove.

Among the Vault's colorful pages are more than 50 separate pieces of Obama memorabilia, including reproductions of his birth certificate, high school yearbook photographs, family snapshots and historic speeches-plus collectible postcards, bumper stickers and campaign posters.

All of the personalities are here in Krut's dramatic narrative: Hillary and Bill Clinton, John McCain and Sarah Palin, Joe Biden and Joe the Plumber. But, in the end, the Obama Collector's Vault is the story of one remarkable American and his family.

Readers for generations to come can relive the heady days of the Obama '08 Campaign from hopeful beginnings to its landmark conclusion. They can also revisit the stirring words of Barack Obama's most important speeches, including the electrifying 2004 Convention Keynote and "American Promise," the 2008 Acceptance Speech that moved tens of thousands in Denver's Mile High Stadium.

Historic photographs will take you from Barack's first tricycle to the triumphant night in Chicago's Grant Park when he became the President-Elect-- from the shy young man in Hawaii to the confident leader about to assume his rightful place on the chart of all 44 American Presidents that concludes this historic keepsake.

Along the way, you'll see images that have become icons alongside rare photos of Barack with his family in Kenya. There's even an order form to acquire an 8 x 10" Commemorative Inaugural Photograph of President Obama after he takes the oath for just $10.

The Barack Obama Collector's Vault was produced by Whitman Publishing-- innovative publishers of antique, collectible and sports publications-- available on the Web at www.whitmanbooks.com.

 
 
SOURCE Whitman Publishing, LLC
 

Sony Online Entertainment Kicks Off Anniversary Celebration for Legendary Online Video Game

It has been a decade since Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) rewrote the rules and forever changed the video game industry with its massively multiplayer online game, EverQuest(R).

To celebrate the historic milestone, today SOE held a private event at the Consumer Electronics Show to unveil the exclusive cover art being used for an upcoming book that recounts how the story of Norrath became a global phenomenon and attracted millions of players.

The art for EverQuest: The 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition, created by master artist Donato Giancola, shows iconic elf princess Firiona Vie leading a band of adventurers into battle against an evil wizard and his enormous dragon ally in the Swamp of No Hope.

"We are thrilled that a talented artist such as Donato has created an exclusive masterpiece in honor of the celebration of the EQ legacy," said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. "The cover brings together a special selection of EverQuest artwork and documents the quintessence of an intensive creative process over the last decade."

EverQuest: The 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition celebrates EverQuest's legacy by taking a look at the past, present and future of the brand. The book, written by veteran video game book author Rusel DeMaria, includes essays and photographs of the events, products, personalities and art that graced the world of Norrath over the years. Rich in vivid detail, each page will help tell the story of the evolution and its place in our culture.

SOE will also hold special events around the country in honor of the 10th Anniversary of EverQuest throughout 2009.

The book, published by BradyGames, will be available for purchase online and at select retailers in North America later this year for a suggested retail price of $49.99. Pre-orders are available at www.bradygames.com/everquest10.

About the artist:

Donato Giancola balances modern abstract concepts with realism in his paintings to bridge the worlds of figurative and non-representational arts. From "The Lord of the Rings" to Gericault's "Raft of the Medusa," Donato's influences encompass visits to the local game shops and pilgrimages to the greatest of museums. Donato recognizes the significant cultural role played by visual art and makes personal efforts to contribute to the expansion and appreciation of the science fiction and fantasy genre that extend beyond the commercial commissions of his clients. To those ends, the artist teaches at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and appears at various institutions, tournaments and conventions, from San Diego to Rome to Moscow, where he performs demonstrations in oil paint and lectures on his aesthetics.

About the author:

Rusel DeMaria is the author or coauthor of more than 60 books, most of them in the gaming field, including Myst: The Official Strategy Guide, which sold more than 1.2 million copies, as well as one of the most comprehensive histories of the industry, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games. He founded and served as creative director for the most successful strategy guide publishing imprint in the industry and is a former senior editor and columnist for several national video game magazines.

About Sony Online Entertainment:

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest(R), EverQuest(R) II, Champions of Norrath(R), Untold Legends(TM) and PlanetSide(R), as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies(TM), SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

SOE, the SOE logo, EverQuest and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. Untold Legends and Legends of Norrath are trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

 
 
SOURCE Sony Online Entertainment LLC
 

Atlanta authors Michael C. Finley and Honza Fedak introduced their debut book on leadership careers for software developers today on Amazon.com.

