Category: new releases

New single: Two Faced – Stella Prince

Evocative and enchanting, Stella Prince releases her 8th single, Two Faced, with Steve Fishell on August 4, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Born and raised in Woodstock, NY, Stella Prince is the only child of creative parents. She was immersed in music from an early age thanks to her parents’ extensive all-genre CD collection and her frequent attendance at concerts where she first encountered artists like Levon Helm, Amy Helm, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Tracy Bonham, and Natalie Merchant. Growing up, Stella was also heavily influenced by pop and oldies music; she has always known that she wanted to be a performer for as long as she can remember. In 2021, she began to release music and play live, travel to Nashville and Los Angeles, gain representation in the music industry, and book her own performances. Stella released four singles in 2021: “The Rain Might Fall,” “Scared,” “Before You Leave,” and “Alone for the Holidays.” Stella is thrilled to continue to release music into 2023 with her 8th single, “Two Faced,” featuring Steve Fishell on steel guitar. It will be independently released on August 4. (Dreamspider Publicity, 2023)

Authentic and from-the-heart, Stella Prince’s melodies delve deep into your spirit with her evocative and relatable songs. Her poetic lyrics, in tandem with the atmospheric sounds of her vocals, acoustic guitar, and musical compositions, appeal to a diverse, multi-generational audience. Stella Prince’s musical influences span decades—from country and folk music’s renowned voices of Judy Garland, Karen Carpenter, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton; to the pop icon Taylor Swift. Think Country Press says, “Imagine the perfect mixture of Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Judy Collins all packed into one young musician.” Fans can pre-save “Two Faced” ahead of the release. 

For this newest single, Stella had the pleasure of working with Steve Fishell, a Nashville-based pedal steel guitarist, Grammy-winning record producer, and educator. Emotionally moving from the start, accentuated by Fishell’s pedal steel, with the harrowing opening lines, “You got her right where you wanted… Lonely enough so she’d take the bait… Blinded by words that were only an empty promise… Desperation paves way for mistakes.” The heart of the song is in the chorus: ‘There’s all kinds of empty… but the hardest one to take… is lies that seem tempting… Loneliness is two faced.’ Self produced, “Two Faced” was recorded at the legendary Sound Stage Studios on Music Row in Nashville with Sound Engineer Kameron Luchterhand.

“My big goal is for someone to play my song and think, ‘That’s exactly how I feel…’ I want my songs to resonate with everyone, every generation, every issue: loneliness, fear, all of that.” – Stella Prince

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New horror movie release: Waking Nightmare

Waking Nightmare will be out on Video On Demand on August 18, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In today’s movie news, here is a horror movie that is coming to Video On Demand next month: Waking Nightmare.

Pitch Perfect’s Shelley Regner, The Last American Virgin’s Diane Franklin, An American Werewolf in London’s David Naughton, and The Lost Boys’ Jamison Newlander star in Waking Nightmare, a spine-chilling rollercoaster of fear hitting Video On Demand on August 18 from Terror Films. (October Coast, 2023)

Waking Nightmare – Jordan suffered manic episodes after the loss of her friend. Her mother has a family doctor prescribe her Ambien to help with her sleepwalking. As time goes on, Jordan has issues remembering what happened. Yan Birch, Stephen Wu, and Every Heart co-star.

“We wanted to create a unique experience for horror fans by blending horror comedy and drama with the toxic uncertainty of films like Miike’s Audition. What drew me to the project was Brian’s concept of an unwitting killer who is just an average girl struggling to find normalcy in a mad world.” – Stephen Craig

“Bending the forms of reality is something that has always intrigued me. I was honored to work with my brother in cinema Stephen Craig on Waking Nightmare. Creating the world that the characters lived in, sane and insane in something that bends the visual scape of the genre. People are affected by sleepwalking. The unknown of where you’ll wake up, is truly a Waking Nightmare.” – Brian Farmer

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New book release: ‘The Day I Sold My Corvette’ by Santrell T. Carson

‘The Day I Sold My Corvette’ by Santrell T. Carson. Photo: Amazon

Today’s book highlight is all about business. If you are interesting in books about business, money/motivational management, and biographies about business professionals, this one is for you: “The Day I Sold My Corvette” by Santrell T. Carson. This thought-provoking and enlightening book challenges your perceptions of wealth and money. If you find yourself living paycheck-to-paycheck, struggling financially, or constantly craving material possessions, this is a must read book.

