About Ravencrest

Ravencrest Publishing, an imprint of Cubbie Blue Publishing Inc.

http://www.facebook.com/RavencrestPublishingInc

Distributed by PATHWAY BOOK SERVICES

GIVING VOICE TO THOUGHT PROVOKING AUTHORS 

In 2006, Cubbie Blue Publishing created the imprint Ravencrest Publishing to give a voice to thought provoking authors and deliver important works inspired by native wisdom and traditions.

Ravencrest Publishing’s first titles were by CALVIN HELIN, a bestselling multi-award winning author, international speaker, entrepreneur, lawyer, and activist for self-reliance. It’s an unlikely success story, from someone with an impoverished childhood, growing up in a remote Native American village. The son of a hereditary chief, Helin’s first book, Dances with Dependency: Out of Poverty through Self-Reliance, was based on his own experiences, and written to help eradicate the kind of poverty he faced as a child. A seven-time bestseller, Helin’s landmark guide provided a blueprint to help Native American populations break free from “the welfare trap” of government dependence. During his extensive research for Dances with Dependency, Helin learned that the corrosive effects of economic dependency are not limited to the poor, but apply to other social classes, businesses and governments. In his second book, The Economic Dependency Trap: Breaking Free to Self-Reliance, Helin speaks to what he calls “the most deceptive pandemic of the 21st Century.”  He provides a clever plan for transforming economic dependency into healthier outcomes across all echelons of society – from minority groups, to middle class Americans. This book has won the Gold Medal in the IPPY Awards (Self-Help), and was a finalist in the COVR Visionary Awards (General Interest/Self-Help), Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Economic-Dependency-Trap-Self-Reliance/

“We discovered the perfect author to exemplify our mission in Calvin Helin. Drawing lessons of success from his native history; Helin delivers a message of self-reliance as a way out of poverty, undeterred and unafraid of being politically incorrect,” shares Ravencrest’s Julie Trent.  Helin’s father and grandmother, both hereditary Tsimshian Nation Tribal Leaders, sent him as a child on a quest to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. That quest along with his advocacy work of self-reliance on behalf of indigenous nations led to a desire to inspire and educate by writing the Dances’ series of books. Trent continues, “We are excited to see that his books are inspiring new generations on a path to happiness and wealth through self-reliance. We also would like to congratulate him on becoming a seventh time best seller and being voted one of the top most influential 2016 businessmen.”

http://www.amazon.com/The-Economic-Dependency-Trap-Self-Reliance/

Ravencrest Publishing is proud to include the early reader children’s books of Randa Handler namely The Boy Who Spoke To God which fittingly features the Mayan. A young Greek boy, in this folk tale, helps feuding Greek, Mayan, Zulu and Chinese tribes find peace & harmony via his dreams of a perfect God.  Her books are available in all formats. Limited hardcover versions are available of The Boy Who Spoke to God, her fun animal tale, If I Were King, and Cubbie Blue & his Dog Dot, Book one of her much talked series. Paperback versions are available of her bestseller The Thanksgiving Dinner Platter and What’s Up With Mike? ‘Cubbie Blue series’ Book Two. We are proud of Randa’s rave reviews and elated that teachers are finding a way to use her mainstream books in their classrooms. http://www.amazon.com/author/randahandler

Here’s a few links to ‘lesson plans’ using her books:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/sharing-mt-teachers-lesson-plan-using-thanksgiving-randa-awn-handler

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/lesson-plan-characters-i-were-king-randa-awn-handler

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/lesson-plan-teaching-diversity-randa-handlers-books-randa-awn-handler

Randa Handler is an international journalist, publicist, and publisher. In 2003, Handler’s publishing company Cubbie Blue Publishing Inc., successfully launched an educational series of children’s books, Claire’s Adventures with Miss America 2000, to benefit Veterans. These books are still used as ‘lesson plans’ by elementary school teachers. Handler is currently dedicated to writing and illustrating children’s books with multiracial characters that instill a tolerance and love of diversity.

In 2015, Ravencrest Publishing released The Conference of the Birds, by J. Nicholas. “We would like to congratulate J Nicholas on the rave reviews for his children’s book. A modern cute twist on a classic tale. We look forward to more books by him,” shares Trent.

http://www.prleap.com/pr/235858/ravencrest-publishing-releases-childrensbook

Ravencrest Publishing is happy to welcome authors, Isabelle Avadon, Claire April, Beverly Neals, Michael Plaksin, Jason Messinger and Dr. Naji Abumrad. Please check back as we will post updates regarding their books.

