Hometown Reads Launches Today, Showcasing Area Authors
Salt Lake City readers: your next favorite author could be your next door neighbor. Bibliophiles now have a new resource for finding local books and authors in the form of an ongoing initiative called Hometown Reads, launched earlier this year by book marketing company Weaving Influence.
Weaving Influence has chosen selected authors in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas with published books to join the network of Hometown Reads authors, and will prominently feature these authors on the program’s main website. Weaving Influence experts will also provide authors with assistance for effectively marketing their work. With up to one million books published in the U.S. each year, it can be difficult for an author—especially one who is self-published—to cut through the noise and reach readers, even those living just a few miles away.
“I believe people tend to gravitate to authors who are famous or whom they have read before,” said featured Salt Lake City author John Stoker. “If people don't know who you are or are not familiar with your work, they might not gamble and purchase your book.”
Already, the Hometown Reads website showcases more than 600 books from 29 U.S. cities—a local work to suit every reader’s taste. Currently featured titles from the area include:
Overcoming Barriers in Your Leadership by Elizabeth Stincelli of Salt Lake City, Utah
Chemistry Lessons by Rebecca Jamison of West Jordan, Utah
Overcoming Fake Talk by John R. Stoker of Salt Lake City, Utah
The Perfect Close by James Muir of of Salt Lake City, Utah
The Hunger by Michael Young of Tooele, Utah
Beating Adversity by Randy Mallory of Orem, Utah
Feudlings by Wendy Knight of Harrisville, Utah
The Myth of Multitasking by Dave Crenshaw of Salt Lake City, Utah
Longshot by Lance Allred of Salt Lake City, Utah
The Quiet Hero by Gary W. Toyn of Salt Lake City, Utah
Manifest Destiny: Choosing a Life of Greatness by Stephen Palmer of St. George, Utah
Broken Deeds, Broken Hearts by Cindy A. Christiansen of Salt Lake City, Utah
Authors can still sign up to participate in the program at www.hometownreads.com/join. Hometown Reads authors will appear at local book events in the coming months. The program has already launched in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, and two dozen other cities across the country.
Weaving Influence, a boutique digital and public relations firm that specializes in serving authors, has launched more than 70 books since its inception in 2012. Find more at www.weavinginfluence.com. Follow Hometown Reads on Twitter and Facebook for more news.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.— National History Day® is now accepting applications for the 2017 Normandy: Sacrifice for Freedom® Albert H. Small Student and Teacher Institute. This highly competitive program accepts only 15 student and teacher pairs for an immersive experience of learning both in Washington, D.C. and on the beaches of Normandy, France. Funded through a generous donation from Mr. Albert H. Small, the institute covers nearly all expenses for accepted students and teachers including travel, visits to historic sites, and lodging in both Europe and Washington, D.C.
The Normandy Sacrifice for Freedom®: Albert H. Small Student Teacher Institute teaches students about the sacrifices and challenges faced by U.S. service members during and after the D-Day landings. Each student selects a single service member, called a Silent Hero®, from his or her home state or territory who died in the line of duty.
“At National History Day we strive to bring history to life, and few things do that better than the narratives of these Silent Heroes,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “By learning about the stories behind each of these Silent Heroes, the students and teachers truly come to understand the magnitude of the sacrifice for freedom made by these brave Americans.”
Students spend months researching their Silent Heroes under the guidance of their teachers. In June 2017, all 15 teams travel to Washington, D.C. Their first event is a welcome dinner with the White House Historical Association. Then, historians and archivists guide the students and teachers through primary source material from World War II at the National Archives. Guest historians and speakers teach them about the importance of D-Day and Operation Overlord to the outcome of the war. Finally, teams journey to Normandy, France to walk in the footsteps of their Silent Hero and learn about D-Day where it happened. On the final day, students read powerful graveside eulogies to their Silent Heroes at the Normandy American Cemetery.
Applications for this prestigious program are due by November 28, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. ET. All participants must apply as one team and must be available to travel June 17-29, 2017. Students must be either a sophomore or junior in high school as of fall 2016. All applications must be fully completed and submitted as a single PDF document. The application, and more information, can be found online at nhd.org/normandy-sacrifice-freedom.About National History Day: NHD is a non-profit education organization in College Park, MD. Established in 1974, NHD offers year-long academic programs that engage over half a million middle- and high-school students around the world annually in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. These research-based projects are entered into contests at the local and affiliate levels, where the top student projects have the opportunity to advance to the National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD also seeks to improve the quality of history education by providing professional development opportunities and curriculum materials for educators. NHD is sponsored in part by Kenneth E. Behring, Patricia Behring, HISTORY®, Jostens, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Park Service, Southwest Airlines, the Joe Weider Foundation, and the WEM 2000 Foundation of the Dorsey & Whitney Foundation. For more information, visit nhd.org.