Santrell T. Carson is a creative designer, an artist, an observer, a businessman, a son, a brother, a landlord, an entrepreneur, an author, and after all these years, still an engineer. He has worked most of his life, starting at 12 when he started his first paper route. At 19, he became a conductor for the railroad and eventually became the first African American to go through the ranks to become an engineer in his district. This was when Santrell decided that employment was only the first step to success, and the real goal was to become financially independent. Even though he enjoyed his childhood, it was not as he would have liked to imagine it. While growing up in a poverty-stricken area, he was set on a mission to change the path of those who came after him. Creating generational wealth was not the first goal as he toiled with life’s obstacles. His new book, “The Day I Sold My Corvette,” is about more than just selling a car, it is about selling a lifestyle that keeps you in financial bondage. The author challenges readers to re-evaluate their spending habits and focus on acquiring assets instead of liabilities. (Santrell T. Carson, 2023)

“The Day I Sold my Corvette” is a compelling and insightful read that will inspire you to take control of your finances and make positive changes in your life. Whether you are a young adult just starting your financial journey or someone looking to shift their mindset about wealth, this book offers practical advice and a refreshing perspective on money. Through his personal story, the author shares his financial education journey and how he broke the cycle of poverty by taking risks and building assets. He sheds light on the common misconceptions about wealth and exposes the true meaning of financial freedom.

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New album release: Sweethearts – Christian Parker

Christian Parker breaths new life into the Byrd’s classic country leaning album with new LP Sweethearts. It will be out August 18, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Christian Parker is an American recording artist, guitarist and songwriter. He knows his way around a song, and his musical vision enables him to deliver electrifying licks on rock anthems as well as cascading layers of acoustic guitar on ballads of love and loss. Parker started taking guitar lessons when he was 12, the day after John Lennon was killed, and learned how to play “Rocky Racoon” that same night. The New York-based musician released his first album, Reflections of Tomorrow, when he was 17, launching a music career devoted to introspective songwriting marked by its attention to the world around him. Since then he has released six studio albums, including his forthcoming Sweethearts, Parker’s version of the classic Byrds’ album Sweethearts of the Rodeo. His albums have earned him praise from No Depression, Blues Blast, and Jambands. His most recent, Every Passing Mile and Best Kept Secret, contain previously unreleased material written over the last two decades. In addition to his solo work, Parker has played lead guitar in the Waydown Wailers, rockers who have shared stages with Z.Z. Top, Charlie Daniels, Lady A, and New Riders of the Purple Sage. (IV-PR, 2023)

On August 18, Parker will release his version of the Byrds’ now-legendary country-rocker, Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Titled Sweethearts, it features his rollicking band and support from pianist Earl Poole Ball and pedal steel from JayDee Maness—both of whom played on the original record back in 1968.

Just as then-new Byrds member Gram Parsons loved the Louvin Brothers, Merle Haggard, and Cindy Walker—and wanted to deliver faithful versions of their songs “The Christian Life,” “Life in Prison,” and “Blue Canadian Rockies”—so Parker delivers the Byrds’ versions in tender renditions that capture the groundbreaking character of the original album. Throughout Sweethearts, Parker’s vocals echo the purity of Parsons’ efforts to import the clarity of county music into vibrant rock rhythms. In addition to the original eleven songs on Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Parker has included three more classics: “I Still Miss Someone,” “Satisfied Mind,” and “Drugstore Truck Driving Man.”

