LARGO — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Amid a flurry of interest from various Tarot community groups, online forums and collectors, the much anticipated Quantum Tarot by Author Kay Stopforth and illustrator Chris Butler rose to the top of Amazon's Tarot bestseller list.

 "I'm not surprised at all," said publisher Derek Armstrong, himself a collector of Tarot cards and the author of Tarot-themed novels, such as popular The Last Troubadour and soon-to-be-released The Last Quest. "The popularity of Tarot decks continues to surge in general, and unique and evocative decks such as Quantum Tarot always move to the top of the collector's lists. But this isn't just a deck for collectors. It's a deck that speaks to users."

The Quantum Tarot combines the revolutionary theories of 21st century physics with the traditional Tarot Card archetypes in a 78-card deck. Quantum mechanics, Einstein’s theories of relativity and modern superstring theory offer new and wonderful ways to visualize Tarot themes. The Quantum Tarot shows how New Age wisdom meshes tightly with New Age science. 

A review on Aeclectic, one of the largest online Tarot communities, describes Quantum as: Explores the polar extremes of physics—the vast reaches of outer space and the ultra-microscopic world of (the) subatomic—through its 78 visually striking cards.”

Kay Stopforth is a Film Studies graduate and librarian. Inspired by photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope, Kay created her first oracle deck, the Universe Cards, in 1999. She contributes regularly to the Aeclectic Tarot Forum and also writes fiction.

Chris Butler has been an illustrator since he was seventeen when he won a contest at a TV convention in the UK, which led to his working for Space Voyager magazine. Specializing in digital imagery, he has illustrated five tarot decks and two oracle decks to date. 

Kunati Books, known as a provocative, controversial and bold publisher, has also recently signed the world-famous bestselling Tarot developer Kat Black for her forthcoming Touchstone Tarot.

ForeWord Magazine named Kunati Books the first Independent Publisher of the Year at BEA, this year in L.A. "The new honor was created to celebrate ForeWord's tenth anniversary and to recognize Kunati's innovation and fearlessness."

Kunati Books—a publisher of provocative, bold and controversial fiction and nonfiction released its first titles just over two years ago—is the first recipient of this title. Kunati is one of today's most innovative independent publishers. Its principals pioneered book trailers and blog tours and they foster an open partnership with authors who enthusiastically participate in marketing their books through blogs, book signings, interactive online events and social marketing. Kunati currently has several movie deals in the works, and its roster of authors includes Pulitzer Prize-winner John E. Mack, popular thrillers such as MADicine and Hunting the King, real crime sensations, memoirs, and even a bestselling tarot deck in Quantum Tarot, and the forthcoming Touchstone Tarot from the bestselling Kat Black.

The award was kept "top secret," Kunati Publisher Derek Armstrong said. "We had no idea this award was in the works. We were surprised and delighted at the recognition, and credit most of our success to our authors."

Victoria Sutherland explained the rationale for this important award: "The convergence in the industry led to the independent press community, where interesting and extraordinary moments still happen because creativity and provocativeness are allowed to flourish without beaucratic overhead. We felt those publishers should be recognized for their vitality and entrepreneurialism in spite of overwhelming odds not to get involved in the business. And who better to recognize them than the magazine created to cover them exclusively?"

Kunati has been called "a publisher to watch" by Booklist and "impressive" by Publishers Weekly for innovative marketing, stunning book covers, daring online initiatives and very provocative and controversial titles. "We hope the Independent Publisher of the Year award will inspire other innovative small presses to take on debut authors, fight for good memoirs and fiction, and challenge readers with provocative non-fiction," said Armstrong.

 About Kunati

Kunati Books has been described as "a publisher to watch" by ALA's Booklist and "what a publisher looks like if the marketing department runs things" by Quill and Quire. It is now the Independent Publisher of the Year 2007 Recipient from ForeWord Magazine. With nearly one hundred authors signed, a Pulitzer Prize-winner, and movie deals for books, Kunati is a major force in independent publishing.

Kunati, a traditional royalty- and advance-paying publisher, became an instant hit with its "authors-first approach." Founded by published authors, Kunati receives thousands of submissions per year. Careful selection led to critical acclaim for all published titles. Distributed internationally through Independent Publishers Group, Canadian Manda and other groups, and through all major wholesalers, Kunati quickly became popular with booksellers, and in particular the independents. Kunati is now distributed in 22 countries in English.