During a time of economic uncertainty, globalization and technological transition, upward career mobility has never seemed more distant for many professional software developers. Yet this large segment of the U.S. economy needs leadership, innovation and high productivity like never before.

"Most developers think about leadership but never understand it well enough to make a career move," comments Daniel Bassett, Chief Technology Officer of ApolloMD in Atlanta. "I like this book because it provides so many perspectives on career change that a technical person will feel educated and confident about taking on the challenge."

The authors draw on their own experiences emerging from technical roles into organizational management, building economic engines for the software industry. They encourage others to pursue a similar path through simple lessons, dozens of concrete examples and lighthearted comics.

"The title is computer code -- read as 'you dot next' and meaning 'Hey, You! Get on with your career!'" says co-author Finley. "That's what's going to rescue the industry -- when the best talent steps forward and takes charge instead of being frozen by fear of things that are not within their control."

Unique in its genre, You.next() is a business career book expressly written for technical people. As such, it forges new opportunities for stagnant careers and at once fuels the next wave of corporate achievement.

"I like the format because I can hand it out to key people on a Friday and expect a new attitude the following Monday," says Robert Bausum, development manager at Planet Payment, Inc. in Atlanta.

    Title: You.next()
    Subtitle: Move Your Software Development Career to the Leadership Track
    Authors: Michael C. Finley and Honza Fedak
    ISBN-10: 1439205590
    ISBN-13: 978-1439205594
    Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
    Pages: 288 (8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches)
    Media: paperback, e-book
    Website & blog: www.youdotnext.com
    Publication Date: December 17, 2008
    Language: English
    To place an order: Amazon.com ($15.95 in paperback or $7.95 as e-book)

 
 
SOURCE You.next()
 

"Psych Yourself Skinny" is a creative, fun and brutally honest look at your FAT self, with a 28-day schedule of meditations, freestyle dance tips, meal ideas, daily "skinny" psych sessions, explicit visual motivators and blunt advice on how to make a big change, real fast. This book will spark your creative psyche and help you cross over that bridge from your fat self to your skinny self, even if you're not creative. This book has a five star rating and retails for $14.95 online at Amazon.com. It is also available in many bookstores. Read more testimonials at http://www.PsychYourselfSkinny.com.

"Psych Yourself Skinny started out as a weight loss program written for my eyes only," says Sharon Geisen Hayes, the author, "but then it evolved into a funny little entertainment book full of laughs that I wanted to share with others who face the same struggle with weight control. It has solid weight loss advice, but it's also for those who can laugh at themselves and not take 'the diet thing' too serious."

Nationally known for her contemporary figurative "sophisticatedly fun" oil paintings (http://www.HayesFineArts.com) featuring abstract figures with eye- sharing faces, artist/author Hayes also has another humor book in the works for 2009 titled: "Bobbie" based on the actual accounts of a nanny who once hired by Hayes, reveals that she is a psychic. Hayes also discovers her many illnesses and ultimately becomes her caregiver and friend until Bobbie dies. "This story will make for a 'laugh out loud' movie," says Hayes.

About Psych Yourself Skinny

"Psych Yourself Skinny" Lose Weight the Fun & Creative Way! By Author/Artist Sharon Geisen Hayes is a humorous and entertaining weight loss book for 2009, with a 28-day schedule of meditations, freestyle dance tips, meal ideas, daily "skinny" psych sessions, explicit visual motivators and blunt advice on how to make a big change, real fast. Visit http://www.psychyourselfskinny.com/PYS/ to learn more.

 
 
SOURCE Psych Yourself Skinny
 

BooksOnBoard, the web's premiere ebookstore, has released over 30,000 eBook titles for iPhones. iPhone owners can now get most new release books anywhere on either Apple iPhone or iTouch with direct downloads to the device through the AT&T 3G network or through local wireless networks. Titles must be in the eReader eBook format and include, among 30,000+ others, titles by Gena Showalter, Nora Roberts, Michael Connelly, David Baldacci, Stieg Larsson, Susan Mallery, and Harlequin's One Click Buy January Blaze Bundle.

Users currently require the free Stanza application found in the iPhone apps store in order to download and read the books. Detailed, easy instructions for new users can be found at http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?F=iPhone_ebooks .