Media Advisory:
Lt. Governor to Announce 2016
H2Oath: Utah’s Water-Wise Pledge Competition Winners
What
Lt. Governor Spencer Cox will announce the winners of two water conservation competitions held this summer tied to H2Oath: Utah’s Water-Wise Pledge at the State Capitol on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. The division of water resources estimates that H2Oath commitments taken thus far could conserve water in Utah to the tune of tens of millions of gallons. Four population category winners will receive a $5,000 water conservation grant as a reward for having their constituents take the most pledges within their respective categories. A university will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards a water conservation-related program for having the most people pledge representing its school.
Why
Between drought and population growth, and it just being the right thing to do, Utah needs to use water wisely. Ordinary precipitation will not correct the long-term drought conditions Utah has been experiencing for the past several years. Utah’s population is projected to increase substantially by 2065. Meeting future needs will require additional conservation. As Utahns work toward reaching Governor Herbert’s goal to conserve 25 percent more water by 2025, we applaud Utahns for their water-wise efforts. We also recognize more needs to be done.
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50 STATES IN 40 DAYS:
40 Days for Life Coast-to-Coast
UNITED Bus Tour Includes Rally in Salt Lake City
WASHINGTON, DC — Recognizing the urgency for ending America’s abortion crisis, 40 Days for Life is launching an unprecedented 40-day bus tour to bring its message of hope to cities and towns across the United States that are united in prayer and fasting during this fall’s UNITED 40 Days for Life campaign, which runs from September 28 to November 6. The tour will hold a rally in Salt Lake City, Utah, at 12:00 PM on October 19. Every pro-life American is encouraged to visit 40daysunited.com to learn more and join the tour in their home town.
“Poll after poll reveals that an overwhelming majority of Americans feel our nation is on the wrong track,” said 40 Days for Life CEO David Bereit, “and when pressed, many respondents cite growing disillusionment with politics and government, along with frustration over increasing attacks against faith, family, religious freedom, and human life. It's time for this to change.”
The UNITED tour will make stops in more than 125 cities to hold rallies and prayer vigils that will encourage Christians to stand together for the sanctity of life across the nation. 40 Days for Life is joined by partner organizations for the tour: March for Life, Heartbeat International, Silent No More Awareness, Students for Life, and Susan B. Anthony List, along with numerous city and state pro-life coalition groups.
“Since 40 Days for Life started in 2007,” said 40 Days for Life president Shawn Carney, "we have recognized that although abortion is a national problem, it does not happen in the White House, in Congress, or in the Supreme Court. Abortion takes place in hometowns across America – and it will end, and is ending, in hometowns across America, one by one.”
Each 40 Days for Life campaign consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting, community outreach, and constant, peaceful vigil in the public right-of-way outside abortion facilities. The volunteers who pray at these vigils have witnessed answers to their prayers, including: 11,796 babies saved from abortion, 133 workers who have left the abortion industry, and 75 abortion centers which closed their doors forever following 40 Days for Life vigils.
“People of faith sometimes feel alone in their efforts to end abortion,” said 40 Days for Life North American campaign director Steve Karlen. “We can’t wait to hit the road with the UNITED tour to show that we are all in this together – and with God’s blessings, abortion in this country will come to an end.”
For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact Jake Wilkins at jwilkins@sbpublicaffairs.com or (703) 739-5920.
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Clark Planetarium Welcomes Former Astronaut Mike Massimino
The two-time shuttle astronaut twice serviced the Hubble Space Telescope
Salt Lake City, UT –As part of Clark Planetarium’s grand reopening, celebrating its renovated, reimagined space science exhibits, the Planetarium will host former astronaut Mike Massimino. Massimino is a veteran of two shuttle flights, which included the final servicing missions of the Hubble Space Telescope. Massimino has logged a total of 571 hours and 47 minutes in space, and a cumulative total of 30 hours and 4 minutes of spacewalking during 4 space walks. Massimino will be the keynote speaker at Clark Planetarium’s The Next Giant Leap Gala on Thursday, October 20th and will be available for interview earlier in the day from 11:00am – 1:00pm
Massimino recently released a new book, “Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe.” He appeared as himself in a recurring role on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and also starred in the IMAX film, Hubble 3D and the PBS Nova episode, “Saving Hubble.”
WHAT: Interviews with former astronaut Mike Massimino, featured with Clark Planetarium’s fully renovated exhibit halls.
WHEN: Thursday, October 20th, 2016 11:00am – 1:00pm
WHERE: Clark Planetarium, 110 South 400 West
About Clark Planetarium
Clark Planetarium’s mission is to create and present stimulating educational programs that effectively share astronomy and space exploration information with Salt Lake County residents, Utah students, educators and families, and visitors from around the country and the world. For more information visit www.clarkplanetarium.org or follow Clark Planetarium on Twitter or Facebook.
