In FIVE CITIES THAT RULED THE WORLD (Thomas Nelson. November 2009) theologian Douglas Wilson fuses together, in compelling detail, the critical moments birthed in history’s most influential cities—Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and New York.

Each of these cities emerged in their respective times of influence to dominate the world stage, directing wealth and power, influencing faith and belief, commanding fear and allegiance, provoking wars and conquests, and shaping the world we live in today.

Wilson uncovers the significance of:

•  Jerusalem’s complex history and its deep-rooted character as the city of freedom, where people found their spiritual liberty.
•  Athens’ intellectual influence as the city of reason and birthplace of democracy.
• Rome’s evolution as the city of law and justice and the freedoms and limitations that come with liberty.
• London’s place in the world’s history as the city of literature where man’s literary imagination found its wings.
•  New York’s rise to global fame as the city of commerce and how it triggered unmatched wealth, industry, and trade throughout the world.

In this provocative, discussion-starting book, Wilson dives into these five historic cities, profiling their leaders, exploring their philosophies, following their armies into war, riding their merchant ships to ports of commerce, and watching as one eclipses the others.  Through his superb historical writing, Wilson broadens our understanding and appreciation of these cities with piercing insights, curious details, and entertaining stories.

Each city is being included in large part because of what was done and accomplished during its time of greatness, but in larger part because of how that greatness has lingered and continued. Wilson discusses these five cities—their past glories, their present influences, and their future.

In FIVE CITIES THAT RULED THE WORLD, Wilson issues a challenge to our collective understanding of history with the juxtapositions of freedom and its intrinsic failures; liberty and its deep-seated liabilities. Each revelation beckons us deeper into a city’s story, its political systems, and how it flourished and floundered. Ultimately encouraging readers to honor our shared history, contribute to the present, and look to the future with unmistakable hope.

About the Author
Douglas Wilson is a senior fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College. He has taught both ethics and logic elsewhere at the college level. Editor of Credenda/Agenda, a small cultural journal known for its humorous and satirical flavor, Wilson is also the author of numerous books on education, theology, and culture, including: The Case for Classical Christian Education, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning, Mother Kirk, and Angels in the Architecture, as well as biographies on both Anne Bradstreet and John Knox.

DOUGLAS WILSON IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW.  

Contact:    Curt Harding
Senior Publicist
(615) 902-2246
charding@thomasnelson.com

(Nashville, Tenn.) “It’s a miracle.” Georg Taubman gratefully declared to the world after he and seven other aid workers were liberated from their three-month imprisonment in Afghanistan in 2001. The Western hostages had been accused by the Taliban of preaching Christianity, a serious offense punishable by death.

Now the story of their desperate plight is being told in the new book Kabul24 (Thomas Nelson, September 2009) by Henry Arnold and Ben Pearson. Recounting their 105 days in captivity, Kabul24 revisits the hostages’ grueling interrogations, their sham trials before the Taliban Supreme Court, their peril during the bombing of Kabul, and the crushing sense that the world had abandoned them.

The eight members of the group Shelter Now International were taken more than a month before the September 11 attacks on America. Also held were 16 Muslim co-workers who were beaten and tortured, having been accused of converting to Christianity.

The book’s release precedes a feature-length documentary being produced by world-renowned recording artist Michael W. Smith and is narrated by Jim Caviezel star of The Passion of the Christ.The film is scheduled for release later this year.

About The Authors
Ben Pearson is an acclaimed filmmaker and photographer with numerous awards, honors, and gallery shows to his credit.  He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife and their three children. He is making his directorial debut with the feature-length documentary Kabul24 due for release in November.

Henry Arnold is an award-winning writer and producer.  His credits include “The Word Made Flesh” trilogy, “The Second Chance,” and the first authorized film documentary on Billy Graham, “God’s Ambassador.”  He lives on a farm in Tennessee with his wife Kay.

Contact: Curt Harding at 615.902.2246 or email charding@thomasnelson.com

Inside the family and values that defined this iconic business and set it on its course toward success for a quarter of a millennium.

(Nashville, Tenn.) In THE SEARCH FOR GOD AND GUINNESS: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World (Thomas Nelson, October 13, 2009), Stephen Mansfield explores the groundbreaking business acumen of this prolific company, and uncovers a deeply held faith running throughout the family’s history.