About Derek Armstrong

Best known for historical thrillers and mystery thrillers, Derek Armstrong is also a screenwriter, publisher and well-known marketing guru. His defining signature style was described by Booklist as "brilliance in which Armstrong blends comedy, parody, and adventure in genuinely innovative ways." Armstrong is the creator of Alban Bane, featured in the Alban Bane thrillers The Game and MADicine, a character affectionately compared by critics to House M.D., the TV character. He is the author of the popular Song of Montségur historical trilogy, including The Last Troubadour and The Last Quest.  He is also author of two non-fiction titles: Blogertize-A Leading Expert Shows How Your Blog Can Be A Money-Making Machine and The Persona Principle: How to Succeed in Business with Image-Marketing. Forthcoming in 2009 is a breakthrough Harry Potter competitor: Magick Inc.

Derek Armstrong has won many awards for advertising copywriting internationally and wrote The Persona Principle (Simon & Schuster) with co-author Kam Wai Yu, now translated into five languages.

Excerpt from ForeWord.

FIRST INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR NAMED

"To celebrate its tenth year, ForeWord also named the first Independent Publisher of the Year. Kunati Books, a publisher of fiction and nonfiction which released its first titles just over two years ago, is the first recipient of this title.

"ForeWord has always championed independent presses," Publisher Victoria Sutherland said, "and this new honor is another way for us to shine the spotlight on publishers that are doing revolutionary things and producing quality books."

Kunati is one today's most innovative independent publishers. It produces book trailers for every new release, maintains a blog, and encourages its authors to blog and actively participate in marketing their books. Kunati currently has several movie deals in the works, and its roster of authors includes Pulitzer Prize winner John E. Mack.

ForeWord described Kunati's Women of Magdelene by Rosemary Poole-Carter (978-1-60164-014-7), as "a brilliant example of the best that historical fiction can do." ForeWord has also published reviews of Hunting the King by Peter Clenott (978-1-60164-148-9) and The Secret Ever Keeps by Art Tirrell (978-1-60164-004-8).

It has been called "a publisher to watch" by Booklist and "impressive" byPublishers Weekly; now Kunati Books is ForeWord's 2007 Independent Publisher of the Year."   More on the ForeWord Home Page...

“Armstrong manages the difficult proposition of satirizing the very genre in which he's writing,” the review continues, “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.”

Armstrong himself is quick to point out that he is a fan of James Bond 007 and Ian Fleming, but “Alban Bane, my main character, is not a spoof of the great spy. This is satire, and adventure, and a thrill-ride, in honor of the great Ian Fleming, but in no way a silly spoof.”

Another reviewer TK Kenyon, author of Callous and Rabid, wrote: “I don't care as much about this 007 satire, but MADicine really does go beyond taking pokes with a satirical stick. The characters are very well developed. There's a spontaneous energy and creativity to Armstrong's clever writing that is hard to resist…”

Hot new author Karen Harrington, herself picking up starred reviews and major buzz for Janeology, wrote: “Who can resist a character who, when asked by a young kid on a plane if he is like James Bond, responds, "Better looking and funnier." This is a thriller with charm, humor and sexy-edge. Armstrong's dialogue is so smooth, you will feel as if you're hearing the characters, rather than merely reading them.”

Press Inquiries: Derek Armstrong  |  866-356-2442 ext 288   |   press@kunati.com        http://www.kunati.com

For an unblinking forty-two hours, the ultra-hip, ultra-smart fourteen-year-old Myx Amens uses his eidetic memory and his synaesthetic mind, which allows him to feel colours, smell emotions and hear shapes, to probe the dirty secrets of the people of Miracle. He solves the murders, of course, but learns so much more along the way. The shocking results of his snooping lead to a conclusion that some will find controversial.

“Myx Amens has the kind of nearly super-human abilities everybody fantasizes about at some time in their life. He’s smarter, faster, stronger than everybody else and he’s unafraid of anything,” said Kunati publisher Derek Armstrong. “He knows how to use people to get what he wants, Fortunately, he has a conscience and he uses his talents for good rather than evil.” There has already been movie production interest in April and May for Miracle Myx. Ongoing publicity will promote Miracle Myx through the summer of 08 from Kunati Books, called a “new publisher to watch” by Booklist. 