"This provides another way for our customers to keep their reading with them at all times," said Bob LiVolsi, president of BooksOnBoard, "eBooks are about portability, convenience, and being green."

He added, "Apple's iPhone and iTouch devices are the first of many for which we will be enabling for our customers. Most eBooks can reside on several devices at once for personal use without violating copyright. In this way, our readers can have a read-able copy of a title on their iPhone, on their notebook, and on their PC or Mac at the same time. The eReader format is limited in that it does not work on any of the dedicated readers, but it is a leap forward for the format. For dedicated eBook reading devices, we offer Mobipocket for the Cybook, and Adobe for the Sony Reader."

There are several ebook readers available on the iPhone currently with more expected in the coming year. BooksOnBoard plans to work with any of them that allow its customers to read popular new titles from the publishing community.

BooksOnBoard also offers over 5,000 MP3 recently released Audio Books which can be downloaded from BooksOnBoard and added to iTunes for inclusion on iPhone, iTouch, and iPod.

"We will continue to work to bring as much content as possible to customers with, wherever possible, solutions open to everyone," said Nathan Johnson, BooksOnBoard Director of Operations. "Our first iPhone release in November was with over 1,000 industry standard DRM-free ePUB books from Samhain Publishing and Abbey House Press, and we recently partnered with Harlequin and Stanza to bring free ePUB titles for people to try on their iPhones. We will work to support every quality publisher that wants to bring easily accessible digital content to readers."

BooksOnBoard ( www.booksonboard.com ) is an online retailer of eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, Sony PRS-505 ebook readers, Sony PRS-700 ebook readers, and Cybook ebook readers. Known for strong customer support, free online tutorials, and aggressive prices, BooksOnBoard has the largest eBook catalog online with almost 300,000 titles.

    Press Release Contact Information:
    Nathan Johnson
    Director of Operations
    BooksOnBoard
    512.828.6444
    info@booksonboard.com
"This release was issued through WebWire(R). For more information visit http://www.webwire.com ."

 
 
SOURCE BooksOnBoard
 

How to build the perfect computer was first published in winter 2008 by author Thomas Thompson. In this book you will find simple ways to find computer parts and construct your own computer at a much cheaper price than most retailers sell computers for. So why wait, pick up your copy of "How to Build the Perfect Computer" today!

    Available at
   http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=1570438
    www.lulu.com
    www.amazon.com

    www.streamlineorlando.com

Marketing firm for authors, we help authors get their publications advertised. We also market for companies looking to find their share in the online market place.

 
 
SOURCE Thomas Thompson
 

As Americans feel more stressed, life coach Valorie Burton says it's not bigger goals, but more joy that gives an advantage

Does economic news have you anxious and stressed? In 2009, focusing on the positive may be more important than ever, says life strategist Valorie Burton, author of How Did I Get So Busy? The 28-Day Plan to Free Your Time, Reclaim Your Schedule and Reconnect with What Matters Most (Broadway). Research confirms that if you create more happiness in your everyday life, you're more likely to get that new job, spend less, attract friendships and be healthier. "People aim for success, believing it will bring happiness, but studies show it works the other way around -- happiness brings greater success," says Burton, who has coached clients in 40 states and seven countries. "Sprinkle uplifting moments throughout your day." Positive emotions help you manage stress.

Commit to small changes that reconnect you with the people and things that matter most:

1. Create "fun goals" -- things you'll do for fun at least once a week

2. Stop hoarding vacation time. Take out the calendar and schedule time off in 2009

3. Take a daily walk with a loved one

4. Sit down as a family for dinner (only 28% of Americans do)

5. Tame your technology habits by having "no email periods" throughout the day

6. Before going to bed, write down three things you are grateful for (You'll sleep better)

7. Say "no" more, so you can say "yes" to the things that matter

8. Get in "flow" with challenging, enjoyable activities

9. Stop eating lunch at your desk (75% of Americans do), and eat with a friend

    10. Every day, do something kind for someone.

    Keep resolutions specific and measurable.  Burton advises:

    -- Set goals that are authentic and meaningful.
    -- Be flexible and make adjustments as you go.
    -- Mark dates to check in on your goals.
    -- Partner with someone who will hold you accountable.
Valorie Burton is the author of several books, including How Did I Get So Busy? and What's Really Holding You Back?. A professional certified coach, she has a master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. www.valorieburton.com.

 
 
SOURCE Valorie Burton