Ravencrest Publishing will continue to discover and introduce titles with pioneering ideas in multi genres by giving voice to literary works that are inspiring and educating while being mainstream. In the process we’re making a commitment to producing books with environmental mindfulness. Whenever possible, we use recycled material and try to promote an educational and green solution. We hope to demonstrate that any business can help safe-keep the planet for our children.

Calvin Helin:

CALVIN HELIN is a bestselling author, international speaker, entrepreneur, lawyer, and activist for self-reliance. It's an unlikely success story, from someone with an impoverished childhood, growing up in a remote Native American village.

The son of a hereditary chief, Helin's first book, Dances with Dependency: Out of Poverty through Self-Reliance, was based on his own experiences, and written to help eradicate the kind of poverty he faced as a child.

A six-time bestseller, Helin's landmark guide provided a blueprint to help Native American populations break free from "the welfare trap" of government dependence. During his extensive research for Dances with Dependency, Helin learned that the corrosive effects of economic dependency are not limited to the poor, but apply to other social classes, businesses and governments.

A leading authority on fiscal independence, Helin has been widely featured by national newspapers, radio and television addressing rising poverty and unemployment rates. He has hundreds of appearances as a speaker and expert source on destitution in the Native American community, which is said to rival conditions in third world countries.

Helin is President and CEO of Eagle Group of Companies LLC, President of the Native Investment and Trade Association, and Director of the Vancouver Board of Trade, GeoScience BC, and the Canada-China Resource Development Foundation. He has received numerous national distinctions as an entrepreneur, social activist and community leader.

Helin's mission of economic independence and personal growth isn't limited to adults, either: Helin also serves as ambassador of the SOS Children's Village. A fourth degree black belt, he teaches at the Shudokan Karate and Education Society, a group he founded in 2002 that provides free martial arts lessons to hundreds of disadvantaged inner-city children as a way of teaching them discipline, manners, self-respect, and other important life lessons.

He is a U.S. permanent resident under the special Native American provisions of the Jay Treaty.

www.calvinhelin.com

http://www.amazon.com/The-Economic-Dependency-Trap-Self-Reliance/dp/1932824081

http://www.amazon.com/Economic-Dependency-Trap-Self-Reliance-Hardcover/dp/B014N7VIHO/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1459450699&sr=8-10&keywords=calvin+helin

Dances with Dependency, Out of Poverty through Self-Reliance. (Book one in the series. Limited Hardcover editions are still available) Helin's `politically incorrect' message, offers key relevance to any taxpaying American, is causing an uproar and is generating heated debates whenever government, poverty and social issues interact this election year. Helin's welfare reforms could jump start our economy freeing up billions to afford health-care for all.

What The Press Is Saying... "

The National Post-"Sugarcoating nothing. While recognizing and acknowledging the historical reasons and complexities behind the numerous social dysfunctions in Canada's aboriginal communities ...Helin says none of that will change until Natives stop pointing the finger of blame at others and start to take responsibility for their own futures. "

Calgary Sun /2007 "This book is filled with hope and written out of deep love and concern for aboriginal people".

Toronto Sun /2007, "The book takes the reader on an inspiring 10,000 year canoe journey through the mists of time to an era of indigenous self-reliance."

U .S. Department of State article, "Helin wants native people to move forward by reclaiming traditional values of autonomy and self-reliance... ".

The Globe and Mail /2007, "What this book says probably should have been said years ago ...I think that all our people should read this book. Even though I am now sixty four years old, reading. "

The Province, “Dances with Dependency, is an important new book...while not glossing over the gloom, it offers a refreshing message of hope--and a strong call to action."

Michael McCoy, posted, “I was obligated to purchase for a college class. But I learned a lot and hopefully will put it to decent use in the future for reference”.




5 stars, Brilliant!

Brown Bear, posted, “Brilliant! A must read for everyone, a lot of good common sense, something we seem to be losing. It's time to take our lives back by bringing back the values and traditions our ancestors used to survive together in harmony not against nature and each other. Humans ‘greatest joy comes from helping others not from constant conquest, domination and greed.”

 5 stars, Great ideas & interesting read ?It is very insightful about Native American/Canadian Aboriginal circumstances, but the concepts could be applied to many disenfranchised groups around the world.”