Kunati seeks out provocative and controversial fiction, as well as non-fiction that inspires and enlightens. The spring 2008 season includes a satire of the US military by a retired Navy Commander, two new medical thrillers, an inspiring story of a woman battling cancer and terrorized by a murderer, a literary adventure about the search for the tomb of Jesus, and a novel that explores the personality of a woman who murdered her toddler son.

Press Inquiries: Derek Armstrong | 866-356-2442 ext 288 | press@kunati.com http://www.kunati.com

The writer's quest

Local author Peter Clenott with his book, Hunting the King. SUN PHOTOS BY David H. Brow

By Nancye Tuttle

ntuttle@lowellsun.com

LOWELL -- Author Peter Clenott is a homebody.

Everything about him says home, from his jobs as a senior housing advocate at Community Teamwork, Inc., and as an overnight supervisor at a Haverhill community residence to his working both jobs so his wife can stay home with their three kids.

But thoughts of home vanish when he writes. His lively new thriller, Hunting the King, proves the point, as Clenott transports readers to Baghdad's war-torn streets, Abu Ghraib prison, an Afghan archaeological dig, ancient biblical sites, a Boston college campus and the Polish city of Warsaw.

The book, published last month by Kunati, a Canadian publisher, is being favorably compared to Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code,

"Like The Da Vinci Code, Hunting the King is based on the premise that Jesus had a child by Mary Magdelene with descendants that survive to this day. But by blending religious intrigue with contemporary politics and an eclectic cast of characters, Clenott manages to create a story that is entertaining and wholly his own," writes Aimee Sabo in ForeWord.

Despite the comparison, Clenott hasn't read Brown's bestseller.

"I've only read his Angels and Demons," says Clenott, 56, who lives in Haverhill. "Some critics have said that his characters are not well-drawn and only serve the plot. I've tried to make mine multidimensional people that you care

That's true, especially of lead character Molly O'Dwyer, a brilliant, feisty archaeologist, who has discovered ancient tombs and documents she believes belong to Jesus' daughter and family.

O'Dwyer's troubled dreams, scientific discoveries, and strong Catholic faith -- and guilt -- coupled with interesting secondary characters, keen descriptions and intriguing plot twists make a compelling read.

A newspaper article Clenott read 10 years ago inspired his book.

"A prelate of the Catholic church stated in the article he had the right to deny someone access to God if they belonged to an organization he disapproved of," he says.

"That is, he could deny them the rites, rituals and sacraments of the church if they were pro-choice. I thought 'That's great. He's got a degree in theology from Notre Dame and can deny someone access to God. I have a degree in history from Bowdoin and I can't even deny my children access to the refrigerator.'"

The novel expresses his views "on faith, that all faiths are equally valid and that no one faith is right to the exclusion of every other faith."

Faith played a big part in getting his book published. A writer for more than three decades, he received hundreds of rejection slips before Kunati accepted his manuscript last year.

"It gets depressing with so many rejections," says Clenott, a native of Portland, Maine.

Clenott didn't write as a child. But after he graduated from Bowdoin in 1973, he plunged in. Since then, he has written an eclectic mix of historical fiction, mystery, comedy and even screenplays. His novels are about revolution in Europe, the last survivors of World War I and about South Africa, where he spent time after college.

"I got frustrated with the novels in the late '80s and early '90s, so I started writing screenplays. Hunting the King started as a screenplay," he recalls.

His luck turned when he met freelance editor Marjorie Hanlon via the Internet. She liked the book and edited it for him.

Then, he found the Canadian publisher. "I was tired of rejections from American publishers. They (Kunati) were willing to work with first time writers," Clenott says.

He sent them a synopsis in March 2007. They asked for the full manuscript soon after.

"At last I had hope," he says.

The day Kunati offered him a contract was nerve-wracking.

"It was Aug. 8, 2007, a Thursday. I had an e-mail that morning but was so nervous I didn't want to open it. But I did. It said, 'Give me a call. I'd like to discuss a contract," he says.

It affirmed his commitment to his craft.

"There's so much competition out there, but it's great to have my book published," he says.

And garnering good reviews, too.

"Fans of intellectual thrillers and historical novels will find a worthy new voice in Clenott," writes Sabo.

Now, besides his 60-hour work week, Clenott is promoting the book and working on another novel.

"I have to write. It's hard with the kids. But financially I need it and emotionally I need it," says Clenott, whose daughter is 11 and twin sons are 9.

He hopes Hunting the King paves the way for other books, including a sequel with Molly O'Dwyer that he has already written.

"There's no guarantee a second book will happen. But if this does well enough, it may. I hope so," he says.