Parker shared the first single from Sweethearts, the album-opening “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” with premiere partner The Bluegrass Situation. “I first heard this song by Bob Dylan on an acoustic guitar. But I was hooked when I listened to the opening pedal steel guitar on the Byrds album,” says Parker. “This song was in my repertoire for decades, and I felt like I was recording an old friend. Tracer James’ interpretation of Lloyd Greens’ pedal steel guitar opens Sweethearts up perfectly and having Earl Poole Ball in the studio, who played piano on the original version, was magical for me.” Finding room between James’ scampering steel licks and Ball’s gospel-inflected piano runs, Parker delivers the song’s iconic refrain: “Whoo-ee, ride me high / Tomorrow’s the day my bride’s gonna come.” The cascading piano on the outré is Parker’s distinctive take on this buoyant song.

Fans can hear “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Sweethearts ahead of its August 18 release.

Sweethearts track list:
You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere
I Am A Pilgrim
The Christian Life
You Don’t Miss Your Water
You’re Still On My Mind
Pretty Boy Floyd
I Still Miss Someone
Hickory Wind
One Hundred Years From Now
Blue Canadian Rockies
Life In Prison
Nothing Was Delivered
Satisfied Mind
Drugstore Truck Driving Man

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New book release: ‘The Vet’s Apprentice’ by David Basinski

‘The Vet’s Apprentice’ is the new science fiction novel by David Basinski. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Here is another new release worth mentioning: “The Vet’s Apprentice” by David Basinski. This debut novel for young readers takes place in the near future where space travel is as common as self driving cars and traffic sensors that issue tickets for speeding. Luna, the young protagonist loves animals and yearns to one day become a vet but when her scholarship falls through for lack of funding, she has to come up with Plan B. After reading a sample, I can attest that the author’s writing style seems graceful and makes the story flow easily through the pages. The highly detailed illustrations are gorgeous and bring the story to life and the concept of caring for animals in outer space is appealing. If you enjoy books with teenage protagonists and outer space adventures with animals, even if you are not a young reader, give this science fiction adventure a try. Let me know what you think.

After graduating from high school with the state’s representative scholarship, David Basinski attended the University of Illinois at Champaign for two and a half years before transferring to the Tuskegee Institute, in Alabama. While there, he represented the school in rodeo and the National Dairy Tasting Competition. During the summers between semesters, he worked for the Federal Animal Disease Testing Laboratory in Salem, Oregon, a ranch in Wyoming, and attended the American Motorcycle Mechanics School. Upon graduation with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, he spent a year learning Polish in Krakow before being admitted to the School of Veterinary Medicine in Wroclaw, Poland. In his debut novel “The Vet’s Apprentice,” the author proposes the questions: what if Princess Leia had decided to become an animal doctor, Darth Vader set out to destroy Alderaan’s livestock, and Obi-Wan Kenobi happened to be a vet? Find out in this intriguing new release. (David Basinski, 2023)

“The Vet’s Apprentice” – Luna Auer thought she had her future planned: graduate and go on to apply to vet school. But when her scholarship is suddenly revoked, her dream and her world are turned upside down. Resorting to a work-study program in a remote corner of the universe, she discovers a plan by the corrupt corporation she works for to eliminate the planet’s hybrid animals. With the help of an eccentric motorcycle-riding vet and his canine sidekick, will Luna be able to save those she has come to love? Fans of Dr. Dolittle will enjoy the wild ride adventure, its illustrated exotic animals, and the characters who treat them.

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Author David Basinski. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

New book release: ‘Fifty Shades of Snow’ by A. Roy Milligan

‘Fifty Shades of Snow’ is the new urban life novel by A. Roy Milligan. Photo: Amazon

In today’s book news, here is a new book from acclaimed African American author A. Roy Milligan. If you like urban life fiction, in particular African American urban life fiction that brings the street life to the mainstream, may I suggest “Fifty Shades of Snow.”