The Dependency Trap, Breaking Free to Self-Reliance (Book 2 in series)

Summary: This book offers effective strategies to help erase poverty. It advocates self-reliance, policy reform and cultural awareness. Accountability is required from all; the middle class, the trust fund babies and the underprivileged who see themselves as perpetual victims and have fallen into the entitlement trap. True Blue-prints are offered to rescue people from an economic slump and help them improve their life, and re-obtain a sense of self-worth.

Reviews:

5 stars, Calvin Helin's THE ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY TRAP

Top 500 Amazon reviewer, Cyrus Webb, writes, “We all need someone in our lives that will tell us the truth, especially when they see us headed for danger. Calvin Helin is that person for anyone who is not where they want to be in life and want to make changes. Through the book The Economic Dependency Trap, Helin shows us how easy it is for us to dig ourselves into an economic mess and what it takes to not only get out of the trap but make positive strides moving forward.
 He knows better than some what can be accomplished with hard work and dedication. That is why what he says, in my opinion, carries so much weight. Both informative and inspiring, this is a book that has the possibility to change your life.”

5.0 out of 5 starsCould the aid that America offers instill dependency in millions?

The Midwest Book Review posts on February 10, 2011, “Could the aid that America offers instill dependency in millions? The Economic Dependency Trap: Breaking Free to Self-Reliance" is an argument from Calvin Helin, stating that the welfare programs that America offers heavily leads Americans into a false sense of entitlement and leads them unable to push themselves further and above the limits they put on themselves. Using his own success of coming from nothing to become something, he comes with a very free-market driven argument. "The Economic Dependency Trap" is worth considering for those who want more insight on what may be keeping Americans down.”

 

Randa Handler :  
http://www.randahandler.com

https://twitter.com/RandaHandler

https://medium.com/@RandaHandler

http://amazon.com/author/randahandler

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/randa-handler

Books Summaries: (for ages 6-10 even though can be read to younger)

Cubbie Blue and His Dog Dot, Book One: 
Summary:
Three multiracial seven-year-old boys with difficult backgrounds befriend a special being, Cubbie Blue. Cubbie and his tiny dog Dot have accidently come to their area from an enchanted part of Antarctica. Even though Cubbie is only three inches tall and therefore appears vulnerable, he has supernatural powers; from highly evolved skills in telepathy, to making himself invisible, to his uncanny ability to only see things in a positive light.

What’s Up With Mike? Cubbie Book 2 
Summary, 
Derek, Chris, and Brian, three 7-year-old boys, befriend Derek's new neighbor, Mike, who is blind. Cubbie, a 3-inch-tall special being with supernatural powers, and his dog Dot help the boys learn about Mike's limitations and needs. This important knowledge allows the boys to properly welcome Mike to the neighborhood. In turn, the boys help Cubbie escape from the evil soldiers trying to capture him, and he is saved thanks to their bravery.

If I Were King, (Congratulations Randa on winning Mom’s Choice Award!)
Summary
One rainy day in the jungle, unlikely friends—Zebra, Lion, Leopard, Giraffe, Monkey, Elephant and Chameleon—gather to lament how similar their daily activities are.  Zebra’s imagination and fun-loving nature convinces the other animals to escape their mundane lives by pretending they are king. Playing this game teaches them about their many differences and, more importantly, their own likes and dislikes.  Zebra, upon discovering this information, realizes that it’s okay not to always want to play with other zebras as long as she listens to her inner voice and yields when it warns her of dangers and cautions her to maintain clear boundaries. Immediately she learns that Lion can stop being her friend when he’s angry or hungry.

Please check and see which of Randa Handler's books are available in Spanish! Also check and see which are available as listens on Audible! 
 
Cubbie Azul y Su Perro Punto (Cubbie Book One)
Audiencia: Escuela Primaria
Resumen: Tres niños multirraciales de 7 años se hacen amigos de un ser especial con poderes sobrenaturales de una parte encantada de la Antártida: Cubbie Azul de 3 pulgadas de alto y su perro, Punto. Cubbie y Punto aprenden el verdadero significado de la amistad y cómo resolver pequeños y grandes problemas, mientras les enseñan a los niños mensajes sutiles sobre lo que está bien y lo que está mal, y que a veces se encuentran aliados improbables entre seres que parecen tener las mayores diferencias.


Cubbie Blue, I See You (Book 3)
Derek, Chris, and Brian, three 7-year-old boys, and their befriended tiny creatures, Cubbie, a 3-inch-tall special being with supernatural powers, and his tinier dog Dot, keep embracing their diverse backgrounds and help a classmate, Leo to stop stealing and lying and stand up to school bullying.

