The Award-Winning Book Trailer for Thriller Novel "Pilate's Cross"

The Award-Winning Book Trailer for the thriller novel Pilate's Cross, produced by T2 + Back Alley Films, a nationally recognized digital media agency that creates all forms of new media content.

Pilate's Cross has a bit of everything—action, romance and spine-chilling suspense.  Mr. Greenwood has a very strong voice for mystery storytelling. His style is to tease and draw you in, and that’s exactly what happened when I read his book. Now I must wait patiently for his next one to be further thrilled by the adventures of John Pilate. ***Big 2 Thumbs Up***

--Eden Baylee, Author of Fall Into Winter

For more reviews, links, excerpts and an interview with the author, visit PilatesCross.com. Get it in paperback from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Lulu. Ebook fans may order it for only $1.99 in any ereader format from Smashwords. 

Bonus offer! Get a free short story ebook and excerpt of Pilate's Cross here.

Advice for "Solopreneuers" from Redhead Writing

Starting or running your own small business? Then you know it's fraught with the potential for missteps and blind alleys that can slow you down.

So why not save yourself some trouble and check out this great advice from "solopreneur" star Erika Napoletano, aka Redhead Writing? Here's a sample:

1. Trade is crap. It’s a very fine line and there’s little margin for error. Someone always ends up getting the short end of the stick. If you’re looking for ways to build a portfolio, I think it’s better to quietly do work for pennies on the dollar and later raise your rates than give it away for something that’s unequal in value.
2. You’re not a freelancer. You own a business. Start treating what you do like a business from day 1 because sooner or later, you’re going to wish you had.
3. Pick a ditch to die in. Take a stand. Believe in something. Being wishy washy gets you nowhere. Grow a pair. When you stop caring about the people who will never like you, the coolest thing happens: you find the people who actually do.
4. Your target customer is not “everyone.” I watched roughly twenty six-minute pitches from startups on the DEMO Conference live feed this week, and not one startup stood up on stage and said that “everyone” was their target customer. Take a hint.
5. There will always be naysayers. If everyone agrees with you, you’re doing it wrong. But then again, if everyone disagrees with you, you just might be doing it wrong, too.

There are 14 more great nuggets of wisdom, so check out the rest of the post here.

Join Us at the 2011 Kansas City Arthritis Walk at Zona Rosa

We're involved with the Arthritis Foundation's efforts to help people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases -- the nation's most common cause of disability.
May is National Arthritis Month and the Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation’s nationwide, signature fundraising event with more than 200 Arthritis Walks across the country.
Arthritis is more widespread than imagined, affecting nearly 50 million American adults and more than 300,000 children.
The Kansas City Arthritis Walk will be held Sunday, May 22^nd at the Zona Rosa Shopping District in North Kansas City (610 N. Dixon, KCMO 64153). People are invited to sign up, form a team to fundraise for the Arthritis Foundation in the months leading up to the event and to walk together on May 22^nd.
Each person who fundraises $100 or more will receive an official Arthritis Walk t-shirt. Funds raised go to arthritis research, programs and services and patient advocacy efforts. For information on how to register, please visit www.afwalkkc.kintera.org, or call (913) 262-2233.
Day-of event details:

• This event runs from 8 am to 10 am.
• The walk route will be less than 1 mile, making it accessible for all participants.
• Participants will enjoy refreshments, games, face-painting, live entertainment and raffle prizes.
• As many as 1 in 5 adult dogs get arthritis. Dogs on leashes who are accompanied by their owners
  are welcome to participate in the Kansas City Arthritis Walk.
• Worth Harley Davidson will be leading the Walk this year on motorcycles.

We hope to see you there! If you set up a team or join a team, please leave us a comment below and we'll help you get the word out via social networks about your efforts to raise much-needed funds.
For information, please contact our pal Annie Noonen at (913) 262-2233, ext 110.

