04 Mar 2015

Figge Art Museum Appears in National Dental IT Video

By Laura Simmons

Bettendorf, IA -National dental IT company Medix Dental (headquartered in Bettendorf) unveiled a new video this week shot in Davenport's famed and historic Figge Art Musem. The creative video short features Quad City residents Chris Jess (age 35) and Brody Ford (age 11).  The video was recorded in the museum's Nobis Boardroom.

"The Figge Art Museum is a Midwest gem, so the decision to record at such a beautiful location was a no-brainer," says Medix Dental's Communication Director Laura Simmons. "I expect more and more businesses will take advantage of the state-of-the-art facility here in our own backyard, especially as video marketing continues to become a necessary marketing standard."

Highly acclaimed Josh Ford of Ford Photography (Davenport) shot and edited the playful video. "When thinking of locations for Medix Dental's video, it was difficult to envision it happening anywhere else," says Ford. "The architecture of the Figge Museum is so beautiful. My wife and I were married there, and we continue to appreciate the Figge's employee efforts and programs they continue to provide our hometown."

The video can be seen at www.medixdental.com, Medix Dental's Facebook page, or on Medix Dental's YouTube channel at youtube.com/medixtech.  See more of Josh Ford's work at www.ford-photo.com.

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03 Mar 2015

New Releases: Hellfire and Damnation III and Route 66 Series

By Connie Wilson

Hello again! Here are my new releases that have recently gone up on Amazon. Between Christmas and the present three new books have been released, and I'd like to tell you a little more about them. You can see the 3 images in the "Hellfire & Damnation" short story series, organized around Dante's "Inferno" and the crimes or sins punished at each of the 9 Circles of Hell. Give special attention to the cover art by famed artist Vincent Chong on books II and III. The paperback versions of Volumes I and II are available from Amazon or the Merry Blacksmith Press; Volume III is available from Amazon or Quad City Press. Look for some KDP promotions in April and/or May, which I'll notify you about and check WeeklyWilson for the Virtual Tour that commences on March 15th for H&D III.
- Connie Corcoran Wilson

"Hellfire & Damnation" is a series of short stories organized around the theme of describing the sins or crimes punished at each of the 9 Circles of Hell within Dante's "Inferno." The first award-winning book was published by the Merry Blacksmith Press; the second book, by the same publisher, included a short story made into a short film, one requested by the Berkeley Fiction Review which won an ALMA (American Literary Merit Award) on September 12, 2012. Now comes "Hellfire & Damnation III," nine stories, ranging from the tale of a deranged Satanic cult leader who convinces a young man of limited intelligence to commit murder, to a story set in New Zealand (which is up as a "free" sample on Weekly Wilson, "The Battle of Gate Pa." Check out this latest installment of "Hellfire & Damnation," available in both print and e-book versions, at Hellfire And Damnation The Book, where the trailers for all 3 books and critical praise can be accessed. http://youtube/dHmcLzmxmd0 A virtual tour begins March 15th for this third book, and a list of the tour stops for the unpaid bloggers can be accessed on WeeklyWilson.com.

"Ghostly Tales of New Mexico & Arizona: Route 66" a breaks out of the stories contained within Quixote Press' Volume II of "Ghostly Tales of Route 66" in e-book format, with illustrations replaced. Previously, an e-book existed comprised of text only. That book will return, but these shorter books, broken out by state, with the original pictures and some additional pictures added. You can expect to see Texas, California, Ilinois and Missouri in future months and "Ghostly Tales of Oklahoma: Route 66" is available now as e-book only at Amazon.

27 Feb 2015

3 Ways Authors Can Acquire The Entrepreneurial Mindset For Success

By Nicholas Depew
Want To Be Read? - Publishing Sales Coach Offers Helpful Insight

By mid-2014, self-published authors began taking home the bulk of all ebook author earnings generated on Amazon.com, while authors published by all of the Big Five publishers - Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster - combined slipped into second place, according to the January 2015 Author Earnings Report .

While self- or indie-published authors closely follow the costly dispute between Amazon and Hachette over retail and wholesale ebook pricing, titles of all genres are faced with increasingly competitive markets, says publishing sales coach Kim Staflund.

"ISBNs - International Standard Book Numbers - continue to experience enormous growth with each successive year, and in the past decade we've seen a gold rush-style of exponential growth due to the self-publishing movement," says Staflund, founder and publisher at Polished Publishing Group (PPG), www.polishedpublishinggroup.com, which supports a business model in which authors take a proactive, entrepreneurial approach.

