Award-Winning Poet Returns for Edmonton Premiere of Video Poem

For Immediate Release
Monday November 9, 2009

 Award-Winning Poet Returns for Edmonton Premiere of Video Poem

Edmonton, AB- Canadian Métis sound artist and poet Moe Clark returns for the Edmonton premiere of her new spoken word video poem Intersecting Circles on Friday, November 20, 2009 at the Artery. The video was created in collaboration with filmmaker Morganne Klemke and contemporary hoop dancer Geraldine Manossa, and was filmed in the summer-autumn of 2009 in Cypress Hills.

“The evening will be a unique opportunity to hear and see spoken word circle songs not only on the screen but with a live performance by several of Edmonton’s top poets,” says Kathy Fisher, one of the organizers and a special guest on the roster.

The poem Intersecting Circles won the 2007 CBC Calgary Poetry Face-Off and has since become a full stage performance and is now part of a permanent archive collection in Northern Alberta. The new video poem was made with the support of Bravo!Fact, the AFA and the CCA.

Moe Clark has toured extensively across Canada and recently made debut performances in Europe and South America. With a background in voice, spoken word, and visual arts, she creates a lyrical style steeped in ritual and poetic exploration.

“We are thrilled to have Moe back for the Edmonton premiere of her video poem and to show off such amazing talent,” says Fisher. The evening will be emceed by local Raving Poet Mike Gravel, and Kathy Fisher and poet and musician Rebecca Schellenberg will also perform. For those lucky enough to register in time, the Writers Guild of Alberta will present a looping pedal workshop hosted by Moe Clark, geared towards open-minded poets and performers wanting to add more depth to their performance vocabulary.

Intersecting Circles- Spoken Word-Circle Songs with Moe Clark and Guests is being presented by Poetic Departures.

The show takes place at the Artery- 9535 Jasper Avenue, at 8:00pm (doors open at 7:00pm)

Tickets are $10 advance / $12 door and are available at

Blackbyrd Music:  10442 82 Ave (780)439-1273 / www.blackbyrd.ca and

TIX on the Square, 9930-102 Avenue, Sir Winston Churchill Square (780) 420-1757 / www.tixonthesquare.ca.

For more information on the event, contact: Moe Clark at moe.clark@gmail.com / www.myspace.com/moeclarkspokenword
or Kathy Fisher at lawsrch@telusplanet.net (780) 439-9231

To register for the workshop phone (780) 422-8174 or go to www.writersguild.ab.ca or

Contact Rita Espeschit at respeschit@writersguild.ab.ca

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To book an interview contact:

Rachel Sentes- gal-friday publicity

rachel.of.sentes@gmail.com
780-436-9002/780-270-1211

Christmas Tale Tells Story of Hardship, Family, and Miracles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2009 

Christmas Tale Tells Story of Hardship, Family, and Miracles

Manning, AB — Deep in the Canadian frontier, five children stave off the bitter winter cold while the adults trek to town to buy supplies for Christmas. As days pass and the adults fail to return home to their cabin, it is up to 11-year-old Brittany to protect her younger brother and cousins against wolves, mountain lions, and a dwindling food supply. Only through the intervention of three mysterious and kindly men will the children have a prayer of seeing their families again.

 In a yarn meant to be spun by a grandmother at the fireside, Beverly Lein’s The Three Saints of Christmas weaves angels, saints, and miracles into a holiday tale of two families struggling to reunite in time for Christmas. Set in 1866, the story has timeless and inspirational appeal for all ages. Lein originally wrote the story as a collaboration with her grandchildren, who became the inspiration for the characters in the book. 

“Just before Christmas a few years ago, I became deathly sick and ended up in the hospital for about three weeks,” Lein recalls. “My grandchildren were mortified—they had never seen me sick let alone bed rest and they were bored, so I decided we should write a Christmas story.” 

In this time when we are recovering from economic hardship, The Three Saints of Christmas is the perfect reminder of what the holidays are all about. 

“I would hope my readers will find a feeling of family love, togetherness, and caring. The true meaning of Christmas is all about family and the love of God, so I would hope as they read the story, thoughts of their own families would linger.”