PR Tip #345

If a public relations firm promises to get you media coverage, they're probably doing one of two things:

1. Lying (to you and/or themselves).
2. Actually selling you an ad.

Look for another firm that tells you the truth: they will put their skills, contacts and creativity to work to give you a great shot at publicity--but they cannot guarantee anything.

KC A Pivotal Point in Musician's Career

Dan Coyle Performs Nov. 16 at RecordBar--Free CD with Every Ticket

Kansas City has been very good to Dan Coyle, and now the acclaimed singer songwriter Dan Coyle aims to give something back by launching his new CD at RecordBar Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.

Coyle has twice played the KCRiverFest Independence Day Festival in Kansas City as well as other local venues. He had such an enthusiastic welcome from Kansas City audiences that he chose to offer his new CD "You Linger Your Little Hour And Are Gone" free to every ticket holder at his RecordBar appearance Tuesday.

"In 2007, I got my first big break when I played at the Folklore Alliance Conference in Memphis. From there I started to make some fans, got some exposure on some NPR stations. Things went pretty well until early 2009, when my Dad died," Coyle said.

"I lost some momentum. I wasn't working until KCRiverFest 2009 got me back on the road."

"I stayed in close contact with the people from Kansas City and it gave me this sense of hope that there was a need or a want or a market for my kind of music and I needed to get out and do things again. Kansas City gained this little place in my heart from what it did in breaking me loose from the stagnation. It wasn't a big break in the traditional sense but it got me back where I needed to be. I'm thrilled to be back in KC."

Tickets are $10 at the door or may be pre-ordered online. Every ticketholder gets a free copy of his new CD. RecordBar is located at 1020 Westport Road in Midtown Kansas City. Call 816-753-5207 for directions or more information. Singer Kevin Hiatt will open the performance.

Coyle recently completed a tour of the Seattle area and is preparing for a European Tour in February.

Coyle's music has been described by Alexandra McKay of the Prince Street Press as "Bright musicality and sunny inflections almost hide the thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics that are woven throughout this album. A lo-fi live recording that's simple without being simplistic, and utterly charming."

"It's an acoustic mix of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, with some soft and hard edges to it." Coyle said.

Coyle has released five albums to date, including "Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences" and "Briar Street: The Acoustic Sessions." His latest album is scheduled for wide release December 1. He has toured nationally, playing everything from small venues to concert halls to massive festivals.

For more information about Dan Coyle's music, including his complete tour schedule, song samples, video, interviews, reviews and special offers, visit www.dancoyle.com. Follow him on Twitter @Dan_Coyle and on Facebook.

Online ticket preorder here.

Media Relations Strategy: Opportunity Has a Secret Knock

Learning the “secret knock” on the door of opportunity is key when dealing with today’s news media. Check out this brief presentation to learn more.

Media Relations Strategy: Opportunity Has a Secret Knock

View more presentations from AlexanderG Public Relations.

KCRiverFest Entertainment Lineup Announced

Gold Record Winning ‘Head East’ Returns to Kansas City

Rock and roll legends, country stars, jazz and ragtime acts will take the stage at KCRiverFest July 3 & 4.

Presented by Friends of the River—Kansas City, the acclaimed festival returns to Richard Berkley Riverfront Park for a sixth year with a diverse lineup of bands and an 18-minute fireworks spectacular by internationally-renowned Zambelli Fireworks. Again, festival goers will also be treated to a six-minute “sneak preview” fireworks show on July 3rd at approximately 10 p.m.

Legendary gold-album certified band Head East will headline on the Friends of the River Main Stage at 8:30 p.m. July 3rd. Head East has Missouri roots and has appeared in more than 5,000 concerts over the past 25 years. From St. Louis to Seattle and Dallas to Detroit, Head East has performed in every major city and market in North America. Led by founding member, keyboardist and producer Roger Boyd, Head East is one of the hottest, most exciting live shows touring today.
Other acts appearing July 3rd acclaimed guitarist Fast Johnny Ricker, bluesman Rich Berry, the Bluecat Creole Band and Chicago-based singer/songwriter Dan Coyle. Coyle was a crowd pleaser at last year’s KCRiverFest.

