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Saturday
Jun262010

Biography: Derek Armstrong

  • Columnist Stouffville Tribune, 1975
  • Freelance journalist since 1979, ongoing.
  • Licensed private investigator 1981.
  • Photo journalist since 1982, ongoing.
  • Founder and principal, Persona Corp since 1988, ongoing.
  • Copywriter, Persona Corp., 1989, ongoing.
  • Developed Image-Marketing, 1992, trademarked, ongoing.
  • Co-developed book trailer, 1993, ongoing.
  • Author, The Persona Principle (Simon & Schuster), 1994.
  • Co-Developer, Persona Plan software, 1996.
  • Co-Developer, CogniMATRIX, 1997.
  • Feature contributor LINK Magazine, 1997, ongoing.
  • Columnist Investment Executive Magazine, 1998.
  • Author, The Game, An Alban Bane Mystery Thriller, 2006.
  • Chief Crime Correspondent, Crime Report USA, 2006, ongoing.
  • Contributing Journalist, Films and Books Magazine, 2007 ongoing.
  • Author, The Last Troubadour, Historical, 2007.
  • Feature journalist, Canadian Money Magazine, 2008 ongoing.
  • Author, MADicine, An Alban Bane Mystery Thriller, 2008
  • Contributing journalist: Advance Magazine, Secure Net News, EDI Weekly, 2009 ongoing.
  • Contributing journalist: Dog and Cat World, 2010, ongoing.

Member

  • Author's Guild
  • Canadian Asscociation of Journalists (CAJ)
  • Media Blogger's Association (MBA)
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Saturday
Jun262010

Historical Fiction Epic Novel: The Last Troubadour by Derek Armstrong

From Publishers Weekly

The 13th-century French inquisition that targeted the heretical Cathar sect provides the backdrop for Armstrong's action-packed second novel (after The Game), the first in a planned trilogy. Ramon, "last of the Occitan's famous heretical troubadours," and his motley band of allies take on the forces of evil as personified in the witch-hunter known as the Diableteur, whose scarred and burnt face strikes terror in those who behold him. The Diableteur was responsible for the burning at the stake of Ramon's mother decades earlier, and the minstrel's desire for revenge remains strong.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In his follow-up to the excellent The Game (2007), Armstrong takes on a whole new set of challenges, with mixed results. The story (which is set in the mid-thirteenth century) is intriguing: a motley trio of heroes—a troubadour, a Templar, and a beautiful woman—must find the world's most important religious relic before the evil Diableteur, a disfigured witch hunter who is working for the pope, gets to it. At stake: the future of the Catholic Church. The characters are amusing but perhaps a little too cartoony to shoulder the burdens of the elaborate story. Likewise, the dialogue, while entertaining, crosses the line a few too many times between comic and comic book. But despite feeling slightly out of focus, the novel is thoroughly readable and has more than a few moments of near brilliance in which Armstrong blends comedy, parody, and adventure in genuinely innovative ways. A slight misstep, then, but an ambitious attempt all the same from a writer of abundant talent. Pitt, David

Review

"Readers who enjoyed James Patterson and Andrew Gross's The Jester are bound to like this straightforward narrative, and, it should be mentioned, these historical events are a backstory in The Da Vinci Code. Recommended for all public libraries."  —Library Journal


"It's a must read, a sizzling blend of satire, adventure, historical romance and comedy. This is as unique as novels come, and it seems Armstrong has found a remarkably distinctive style that crosses genres, a prose signature that is at once unique and approachable. The tarot-based characters are inspired. This is definitely an author to watch."  —Films and Books Magazine


"Derek Armstrong is good."  —Michael Korda, editor-in-chief emeritus, Simon & Schuster, and author, Charmed Lives and Another Life


"Kudos to Derek Armstrong . . . this is a wonderful work of art, and I highly recommend it to all who are interested in the Tarot, in the history of the 13th century, and in a mystery that crosses many boundaries!"  —Aeclectic Tarot, aeclectic.net



"Set in the thirteenth century and blends history and fantasy to create a rollicking good tale of love and intrigue. "  —In The Hills


"Weaving the history of the Cathar Crusade with the historical origins of the Tarot deck, this genre-bending epic brings symbols of the Tarot to life through medieval characters to create a richly textured historical fantasy that is suspenseful, humorous, and tragic."  —Accent on Tampa Bay



"I have never been so enlightened by a novel inspired by Tarot as The Last Troubadour . . . an adventure for the mind, heart and soul. I loved it!"  —The Tarot Channel