"To be a truly successful author who can sell enough books to earn a profit and possibly even become a bestseller, you must treat book publishing, sales and marketing as your own business. The same holds true whether you take today's supported self-publishing route or you go with a traditional trade publisher."

Staflund outlines some necessary points for making a book title a success.

• Writing to be read takes an entrepreneurial spirit. If you want to earn a profit or even become a bestseller, a writer must treat book publishing, sales and marketing as your own business. That's true whether you're taking the self-publishing route or you use a traditional trade publisher to produce your book. If you don't expect to invest time or money in getting the word out, or assume that your publisher is solely responsible for outreach, you'll likely be disappointed by the few books that you'll sell.

• An overview of what it means to be proactive. With so much competition today, you need to get in front of customers and communicate with them in a clear and consistent manner. You do this by virtue of book signings, readings, craft sales, art shows, media tours, social media campaigns, speaking engagements, book reviews and whatever else you can think of whenever and wherever you can. You "pound the pavement," as they say in the sales world.

"Another aspect of what it means to be proactive is to have a polished, professional presentation of your content," Staflund says. "This requires additional help including a professional editor, designer, and proofreader. You may also require an indexer, ghostwriter or publicist."

• Your book: a project deserving of communication and a plan. Inspiration for a great book idea is necessary but insufficient for a successful project; you also need a plan. Establishing a deadline is a good start. When can you reasonably have it done by, and how much time each week will you need to write to meet your deadline? You'll need to accept this commitment, and let close loved ones know about your goal. Family and friends will appreciate your aspiration, give you your time and space, and possibly even help with your project. Additional drafts will be necessary, but at some point you'll have to know when to say when. Also, the ability to handle constructive criticism from outside eyes is essential.

"Again, it's important to remember that writing is just one of many phases in the lifecycle of a book," Staflund says. "If you want your book to have a life outside of your own mind, you'll need to appreciate the aforementioned criteria."

About Kim Staflund

As the founder and publisher at Polished Publishing Group (PPG), www.polishedpublishinggroup.com, Kim Staflund works with businesses and individuals around the world to produce professional quality audiobooks, ebooks, paperbacks and hardcovers using a supported self-publishing business model. As a bestselling author and sales coach, she shows authors how to sell their books using all the effective traditional and online tricks of the trade. Staflund has a substantial sales and sales management history combined with over 20 years of book publishing experience within the traditional and new publishing markets.

24 Feb 2015

TEEN EARNS AWARD AFTER PUBLISHING BOOK FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

By Shelley Skuster

MUSCATINE, IA - A Muscatine-area Girl Scout has earned the highest award in scouting through her dedication to community service.

Katie Dean of Fruitland earned her Gold Award through Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois after writing a children's book to help pediatric patients realize the hospital is not a scary place.

Dean said she was inspired to write the book after she was hospitalized in fifth grade.

"I know how scary it can be," she said.

Dean partnered with a local art teacher who provided illustrations. She donated 45 copies of her children's book, Healing, Hospitals, Happiness, to three hospitals in her community.

"My books will remain in the hospitals, waiting rooms, doctors' offices and hospital libraries for others to use," she said.

The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership by establishing a long-lasting positive impact on their community. Gold Award projects typically take 80 hours to complete.

"The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn," said Korissa Prine, Leadership Experience Manager at Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. "Girls recognized with this award are truly our leaders of tomorrow."

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11 Feb 2015

ABC's The Bachelor Highlights Greater Des Moines; Watch Party Planned

By Rick Martin
DES MOINES, IA - A special episode of ABC's The Bachelor will air this Sunday, February 15 from 8 to 10 p.m. with a special one-hour segment prior to the show. The episode will feature the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel, Des Moines Social Club with exhibits from local artist, Van Holmgren, RoCA, Wells Fargo Arena, West End Architectural Salvage and Rollins Mansion.

The episode was filmed throughout Greater Des Moines in October 2014, as confirmed previously by the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Greater Des Moines Partnership.

"Our number one goal in partnering with ABC's The Bachelor is to leverage the opportunity to showcase our city as the artful, hip and vibrant region it is," says Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Des Moines Area Sports Commission.

"This national and international exposure will put our region in the spotlight with millions of extremely passionate fans," adds Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. "This is a golden opportunity to illustrate our city's rich economic growth and prosperity."

The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Greater Des Moines Partnership will host a red carpet Watch Party in conjunction with this Sunday's episode from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Admission to the Watch Party is free, with limited availability. Fans must secure a ticket to attend the event; more information is available at catchdesmoines.com/TheBachelor.