Beverly is also the author of Elk in the House published by NeWest Press.

To request a review copy, please contact please contact Nicole Krueger at Nicole@inkwaterpress.com.

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To book an interview contact
Rachel Sentes
gal-friday publicity
Rachel.of.sentes@gmail.com
780-436-9002.780-270-1211

The Latest in the Self- Publishing Stew

As most of you know, I work with several self-published authors. I only take on those authors if their work is excellent, shows great promise, and for many, have the sales to back them up.
But for the most part I do not encourage people to self-publish. My aim is to educate writers on the publishing choices that are out there before they spend thousands of dollars publishing a book that will never be on a bookshelf, despite what the company tells them.
So, I sign up for every self-publishing newsletter out there to find out just what they are offering and how much money they are asking for.
This is the latest site I came across:
As if there weren't enough with self-publishing companies taking advantage of new authors, now you can also Brand yourself as a product.
Enter Miboso Authentic Personal Branding now you too can be branded like your book.
What?
Now, I'm well aware that marketing is branding and I've got nothing against that, but it was the final step that intrigued me.
Here's the site for you to check out: http://www.miboso.com/index2.html but more importantly check out this product http://www.1author.com/

Yes, you too can unleash the book that's inside you- for a fee. Of course I really loved their line: "Inspired by dozens of successfully published authors"...

Each "track" that you sign up for goes from the highest support and cost to the least basically determining whether you'll get a great book or a sucky book- depending how much money you have to shell out.

What I was most interested in was their Stage 3
Book Promotion & Marketing
Step 1. Publicity & Book Marketing Support
Step 1 Pricing: (Pricing will be quoted individually)
(Step 2 and 3 Services are "by Invitation" to Selected Authors Only)
Step 2. Sourcing a Traditional Publisher (Pricing will be quoted individually)
Step 3. Finding "Your" Agent (Pricing will be quoted individually)
 
So why would sourcing a traditional publisher and agent be by Invitation only?
How do you become a selected author? Is it only the people who do stages one and two? Well I wanted to know, so I sent them a nice note that asked
 
" Hi there, I'm interested in finding out more about your pricing for sourcing a traditional publisher and agent.
 
After two days of waiting, here was my reply:
 
 Dear Rachel,

Thanks for contacting us.
The focus of our work is to help our clients organize
and validate the information they wish to publish.
By taking them though the first two Stages outlined
on our website, we are able to direct them to the
best routes and resources in Stage 3.
Are you seeking a referral to a traditional publisher or agent?
Or do you have other specific questions?
Warm Regards,
Cheryl Krompass
Client Service
MIBOSO® Authentic Personal Branding
1-877-430-8754 http://miboso.com
Transforming genius into your brand of success

Hmm... I think that's what I asked.. what part of that wasn't clear? So basically it's the nice way of saying if you don't pay for our other services, we aren't going to help you out.
So I replied- " Yes I am seeking a referral to a traditional publisher or agent, that's my only specific question"
I'm still waiting for a reply. That was three days ago.
Any bets on what the answer will be??
Any bets on when they'll answer? Stay tuned to this blog if and when they decide to answer.
In my opinion, I would give this a miss. But it's just my opinion.

gal-friday publicity welcomes author Susanne Van Maarion

I'd like to welcome author Susanne Van Maarion to gal-friday publicity. She has a fantastic new non-fiction book in the works and I'm excited about working with her.
Her website will be up and running soon, but in the meantime check out:

http://www.upstartsmart.com/magazine/managing-employee-conflict.html on one of her subjects, and also
 

http://www.cahootsmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=564

I'm sure you'll be hearing more about her in the coming months- after all she's now one of gal-friday's cool new clients!!

Business Practices Shift for a New Stabilized Economy

For Immediate Release

November 3 2009

Business Practices Shift for a New Stabilized Economy

Grande Prairie, AB- Now that the International Monetary Fund has given a more optimistic global economy forecast, businesses who may have struggled in the recession now need to shift their focus to fresh ideas and new strategies to become more successful.