"A wide-screen Technicolor adventure worthy of a full Errol Flynn treatment—an adventure for spiritual grownups that educates as much as it delights."  —Lon Milo DuQuette, author, Accidental Christ

Product Description

In this historical thriller set against the rich background of the 13th-century Inquisition, the last living troubadour, condemned by the church as a heretic, must rescue a holy Christian relic from a crusading king. Seamlessly weaving the history of the Cathar Crusade with the historical origins of the Tarot deck, this fascinating, genre-bending epic brings symbols of the Tarot to life through medieval characters—Arnot the Knight Templar as the Chariot, Dame Esclarmonde de Foix as the High Priestess, Nevara as the Magician, Pope Innocent IV as the Hierophant, and Ramon Troubadour as the Fool—to create a richly textured historical fantasy that is suspenseful, humourous, tragic, and satirical by turns.

About the Author

Derek Armstrong is the author of The Game and the coauthor of The Persona Principle. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.



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Saturday
Jun262010

Business and Marketing Non Fiction Book: The Persona Principle

Review

"The Persona Principle is more than the literary equivalent of a shell game...Image Marketing is bound to increase in importance."

-- Debra Phillips, Entrepreneur Magazine

"Buy their book. It's a quick read, smartly designed, and one of the best business tomes around."

-- How Magazine

"The authors, both advertising experts, show you how to create an effective plan to reach all your business, sales and marketing goals -- on image alone."

-- Don Morris, Dayton Daily News

"This top ad team's book on image marketing makes marketing accountable. It's proven to work every time."

-- Patti Summerfield, Strategy Magazine

"This book shows how the authors launched major brands and companies of all sizes...brilliant..."

-- Studio Magazine

"The author's methods should help you excel with very precise tactics called Persona Factors. Any business can benefit from these principles."

-- Profit Magazine

Product Description

Image is a tool that guarantees success -- but only if you know how to use it. The Persona Principle"TM" will teach you the most powerful Image-Marketing secrets of the world's leading enterprises. Discover how to:
-- Overcome the two biggest obstacles to success -- invisibility and incredibility
-- Capitalize on the five hottest consumer trends to become a market leader
-- Employ the 8 Persona Factors -- the most important ways to build image
-- Use the 88 Persona Codes -- the proven techniques of Image-Marketing
-- Build a Persona Plan -- a step-by-step marketing plan for success

Whether you goal is to jump-start an existing business, woo a new and valuable customer, or get your entrepreneurial venture off the ground, The Persona Principle will guide you to the best Persona for success.



  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Fireside (May 8, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0684802694
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684802695
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Saturday
Jun262010

True Crime Book Investigative Report: Drew Peterson Exposed

Review

"Peterson [is] the subject of a tell-all book where he describes the day Stacy goes missing. Tonight, the prime-time exclusive, the author who grilled Peterson for hours and caught it all on tape." —Nancy Grace, host, The Nancy Grace Show


"After spending hundreds of hours interviewing key players, reviewing time lines, and talking Peterson into taking lie-detector tests, [Armstrong's] opinion changes. The polygraph tests are the big news here. . . . With plenty of access to Peterson and his family (and many never-before-seen photos), this insider offering does a credible job of presenting a decidedly different point of view."  —Booklist



"Derek Armstrong has appeared on FOX News, Inside Edition, and Good Morning America to tell the troubling story of a man condemned by the tabloids before his case ever went to trial. Armstrong's book presents alternative theories, new evidence, uncovers shoddy police work, and reveals the results of an independent polygraph test undergone by the accused."  —In The Hills: A Magazine of Country Living



"Drew Peterson says a new book about him—due out this week—looks too much at the negative side of things."  —WBBM Chicago (CBS)



"I have read your book, which I thought was an excellent treatise on this whole process. It seems to me that you've done more research in drilling down on this person and the facts in this situation, maybe even more so than the prosecutors."  —Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Phil Show, introducing Derek Armstrong as a guest on the show



"In May, Drew Peterson took a lie detector test at the request of author Derek Armstrong. The results, published in a new book, Drew Peterson Exposed, revealed Peterson showed deception on three occasions when asked about Stacy's disappearance. Peterson was deceptive when asked about the last time he saw Stacy, if he knows her whereabouts, and about a phone call from Stacy saying she was leaving him."  —The Early Show (CBS)



