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Sneak Peak: Lee Child’s PERSONAL

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Today we sat down with Lee Child, the bestselling author of the sensational thriller series about a former military policeman Jack Reacher. Child has had tremendous success with this suspenseful thriller series. The mysterious and intriguing nature of Jack’s sharp analytical intellect and physical strength has been captivating readers for the past seventeen years. The latest installment, PERSONAL was published on August 28th 2014.

Lee Child shared with us the surprising story of how he came up with the main character’s name. In the beginning of his writing career, Child was struggling to find a name for his leading character, and looked for inspiration everywhere. One day, while grocery shopping with his wife, he was approached by an elderly woman, who asked him to reach for a can of beans off the top shelf. The two started talking, and the woman suggested he become a reacher in a grocery store in case his writing career falls through. Haunted by the idea, Child named his leading man Jack Reacher.

Check out this behind-the-scene photo, and stay tuned for the whole interview with Child, where he talks about PERSONAL, Jack Reacher and much more.

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Veronica Roth releases FOUR: A DIVERGENT COLLECTION

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Veronica Roth’s debut novel Divergent (2011) was an instant bestseller, immediately embraced by both teen readers and adults alike. Buzz of this new series spread quickly and the release of Insurgent in May 2012 solidified Veronica Roth as a new voice in Young Adult fiction; the book debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller’s list where the series has remained ever since. With massive critical and commercial appeal and unstoppable international buzz, the series skyrocketed in popularity. As fans geared up for the release of Veronica Roth’s highly-anticipated Allegiant in October 2013, SUMMIT Entertainment announced plans to make the popular series into a major motion picture much to delight of Veronica Roth’s loyal fan base. The DIVERGENT film starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet debuted on March 21, 2014, and grossed $56 million in its opening weekend. Wowing audiences across the country and enchanting fans of Roth’s action-packed series, the subsequent movies based on the books are set to release in coming years.

The DIVERGENT trilogy has become a major pop culture phenomenon and now fans have a chance to go back to the beginning with Tobias “Four” Eaton. With the release of FOUR: A DIVERGENT COLLECTION, readers and movie-goers can finally get inside of Four’s head and find out what makes him tick. FOUR is a collection of short stories set in Roth’s dystopian Chicago told from Tobias “Four” Eaton’s point of view. Each story gives readers a glimpse into Four’s past, his deepest thoughts and most profound moments, and the decisions of loyalty-and love- that he makes in the weeks after he meets Tris Prior. Also included are 3 exclusive scenes from DIVERGENT, except this time, they are told by Four.

Here, Veronica talks to us, during her integrated media tour in Boston, about her inspiration for DIVERGENT and how she was able to turn that small idea into a phenomenon.

 

Check out her interview here!

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Honey Brings the Energy with Mitzi Dulan

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Mitzi Dulan shows viewers how to use honey as an all-natural energy booster.

Mitzi Dulan discusses how she uses honey as an all-natural energy booster.

September is not just back to school, but back to routine for the millions of Americans who have said goodbye to the carefree days of summer and are returning to the daily grind.  From that second or third snooze in the morning to that long yawn during your afternoon meeting, getting energized for the day and keeping that energy is, well, exhausting!

America’s Nutrition Expert Mitzi Dulan, RD, CSSD, has inspired millions to lose weight, get fit and keep energized.  As the current team nutritionist for the Kansas City Royals baseball team and former team nutritionist for the Kansas City Chiefs football team, Mitzi knows one secret ingredient for a quick, natural energy booster—honey.  Whether it’s at the office, at school or after a workout, many Americans experience that mid-afternoon energy slump, and the majority crave something less than nutritious and binge on candy, sodas and other high-calorie foods. Mitzi was in the studio with us this week discussing how honey can play an important role in your day:

 

 

  • Morning wake-up:  what you choose to eat sets the tone for the day ahead.
  • Keep hydrated throughout the day.
  • Mid-morning crash: mix nut butter and honey as a dip for fruits or vegetables.
  • Maintain consistent energy levels throughout the day by consuming adequate amounts of protein.
  • 3 p.m. slump and afterschool doldrums: try Mitzi’s personal favorites (wink, you’ll have to interview her to find out!).
  • Pre-, mid- or post-workout: Learn to make your own budget-friendly drink and the perfect post-workout meal.