Potential Story Angles Surrounding the Watch Party
--Interview opportunities with:
Spokespeople from the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau on how this national exposure will impact Greater Des Moines.
Individuals from the locations featured in the episode.
Fans of the show.
--Visual opportunities including interactive games for the guests, with themes surrounding the show.
--Additional activities, crowd engagement and photo opps will be available at the event.

Catch Real-Time Updates
Fans should follow the hashtag #IowaBachelor on the following social media channels:
Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau
--Twitter: @catchdesmoines
--Facebook: Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau
--Instagram: catchdesmoines
Greater Des Moines Partnership
--Twitter: @Downtown50309
--Facebook: Downtown Des Moines
--Instagram: Downtown Des Moines

About ABC's The Bachelor
On ABC's hit primetime reality series The Bachelor, one lucky man is offered the chance to find true love. Chris Soules, a native Iowan from Arlington, is the star of the 19th edition of ABC's The Bachelor. Hosted by Chris Harrison, The Bachelor is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. The following ABC social media channels will provide official updates:
Twitter
--The Bachelor: @BachelorABC and @TheBachelorTV
--Chris Soules: @C_Soules
--Chris Harrison: @ChrisBHarrison
Facebook
--The Bachelor: Facebook/TheBachelor
Instagram
--The Bachelor: @BachelorABC
--Chris Soules: @SoulesChris
--Chris Harrison: @ChrisBHarrison

For more information on ABC's The Bachelor, visit abc.com/TheBachelor

The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote Greater Des Moines as a fun, vibrant and affordable destination statewide, nationally and internationally. Our focus increases visitors to our community through meetings, conventions, sports events, leisure travel, and group tours, thereby contributing to the local economy.

06 Feb 2015

Allan Carlson's 'The Natural Family Where It Belongs' Named 'Outstanding Academic Title'

By Rick Martin

ROCKFORD, Ill., Feb. 4, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- CHOICE magazine, the influential journal for academic libraries published by The American Library Association, has recognized Allan Carlson's most recent book, The Natural Family Where It Belongs:  New Agrarian Essays, as an "Outstanding Academic Title" for 2014.

Dr. Carlson is President of The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society, Editor of its journal The Family in America, and Co-Founder and International Secretary of The World Congress of Families. The book is published by Transaction of New Brunswick, NJ, which Dr. Carlson also serves as Series Editor for Marriage and Family Studies.

According to the Editors of CHOICE, the "prestigious list" of volumes receiving this designation "reflects the best in scholarly titles and attracts extraordinary attention from the academic library community." Books awarded "Outstanding Academic Title" status must show: "overall excellence in presentation and scholarship;" "importance relative to other literature in the field;" "distinction as a first treatment of a given subject in book or electronic form;" "originality or uniqueness of treatment;" and "value to undergraduate students." Dr. Carlson's volume is one of only 24 books in the field of Sociology to receive this honor.

In The Natural Family Where It Belongs, Allan Carlson argues that agrarianism is alive and well in the twenty-first century, especially as a metaphor for the self-reliant and free natural family. The volume focuses on households where the sexual and the economic merge through marriage and child-bearing and where the family is defined in considerable measure by its material efforts. Dr. Carlson points toward the recreation of a family-centered economy and renewal of the true democracy, resting on autonomous homes, dreamed of by Washington, Adams, and Jefferson.

A complete review of the book, appearing in an earlier issue of CHOICE, calls it "a brilliant history and analysis of the most important building blocks of civilization: marriage and family." The review continues: "Throughout the work, Carlson demonstrates the outworn nature of standard political categorizations of 'Left' and 'Right' by perpetually skewering the sacred cows of both. Consequently, the book will generate vitriol from many corners, but that is merely one of many reasons his essays deserve the widest of audiences." It concludes: "In a time obsessed with the possibility of redefining both marriage and family, Carlson's work is simply indispensable. Summing up: Essential."

The hardcover edition of The Natural Family Where It Belongs appeared in early 2014. As of February 2015, a new paperback edition is also available. In addition, the volume can be secured as a Google eBook.

For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Dr. Carlson at (815) 964-5819 or send a query to acarlson@profam.org or media@worldcongress.org.
02 Feb 2015

Upcoming Bettendorf Library Event

By Joan Mauch
Feb. 11, 7-9:00 pm. Bettendorf Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf. Quad-Cities Waterkeeper Art Norris and Joan Mauch, author of "The Waterkeeper's Daughter" will give a presentation as part of the library's "Read Local" program. Light refreshments will be available. Free.
23 Jan 2015