As one of the world’s most popular brands, Guinness has resolutely celebrated the joy of beer brewing and drinking for 250 years. Go inside the storied traditions of faith, family and business in this engaging book chronicling the history of beer throughout time, as well as specifics related to the Guinness clan. Releasing at this important milestone in the company’s history, The Search for God and Guinness will also help mark the 200^th anniversary of Oktoberfest in 2010.

The Guinness story began in Ireland in the late 1700’s. The water in Ireland, indeed throughout Europe, was famously undrinkable, and the gin and whiskey that took its place was devastating civil society. It was a disease ridden, starvation plagued, alcoholic age, and Christians like Arthur Guinness—as well as monks and even evangelical churches—brewed beer to offer a healthier alternative to the poisonous waters and liquors of the times.

Now, 250 years and 150 countries later, Guinness is a global brand, one of the most consumed beverages in the world with 10 million glasses of Guinness enjoyed every day. The tale that unfolds during those two and a half centuries has power to thrill audiences today: the generational drama, business adventure, industrial and social reforms, deep-felt faith, and the beer itself.

About the Author

Stephen Mansfield is a New York Times bestselling author and a popular speaker who is becoming one of the nation’s most respected voices on religion in American culture. He is author of The Faith of George W. Bush, The Faith of the American Soldier, Then Darkness Fled: The Liberating Wisdom of Booker T. Washington, and Never Give In: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill, among other works of history and biography.  In 2008, Mansfield wrote The Faith of Barack Obama, intended as an objective look at Obama’s religious life and the controversies that have surrounded it. The book reflects Mansfield’s ability to compassionately describe theological and political views that are not necessarily his own, an ability he movingly demonstrated in his book on the life and views of Pope Benedict XVI.

Founder of both The Mansfield Group, a research and communications firm, and Chartwell Literary Group, which creates and manages literary projects, Stephen is also in wide demand as a lecturer and inspirational speaker.

Contact:    Curt Harding

Senior Publicist

(615) 902-2246

charding@thomasnelson.com

At age 10, waiting with his family to catch a flight from Havana to freedom, Ralph de la Vega saw his parents make a decision that shaped the rest of his life.   Abruptly told by Cuban officials that “only the boy can go,” they had a wrenching decision to make.  Their choice to send him to America alone set him on a lifelong course of facing tough situations head-on, always expecting to discover opportunity.

He has found - and often created - opportunity in abundance, all the way to the top ranks of the wireless industry as CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.  Ralph de la Vega combines his compelling personal story with practical lessons for success in business and life in his book, OBSTACLES WELCOME (Thomas Nelson, October 2009).

The idea for the book came from audience reactions whenever de la Vega salted his speeches with childhood glimpses of being separated from family and figuring out how to get along in a strange country.  Whether peer executives, employees or a Junior Achievement class, the first  question always was the same – “how did you do it?”

OBSTACLES WELCOME provides straight-forward answers for anyone willing to follow his mantra – “get a good education, work hard, and  be willing to sacrifice ”  De la Vega says of the book, “I describe my journey so readers might grow in their lives and reach their most ambitious goals by taking some of the same steps.”

De la Vega’s adventures did not stop with boyhood.   As a rising executive he overcame political turmoil in Latin America to turn BellSouth’s wireless operations profitable, grew a new line of business; led the rebuilding of two telecom networks after Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina; vaulted BellSouth’s Internet and broadband business to industry leadership; and managed the biggest (at the time) cash merger in US history, Cingular and AT&T Wireless.

What Others Say about OBSTACLES WELCOME
Honorable Andrew Young, former US Ambassador to the United Nations - “De la Vega’s leadership principles are a great example of public purpose capitalism- a profit model guided by integrity, a genuine concern for workers  and a commitment to providing a product that improves a community.  I recommend this book to those looking to improve their opportunities, as well as those providing leadership in this diverse society.”

Randall Stephenson, Chairman and CEO, AT&T - “Through his compelling story, Ralph shows how to turn almost any challenge into the opportunity of a lifetime. This is great insight for any professional or any young person aspiring to learn how to overcome obstacles and accept new challenges.”