Author A. Roy Milligan was born and raised in Pontiac, Michigan. While in prison for a second time for selling drugs, he started writing urban fiction books when he was 21 years old after being inspired by authors like Terri Woods, Wahida Clark, and Ashley & JaQuavis. He now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada where he runs his own car hauling company. On his free time, he enjoys bowling, shooting pool, reading, and traveling. He wrote “From Prison To the Car Hauling Game” to motivate people that have been in similar situations where they lost hope and do not know what else to do since they have felonies on their record. His new book “Fifty Shades of Snow” is a gritty and realistic urban fiction crime drama. (A. Roy Milligan, 2023)

“Fifty Shades of Snow” – When Steve found the love of his life Angelia in bed with a flashy street thug loaded with cash, he knew his meager factory wages and part-time drug dealing were not going to cut it. Steve was a celebrity football star in high school, but now 10 years later, he is barely making ends meet by slinging a couple of ounces of cocaine here and there on the side. Now, things are getting worse. Angelia’s got a thing for street dudes with bling, and Steve’s got no bling. Despite being enraged by Angelia’s adultery, Steve decides to keep her around and find a quick way to improve their financial situation to keep her faithful. He knows life as a part-time drug dealer is not going to stack cash, but a trip to San Antonio, Texas to meet with the head of a notorious Mexican cartel might just be the ticket into the dangerous and lucrative street life that he has been looking for. Can Steve make the moves that he needs to make to save his relationship and elevate himself from barely paying the bills to straight-up street hustler?

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New book release: ‘Bag Girl’ by Tozanee Smith

‘Bag Girl’ is the upcoming new memoir from Tozanee Smith. Photo: Tozanee Smith, used with permission.

If you like biographies and memoirs of strong women who survived a tough childhood against all odds, this upcoming new release is just for you. “Bag Girl” by Tozanee Smith will be released on Kindle on September 22, but don’t worry, it’s available for pre-order through Amazon. Reserve your copy today! 

Tozanee Smith is a teacher, a mother, a nurse, and a cook (at heart). She loves spending time at home on the couch with a good romance book with the occasional glass of wine. From time to time, she likes to spend quality time with close personal friends. She lives in Martinsburg, WV and enjoys going to the movies and long road trips. Her new book “Bag Girl: Memoir: Home Is Where The Bag Is” is a memoir of strength, courage, survival, and resilience. It will be released on September 22, 2023. (Tozanee Smith, 2023)

“Bag Girl” – Trying to survive the chaotic world of being the eldest of my family comes with its own baggage. On top of being diagnosed with diabetes and PCOS at a young age, dealing with a bipolar sex crazed mother who cared more about men then her own children was a whole different fight. Having being taught to stay in a child’s place and that my feelings did not matter, nor did I have a say in anything, I knew I was brought into this world for one thing and one thing only. To mother, not be mothered. Battling my own personal demons along with my anxiety and depression was enough for my mother to keep me grounded, that alone came with its side of verbal abuse and humiliation.

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New horror movie release: End Times

End Times is available in limited theaters and Video On Demand. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In movie news today, get ready for another post-apocalyptic zombie movie as End Times releases today.

End Times stars horror icon Jamie Bernadette and Craig Stark and is available now in limited theaters and Video On Demand. Jim Towns is the writer and director and The Asylum is the distributor. (The Write Way, 2023)

End Times follows a pair of mismatched travelers, Claire and Freddie (Bernadette and Stark), as they try to escape a deadly pandemic that has turned Los Angeles into a zombie-infested wasteland. Claire is a privileged young suburbanite ill-equipped to survive in this hostile new landscape, until she meets Freddie, a retired soldier who lost his daughter to the virus. As they travel together to reach the perimeter, Freddie teaches Claire the skills that will enable Claire to survive, and the uneasy partnership between the two grows into something more akin to a father/daughter relationship. Before they can reach safety, the two will have to escape brutal gangs, cannibals, cults, and the undead.

