Tag Archives: and faith based books

Entertainment

Renee Lovekids Promotes Diversity and Debate as the Keys to a Successful Classroom and Community

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Having worked as a teacher in the public-school system for the past nineteen years, Renee Lovekids knows the importance of promoting dialogue and debate in her classroom.

San Antonio, TX, USA, September 19, 2018 — Having worked as a teacher in the public-school system for the past nineteen years, Renee Lovekids knows the importance of promoting dialogue and debate in her classroom.

Statistics show that in urban schools, an average of 90% of children who are involved in debate graduate from high school, while only 50% of the general population go on to graduate.

Lovekids has implemented several types of debate formats in her teaching, a measure that she feels helps students from different backgrounds learn how to effectively express their opinions and communicate with their peers.

“I work in New York City, which is one of the most diverse places in America,” the educator comments. “There are times where I’ve had eleven nationalities represented in my classroom. Yet, even with all of the diversity, there are still commonalities that we all share.”

By learning important communication skills from a young age, students are better equipped for life beyond the classroom.

“Different forms of debate are used according to the age group. There is the opportunity to learn new vocabulary and new reasoning skills,” Lovekids adds.

This message is central to Lovekids’ new children’s book, “Why Did My Teacher Cry Today? A Homework Tale”. This story uses humor to relay the different perspectives that students and teachers have on homework. To express their different viewpoints, the students are asked to hold a debate.

“I was inspired to write the book based on the experiences I have had with my students over the years. I hope that readers take away the sense of humor and fun that can be instilled in everyday activities, such as homework. I hope that teachers will take away some ideas about making the topics they are teaching more interesting and engaging for students.”

  • For more information about Renee Lovekids visit www.halopublishing.com. “Why Did My Teacher Cry Today? A Homework Tale” is now available at Halo Publishing International, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Books a Million in Paperback for $11.95 and as an e-Book for $3.99.

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176,
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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Entertainment

New Storybook Helps Fathers Carve Out Reading Ritual With Their Child

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When a father takes the time to read to his child, there is a big payoff, studies show. In fact, a 2014 Harvard study indicates that when dads regularly read bedtime stories to young children, it actually has a measurably bigger impact on the youngsters’ language development than when Mom reads.

San Antonio, TX, USA, September 19, 2018 — When a father takes the time to read to his child, there is a big payoff, studies show. In fact, a 2014 Harvard study indicates that when dads regularly read bedtime stories to young children, it actually has a measurably bigger impact on the youngsters’ language development than when Mom reads.

However, through research for a book she was writing, award-winning journalist Margaret Bernstein became aware that the lack of a father figure was being passed down from one generation to the next. Men who grew up without a father in their lives didn’t know how to fulfill their own roles as dads because that behavior had never been modeled for them, she discovered.

“As a writer,” Bernstein explains, “I wanted to do something to help break that cycle. I wanted to write books that inspired dads to read with their children and help them build a bond.”

Bernstein is now releasing a new book for children entitled “Donuts with Dad” to accomplish just that. According to the author, “This is a fun story that any dad and daughter can enjoy, it’s designed to spark lots of conversation and laughter.” The main characters are a dad and a daughter of color who embark on a day of creative adventures together.

This is Bernstein’s second multicultural storybook aimed at dads. “We want children of color to enjoy reading books that reflect what they look like,” she says. “We need diverse books people can relate to.”

She hopes dads and daughters will develop a bedtime ritual of reading “Donuts with Dad” together, because numerous studies show that having an active father figure boosts a child’s academic achievement and fosters healthy social-emotional development. Daughters in particular benefit—the increased confidence from spending more time with Dad has been shown to increase the percentage of women who embark on nontraditional career paths like science. “One of my dreams is to help inspire dads to understand the important role that they play in their children’s lives,” adds Bernstein.

Publisher Lisa M. Umina comments, “This book is not only a fun read but an important one. It is accessible and inviting to readers of any level. Bernstein is celebrating involved fathers and encouraging them to be creative and have fun.”

The book launch event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 at Café Bon Ami in New Orleans—with an assortment of donuts, of course!

For more information about Margaret Bernstein, visit www.halopublishing.com. “Donuts with Dad” is now available at Halo Publishing International, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Books-A-Million in Hardcover for $16.95, in Paperback for $11.95 and as an e-Book for $6.95.