John Graham, Chairman, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. - “This is one of the most inspiring books and one of the best business publications that I’ve read in my 40-plus years in the communications business … illustrates business values that any entrepreneur can directly apply, a must-read for any young entrepreneur just starting out, and a valuable resource to all professionals seeking to improve their business skills.”

Henry Cisneros, Executive Chairman, CityView (former Secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and former Mayor of San Antonio) - An All-American story for our times … he conveys insights and wisdom that he amassed on his journey with the clarity and conviction that will guide other Americans in their quest.”

Frank D. Alvarez, President  & CEO, Hispanic Scholarship Fund - “His story telling brings history to life, be it Cuba, hurricanes, the digital age or the merger of two corporate giants and leaves one feeling all is possible.  Thank you Mr. de la Vega for continuing to give back to our country in this special way.”

Sean C. Rush, President & CEO JA Worldwide - “Whether you are a corporate executive, a non-profit leader, a college student or just beginning high school, Ralph de la Vega’s book is a compelling read.  His personal tale is an inspiration for all.”

Robert Mazucca, Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America - “Ralph’s story and the resulting road map for life that has evolved from it contain a vital message to all of us.  In a world where personal responsibility is rare indeed, Ralph describes a life formula that embraces taking responsibility for one’s own destiny.”

About The Author
Ralph de la Vega is President and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), a premier communications holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates provide wireless and wireline voice and data services, high speed Internet access, IPTV and other services in the U.S. and around the world. Mr. de la Vega began his career in 1974 with BellSouth (then Southern Bell) as a management assistant. He has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in Network Planning, Consumer Services, Engineering and Operations.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of both Junior Achievement Worldwide and the Boy Scouts of America. He plays a leadership role in helping both organizations recruit Hispanic youth. A native of Cuba, he holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in business administration from Northern Illinois University, and he has completed the Executive Program at the University of Virginia.

Contact:
Curt Harding
615.902.2246
charding@thomasnelson.com

Mansfield, who still approaches life with “three chords and an attitude,” offers an authentic, funny, and irreverent account of highs and lows he experienced as a successful record exec and in-demand producer.
With his wife Connie along on the road trip, Mansfield returns to some of his musical milestones. Ipods set to shuffle mode, songs such as “Eight Miles High” by the Byrds and “Are You Ready for the Country?” by Waylon Jennings evoke stories from his past, such as:

•    watching from backstage at the iconic Monterey Pop Festival, sitting fifty feet away from pumped up performances by Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Who, the Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield and more
•    living the high life as a record executive, at a time when it was the business equivalent of being a rock star: a continuous indulgence of parties, luncheons, dinners, concerts, screenings, and hanging out with the rich and famous;
•    his “Hangover House” crash pad days in L.A’s Laurel Canyon
•    wild times partying in Nashville and Texas with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and the rest of the “Outlaw” gang;

Along the way, Mansfield recalls the musical icons, pop stars, wild men, and troubled souls he encountered, including The Beatles and Waylon Jennings, who were the high points of his musical career. He’s written two previous books about his time with the Beatles, and shares more stories in Between Wyomings. The Outlaw crew take center stage here, especially Waylon, who was “a soul mate. The two of us had so much in common it was scary,” Mansfield recalls.

“Nashville was the place of my greatest creative accomplishments as well as the spot on this earth where I reached my lowest point.” Mansfield’s previous marriage even ended in a scenario that sounds like a country song: “my wife ran off with a friend of mine who also took my favorite clothes.”  But it was also in Nashville where he met Connie and began transforming his life.

The pilgrimage comes full circle when Mansfield returns to the scene of what he thought was the peak experience of his life. He suspends the road trip and hops a plane to visit the London rooftop where the Beatles played together for the last time. “That cold January day had always been the biggest day in my life. As I look around I discover—it’s just a roof,” he writes. “The problem was not with the people, places, and past occurrences—it was my prioritizing of these things. I had become a grown man hanging onto this Britannia-based ‘blanky’ instead of moving out and beyond that in space and time.”

