AEG Author Michael McCoy & his Mother to be featured on CNN Headline News

Comcast Newsmakers to Feature Michael McCoy & Jean-Marie Heskett on CNN Headline News

World War II Civilian POW of the Santo Tomas Concentration Camp in the Philippines, Jean-Marie Heskett's story is told beautifully through her eldest son Michael in Through My Mother's Eyes...a poignant tale of triumph of the human spirit.

The show will be taped at the Merryvale Winery in Napa Valley and will air consistantly throughout the month of March on CNN Headline News, with Jack Hanson, (a former news reporter on KGO Channel 7 in San Francisco) conducting the interview.

Over 3,600 civilian families were forced to surrender to the Imperial Japanese Army and live as civilian prisoners in internment camps. The true story of a survivor is told in Through My Mother’s Eyes, by author Michael McCoy. This gripping account captures the lives of the Faggiano family as seen through the eyes of author Michael McCoy’s mother, Jean-Marie Faggiano. Jean-Marie was just a little girl living in the Philippines with her family when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941. The following month the Imperial Japanese Army began their occupation of the Philippines and captured all non-national civilians, who were mostly American and British businessmen and their families. They were all forced to live in prison camps as civilian prisoners of war for over three years. This story takes you through the horrific capture and imprisonment of an entire family as they are taken to the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila. The brutal struggle for survival within the gates of Santo Tomas in a world of rampant sickness, starvation and brutality leaves them searching for the strength and courage needed to survive. The story follows the Faggiano family before and after the war to their liberation from the camp and straight to America where Jean-Marie finally comes to grips with her devastating past and her hopeful present life. Through My Mother’s Eyes gives you a shocking and compelling view into the life of a family faced with tremendous crisis counteracted by heroism, courage, love and resilience.

Publisher’s website: http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/ThroughMyMothersEyes.html

About the Author - This is Michael McCoy’s debut novel. The dreadful experience that his mother and her family faced during their imprisonment at the Santo Tomas prison camp was his motivation to write this book. His mother, Jean-Marie, is currently retired and loves to travel and speak to groups about her experiences as a POW during World War II. Michael was a journalist who worked as a news copywriter and producer for several radio talk shows in Northern California. He is currently a radio deejay on a Classic Rock Station in the San Francisco Bay Area and lives in Santa Rosa, California with his wife, Angela, and son, Thomas.

For Media Inquiries, appearances, speaking engagements or to request a media kit, please contact:

Miranda Spigener, Publicist - 832-452-6068 PR1@strategicbookmarketing.com

AEG Publishing Group, Inc.

845 Third Avenue, 6th floor

New York, NY 10022

Stop by the http://www.throughmymotherseyes.com/ blog and subscribe to follow Michael and Jean-Marie story. Starting Sunday, February 22nd plans begin for the National Book Tour and Media Appearances Campaign

Want More? You got it, upcoming exclusive events:

Wednesday February 25, 2009 - Speaking Engagement, followed by book signing

12 p.m. Rotary Club of Santa Rosa, Flamingo Hotel, Fourth Street and Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa, CA.

Saturday February 28, 2009 - Meet & Greet followed by book signing

1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Copperfield’s bookstore in the Montgomery Village shopping center, Santa Rosa, CA.

Saturday April 18, 2009 - Keynote Speakers at the Fifth Annual Literary Luncheon

Cloverdale Senior Center, 311 North Main Street, Cloverdale, CA. TBA

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AEG Author featured in The New York Times

The latest news from Brenda Lachman and Dawn Huff...

Brenda is featured in today's The New York Times article:

Your Second Home | Cleaning After Rentals
Rent. Rinse. Repeat.
By BILLIE COHEN (on page D2 of the New York edition.)

"Brenda Lachman, coauthor of "Welcome to the World of Vacation Properties: How Your Property Can Work for You," took a job as a vacation-house cleaner in Corpus Christi, Tex., to research her book. She liked the work so much that she now runs a small independent cleaning service." Read the full article...