“The next 6-8 months are going to be critical for businesses and companies to focus on team building, the bottom line and customer service as the economy slowly stabilizes. Now is the time for focusing on positioning and growing their businesses,” says Business Coach Peter Lepinski of ActionCOACH.

Learning how to maximize networking, how to take advantage of low cost marketing strategies, and understanding how to zone in on their target markets are just a few of the key areas that Lepinski talks about in his workshops.

“Many companies who hired and worked with a business coach through the tough times are now in a far better position to look at the positive side to the economy, but it’s never too late to get that expertise of a coach on their side,” says Lepinski.

Peter is seeing a new vibrancy in business in the Grande Prairie region and he wants to make sure that all the businesses in the area will continue to thrive and be successful after going through this period of uncertainty and fluctuating markets.

ActionCOACH Peter Lepinski  provides business coaching, group workshops and seminars and team specific training that will ensure businesses have a stronger and more positive plan and direction while emerging from these tough times.

For more information and to register for a seminar visit: http://www.actioncoach.com/peterlepinski/

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To book an interview contact:
Rachel Sentes                                                                      

gal-friday publicity
rachel.of.sentes@gmail.com
780-436-9002/780-270-1211

Olympic Coach to Stage Vancouver Seminar on "Becoming the Champion of Your Own Life"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

N E W S

Media Contact: Nancy McCartney for Steffany Hanlen

888.242.7227

steffany@steffanyhanlen.com

Olympic Coach to Stage Vancouver Seminar on "Becoming the Champion of Your Own Life"

VANCOUVER BC—Steffany Hanlen, the first-ever female contracted NHL skating coach and performance coach for the 2006 Canadian Olympic Figure Skating Ice Dance Team, is staging a unique weekend seminar called "The Champions' Journey" on November 14-15, 2009. The event, which Hanlen calls an "intimate look into what creates success at the highest levels", will take place at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Vancouver, BC.

"For world-class athletes, the most stressful time is right before they compete--and that's the way it is with the rest of us, too," Hanlen said. "Think just before you start a new job, or get married, or have a baby. How you plan and prepare for these major life events (or not!) makes a huge impact on your ability find lasting happiness."

The event will reveal how top-tier athletes prepare themselves mentally to perform at their peak--and how active, successful people can "borrow" their techniques to achieve greatness in their own lives. In addition, Hanlen will touch on strategies for transitioning into a healthy routine after major life changes--which is something that "high achievers often struggle with," she noted.

"Real success is about much more than just preparation before the event: it's about having a life you can be proud of.  Many athletes find they fall apart once they've achieved their goals. I support my clients in planning for 'now what?'  My commitment is to help them find real balance and satisfaction in all areas of their life--not just in sport."

Hanlen said that athletes aren't the only ones with this problem, but high-achievers in every area tend to be afflicted with it. "Challenges, overcoming adversity, politics, life balance issues, financial fears--this isn't just an 'athlete' issue: it's a human issue," Hanlen said.

Public registration for "The Champions' Journey" seminar is now open. Interested persons are encouraged to visit Hanlen's website at www.steffanyhanlen.com

Media Kit at: http://www.steffanyhanlen.com/seminars/index.php?main_page=page&id=14

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ABOUT STEFFANY HANLEN: In 1991, Hanlen became the NHL's only paid female skating coach, contracted to both the Edmonton Oilers ('91-'00) and the St. Louis Blues ('00-'05). She was the first performance coach to be granted rink side accreditation during the ice dance competition at the Winter Olympic Games in 2006. She has coached dozens of high-profile professional athletes, including NHL hockey players and Olympians, as well as singers, actors, ballroom dancers, business owners, CEOs, parents, and hard-working "regular people." Media-savvy, Hanlen has appeared on Canadian TV programs dozens of times over the past 15 years. In interviews, she is known for her engaging style, and her powerful insights into what athletes and coaches experience at the highest levels--and how it relates to life.

See this link for a FULL BIO:

http://www.steffanyhanlen.com/seminars/index.php?main_page=page&id=1