The soundtrack for this story includes:
“Eight Miles High” - The Byrds
“Are You Ready for the Country” - Waylon Jennings
“On the Way Home” - Buffalo Springfield
“Coming Back to Life” - Pink Floyd
“Good Vibrations” - The Beach Boys
“Tiny Bubbles” - Don Ho
“By the Time I Get to Phoenix” - Glen Campbell

An iMix of these and other tunes selected by Ken Mansfield can be purchased at
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=301753540   

About The Author
KEN MANSFIELD is the former U.S. manager of Apple Records, and a Grammy Award-winning producer and record-label executive who has worked with artists as diverse as the Beatles, Waylon Jennings, The Beach Boys, The Four Freshman, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Don Ho, Glen Campbell, Badfinger, Judy Garland, Buck Owens, Eric Burdon, Andy Williams, The Band, David Cassidy, Dolly Parton, and The Flying Burrito Brothers. A highly sought-after public speaker, he is the author of two other books: The Beatles, the Bible and Bodega Bay and The White Book.

Contact:    Curt Harding
Senior Publicist
(615) 902-2246
charding@thomasnelson.com

(Nashville, Tenn.) Unraveling the mystery of how men and women make buying decisions just became easier with the new book, The X and Y of Buy, (Thomas Nelson, June 9, 2009) by veteran branding, marketing, and salesperson, Elizabeth Pace.

Shopping for a man’s suit? Walk right into a department store and there they are: men’s suits in every color, size, and design, all displayed together. You’re in and you’re out in plenty of time for kickoff.  Need a women’s suit?  Block out the afternoon and let the hunt begin. There are numerous stores to visit, prices to compare, and sales to check out. It’s a truth as old as time; women love the search, men love the kill.  Men and women are wired differently and smart marketers know it.

Cleverly divided into two parts, The X and Y of Buy makes the humorous and effective case that in order to reach your audience - and ultimately sell more effectively - it is essential that you know what separates the sexes.

“Helping sales and marketing professionals become experts at equally understanding each sex is my goal so there will be no ceiling to what they can accomplish,” says Pace. “It’s not just about selling either. Educators, politicians, and professionals can also benefit by recognizing the innate and specific strengths of both sexes.”

Show topics include:
•    How men and women’s brains differ and how can a salesperson use that to his or her advantage
•    How gender differences affect marketing, advertising, and sales
•    Which gender is more loyal as a customer and why
•    How should a female salesperson approach a mostly male audience?
•    Communication tactics that work with the opposite sex in sales and personal relationships
•    How knowing gender differences works in business and in personal relationships

Pace makes these topics understandable and entertaining at the same time.  A segment your audience is sure to enjoy.  Author BIO and Q & A are included in this packet.

About The Author
Elizabeth Pace is a business strategist and serial entrepreneur. She has led the growth strategies of three successful venture capital startups, a publicly traded biotech company, and a multibillion dollar nonprofit hospital system. She is a frequent keynote speaker for corporations and associations and lecturer at universities. Elizabeth lives in Brentwood, Tennessee with her husband and their two children. For more information visit www.elizabethpace.com.

Contact:    Curt Harding
Senior Publicist
(615) 902-2246
charding@thomasnelson.com

(Nashville, Tenn.) The forthcoming Bible title The American Patriot’s Bible (May 2009, Thomas Nelson) takes readers on a powerful journey revealing how faith has seen American citizens through troubled times, as well as impacted the overall formation of this great nation.  Within its pages, readers will find a special section dedicated to the pursuit of equal rights which includes figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama as one of the many introspective historic articles featured in the title.

“We are experiencing change in America, and it was essential to spotlight how faith in God has been there to strengthen the activists when a monumental fight for freedom and justice was at hand,” notes Dr. Richard G. Lee who serves as the general editor for the project, as well as founding pastor of First Redeemer Church (Atlanta, GA), and speaker for the There’s Hope America ministry.

“As the late Dr. King noted ‘our actions must be guided by the deepest principles of our Christian faith,’” reflects Lee. “Hopefully, President Obama’s recent decision to engage pastors in discussions on the role of religion in politics is yet another display of how faith continues to impact our nation. The American Patriot’s Bible will help readers discover the cornerstone upon which America, and her great men and women, have built their lives and this ‘one Nation under God.’”