“We have a heartfelt horror here that has not only scared those who have previewed the film, but has also left them in tears at the end. Perhaps the toughest acting I have ever done is in the last 20 or so minutes of this film—yes, maybe even tougher than I Spit on Your Grave if you can believe that ha ha. It tried me as an artist, pushed me as an actor, and tested me as a person. I owe a big thank you to actor Craig Stark for being an incredible scene partner throughout this film and to writer and director Jim Towns for his brilliant vision and guidance.” – Jamie Bernadette

“I’m excited that after a lot of hard work, End Times is being unleashed on the world. This film was a battle to make from start to finish, but I’m so very proud of it and of everyone who came together to make it. I think it tells a universal story about the bonds between people that get us through tragedy and disaster, and finally bring us to a place of hope. My thanks to my producing partner Jamie Bernadette, our stars Jamie and Craig Stark, Dominique Swain, Kaiwi Lyman and Sadie Katz, and to the Asylum for their trust in the film.” – Jim Towns

The supporting cast includes Dominique Swain, Jessica Morris, Kaiwi Lyman, Dan Buran, Stefanie Estes, Maria Olsen, Sadie Katz, and Victoria De Mare.

New album release: Morning Shift – Steep Canyon Rangers

Hominy Valley is the first single from Morning Shift, out September 8, 2023. Photo: Steep Canyon Rangers

Steep Canyon Rangers are made up of Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Aaron Burdett on guitar and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums, dobro, guitar, and vocals, and Barrett Smith on bass, guitar, and vocals. Over the band’s esteemed career, the three-time Grammy nominees have released 14 studio albums, three collaborative albums with actor and banjoist Steve Martin, been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and appeared on some of music’s biggest stages. In 2013, Nobody Knows You won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album, while 2012’s Rare Bird and 2020’s North Carolina Songbook garnered nominations in the same category. Steep Canyon Rangers unearth layers of human history with Hominy Valley, the first single from upcoming Darrell Scott-produced album, Morning Shift—out September 8. (IV-PR, 2023)

Produced by the distinguished Darrell Scott and engineered by the legendary Dave Sinko, Morning Shift found the Rangers recording their 14th studio album in Bat Cave, North Carolina, at the Inn Bat Cave, a historical refuge settled near a long-forgotten crossroads of Southern Appalachia. This was the perfect space to feel confident in expanding upon that Carolina sound, the perfect runway to let their well-oiled machine do what it does best- craft stories from the ground up, as a unit. Morning Shift also marks the band’s first album with new band member Burdett on guitar and vocals, bringing a soul-stirring element to the Rangers’ mastery of mountain music. Burdett is an award-winning singer-songwriter and a student of folk tradition providing a fresh, emotional context to the Rangers’ songbook.

Last month, Folk Alley premiered the track, writing “‘Hominy Valley’ perfectly kicks off the anticipation of another excellent new album from the Steep Canyon Rangers.” Fans can listen to Hominy Valley now and pre-order or pre-save Morning Shift ahead of its September 8 release. Steep Canyon Rangers are on tour throughout the summer with a string of dates with longtime collaborators Steve Martin & Martin Short beginning in September.

Morning Shift track list:
Hominy Valley
Deep End
Second in Line (Junior)
Old Stone House/Handlebars/Chimney Rock
Harvest Queen
Ghost of Glasgow
Above My Burdens
Birds of Ohio
Alabama Calling
Morning Shift
Fare Thee Well, Carolina Gals
Recommend Me

