gal-fridaypublicity website launches!

So my official website is now up and running. There is of course still tons to add, but it's a least closer to what I want it to look like. Check it out at www.gal-fridaypublicity.com
And utilize my new email at rachel@gal-fridaypublicity.com- Enjoy!

Kirkus Reviews Closing

From Publishers Weekly-

As part of the sale of its business to business publications, Nielsen Business Media has announced that it is closing its book review publication Kirkus Reviews as well as Editor & Publisher. No details on the closing have been released yet. Nielsen is selling its major publications, including The Hollywood Reporter and Adweek to e5 Global Media Holdings.

That's going to be tough for many authors.

Canadian Private School Switches to Sony e-Readers

By Leigh Anne Williams -- Publishers Weekly, 12/7/2009 9:28:00 AM

The Blyth Academy, a private school in Toronto, is replacing its traditional textbooks with the Sony Reader Digital Book which will be loaded with electronic versions of students' textbooks. “There may be one or two [books] that we still find are better in the printed version, or that maybe haven’t been fully converted into electronic texts, but we’re hoping by the end of the year, that we’ll have all of our texts completely in electronic format,” said Blyth director of development Brandon Kerstens. He added that some of Blyth’s approximately 170 students in Toronto have opted to continue using hard copies of the books.

The school is maintaining its library of printed books, and students will still read fiction in printed versions. “We’re not doing away with printed text altogether because novels are so beloved, and people love to have their novels in a printed version,” said Kerstens.

But the school will stop using printed textbooks, he explained, “because those are a pain to carry, those are a pain to buy.” Electronic versions will be up-to-date, lighter for students to carry, and he, “it will cut down on the cost because obviously you aren’t paying for the pages, just the content itself. It’s really great.” The environmental aspect of using less paper was also viewed as an advantage.

The school is also loading supplementary material on to the e-readers. Each one will store the student’s personal timetable, a syllabus for each class, information on applying for universities for Grade 12 students, and teachers will be able to make lecture notes available for students.

The announcement came shortly after Amazon released its Kindle in Canada, and Sony is not yet selling a wireless version of its reader in Canada, but Kerstens said that the Sony e-Reader better suited the school’s purposes. One of the most important factors in Sony’s favor is that it allows users to download a conversion program that will convert files to a Sony e-reader format, he said, compared to Amazon’s system of doing all conversions for its customers. “It’s a lot more user-friendly than having to go through Amazon every time you want to put on a file that isn’t in the right format,” said Kerstens.

Sony also offered access to more books, said Kerstens. “Kindle has about 300,000 books that you have access to in that format, whereas the Sony e-Reader, through the Google-Sony electronic bookstore has about half a million books.”

Many of the electronic textbooks the Blyth Academy will be using come from Pearson Canada and McGraw-Hill Ryerson, which Kerstens said had advanced beyond basic text to be more interactive offering links and possibility to highlight and bookmark.

Marty Keast, president of the school division for Pearson Canada, said the company already had a whole array of textbooks available in different formats, but had to do some alterations to convert to the Sony format. “We are very anxious to move the agenda along when it comes to digital resources, taking advantage of what they can offer to students and how they can improve student achievement,” he said. “We’re adding new features and benefits on a regular basis. We see this as our future.”

Grade 12 student Katie Wookey, one of the first students in the school to test out the e-readers, said she liked the greener, less-paper aspect of the e-Reader and the fact that she doesn’t have to carry heavy textbooks around. “These are a lot lighter and you can upload tons of books and articles on them. It’s a lot more practical…It’s cheaper also for me,” she said. Students will be providing feedback to the school, Sony and Pearson about their experience.

gal-friday publicity welcomes author Erika Knudsen

I'd like to welcome author Erika Knudsen to the gal-friday publicity fold. She's the author of several books of the vampire persuasion with a new release scheduled for the spring. You can view and buy her books at the following website http://www.erispublishing.com/  She manages all aspects of her small publishing firm and loves writing about the supernatural.
Looking for that special Christmas present? Why not support local authors and pick up either Beyond the Threshold of Death or Resurrected. Perfect for that vampire lover in us all!

