Quantum Tarot — A Tarot of new physics — jumped to #8 from #45 last week on Amazon.com's bestselling Tarot books and decks list, four months prior to its release.

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."

LARGO — For Immediate Release— To celebrate its tenth year, ForeWord named Kunati Books as the first "Independent Publisher of the Year" at its prestigious Book of the Year Awards at BEA in L.A. ForeWord's Publisher Victoria Sutherland said, "In a word, or eight, Kunati inspired us to create this award. I hope the recognition inspires others to follow in their new but large and welcoming footsteps."

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.

ForeWord Magazine Names First Independent Publisher of the Year 

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...

“Celebrate the upcoming centenary of Ian Fleming's birth by reading this book,” wrote Mary Frances Wilkens in the American Library Association’s Booklist Magazine’s starred review of MADicine by Derek Armstrong, published by Kunati novel in time for Ian Fleming’s birthday celebrations.

“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

LARGO – Academy Award-winner and author Robert Fate exclaims “How can a debut novel be this good?” , the dazzling new Kunati novel Miracle Myx, by Dave Diotalevi, is one of the most unique and original literary creations ever, a brilliant coming-of-age story set in a small New England town rocked by a spate of brutal murders. With extraordinary confidence and sureness of touch, Diotalevi puts readers firmly in the head of his unusually talented protagonist and takes them on an unforgetable journey.

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