Overall, The American Patriot’s Bible spotlights the people and events that demonstrate the godly qualities that have made America great. Joining with the sacred New King James version (NKJV) text are stories of American heroes, quotations from and articles about many of America’s greatest thinkers, historic photographs, and beautiful illustrations that present the rich heritage and tremendous future of the United States of America. It connects three important elements: the teachings of the Bible, the history of the United States, and the connection it has to its citizens today. Throughout the pages readers will discover little known facts about historic events and other national treasures such as notations of every known Bible verse on which our presidents rested their hands when they were sworn into office.

“What’s exciting about this Bible is that although it’s rooted in history it also reflects our nation today,” comments Wayne Hastings, the senior vice president and group publisher for Thomas Nelson’s Bible Group. “In fact, to our knowledge, this is the first Bible to ever include a mention of President Obama or to focus on the Bible’s influence on American culture.”

Thomas Nelson, Inc. is a leading provider of Bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family value themes. For more information on the company and titles, visit http://www.thomasnelson.com.

PRODUCT DETAILS
The American Patriot’s Bible: The Word of God and the Shaping of America
General Editor: Dr. Richard G. Lee
Available May 2009
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4185-4153-8 / $39.99 US
Bonded Leather with subtle flag stamping ISBN: 978-1-4185-4154-5 / $59.99 US

Contact:    Brenda Smotherman
Publicist
tel:    (615) 902-2231
fax:    (615) 902-1132
email: bsmotherman@thomasnelson.com

(Nashville, Tenn.) What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s the age-old question asked of countless children. And while aspirations of becoming firefighters, ballerinas, or astronauts often change as children mature, even more of those dreams seem to sadly fade away into nothing at all—giving way to the toils and humdrum of everyday life. New York Times best selling author and leadership expert John Maxwell offers readers a one-of-a–kind tool for determining if their dreams are actually within reach.

In his latest book, Put Your Dream to the Test, 10 Questions to Help You See it and Seize It (Thomas Nelson Publishers, ISBN:978-0-7852-1412-0, March 2009, $25.99), Maxwell challenges readers to take up the relentless pursuit of their dream by offering concrete, realistic strategies for achieving success and realizing one’s dreams. Setting this book apart from all other career guides is a quick, focused quiz to assist readers in ascertaining the likelihood they will be successful in achieving their specific goals.

Maxwell offers a fresh approach to making one’s dreams a reality. First, he defines a dream as “an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will, and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.” He cites numerous reasons that one may abandon or resist pursuing a dream. Perhaps past failures are standing in their way. Maybe settling for average has become a habit. Or it could be a simple lack of confidence or imagination that keeps us from achieving true success. Whatever the cause, Maxwell contends that the same question drives every person with a dream: Can I achieve it?

Within the pages of Put Your Dream to the Test, Maxwell leads readers through a simple, yet profound series of questions to aid them in sharpening the focus of their dreams, determining if they are prepared to pursue their dreams, and then creating a game plan for successfully fulfilling them.

10 Questions to help you see your dream and seize your dream:
1.    Is my dream really my dream?
2.    Do I clearly see my dream?
3.    Am I depending on factors within my control to achieve my dream?
4.    Does my dream compel me to follow it?
5.    Do I have a strategy to reach my dream?
6.    Have I included the people I need to realize my dream?
7.    Am I willing to pay the price for my dream?
8.    Am I moving closer to my dream?
9.    Does working toward my dream bring satisfaction?
10.  Does my dream benefit others?

John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold over 16 million books. His organizations have trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP and INJOY Stewardship Services. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and audiences as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and ambassadors at the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell was named the World’s Top Leadership Guru by Leadershipgurus.net. He was also one of only 25 authors and artists named to Amazon.com’s 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame. Three of his books, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader have each sold over a million copies.

Contact:
Heather Adams
Director of Publicity
tel:    (615) 902-2224
cell:    (404) 423-8411
email: hadams@thomasnelson.com 

(Nashville, Tenn.) In the midst of the recession, a new Bible project is offering hope to rekindle the American spirit. The American Patriot’s Bible (May 2009, Thomas Nelson) takes readers on a powerful journey revealing how faith has seen American citizens through troubled times, as well as impacted the overall formation of this great nation. Joining with the sacred New King James version (NKJV) text are stories of American heroes, quotations from and articles about many of America’s greatest thinkers, historic photographs, and beautiful illustrations that present the rich heritage and tremendous future of the United States of America.