Stressed Over Xmas? Don't be. More than 1/3 of Individuals have NO idea what they gave last year.

For Immediate Release


December 2, 2009

Stressed over Xmas? Don't be. More than 1/3 of Individuals have NO idea what they gave last year.

Edmonton, AB- Did you know that 1/3rd of individuals can’t remember what they gave their significant other for Christmas last year?(1) Why spend a lot of money and be financially stressed out at this special time of the year?

So what’s the answer to avoiding going into debt for the sake of a few forgotten gifts? Every child likes to see a big pile of presents under the tree, and more than a few adults do too, but that said, nobody likes a big credit card bill in January or February either.

“If you don’t want to still be paying for items the following summer you have to look at alternative ways to celebrate, be creative and demonstrate caring.,” says Chad Viminitz, whose book Money Assassins is about reclaiming your financial freedom.

Viminitz, a financial coach and planner, is offering some fabulous tips from his book Money Assassins on how to spend wisely at Christmas and practice the lost art of saving.

• Make a list and have a limit. Think it over a few times. Do you really need to get something for someone you haven’t spoken to in 10 years? Always have a maximum limit for spending

• You may have seen ads for those cool new prepaid Mastercards. Don’t get one for your kids. Credit cards (for many people) are financial doom. Why start your kids down that credit card road to debt?

• In lieu of getting your child everything, think about a financial legacy. Why not give them something they can use later like a high interest savings account? If they add dollars to it over the year then it can be used for a special treat- tickets to a hockey game or video game

• Don’t let advertisers talk down to you- If you like your version of XBOX then don’t let them convince you to buy the new one

• If you’re any good at crafts, why not make gifts? Your family members will appreciate a handmade card a hundred times more than another store bought gift.

• Practice what you preach. If your kids see you spending lavishly at Christmas, they probably will too.

To learn more about how to get your financial freedom back visit www.moneyassassins.com

(1- Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic-2001,2002 John de Graaf, David Wann, Thomas H.Naylor)

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To book an interview contact

Rachel Sentes- gal-friday publicity / Rachel.of.sentes@gmail.com / 780-270-1211

Old Style Christmas Toys a Hit with Parents

For Immediate Release

December 1 2009

Old Style Christmas Toys a Hit with Parents

Edmonton, AB- With pocketbooks a little tighter this year, parents are looking to find that unique gift for their child that will make their eyes light up on Christmas morning without breaking the bank. The toy manufacturers have picked up on this trend by producing classic toys and promoting a back to basics feel for the season.

“I’m excited to see these old favourites reappearing in a world jam packed with computer games and action figures. Unique gifts like spinning tops, tin tea sets and wind up trains puzzles are timeless no batteries required gifts that will brighten any child’s’ holiday season,” says Kathryn Kern, owner of Go To Your Room, a kids décor store that is filled with old style toys this year.

The revival of the 1930’s Sock Monkey is huge along with its accompanying lunch kit and jack in the box, and Kathryn is happy to be the only store in Edmonton that can offers these toys, including the latest hot seller – the bean bag chair.

“Bean bag chairs have been around since the 1970’s but now we can offer a locally made, washable, long term investment for your kids and teens. These bags aren’t filled with styrofoam chips that turn to dust after a few months; now they have long lasting polystyrene beads with leak proof washable covers that are virtually indestructible- great for any room,” says Kern, who is an expert in interior decorating for children.

Go To Your Room kids’ décor store is an independent business owned by interior decorating expert Kathryn Kern and offers a wide selection of quality and customized products for children and teens.

For more information on their unique toy offerings and Christmas Wish List visit
http://gotoyourroom.ca or call 780-428-5858

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To book an interview contact:

Rachel Sentes  gal-friday publicity

rachel.of.sentes@gmail.com
780-270-1211