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176,
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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Entertainment

Educator Dina Carter Bryant Empowers Youth to Give Back to their Communities and the World

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With twenty-four years of teaching experience, Dina Carter Bryant is educating the next generation about how they can give back to their communities.

San Antonio, TX, USA, August 27th, 2018 — With twenty-four years of teaching experience, Dina Carter Bryant is educating the next generation about how they can give back to their communities. From teaching science technology to engineering and math, she is now on a mission to “bring out the beauty in things that are bleak.”

“I’ve always been interested in the reduce, reuse, recycle campaign,” Bryant comments. “Growing up, my grandparents loved to plant and they had their own personal garden. It took little to nothing for them to build a long-lasting legacy.”

In fact, gardens and green spaces have been shown to greatly improve air quality and reduce pollution in an urban environment according to studies by the UW-Madison Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

For Bryant, it is important to empower children to contribute to their communities. “Children are our biggest investment and if we start educating them from a young age, then those behaviors and those ideas stay with children longer and it impacts generations. We start getting children on board with recycling. They, in turn, will inspire their parents to reduce, reuse, recycle.”

In order to spread this message, Bryant is releasing a new book for children entitled “Daffodils and Daisies”. When two children begin working to beautify an open space in their community, other community members unexpectedly begin contributing to the project.

“I was inspired to show readers the beauty in nature and how they could give back to nature and give back to their communities,” Bryant explains. “My goal is that children will go home and look at a project they can implement in their own community.”

Publisher Lisa M. Umina comments, “This book is a fun way of introducing children to the importance of caring for our environment, by starting with our own neighborhoods. There are steps that can be taken to keep communities beautiful and healthy.”

For more information about Dina Carter Bryant visit www.halopublishing.com. “Daffodils and Daisies” is now available at Halo Publishing International, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Books a Million in Paperback for $11.95, in Hardcover for $19.95, and as an e-Book for $9.95.

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International, Inc
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176,
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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Maria Shamkalian Imparts Lesson of Kindness to Combat Bullying

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Bullying is a problem in schools nationwide, with 49% of children between grades 4 to 12 reporting being bullied by others at least once in the past month.

San Antonio, TX, August 23, 2018 — With a master’s degree in education, Maria Shamkalian knows that affecting change begins with early childhood education.

“If you teach young children important lessons about kindness and accepting others, they are equipped with these skills for the rest of their lives,” Shamkalian explains. “They are like sponges at this age and they can learn quickly about the beauty of diversity: to accept others and to accept themselves as they are.”

Teaching these values runs back generations in Maria’s family. In Russia, her grandmother worked with children with exceptionalities, who were often ostracized because of their differences. Shamkalian herself also experienced bullying when she moved to the United States.

“I had short curly hair and big glasses, I didn’t speak English, and I looked like a boy. These things made me stand out, and I was a victim of bullying because of it.”

Although Shamkalian went on to model and act, conforming to conventional beauty standards, she eventually realized that true beauty was not in changing herself but in being herself.

This is central to the message she imparts in her new book for children, “Sunny the Yellow Bunny”.  The main character’s fur is different from all the other bunnies, but when Sunny asks his mom to dye his fur white, she refuses, teaching him to take pride in his differences.

“You don’t have to fit in by looking like everyone else,” adds the author. “You benefit the community because of your individuality. We are all pieces of the big, universal puzzle.”

Of the book, she adds, “I hope that my readers understand that we are all citizens of the world. We have different colors, cultures, and religions; there are so many ways in which we are different, but we all have dreams and hopes. We all want to be loved and have friends and a strong community. There is so much more that we have in common than what makes us different.”

Shamkalian plans to use her book as a tool to help make schools a kinder place, where children can be excited to learn from peers who are different from themselves.

Publisher Lisa M. Umina adds, “This is a beautiful book—from the illustrations to the powerful message for children, who will relate to Sunny and have fun learning about love, kindness, and acceptance: crucial values for us to instill in children today.”

For more information about Maria Shamkalian visit www.halopublishing.com. “Sunny the Yellow Bunny” is now available at Halo Publishing International, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Books a Million in Hardcover for $20.95, in Paperback for $12.95, and as an e-Book for $6.99.