"Peterson had agreed to take the examination at the request of Derek Armstrong, the author of the recently published book Drew Peterson Exposed. . . . 'I started to come to the conclusion in my own mind that he might be guilty,' Armstrong said." — Mike Celizic, contributor, TODAYShow.com



"The new book Drew Peterson Exposed, about the former Bolingbrook police officer and his dead third wife and missing fourth wife, is billed as a 300-page news story. And it does have some news."  —Chicago Sun-Times

Product Description

Exposing the never-before-published polygraph results of Drew Peterson’s testimony, this illuminating exposé reveals new details in one of the most provocative and high profile criminal investigations in the country. October 28, 2008 marks the one year anniversary of Stacy Peterson’s disappearance from her home in Bollingbrook, Illinois. Since then, her husband Drew Peterson has been at the center of a media storm which shows no sign of abating—and this book is sure to stir it up. Peterson, a former police sergeant, is a person of interest in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, and in the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He has not been charged in either case, but he has been been excoriated in the media, and found guilty in the court of public opinion. Drawing on hundreds of hours of exclusive taped interviews with Peterson and his family, polygraphs and a the first publicly published time-line from the suspect, this journalistic inquiry presents the arguments for and against Peterson’s involvement in these cases with an impartial eye and takes the reader inside the head of a suspect. Drew Peterson's own timeline for the nights of Kathleen's death and Stacy's disappearance are revealed here for the first time, as well as the startling results of the two polygraph tests he agreed to undergo for this book. Peterson was questioned by examiner Lee McCord, a thirty-four-year expert in the polygraph, regarding his involvement in the death of Kathleen and the disappearance of Stacy. The results of these tests, the evidence, and testimony assembled here shed new light on the details of the police investigations, motives and alternative theories of the case. Conflicting witness accounts, false leads, widespread rumors, and red herrings that have dogged the investigation are analyzed and 140 photographs and documents (including many private family photos published here for the first time) take the reader beyond the headlines to the heart of this sensational story. The frank and often unsavory portrait of Drew Peterson that emerges is bound to provoke further controversy.



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Saturday
Jun262010

The Game, by Derek Armstrong. An Alban Bane Mystery Thriller

From Booklist

Like Ben Elton's Dead Famous (2001), this offbeat mystery features a Big Brother-like reality TV show, a murder, and a cantankerous detective, Alban Bane, who must overcome his revulsion for everything and everyone connected with the show if he is to find out whodunit. There's also a touch of the hit TV series House here, too: like the small-screen physician, the cranky, pain-pill-popping Bane adds a delightfully sarcastic tone to the action. But, for all of that, the novel somehow manages to avoid feeling derivative. Armstrong's abundant enthusiasm for his material, combined with the semisatirical plotline, compels us to keep reading, and his prose style keeps us chuckling. The sleuth who disdains the world in which he finds himself is an idea as old as Raymond Chandler, but Armstrong injects the trope with new vigor. This is a series to watch from a new publisher to watch. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"The Game is reality TV at its worst . . . with all their activities televised to audiences in real time . . . having a gruesome murder occur there . . . makes it a top priority for Alban Bane. Narrated in a dark tongue-in-cheek manner."  —Library Journal


"Gruesome, suspenseful, and rich with dark humor, Armstrong moves the reader through time and space with a keen sense of momentum and dash. His characters are diverse, bold, unforgettable . . . Armstrong's swashbuckling Scotsman is a welcome addition in the thriller tradition of Weisman and Connolly."  —ForeWord Reviews


"A hugely cinematic thriller with hilarious dark comic moments...an irresistable story that centers around a new American reality television show."  —Films and Books Magazine


"A super sleuth . . . a grisly gamester . . . a multiplicity of games in town."  —Kirkus Reviews


"The Game is the funniest, most blistering read of this summer. If your heart doesn't race as you near the climactic scene, you're already dead."  —Recommended Reads


"Bane is the driving force that makes The Game compelling. I really like this character; he's intelligent, determined and very funny. Right up there with John Corey, Nelson DeMille's wisecracking NYPD detective."  —Dan Ronco, author, Peacemaker


"Shakes up the mystery genre by delving into the bizarre world of reality television. Alban Bane, a cop with enough Scot's attitude for ten good men, lets the zingers fly as he tries to figure out who's killing off staff and contestants in 'Haunted Survivor,' a show where ethically challenged producers are gleefully driving the 'house guests' out of their minds."  —In the Hills

Product Description

In this darkly humorous thriller, reality television becomes too real when a killer with a message preys on the contestants of America's number one TV show. A high-stakes game is played on the set of a live-broadcast, reality-television show where guests are trapped for six months in a haunted mansion. Thousands of miles away, a psychopath is executed by lethal injection in California and dies with a secret that could save many lives. Only a comical detective who fears nothing—except his teenage daughters—can hope to understand what links these two seemingly unrelated crimes, without ever losing his zest for the game or his sense of humor.