“America stands without equal as a beacon of hope and freedom in a hurting world. Our Founding Fathers delivered to us a system of government that has enjoyed unprecedented success: we are now the world’s longest ongoing constitutional republic. Well over two hundred years under one form of government is an accomplishment unknown among contemporary nations,” notes Dr. Richard G. Lee who serves as the general editor for the project, as well as founding pastor of First Redeemer Church (Atlanta, GA), and speaker for the There’s Hope America ministry.

The American Patriot’s Bible spotlights the people and events that demonstrate the godly qualities that have made America great. It connects three important elements: the teachings of the Bible, the history of the United States, and the connection it has to its citizens today. Throughout the pages readers will discover little known facts about historic events and other national treasures such as notations of every known Bible verse on which our presidents rested their hands when they were sworn into office.
“As Andrew Jackson, our seventh President, said regarding the Bible, ‘That Book, sir, is the rock upon which our republic rests,’ notes Lee. “The American Patriot’s Bible will help readers discover the cornerstone upon which America, and her great men and women, have built their lives and this ‘one Nation under God.’”

The American Patriot’s Bible’s general editor, Dr. Richard G. Lee is the Founding Pastor of First Redeemer Church (Atlanta, GA), speaker for the There’s Hope America ministry, and President of There’s Hope for the Hungry food distribution campaign. He has served as President of the Pastor’s Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention; is a member of the Oxford Roundtable (Oxford, England); a Trustee of Liberty University and Liberty School of Law; and a Board member of the National Religious Broadcasters. He was named “Father of the Year” by the Southeastern Father’s Day Council and received the Ronald Reagan Leadership Award for 2007.

Contact:    Brenda Smotherman
Publicist
tel:    (615) 902-2231
fax:    (615) 902-1132
email: bsmotherman@thomasnelson.com

On April 20, 1999, in the small, suburban town of Littleton, Colorado, two high-school seniors, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, enacted an all-out assault on Columbine High School. The boys’ plan was to kill hundreds of their peers. Armed with guns, knives, and a multitude of bombs, the two boys walked the hallways and killed. When the day was done, twelve students, one teacher, and the two boys were dead. The obvious question in the aftermath was why?

In Inside The Mind of a Teen Killer (Thomas Nelson, April 2009), author Phil Chalmers reveals 15 years of research, exhaustive interviews, and face-to-face conversations with the young men who carried out some of the most heinous crimes.

Chalmers says that the two Columbine killers displayed several warning signs that were missed by those around them, and were motivated by at least 5 of the ten causes of teen murder detailed inside the pages of Inside The Mind of a Teen Killer.

“After seeing the rash of teen murders in the 1980’s and the string of school shootings in the 1990’s, I felt I could no longer sit back and watch. And the so called “experts” didn’t seem to have any answers either, so I went directly to the killers and shooters themselves, and obtained facts and motivations that only could be obtained by speaking with the perpetrators,” said Chalmers.

Luke Woodham was once a lovable child. Like many other boys, he grew into a socially awkward teen often targeted by bullies. On October 1, 1997, his life took a tragic turn when he killed his mother in their home, and then drove to his high school and shot nine people, two fatally. How did this happen? What sends kids like this careening over the edge? How can a seemingly typical teen turn into a homicidal maniac? Inside The Mind of a Teen Killer provides some fascinating insight for parents, teachers, police officers, anyone who cares about the safety of our children including:

•    Conversations with the killers themselves
•    The top ten causes of teen murder
•    How to recognize the warning signs to prevent future violence
•    A game plan to keep our schools and communities safe
•    The ten mistakes parents make that unknowingly contribute to teen violence

Phil Chalmers is an American author and a law enforcement trainer who resides in the Midwest. He has been researching youth culture and speaking to teens and youth workers all over the world since 1985. Since the mid 1990s, Phil has been conducting extensive research into the arenas of teen murder and school violence to prepare for this major book release.

Phil has produced two documentaries, including the hit series “True Lies.” He has also written three books and regularly writes for numerous national magazines and newspapers. He currently spends his time training law enforcement, school administrators, and criminal justice students on juvenile homicide and juvenile mass murder.

For more information, contact Phil directly @ www.PhilChalmers.com

Contact:    Curt Harding
Senior Publicist
(615) 902-2246
charding@thomasnelson.com