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International, Inc
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176,
San Antonio, Texas 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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Elizabeth Williams Encourages Families to Have Fun Outside

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Texas People are spending more time than ever before inside, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person in the United States spends only 7% of their lifetime outside.

San Antonio, TX, USA, August 17, 2018 — People are spending more time than ever before inside, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person in the United States spends only 7% of their lifetime outside.

Health equity advocate and entrepreneur Elizabeth Williams is working to help parents and children alike reconnect with a love of the outdoors.

“We are currently experiencing challenges that are specific to the age of technology,” Williams explains. “Rather than playing video games, surfing the web or texting, I want to encourage families to get outside with their kids to play, explore, and go on adventures.”

A sense of fun is integral to Williams’ work, and with the inspiration of the adventures that she undertakes with her own young son, she decided to share their story with the world to encourage others to get outside to play and become healthier.

“My son is excited about everything. Whenever we go outside, all that we do is an adventure for him. In his view of the world, most experiences are new. The world to him is shiny and big and he wants to explore and learn all about it,” Williams explains.

It is this sense of adventure that she instills in her debut children’s book, “The Adventures of Joyful John: John Rides His Bike.”

Of the book, Williams comments, “This book is a tool to help children and adults alike get excited to go outside and play and explore. It is a reminder for parents about the fun, health-promoting activities that we can do with our children: walking, biking, playing basketball, etc.”

This message is especially important for underserved communities, who often face increased barriers to playing outside. “Some children of color live in areas that are park deserts or the spaces they do have are not safe,” Williams comments. “One of my goals with ‘The Adventures of Joyful John’ book series is to address these types of challenges and find solutions through working with organizations committed to creating healthier spaces and communities.”

Publisher, Lisa M. Umina, adds, “Williams is tackling an important problem by approaching it with positivity. This book not only imparts an important lesson to children, but it will bring a smile to readers of every age.”

For more information about Elizabeth Williams visit www.ElizabethEWilliams.com. “The Adventures of Joyful John: John Rides His Bike” is now available at Halo Publishing International, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Books a Million in paperback for $13.95 and as an e-book for $9.99.

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International, Inc
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176,
San Antonio, Texas 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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Derrick and Tukaj Offer New Social-Emotional Learning Resources through Book Launch and Website

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Special Education professionals, Amanda Derrick and Jessica Tukaj, are excited to celebrate their first children’s book, “In Time Butterfly,” at their book release event.

San Antonio, TX, USA, July 12th, 2018 — Special Education professionals, Amanda Derrick and Jessica Tukaj, are excited to celebrate their first children’s book, “In Time Butterfly,” at their book release event. Their book release event will take place on July 28, 2018, at the Butterfly Estates located at 1815 Fowler Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) experiences provide students with the opportunity to enhance their prosocial skills, which aid in creating healthier students, schools, workforces, and communities. Fostering SEL across environments encourages retention of all these skills.

“Social-Emotional learning opportunities are imperative in the educational journey of our children. Children need the opportunity to practice skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and positive decision making,” states Derrick.

Derrick and Tukaj have been conversing about meeting the educational needs of all students since 2001 when they roomed together at Florida Gulf Coast University. Both women went on to earn their Bachelors in Special Education, before continuing on to earn a combined three Master’s degrees in various areas of education. Through their educational and professional journeys, the conversations have returned to the importance of SEL being incorporated into students’ educational careers.

Derrick and Tukaj have decided to team-up to create a children’s book that presents a new perspective, teaching children the value of being a unique individual. “There is a lack of knowledge and resources addressing social-emotional development, which is why we decided to create this book,” says Tukaj. “All learning begins within social-emotional skills.” Through their website and social media accounts, Derrick and Tukaj will provide both science and SEL resources that correlate with their book.

The additional resources for “In Time Butterfly” can be found on their website at www.derrickandtukaj.com as well as through their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. “In Time Butterfly” is now available at Halo Publishing International, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Books a Million in Hardcover for $19.95, in Paperback for $13.95, and as an e-Book for $5.00.

* Halo Publishing International
* Amazon
* Barnes and Noble

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International, Inc
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176,
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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Aisha K. Guiles Empowers Others to Fulfill Their Walk with God

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With a background in biology and pre-medicine, Aisha K. Guiles has a unique perspective on spirituality that she is using to empower others.