The Boy Who Spoke to God, (Congratulations Randa! Boy Who Spoke To God keeps hitting top 100 bestsellers around the holidays!)

Summary
Unable to agree on their ideas about God and religious celebrations, four different ethnic tribes—Greeks, Chinese, Zulus, and Mayans—who live together harmoniously most of the year, combining aspects of each of their cultures to make their kingdom strong and prosperous, suddenly become divisive when religious holidays approach. During such times, they cannot agree on the timing or manner of religious traditions, and they each have their own god who looks and dresses as they do. When Niko, a young Greek boy, has several dreams of God, each tribe interprets the various details of his dreams according to its own view of God, further emphasizing the tribes’ differences in beliefs. Subsequently Niko is shunned for having created even more disharmony and for lying to the tribes, or so they think, as no one believes he dreamed of God. To clear up all the confusion and arrive at the truth, Niko begs God to manifest in one final dream. This time God shows him that the tribes’ beliefs are actually different expressions of the same god. Niko concludes that God is like colorless and formless iridescent light and the beliefs of all tribes about their gods are correct as these gods are like colors of the rainbow that derive from white light.

The Thanksgiving Dinner Platter (Congratulations Randa for Thanksgiving Platter to hit top teens bestsellers every year and for people using its cover as a Thanksgiving card!)

Summary
It’s 1941, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt has just made Thanksgiving a national holiday in the United States. Takari ‘s family is coming from near and far to celebrate together. While helping her mother prepare Thanksgiving dinner eight-year-old Takari breaks a platter that belonged to her Japanese grandmother. The platter had been an important part of her father’s family heritage, used traditionally by Takari’s grandmother to serve chestnut rice on the Japanese day of thanksgiving. Angry, her mother shoos her away, telling her to go visit her best friend, Little Sparrow, whose family is Native American. He is making a special cornbread just like the one served at the first Thanksgiving dinner eaten by the pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians at Plymouth Plantation. In the process, Takari learns about the history of the holiday and that a similar day of gratitude, when people give thanks for their blessings, exists in many countries including in her father’s homeland, Japan.

Flag Day Camping (NEW)
Takari & Little Sparrow series, Book 1: Takari, a Japanese American eight year old girl and her best friend, Little Sparrow, a Native American boy go camping, embrace each other’s differences while learning about Flag Day, flag folding and why we need to follow rules even though we’re free.

Takari’s Missing Bearcub (NEW)
Takari & Little Sparrow Children’s Book Series, Book 2

Takari, a Japanese American eight year old girl and her best friend, Little Sparrow, a Native American boy learn how to protect wildlife and the environment, and how to lessen their Eco footprints while protecting, Mama Bear and her two cubs, whose habitat is being threatened by logging.


Conference of the Birds (listed under the Cubbie Blue Publishing banner) 

By J. Nicholas 
Illustrated by Randa Handler

http://www.amazon.com/Conference-Birds-J-Nicholas/dp/1932824154

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/conf-of-the-birds-reflowable-j nicholas/1121798151?ean=2940151238519

Summary
Unhappy with who they are, five unlikely friends—a raven, a canary, an owl, a parrot, and a homing pigeon—embark on a treacherous journey, eventually discovering strength in togetherness, the value of their own unique talents, and a new sense of self-worth.

This book is not only delightful, it has an important message

Reviews:
Top Amazon reviewer, Israel Drazin, writes about the Conference of the Birds, “This book with charming primitive-type pictures tells about the sky, the magical realm of the birds and the book teaches children about self-worth.Children will enjoy reading the reaction of the birds to this cryptic advice, how they interpreted it, their adventure, and how they solved their feeling that they should change.”

Jessie Marie posts, “Be Yourself! Love it! This is a book that takes you on a journey with different birds.”

“Definitely a lesson in teaching young ones to just be themselves, not try to be like others. I recommend this for any parent who needs to show your child that it's okay for them to be different. Or for those teachers that need to teach this to their students.”

5 stars, Unique and beautiful

Educator Rachel Horon posts, “The birds learn that about themselves in The Conference of the Birds as will young readers of this book. Each bird from the owl to the canary to the homing pigeon have a trait or a skill that they are not as fond of. It takes a journey to discover how that part of them that seems flawed is actually useful or wonderful. My six-year old enjoyed the vibrant illustration colors and the theme of the story. It allowed us a moment to reflect on our own gifts and the gifts of those in our family.”