July 4th entertainment will feature the best in country and jazz, with performances by returning KCRiverFest favorites Bayley Kate and Phil Vandel. The all-girl group broadBAND will lead in to the wildly popular U.S. Air Force Shades of Blue Jazz Band. As in years past, the Shades of Blue will perform patriotic standards and tributes to the Armed Services, culminating with the 18-minute fireworks show over the river by the First Family of Fireworks, Zambelli International.

Besides the Friends of the River Main Stage, two new stages will offer something for everyone. The Show Me Stage presented by Radio Disney is under a shade tent and features children’s entertainment. The children’s zone in the stage area offers inflatables and other activities, including Tom Mancuso of Sit Means Sit Dog Training. As seen on Animal Planet, Mancuso will return to demonstrate the Sit Means Sit dog training method.

KCRiverFest will feature the best in ragtime and jazz musicians at the Americana Pavilion presented by the Kansas City Ragtime Revelry. Grab a seat under the shade tent as emcee Bill Long (known by ragtime fans for his years emceeing Sedalia's Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival) keeps the Americana Pavilion hopping both days of the festival welcoming the best in ragtime performers. Acts include the New Red Onion Jazz Babies, TurpinTyme Ragsters, Marty Mincer, Frederick Hodges, the Rhythmia, the Sunflower Ragtime Orchestra and many more.

2010 marks the inaugural year of a new tradition: the First Annual KCRiverFest Canoe & Kayak Invitational Championships. Be sure to be at KCRiverFest at 3 p.m. July 4th to watch these river racers challenge themselves and their competitors on the Mighty Missouri.

The U.S. Army Strength in Action Zone returns, featuring an Apache helicopter simulator, Guitar Hero stage, dog tags and the Army fitness challenge.

Complete schedules, a new map of the park and detailed information about performers are online now at www.KCRiverFest.com. Regular priced adult tickets are $6 at the gate, but may be purchased online for $5 at www.KCRiverFest.com. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted online. Children age five and under are admitted free of charge. Only cash will be accepted at the gate.

Community groups and individuals may volunteer at KCRiverFest. More information and volunteer applications are available at www.KCRiverFest.com or by calling 816.960.3400.

A special package deal is offered by the Downtown Marriott, including a room with a panoramic view of the fireworks and tickets to the festival. A link to the special hotel package for KCRiverFest visitors is posted on www.KCRiverFest.com.

Sponsors for KCRiverFest include Friends of the River—Kansas City, the Port Authority of Kansas City, the Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund, U.S. Army, Midwest Living magazine, Burns & McDonnell, Mazuma Credit Union, Country 94.1 KFKF, Q104, Mix 93.3, Star 102, ink, Radio Disney, Capitol Federal, Clear, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, DST Systems, BNSF, Ameristar Cares, Central States Beverage Co., Isle of Capri Casino, GE Energy, HNTB, King Hershey, Konrady’s, Corporate Branding, Liberty RV, Missouri Bank, Missouri Gas Energy, Downtown Kansas City Marriott, the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, Lockton, TranSystems, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, the Session Law Firm, Sound Check and Bartlett and West.

Friends of KCRiverFest include American Red Cross, the Hon. Mayor Richard Berkley, Centerpoint Properties, Cold Storage Lofts, Enterprise Rent A Car, Jim & Ann Foil, Chris & Lois Gutierrez, Hanson Professional Services Inc., KPMG, Kansas City Garden Railroad Society, Kansas City Kite Club, Kansas City Parks & Recreation, Kansas City Water Department, Mark Laverentz, North Kansas City Levee, J. B. Reynolds Foundation, Taliaferro & Browne, Tetra Tech, Tradebot Systems, Trinity Transport Foundation, Turner Construction and The View Condo Association.
KCRiverFest is produced by EventPros, Inc., Kansas City’s creative meeting, event and communications resource. Visit EventPros on the web at www.EventProsInc.com.