San Antonio, TX, USA, Jul 11th, 2018 — With a background in biology and pre-medicine, Aisha K. Guiles has a unique perspective on spirituality that she is using to empower others.

“I incorporate my own biology background by using spiritual senses through finite revelation,” Guiles explains. “I had serious issues following traditional worship. Instead, my path was to follow a supernatural walk with God.”

From her experience as a child in the Nation of Islam and then the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Guiles is now an ordained minister in the non-denominational church.

Of her ministry, Guiles comments: “I’ve worked with several ministries in different capacities. My true mission is to spark the attention of those who are either new to learning how to pray, weary with their prayer life, or seasoned and need a refresher course.”

To fulfill this mission, Guiles was called to write a prayer book to guide others on their walk with God entitled, “Heavenly Father, Will You Teach Me How to Pray? A Prayer Journal on How to Develop a Closer Walk with God”.

“I want readers to be inspired to develop their own personal journey and self-reflection on past issues that may conflict with walking with God in a divine way,” says Guiles, who hopes to empower readers. “I want those who are curious about understanding the Scriptures to realize that they can interpret and understand the context of the Scriptures as well as receive their own revelation from the Holy Spirit.”

She advises that “If you grasp early on that effective prayer has to be with a truly sincere heart and spirit when you go before the Lord without hatred, bitterness, envy, resentment, or malice, you can make an impact in the Kingdom of Heaven and here on earth.”

Publisher Lisa M. Umina adds, “Aisha Guiles has a fresh voice that is adding something new and different to the current conversation on spirituality in our society.”

For more information about Aisha K. Guiles visit www.halopublishing.com. “Heavenly Father, Will You Teach Me How to Pray?” is now available at Halo Publishing International, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Books a Million in Paperback for $19.95 and as an e-Book for $6.99.

* Halo Publishing
* Amazon
* Barnes and Noble

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International, Inc
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176,
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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Education

Hola Publishing Expands in the Mexican Market, Calling for New Voices to Share their Stories

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Hola Publishing International offers authors publishing and printing services with global distribution.

San Antonio, TX, USA, July 2, 2018 — New publishing and print options for authors are now available in the Mexican market. Hola Publishing International offers authors publishing and printing services with global distribution. The growth of this affordable publishing option has been limited in the Mexico market because printers only offer their services directly to traditional publishers.

With already established digital printing facilities in the United States, United Kingdom, China, India, and Germany, to name a few, Halo Publishing International has recently expanded their Spanish Language Imprint, Hola Publishing, in the Mexican market.

By offering POD (Print on Demand) services, which are a rarity in Mexico, Hola’s goal is to encourage more writers to publish their stories. Authors and organizations no longer face the barrier of having to order 2,000 books. They can place smaller orders ranging from 25 to 1,000 books and receive global distribution to sell their books around the world.

Publisher and CEO, Lisa M. Umina comments, “Our company is set up to work with small self-published authors as well as corporations, embassies, government, non-profits, and universities. Our Mexican authors have been successful;for example, we published the story of Luchandopor mi vida, mi historiaby Clarita Sierra who has been recognized and become a national speaker in schools around Mexico with her best-selling memoir about her son struggling with addiction.”

Cecilia Sotres, Hola’s publishing consultant, adds, “We saw a gap in the Mexican digital print market, and we are so excited to bring new opportunities to Mexico to publish previously unheard voices from throughout the country.”

According to Sotres, “We are at the cutting edge of this industry. We provide global digital distribution for all our books in paperback, hardcover, and e-book. Our authors retain 100% rights to their books.”

Hola Publishing has found a way to reduce barriers to the high costs associated with shipping to Mexico from the United States, and they are proud to offer a product that is produced entirely in Mexico. By streamlining this process, they have been able to reduce turnaround time to 60 days in print while maintaining an extremely high quality finished product.

“The direction we are taking is to collaborate with the corporate world and working with large educational institutes. Printers here in Mexico have open arms about partnering with us to give our customer’s the best pricing and product,” says Umina.

For more information about Hola Publishing, please visit www.holapublishing.com or call 55-5250-8519.

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176,
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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Positivity Can Save Your Life, Woman Proves by Overcoming Battle against Rare Cancer

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A cancer diagnosis is difficult for anyone to receive, and Donna Moore’s prognosis was not optimistic.