5 stars,  Delightful story and illustrations

Top 500 Amazon reviewer, TFL Reader posts, “My young niece and I read stories together quite frequently. I try to incorporate stories into the mix that have a positive message and author J. Nicholas. Well done.”

Christiane Hitti writes, “What a very exciting story from a talented writer J.Nicholas. Conference of the birds... I recommend this book to all parents.”

Claire April:
Claire April: Twitter handle: Author Claire April, www.Twitter.com@RavencrestPub

Letters from Manhattan: 

Summary: Author Claire April candidly shares the struggles of a female executive’s climb up the corporate ladder in a men’s world.

Isabelle Avadon: A citizen of the world and a graduate of the Sorbonne in Paris, Isabelle is on a mission to instill a love of adventure and discovery in all her books. This multi genre author is sure to surprise and delight readers with her wit and in depth character studies. Slated for a 2017 release, her first two penned novels are: Trapped in Tango and El Marquesa Diaries.
Twitter handle: www.Twitter.com@IsabelleAvadon
www.Facebook.com/IsabelleAvadon:
Trapped In Tango:

Summary:
Trapped in Tango is the disarmingly touching journey of a self-sabotaging desperate girl who was blamed for the death of her twin brother by her own mother.
El Marquesa Diaries: 

Summary:
In this candid diary, Marquesa Ramona of Sidonia shares why she left behind her trust funded glamorous life to craft incognito a journalism career and prove her self-worth. In France, she meets, father-figure, married, American journalist, Andre Moore, who, attracts her with his charm and intellect. Is he offering her freedom, independence and self-respect? She throws caution to the wind and impulsively follows him to Los Angeles. Everyone but her seem to see his expert manipulation and abuse.

Constant betrayals and disastrous events occur, open her eyes, and catapult into a desperate act that threatens to ruin her life forever. Will she recognize true love or true friendships? Is her heart too broken to see a promise of love?

Michael Plaksin: A Sales and Marketing Senior Executive with diversified experience in P&L management, business development, new product launches, market identification, and general management within the Mobile, Memory, Computer Technology and Consumer Products sectors. Recognized for building solid internal / external business relationships and ability to influence cross-functional teams through education, coaching, and motivational management. Plaksin has always been a fan of radio and remembers writing an essay about it as a youngster. He gives back any chance he gets and is President of a newly formed foundation.

http://www.wvweducationalfoundation.org/about-us/board-committees/michael-plaksin/

Jason Messinger

While managing a Fine Arts gallery in northeastern Pennsylvania, he attended Parson’s
School of Design in NYC, and operated a small firm for over 25 years, with an emphasis on residential interior design/remodeling. His interests have focused on melding traditional aesthetics with renewable and sustainable product and process and sharing his knowledge whenever possible.

Title: The Man Who Invented Radio and the One Who Got the Credit 

Written by: Michael Plaksin & Jason Messinger

Summary: Michael Plaksin and Jason Messinger discuss in this educational book, how the major invention of the radio was credited to the wrong inventor. Their attempt to set the record straight is bound to raise a few eyebrows and possibly correct a few historical misconceptions. After all, would we have cellphones without radio?




Beverly Neals: As Miss Wales (1979) Neals travelled throughout the world promoting "beauty with a cause" with Miss England – Caroline Seaward and Miss Scotland – Lorraine Davidson. She was a finalist at Miss Universe in Perth Australia and went on to represent Britain in the Miss Young International pageant in the Philippines where she was placed in the top five. She moved to Los Angeles in 1981 and had a successful modelling and TV career. She lives in England, is happily married with two children. Title:

I Don't Believe in Miracles, I Rely On Them 
By Beverly

Summary: From travelling the world with the rich and famous, experiencing outlandish adventures, to being offered incredible opportunities, to struggling to survive as a single mother, and dealing with the serious illness of a child; a former Miss Wales shares her gripping life's story.  Her disarming account of a rise through hardships while keeping a 'having it all' public persona,

And her courageous dance in the rain to craft success and happiness are inspirational.

https://youtu.be/4NBNmm_qgik

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/randa-handler

Beverly Neals, Former Miss Wales and upcoming novelist TBR by Ravencrest Publishing

    Randa Handler's mainstream children's books that instill a love of diversity with their diverse and fun characters.