About the Author

Derek Armstrong is the author of The Last Troubadour and the coauthor of The Persona Principle. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.



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Saturday
Jun262010

MADicine by Derek Armstrong: Satirical Medical Spy Thriller "Brilliance" writes Booklist

 From Booklist

*Starred Review* Armstrong’s first two novels (The Game and The Last Troubador, both 2007) amply demonstrated his talent, but his latest, a mesmerizing satirical thriller, is the best of the lot. Alban Bane, from The Game, returns as the caustic Scottish doctor who is head of the World Advance Response Team (with the unfortunate nickname WART). This time Bane is called upon when otherwise normal, happy people seem to be going on murderous rampages across the globe. Yes, Bane learns the cause of the pandemic (a virus intending to cure violent behavior but doing the opposite has made its way into society), but how can WART possibly stop its spread? Bane puts together a team of three women—his “angels” (and you can call him Charlie . . . .)—including his kung-fu expert assistant, a Harvard-trained (and gorgeous) doctor from the CDC, and a pop star; together they make a plan to save the world, which requires globetrotting from L.A. to Hong Kong to Africa as they pursue the virus and its origins. Armstrong manages the difficult proposition of satirizing the very genre in which he’s writing, but not settling for a simple spoof. Like Ian Fleming, he somehow combines over-the-top satire with genuinely suspenseful action. His ear for funny and believable dialogue goes a long way to making this trick possible. Celebrate the upcoming centenary of Fleming’s birth by reading this book. --Mary Frances Wilkens

Review

"MADicine takes Armstrong's unique genre-bending style to a new level."  —Films and Books Magazine


"Det. Alban Bane's second outing takes a satiric look at genetics research companies, zombie films and more in Armstrong's action-packed second novel."  —Publishers Weekly


"Alban Bane may be a cop who breaks the rules, but he also gets the job done. The wise-cracking Bane has his work cut out for him when a super-virus spreads out of control, threatening the global population. International locales and (horrors!) yet another reality show make MADicine a grand romp of chuckles and thrills."  —In The Hills: A Magazine of Country Living



"Armstrong manages the difficult proposition of satirizing the very genre in which he's writing but not settling for a simple spoof. Like Ian Fleming, he somehow combines over-the-top satire with genuinely suspenseful action. His ear for funny and believable dialogue goes a long way to making this trick possible. Celebrate the upcoming centeneary of Ian Fleming's birth by reading this book."  —Booklist, starred review



"Armstrong grabs the readers from page one, buckles them into their seat[s] and jets off on a wild ride of mystery and mayhem. . . . A richly detailed, well-organized read that superbly marries fact with fiction and humor with horror. The action is blistering, the zany characters are timeless, and the tone is as forceful as a heavyweight's jab."  —The Free Lance-Star (syndicated to several newspapers and two radio shows)

Product Description

Escaping a facility in California, a virus intended to help cure the world of violence unleashes an epidemic of rage infecting every nation on earth. A relief organization with the unfortunate acronym W.A.R.T. is the world's only hope of salvation. Enter Alban Bane, an acerbic, outrageous detective, and his new partner, Dr. Ada Kenner of the Center for Disease Control, who detects a pattern in the mysterious pockets of rage. The unlikely duo chase the virus from Los Angeles to France, Hong Kong, and Africa in a global race against time in the company of a ragtag cast of allies and enemies. This robust adventure satirizes medical thrillers and zombie stories in one suspenseful sweep, delivering equal measures of satire, thrills, suspense, and comedy.

About the Author

Derek Armstrong  is the author of The Game and The Last Troubadour. He lives in Toronto.



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Monday
Jun072010

The Latest Stories from NOETIC NEWS: Spiritual Hypnotherapy, the Russians and Telekenisis, The Iliad and Noetics and more.

Spiritual Hypnotherapy 

Hypnosis is a term used to describe a non-ordinary state of consciousness that allows clients to respond to suggestion with higher than normal receptivity. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Hypnosis is a state that can spontaneously come about for a person or it is a state that can be self-induced or induced with the help of a facilitator or hypnotherapist. Read More>>

Did the Russians Find a Way to Train People in Using Telekinesis? 