Brenda was also interviewed on Vacation Station, Big Blend Magazine's internet travel & leisure radio show this morning, sharing her tips on how to make your property pay for itself.
This show aired live on Friday, Feb. 20th from 9am - 11am PST.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE RECORDED SHOW

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Authors Brenda Lachman and Dawn Huff have extensive backgrounds in real estate. Lachman actually took a job cleaning vacation homes to widen her perspective; watch for her next effort, "Get Lean While You Clean." A retired ESL teacher and freelance writer, she and her retired husband travel for a "living" giving her endless opportunity to gather vacation tips. Co-author Huff was a neonatal nurse before her vacation rental business, "Miss Kitty's Fishing Getaways" became a full time venture.

About AEG Publishing Group

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Your Book Debut Event: 7 Strategic Pointers

Book debuts are a smart way to shine professionally as you announce to the public that your new book is on the market. You can use your book debut event to court the attention of media and local book reviewers. Oh, and need we mention that you'll get to sell and sign copies of your book at the event? Yes, indeed. If you want to generate buzz and sales in one short span, book debuts are the kick-start that get your sales engine fired up!

Are you ready to plan your book debut event(s)? We've prepared a list of seven strategic pointers that will help ensure that your event is a success:

A Location

Your promotional event can be held in a private home, a bookstore, a restaurant or hall, a school or university auditorium, -- even a movie theatre! Be creative. And of course be sure the building can legally hold the number of people you are hoping will arrive.

Food

You can decide on whether or not you'd like to offer food, but it is something we recommend. Depending on the venue, we might suggest something simple and classy like wine and cheese with a few other light finger foods and non-alcoholic drinks. Of course it's fun to choose food based on the theme of your book. No matter what food you choose to have at your event, be sure to employ volunteer servers and bus persons keep things moving.

*A public building may require that you use professional caterers. If they don't, and you are preparing your own food for the event, be sure you have access to appropriate refrigeration. Sometimes this "detail" can be overlooked until it's needed! 

Invitations and Press Packages for Media

You might decide to print and mail invitations to a special guest list, including the media. To save yourself some time, ask a friend permission to use his or her phone number on the RSVP's so that they can handle the attendance list. Any media representative who attends should receive a press package. Include with the press package a signed copy of your book. This personalized copy should be ready to give to them at check-in to the event. If a media person who RSVP’s does not show up, arrange to deliver the press package personally within a week of your debut.

Friends

Friends are the best money saver you can have in PR. If they are genuinely interested in helping you, them know up front that you are trusting them with your brand identity. Tell them you chose them because of their special grace, their encouragement in your publishing career, and their talent with people. Let them know there is a dress code -- no jeans or worn clothing. They should be given assignments best suited for what the event requires, such as:

1. Servers

2. Sweepers - People who watch over the event to make sure the area stays neat and cleaned up.

3. Greeters – Friends who welcome each guest and give a press kit to the invited media. This person or persons would also check names off of the guest list.

4. Assistant Greeter – Your assistant greeter must be good with remembering names! At some point he or she will introduce the invited media to you personally. During your signing, your assistant greeter will stay by your side. When a significant person comes up to you to have a book signed, the assistant greeter will remind you of their name so you won't have to ask.

A Schedule Structure

Be sure to have your assistant greeter announce you immediately before your reading. A reading should take about 10 minutes, while a speech or lecture can take up to 45-60 minutes. After the author talk, your assistant greeter will ask if anyone has questions for you. This person can then announce that you will be signing and selling books.

Display

See about getting a rigid poster or professional book display to place near where you will sit for your reading (we can get quotes to produce this for you if you like.)

Books 

Don't forget to order a bulk number of books that you will have available for sales at the debut! They should be ordered a few weeks ahead of time. We suggest ordering two books per invited guest as some will buy them as gifts. (Remember not to pre-sign the books. You want to personalize each signature.)

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