YOU ARE A BADASS BY JEN SINCERO

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BY JEN SINCERO

YOU ARE A BADASS

Like many young, and cynical people, Jen Sincero used to think that the touchy-feely, woo-woo stuff of the self-help/spiritual world was “a bunch of crap.” Until, at a particularly crappy point in her life, she felt desperate enough to give it a whirl. After diving into motivational seminars, bonding with her spirit guide, marrying herself (in a symbolic ceremony), hiring private coaches, and devouring stacks of self-help books, she was stunned to discover her own life-changing power—and the power of believing in a higher power too.

In her new book, You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, Jen Sincero shares the self-help/spiritual insights and practices that have truly worked wonders for her and for the thousands she’s converted. Sincero mixes hilarious stories and snarky comments with sage advice, inspiring examples, uplifting quotes and affirmations, and easy but effective exercises. Her goal is to motivate all kinds of people to believe in themselves, harness their untapped, infinite potential, have faith in our world of limitless possibilities, and move beyond wanting to deciding to have a better life.

Need some tough love? Best selling author Jen Sincero doesn’t hold anything back in her hilarious new self-help book. Jen reminds us that fear is for suckers, and sends out a get-your-butt-moving call to those who don’t know their own power.

DADDY’S GONE A HUNTING – Mary Higgins Clark

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51zh9fW+fEL._SY300_In this new novel by perennial No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark, the reigning “Queen of Suspense,” a dark secret from a family’s past threatens the lives of two sisters, Kate and Hannah Connelly, when the family-owned furniture firm in Long Island City explodes into flames in the middle of the night. Kate is left critically injured and unconscious, and the fire destroys the buildings, including a museum where priceless antiques have been on permanent display for years.

The ashes reveal a startling and grisly discovery, and provoke a host of suspicions and questions. Was the explosion deliberately set? What drew Kate—tall, gorgeous, blond, a CPA for one of the biggest accounting firms in the country and sister of a rising fashion designer—to the museum at that hour? Why was Gus, a retired and disgruntled craftsman, with her? What did this tragedy reveal about a young woman who had been missing for many years? What if someone isn’t who he claims to be?

Step by step, in a novel of dazzling suspense and excitement, Mary Higgins Clark once again demonstrates the mastery of her craft that has made her books international bestsellers for years. She presents the reader with a perplexing mystery, a puzzling question of identity, and a fascinating cast of characters—one of whom may just be a ruthless killer . . .

BROTHERS EMANUEL by Ezekiel Emanuel – The Memoir of an American Family

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Brash. Articulate. Tenacious. Animated.  Assertive. Loyal.  These are just a few words used to describe three high-achieving men—the outspoken mayor of the third largest U.S. city, a celebrated Hollywood super-agent, and one of the world’s leading bioethicists and oncologists —who also happen to be brothers born into a family of modest means.

So, what did Zeke, Rahm, and Ari’s mom put in the cereal?

In BROTHERS EMANUEL, eldest brother Ezekiel “Zeke” Emanuel recounts the intertwined histories of these three rambunctious and driven Jewish American boys, each with his own compelling life story.  Set in the tumultuous Chicago of the 1960s and 1970s, Zeke explains the path his youngest brother Ari took from an entrepreneurial kid who suffered from dyslexia to the real-life model for the bold character of Ari Gold on the hit series ‘Entourage’; how the quietest middle brother changed from an underachieving student to become Rahm—one of the most colorful and foul-mouthed figures in American politics; and follows Zeke himself from geeky high school debater to renowned bioethicist and special advisor for health policy in the Obama administration. BROTHERSEMANUEL_FINALCOVERasof1-23

Through these defining stories emerges a dramatic portrait of the entire Emanuel family: tough Old World grandparents; a loving father who immigrated to the United States with twenty-five dollars to work as a doctor and who enthralled his boys with tales of his adventures in Israel’s war for independence; and a proud, politically engaged mother who took the boys with her to rallies and protests—including a civil rights march through the streets of Chicago led by Martin Luther King himself.   While the brothers have distinguished themselves as individuals, Zeke credits the bond of the  Emanuel brotherhood as a major influence on the men they grew up to be.

THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION COOKBOOK by Dr. Mark Hyman

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Over 50 percent of meals in America are eaten outside the home, where highly processed, high-fat, high-sugar, low-fiber foods are consumed in abundance. The major culprit of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease is insulin imbalance, and it has emerged as a major crisis in American families. Today one in two Americans has either pre-diabetes or diabetes. In less than a decade the rate of pre-diabetes or diabetes in teenagers has risen 9 percent, to 23 percent. That means almost one in four kids has pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. Shocking, and yet perhaps even more so, 37 percent of kids at a normal weight have one or more cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar, because even though factory food doesn’t necessarily make you fat, it does make you sick!

Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook

In The Blood Sugar Solution, Dr. Hyman revealed the root causes of chronic disease, the secret to losing weight, and a roadmap for preventing diabesity and getting healthy. In THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION COOKBOOK, Dr. Hyman begins by showing readers how to take an assessment of their own health status and how to prepare their kitchen to follow The Blood Sugar Solution six-week program, and he presents the principles for eating healthy for life. Following are 175 original, wholesome, and delicious recipes—from Dr. Hyman’s own collection as well as from his community of chefs—that are free of allergens and harmful inflammatory ingredients. Readers can exchange toxic factory-made foods for nutritious, easy-to-make dishes (including dessert!) that showcase a variety of cuisines, including Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry, Mexican Shrimp “Ceviche,” Tuscan Zucchini Soup, Strawberry Ice Cream, Dark Chocolate Silk Pudding, and much more.

 

Dr. Hyman believes the cure for what ails us—both in our bodies and in our nation—can be found in the kitchen. It is a place to rebuild community and connection, strengthen bonds with family and friends, teach life-giving skills to our children, enrich and nourish our bodies and our souls. Think of THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION COOKBOOK as a roadmap to pleasure and health.

Bruce Feiler: SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES

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Caught between aging parents and growing children, New York Times columnist and best-selling author Bruce Feiler, felt the same pressures many of us feel. But when his annual family vacation erupted into arguments over texting, whining, and manners, he knew the old rules of family life weren’t working anymore. He needed a new playbook for modern-day families, something to counteract the chaos of the digital age.

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Rather than turning to the traditional family experts, Feiler used his experience as an investigative reporter to seek new sources—the most creative minds in business, sports, technology, television and the military.  He asked them what cutting-edge techniques from their professional lives they used with their own families.  Then, with the sense of humor and adventure that his readers have come to love, Feiler took those ideas home and test drove

them with his own wife and kids.  THE SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES recounts Feiler’s terrifically funny and fruitful quest, with over 200 new ideas to make contemporary family life more functional, more meaningful, and, best of all, more fun.

Many of the ideas Feiler encountered ran counter to age-old wisdom: Let your kids pick their punishments.  Don’t worry about family dinner.  Ditch date night.  Scrap the sex talk. And it’s no wonder:  Feiler spoke to people who don’t just think outside the box, they live outside the box, and their families are happier for it.  Above all, Feiler emerges with what family life is all about:  a story—an insightful, original, funny story about why families are important, why they’re so difficult to get right, and why this most maddening of human institutions is also the thing that brings us the most joy in our lives.  Infused with Feiler’s trademark humor and wisdom, THE SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES will help families everywhere enhance their lives, reduce their stress, and improve their stories every day.

 

Harley Pasternak

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February is National Heart Health Month

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.  

This month do something about it….

HARLEY PASTERNAK

New York Times Bestseller, Celebrity Fitness & Nutrition expert offers his tips to stay healthy during National Heart Health Month

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for Americans, and yet many Americans still maintain unhealthy diets, packing pounds while never exercising.

Harley understands that for many Americans, substituting certain foods with a combination of easy exercise, is the recipe for a healthier life.  And, in celebration of National Heart Health Month, Harley is teaming up with Planters to spread the word that peanuts are a heart healthy food.

Check out this segment featuring Harley offering his tips on how to stay healthy:

Scientific evidence suggests (but does not prove) that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as peanuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of heart disease (according to the FDA).

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Jane O’Connor: NANCY CLANCY, SECRET ADMIRER

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FANCY NANCY IS BACK WITH HER SECOND CHAPTER BOOK!

Fancy Nancy is best known to millions of little girls for her fancy tiaras, pink boas and sparkly shoes.  With more than 17 million books sold since the series launched in December 2005, translated into 17 languages and over 230 weeks 9780062082961on the New York Times bestseller list, the Fancy Nancy franchise shows no sign of slowing down. However, all children grow up, including Fancy Nancy…. Author Jane O’Connor and Illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser have teamed up once again for their second installment of their chapter book series, featuring Fancy Nancy: Nancy Clancy, Secret Admirer.

Nancy Clancy and her best friend Bree have love on the brain—after all, they’re learning all about the human heart in science class! Nancy is determined to work out the mysteries of the heart. Doesn’t a touch of romance make everything better? But when Nancy and Bree decide to take love into their own hands, it isn’t quite as easy as they thought it would be. Will love conquer all?