Catch Steep Canyon Rangers on tour:
July 13 – Grey Fox – Oak Hill, NY
July 14 – Rams Head – Annapolis, MD
July 15 – Sellersville Theatre – Sellersville, PA
July 16 – Long’s Park – Lancaster, PA
July 21 – Midtown Listening Lawn Outdoor – Grand Rapids, MI
July 22 – Murphy Theatre – Wilmington, OH
August 2 – Denver Botanic Gardens – Denver, CO ^
August 3 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO
August 4 – Matthews Opera House – Spearfish, SD
August 5 – Centerfest – Lewistown, MT
August 12 – Podunk Bluegrass Festival – Goshen, CT
August13 – Stone Mountain Arts Center – Brownfield, ME
August18 – North Carolina Museum of Art – Raleigh, NC ^
August 19 – Shenandoah Valley Music Festival – Orkney Springs, VA
September 2 – The Blue Ridge Music Center – Galax, VA
September 8-9 – Mountain Song Festival – Brevard, NC
September 14-16 – Benedum Center for the Performing Arts – Pittsburgh, PA *
September 21 – AmericanaFest – Nashville, TN
September 22-23 – Encore Theater – Las Vegas, NV *
September 28 – Brooks Center for Performing Arts – Clemson, SC
September 29 – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre – Wilmington, NC
October 13 – Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts – Greensboro, NC *
October 14 – Township Auditorium – Columbia, SC *
October 15 – North Charleston Performing Arts Center – Charleston, SC *
October 26 – Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre – Red Bank, NJ *
October 27 – Academy of Music – Philadelphia, PA *
October 28 – The Lyric Theatre – Baltimore, MD *
October 29 – Altria Theater – Richmond, VA *
November 3 – The Lyric Theatre – Stuart, FL
November 4 – Florida Theatre – Jacksonville, FL
November 5 – Capitol Theatre – Clearwater, FL
November 10 – Merrill Auditorium – Portland, ME *
November 11- Providence Performing Arts Center- Providence, RI *
November 12 – Turning Stone Resort Casino – Verona, NY *
November 30 – Salle Wilfrid Pelletier – Montreal, QC *
December 1-2 – Meridian Hall- Toronto, ON *

^ With Amythyst Kiah
* With Steve Martin & Martin Short

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New book release: ‘Melissa Weller and The Curse of Branford Manor’ by Robert Sounvonnakasy

‘Melissa Weller and The Curse of Branford Manor’ is the new paranormal horror novel by Robert Sounvonnakasy. Photo: Robert Sounvonnakasy, used with permission.

In today’s book news, here is a new one I want to put on your radar if you like paranormal horror, urban fantasy, and horror suspense – “Melissa Weller and The Curse of Branford Manor” by Robert Sounvonnakasy.

Robert Sounvonnakasy is known for his captivating works in the realms of paranormal horror and urban fantasy. With two acclaimed titles under his belt, namely “The Prescott Legacy: A Medical Urban Fantasy Novel” and “Melissa Weller and The Curse of Branford Manor,” Robert has established himself as a master of crafting unique and innovative storytelling experiences. Robert’s passion for video games has been a lifelong inspiration for his writing. Games such as Final Fantasy, The Last of Us, and Street Fighter have fueled his creative fire and influenced his storytelling style. In his new book “Melissa Weller and The Curse of Branford Manor (The Prescott Legacy Spinoff Volume One): A New Adult Paranormal Horror Novel,” prepare yourself for a ghostly tale that will send shivers down your spine, featuring a one-of-a-kind fusion of The Karate Kid and American Horror Story. (Robert Sounvonnakasy, 2023)

“Melissa Weller and The Curse of Branford Manor” – In Russelfield, Alabama, the youth have long shared a bone-chilling legend of Branford Manor—a haunted house that seals the fate of anyone who dares to enter. Melissa Weller, an unsuspecting taekwondo student seeking personal growth, becomes the latest victim of the manor’s horrifying curse, unleashing ghastly apparitions that will torment her very soul. Despite the overwhelming odds against her, Melissa is determined to break the curse that has claimed numerous lives before hers. However, the supernatural manifestations are fearsome, and will relentlessly pursue her until her demise reaches a grisly conclusion. Can Melissa triumph over the malicious phantoms, or will she be lost forever in the infamous cycle of tragedy and horror?

“Overall, this is a brilliant first installment of a paranormal saga that lovers of the genre will relish.” – Readersfavorite.com

“If Stephen King, Colleen Hoover and Jackie Chan were to join forces and write a novel, this book would be a byproduct of their combined imagination.” – Amazon customer review

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