"Hunting the King" is available at Barnes and Noble, 151 Merrimack St., Lowell, and on Amazon.com. Local signings are on Saturday, June 7, 2-4 p.m., Borders, Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua; Sunday, June 8, 1-4 p.m., Barnes & Noble, S. Broadway, Salem, N.H. Jordan Rich interviews Clenott on WBZ radio (1030-AM) on Saturday, July 5, at 12:30 a.m.

Our publisher Derek Armstrong (and author of the sizziling hot star-reviewed MADicine, The Last Troubadour and The Game) is featured in the current issue of ForeWord Magazine. Excerpts:

 FOREWORD: The landscape of independent publishing has transformed completely since ForeWord came on the scene ten years ago. What’s the view like from your window?

 DEREK ARMSTRONG: Everything is exciting from my window. The advantage the independents have is speed. Quick
decisions, fast action, a willingness to experiment, a partnership with authors—these are what an indy can provide and it gives all smaller presses an edge in the current volatile market, as long as they view the changes as action opportunities to “win” over the slower-moving giants. What’s exciting is that authors are the boss. Author social groups, author marketing groups—these make the indy the best prepared for the biggest coming trend: the control of publishing by the author. It isn’t self-publishing that created this environment. Publishers, especially smaller publishers, realized authors are their partners and the road to sales is paved with author goodwill, especially now that advances are a more-or-less shrinking affair. In lieu of big advances, authors are treated as equals by smart small press.

FOREWORD: The technology to publish and distribute is ubiquitous these days. How do you see the role of traditional publishers / booksellers / librarians reacting (is that the right word) to the flood of books?
DEREK ARMSTRONG: This is a heavy-hitting question I’ve been hammering in my own blogs lately. On one hand, having vast choice, as indicated by the Nielsen stats—1.2 million titles in print each year on average—is, at first blush, wonderful for the reader. Almost any book subject can be found—or can it? Even using Google and MSN’s awesome search capabilities, it’s not always easy to find a title worth investing in on a specific subject. When a key word shows up in thousands of pages in a search, how to choose? With online distribution networks, universally inclusive databases, and thousands of online sources for information on books, many readers flee back to the safety of magazines such as ForeWord and the larger online stores. It’s just easier. Which means the great democracy of universality becomes a reality of 1% of titles succeeding well while the rest are difficult to find. Our approach to solving this issue is to create an equal measure of enthusiastic online marketing. Instead of being part of the flood, we dig our own canal so that we have our own stream to fish. We’ve pioneered technologies from the beginning. Our creative director developed the first book trailer. We were early bloggers, and now we insist our authors contribute to a minimum of 12 blogs every week. We have built a comprehensive program that makes our titles stand out and float to the top of searches. But it’s very, very hard work. This is the kind of work that produces Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But it works, and will continue to work for us. Other small presses have similar innovative approaches. Small presses were the first in with Kindle and Sony Reader and Mobipocket. The first in with Goodreads.com and such sites. Small presses and their authors must be tireless. There’s no sense of entitlement when you’re an indy.

FOREWORD: Are the reasons an author would chose to publish with an independent still the same as they were ten years ago?

DEREK ARMSTRONG: Not the same at all. Ten years ago the convention seemed to be “find an agent” who would shop to the publishers. Of course ten years ago there were 1/3 the number of publishers, and the agents focused almost exclusively on the large and mid-sized publishers. Indy presses were mostly viewed as niche, academic, or genre presses. It was not an easy approach. And in some ways, it’s no easier today, although the author has more choices, including self-publishing. But the reasons to go to a royalty-paying indy remain much the same, and their choices are greater also. The same technologies that make it possible to self-publish allow indies to do more for their authors, albeit with more sophistication, momentum and resource-allocation. Authors with talent are increasingly commanding more power from a publisher (although not more money due to the realities of a fragmented million-title universe), which makes them more like partners. Of course, I’m thinking more of non-fiction than fiction. Fiction remains an “under siege” segment due to too much competition and not enough differentiation. Only very aggressive marketers can work well with fiction. For fiction, for a debut artists, the only way to go is the independent press.

To read the full interview, visit the ForeWord site or pick up the current issue!

 MADicine (ISBN 9781601640178) reviewed by American Library Association's Booklist Magazine as a "Mesmerizing satirical thriller" has proven so popular Kunati Books has had to order a second print run of the books to fill backorders.

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