In Russia, before the revolution that put Stalin in power, scientists were eagerly studying the use of hypnotism and parapsychology. Throughout the thirties, these experiments continued but ceased abruptly when Stalin took power. The Soviet Union banned study of para-psychology as an attempt to undermine the doctrines of the state. During the cold war in the 1960's, a... Read More>>

Thematic Concern in the Iliad 

The theme of the Iliad is self-evident - the wrath of Achilles. Achilles is portrayed as a character with the freak of an attribute of intense self-obsession. The upshots and corollaries of such an anomaly of a personal trait are multifarious and variegated. In this case, it begets what's illustriously feted as 'The Iliad'. The seminal chapters of the Trojan War vicariously belong to Achilles... Read More>>

The Changing Values Landscape of the U.S. and How It Impacts Midlife Job Searchers 

Imagine a huge river that has been flowing for centuries: See the thick underbrush that has grown up on either edge of the river's expansive banks and the moss-lined stones that litter its shallow edges. Feel the power of water so deep and so strong because it has been pulsing through this landscape since the Renaissance, yet now this mighty river approaches a "Great Divide" such as has never been seen before in human history. Read More>>

Read More Stories in Noetic News, the leading journal of Noetic Sciences>>

 

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Monday
Jun072010

Top Ten Films of the Last Decade According to Jessica Lyric

Jessica Lyric, Film Critic Films and Books MagazineFilms & Books’ Jessica Lyric is known for strong opinions and rarely picks the Oscar choice or the box office champion. Jessica's picks for the best movies of the last ten years are thought-provoking and—to some critics and fans—controversial. She builds a good case for each pick. Click on any story below to see why, find out more, and view the trailer—then tell us if you agree or disagree!

Watch for the second installment—the ten films that she calls the “Best of” for 1990-1999, coming soon to Films & Books. Read Jessica’s introduction to the series here.

Click to read more ...

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Thursday
Jan212010

Films and Books Feature: The Decline and Fall of Martial Arts Films and the Rise of the Action Blockbuster Movie (with trailers)

Martial Arts Series: Comparing martial arts films of the 1970s to the action blockbusters of 2009/10

By Derek Armstrong, Films and Books Correspondent

Red Cliff, Ip Man and True Legend are already iconic of the early 21st century “martial arts films”—although many can argue they are more action spectacle than true martial arts films.  The 1970s, on the other hand, didn’t rely on eye-candy effects and were defined more by the true grit of its martial arts actors: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, the Five Venoms, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Jimmy Wong, and other real fighters trained in genuine martial arts.

Martial Arts Becomes Mainstream But Evolves Into Spectacle

Cult classics such as Enter the Dragon helped change Hollywood. Its growing popularity forced filmmakers to adopt martial arts into the formula of the “action flick.” Through the eighties and nineties, spectacle thrillers were expected to deliver martial arts, even if it was only a few basic moves supported by some stuntmen and wires. Action movies became spectacles that required equal blends of story, drama, pace, martial arts, special effects and improbable plot twists.

In the 21st century, this became less “equal” with films relying first on special effects, then improbably plot twists (surprise is important, right?), followed by pace, martial arts skills, drama and—last and possibly least

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Tuesday
Jan052010

Boomless Supersonic Commercial Flight Returns in 2015

Since the demise of the Concorde in 2003, only fighter jet crews and astronauts have had the pleasure of supersonic flight. The Russians are currently testing a new fifth generation PAK-FA T-50 supersonic stealth fighter that will be in direct competition with the world's only current fifth generation supersonic jet, the new US F-22 Raptor. Even India is on the supersonic bandwagon, participating with Russia in the development of the new jet.

But commercial aviation remains subsonic.

This could change soon.

Aerion Supersonic Business Jet concept

Aerion Corporation of Nevada, which "was formed for the purpose of developing and commercializing a fundamental breakthrough in supersonic transportation," has set 2015 as the year it will launch its new Supersonic Business Jet (SSBJ). The company has already taken orders worth $4 billion for the $80 million jet—one of the first orders came from the ruler of Dubai in 2007—but has not yet made a decision on a manufacturing partner. Once that is done, it will enter a pre-launch phase with the OEM to confirm the Aerion SSBJ performance, costs and market. Thereafter a five-year program is planned so that the Aerion SSBJ could be flying in 2013 and certified by late 2015.

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