Comfort Publishing Announces Qantas Airways Sponsorship For Award-Winning Author's Book Tour

Qantas Airways will be a primary sponsor for JAMES HOUSTON TURNER'S Department Thirteen book and public speaking tour, where he shares lessons from his years as a struggling writer, cancer survivor, and former smuggler behind the old Iron Curtain.
By: Rob Hamilton
 
July 4, 2011 - PRLog -- Comfort Publishing is proud to announce Qantas Airways as a primary sponsor for James Houston Turner’s Department Thirteen book tour, as well as his "Too Ugly" motivational speaking tour into schools, where he shares lessons from his years as a struggling writer, his successful battle against cancer, and his experiences as a smuggler behind the old Iron Curtain.

The Department Thirteen Tour will be launched September 15 at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. The schedule for North America is available on http://www.jameshoustonturner.com and http://www.toouglytour.com, and includes stops in Dallas, Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles.

Wally Mariani, Senior Executive Vice President for the Americas and Pacific, expanded Qantas' reasons for involvement with Mr. Turner: "I've known Jim for several years and hosted him at G'day USA because his life story is such an inspiration. His acclaimed thrillers are just part of the tale, however. The truly triumphant part of the story, are the hurdles he has overcome to get to where he is. Where others would have quit, Jim has persevered, so I am not at all surprised by the success he is now enjoying. I count him as a mate and look forward to our continued good friendship."

Terry Gegesi, Marketing and Promotions Manager for Qantas Airways, agreed. "We certainly wish James great success with his book.  It has been an exciting and challenging project, and it is wonderful to see it come to fruition."

“My relationship with Qantas is personal as well as professional and stems back to the day I came to Australia for what turned out to be a life-saving, life-changing event,” says Turner, referring to his cancer operation at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. “When we flew back to America after my treatment, my face was disfigured and scarred. I didn’t know if I would survive eighteen months. But a Qantas flight attendant clasped me on the shoulder and said, ‘You’re going to beat this stuff.’ He could tell I felt scared and embarrassed. So he gathered some of his mates around and took a group photo. He didn’t have to go out of his way like that. But he did, and he still typifies the Qantas policy of caring about people. That’s why I’m proud of my association with them, and why I’m especially proud of their support for my Department Thirteen book tour on this, my twentieth anniversary of beating cancer.”

Named after the feared covert assassination and sabotage unit of the KGB by the same name, Department Thirteen (ISBN: 978-1-936695-42-3) is a gripping tale of ex-KGB informant, Aleksandr Talanov, and his attempts to move on with his life after the Soviet empire crumbles. Now living in Australia, Talanov and dozens of dinner guests are suddenly the target of assassins. Talanov and his wife escape, but soon find themselves running for their lives: hunted by the killers, blamed by the police, increasingly pivotal to an invisible network of death about which they know nothing.

What takes this book beyond your typical spy-thriller is Turner’s experience as a courier and smuggler behind the old Iron Curtain. His firsthand experience lends credence to the story. Important details and authentic nuances abound, leaving readers unveiled to a longtime-secret world. Says Turner: "Talanov is based on an actual informant in the KGB who leaked word out of Moscow that I was on a KGB watchlist and being followed while living in San Diego. Department Thirteen, as well as all of my upcoming Talanov thrillers, is a tribute to that man and his heroism."

James Houston Turner holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Baker University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Originally from Kansas, he has worked as a journalist in Los Angeles, and currently divides his time between Australia and California.

Turner also wrote The Identity Factor, which received critical acclaim upon its release in Australia, where is scooped finalist awards in four prestigious book competitions, including the National Best Books Awards and the Eric Hoffer Award . It has been released internationally as an e-book, has been adapted for film, and its physical release in the United States is set for this autumn in conjunction with his US tour.

Other tour sponsors include Chopin Vodka, King Island Dairy, and Jacob's Creek wine.

For more information on Mr. Turner’s book, tour schedule, or other Comfort Publishing titles, visit our web site at http://www.comfortpublishing.com.


About Comfort Publishing:

Comfort Publishing has been in business for over a decade, producing both a range of periodicals and a rapidly expanding books division. Our books span a wide range of categories, from science fiction and fantasy to non-fiction biographies and suspense. Since launching our book division in 2008, Comfort Publishing has received numerous awards and accolades, including 2009, 2010, and 2011 IPPY awards, a 2009 USA News Best Book Finalist award, a 2010 and 2011 Foreword Magazine “Book of the Year” nominations, PreditorsandEditors.com 2010 “Book of the Year” reader’s choice award, and two 2011 Indie Book of the Year Award nominations, as well as numerous others.
Comfort Publishing has also been an exhibitor at the Book Expo America in New York City for the past two years, and will be an exhibitor at the 2011 Christian Writer’s Conference in Atlanta.

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End
Source:Rob Hamilton
Email:***@comfortpublishing.com
Zip:28025
Tags:James Houston Turner, Too Ugly Tour, Comfort Publishing, Department Thirteen, Qantas, UH Clear Lake, Baker University
Industry:Books, Publishing, Literature
Location:Concord - North Carolina - United States
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