1170 AM - KBOB TO BROADCAST ALL BANDITS GAMES IN 2015

By Rick Martin
DAVENPORT, Iowa (January 21, 2015) - The sounds of Quad Cities River Bandits baseball will be back on the radio airwaves in a big way in 2015, with every regular season and playoff game broadcasted live on 1170 AM K-BOB Real Country, a Townsquare Media Quad Cities station. K-BOB delivers the largest listenership of any station to ever broadcast River Bandits games on radio.
The broadcasts will begin Thursday, April 9, when the River Bandits, the six-time Midwest League Champions and Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, open their 140-game season by visiting the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Each broadcast will be anchored by River Bandits Broadcaster and Director of Media Relations Marco LaNave, entering his fourth season as the "Voice of the Bandits." LaNave also began broadcasting high school sports for Townsquare Media Quad Cities stations last September.
Townsquare Media owns and operates a diversified group of leading radio, digital, marketing services, and live event properties across the United States including 97X, B100, The HAWK, ESPN and 1170 AM in the Quad Cities.
"We are delighted to work with our great partners at Townsquare Media Quad Cities to broadcast all of the exciting action of River Bandits baseball on one of the Quad Cities' most popular country stations," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Radio remains an effective and beloved medium, and at a time when other teams are discontinuing radio, we are really happy to be ramping it up. The Quad Cities loves country music, and they love their Bandits, so our new partnership with K-BOB Real Country and Townsquare is a perfect match!"
Since purchasing the former Cumulus cluster of radio stations in the Quad Cities, Townsquare has made a significant commitment to sports programming. In May, Townsquare picked up the ESPN affiliation and launched the Quad Cities' only FM sports radio station. ESPN 93.5 is the home of the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears and local high school football and basketball.
"The combination of ESPN 93.5 and 1170 AM will broadcast more local and regional live sports exclusively to the Quad Cities area," according to Market President Bruce Law. "The addition of the River Bandits only strengthens the dominant sports line-up offered for the local fans."
In addition to the radio broadcasts, fans can listen to each game on RiverBandits.com and 1170kbob.com. They can also watch live streaming video of every River Bandits home game on MiLB.TV for a second straight season in 2015. MiLB.TV subscription includes access to all minor league online broadcasts, so fans can watch alumni as they move toward the major leagues.
"As an organization, our goal is to grow the connection of our fans to our players, and Townsquare continues to be a critical partner in doing so with enjoyable, high-quality broadcasts," said River Bandits General Manager Andrew Chesser. "This new broadcast partnership with Townsquare will bring the media experience of River Bandits baseball to its highest level ever."
"I have been blessed to be part of many memorable moments and historic achievements in the Quad Cities; having the River Bandits broadcast all of their games, not merely on the radio, but on the most-listened-to station in River Bandits history, is among the most exciting for me," LaNave said. "Broadcasting sports with Townsquare has been a highlight of my broadcasting career, and I am thrilled that will continue with River Bandits games this spring."
The River Bandits will have a running start to their opening weekend in 2015 with the third annual Bandits Race to Home 5K presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 11. The home opener is at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, against the Clinton LumberKings at Modern Woodmen Park.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.
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20 Jan 2015

Service Disruption for Some TV6 Viewers Using DIRECTV

By Eric VanWinkle

KWQC-TV6 has become aware that some DIRECTV subscribers have been unable to receive Channel 6 since last week.

The TV6 engineering staff has looked into the issue and it appears to be a software glitch on DIRECTV's end.  The issue only affects some models of DIRECTV set-top receivers.  We understand that DIRECTV is aware of the problem.

Some KWQC-TV6 viewers have reported restoration of Channel 6 after pressing the red reset button on their receiver.  Others reported success after resetting and unplugging their receiver.

Contrary to some previous reports, there is no contract dispute between KWQC-TV6 or NBC and DIRECTV.

KWQC-TV6 is freely available to the community and can be received with an over-the-air antenna.

Updates regarding the situation will be posted at www.kwqc.com.

http://kwqc.com/2015/01/13/service-disruption-for-tv6-viewers-using-directv/
12 Jan 2015

Rock Island Libraries Closed Monday, Jan. 19

By Lisa Lockheart

Rock Island, IL: All locations of the Rock Island Public Library will be closed Monday, Jan. 19 so that staff can attend an in-service training day.

The one-day closing affects the Main Library location at 401 19th Street, the 30/31 Branch at 3059 30th Street, and the Southwest Branch at 9010 Ridgewood Road.

For January only, the library's 30/31 Book Club will meet at the Hauberg Civic Center, 1300 24th Street, on Monday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 pm. Members will discuss "Emma" by Jane Austen. Library book club discussions are open to anyone who has read the selected book.

For more upcoming library events, visit library locations or the website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, follow Rock Island Library on Facebook or Twitter or call 309-732-READ (7323).

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