San Antonio, TX, USA, June 15, 2018 — “I was told from the beginning that most people’s bodies can’t handle the treatment, let alone withstand the cancer,” Moore recounts.

In 2010, she was diagnosed with Adenosarcoma, a rare type of uterine cancer. When the cancer was discovered to be metastatic, her oncologist prepared for the worst. “The treatment for metastatic cancer focuses on extending and maintaining one’s quality of life—not finding a cure. At least this was the situation when I first met Donna Moore,” medical oncologist Michael S. Gordon writes.

“In that moment, I realized we had an uphill battle and we were going to have to start treatment right away,” explains Moore.

In addition to starting treatment, Moore began to read about other cancer patients who had survived the disease. “I wanted to know what they did to survive. The common thread was if you don’t keep the energy in your body flowing positively it will impede treatment. I focused a lot on keeping my energy flow positive, and a lot of that was humor. A lot of it was God.”

Her “adventure with cancer,” as Moore has dubbed it, meant trying everything and anything that promised to help her heal. From essential oils to energy work and traditional treatments, Moore was open to everything. She began writing regular e-mail updates, and she realized that she was not only keeping her friends and family apprised of her status but also entertained by her upbeat stories about this trying chapter of her life.

It was this e-mail correspondence that prompted Moore to write a book so that her story could be a resource to others who were facing an especially challenging life situation or disease.

Of the book, Moore comments, “I hope it will help people to approach these difficult situations positively and to add humor to it. To be able to laugh at a difficulty and not to take it so seriously. People need to know that there are so many different ways of healing yourself, and everybody has a unique approach.”

Defeating this rare cancer, Moore overcame odds that were undeniably stacked against her.

“It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Donna’s recovery was nothing short of miraculous,” adds Publisher Lisa M. Umina. “This author illustrates so clearly that, in a world where many take a poor prognosis as a death sentence, there is room for positivity, faith, and incredible healing.”

For more information about Donna Moore, visit www.handlewithlovebydonna.com and www.halopublishing.com. “Handle With Love: One Woman’s Approach to Kicking a Nasty-Ass Cancer” is now available at Halo Publishing International and Amazon in Paperback for $14.95, and as an e-Book for $4.98.

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International, Inc
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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Jerome N. Okoye Advocates Invigorating Faith to Fulfill Our Human Potential

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Having overcome numerous adversities as a boy growing up in Nigeria, Jerome N. Okoye is creating a platform to share this powerful message.

San Antonio, TX, USA, June 14, 2018 — “You have been created for much more.”

Having overcome numerous adversities as a boy growing up in Nigeria, Jerome N. Okoye is creating a platform to share this powerful message.

Although Nigeria is Africa’s biggest economy, about 67% of the population still lives below the poverty line, a reality with which Jerome is intimately familiar.

From growing up as a child in Ajengule—one of Nigeria’s most notorious slums—to never being sure if there would be enough to eat, Jerome went on to get a degree in electrical engineering and a post-graduate degree in electric power systems engineering. He now has a successful career working for General Electric as a salesman, as well as a budding private consulting business.

“Electricity has always been fascinating to me, how something so simple can illuminate so much. The same is true with knowledge. If you can make things a bit clearer, if you can expose people to true knowledge, they can find out the rest for themselves. I’ve always looked to illuminate this path.”

This is Jerome’s goal with his new book, “Calling on the Deep: The Believer’s Quest for Revival,” where he aims to challenge the status quo, and encourage people to re-evaluate their relationship with their faith.

Although he himself once knew the very depths of lack and uncertainty, Jerome emphasizes that material wealth is not the ultimate goal: “We are more than just wealth itself. Wealth for the sake of being wealthy is meaningless. What is important to me is speaking to people about the truth of human potential. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that we have unlimited potential, and can do whatever we set our hearts to.”

Publisher Lisa M. Umina adds, “This author has a powerful perspective to share. His message is relevant not only for the Nigerian audience but for the world.”

For more information about Jerome N. Okoye visit www.halopublishing.com. “Calling on the Deep” is now available at Halo Publishing International, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Books a Million in Paperback for $14.95, and as an e-Book for $9.99.

* Halo Publishing
* Amazon
* Barnes & Noble


Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Michelle Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International, Inc
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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