Latest VA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 4, 2014



VA Rallies Community Support for Veterans During Suicide Prevention Month

Nationwide Efforts Show how “The Power of 1” can help Veterans, Servicemembers in Crisis



WASHINGTON – One small act could save the life of a Veteran or Servicemember in crisis – that’s the inspiration behind “The Power of 1” campaign. The campaign will launch this September during Suicide Prevention Month and is a joint project coordinated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

“The campaign emphasizes the effect that just one person, one conversation, or one act can have on the life of a Veteran or Servicemember by offering hope and opening the door to support,” said Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, Interim Under Secretary for Health. “It also is designed to spread the word about VA and DoD mental health resources and suicide prevention efforts.”

A new public service announcement, “The Power of 1,” will reinforce this message by focusing on the small, everyday actions that can play a pivotal role in improving a Veteran’s life. It will be broadcast on television and radio stations Nationwide during September. In addition, a Suicide Prevention Month Web page, VeteransCrisisLine.net/ThePowerof1, offers interactive tools to learn more about the Veterans Crisis Line and how small acts make a difference.

“Sometimes, when we suspect a Veteran or Servicemember in our lives may be going through a crisis, we are unsure how to help — but we all have the power to take the first step to reach out, to find time in our day to talk with the Veterans close to us and see how they’re doing,” said Dr. Caitlin Thompson, Deputy Director of VA’s Suicide Prevention Program. “It takes only a moment, and just one small act can start them down the path to getting the support they need.”

VA will also collaborate with community organizations throughout the month, with specially trained suicide prevention coordinators in 151 VA Medical Centers across the Nation spreading the word at local events, sponsoring health fairs, and working with DoD to help

Veterans and Servicemembers get the support they deserve. In addition, VA will coordinate with local and regional groups — including community partners, Veterans Service Organizations, health care providers and prominent Veteran supporters — to spread the word about VA’s mental health resources. Together, this network will encourage Veterans and the people in their lives to educate themselves about suicide risk, identify warning signs and learn the steps to take in a time of crisis.

Those steps include contacting the Veterans Crisis Line or using its online chat and text-messaging services for free, confidential support from specially trained and experienced responders. Veterans, Servicemembers and anyone concerned about them can call the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1), chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or send a text to 838255 — even if they are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. All Veterans Crisis Line resources are optimized for mobile devices.

“Taking that first step to connect with someone in crisis can feel daunting, but the Veterans Crisis Line offers support for those concerned about a loved one,” Thompson said. “One call, one chat, or one text can open the door to hope.”

To learn more about the Veterans Crisis Line or to find a local VA suicide prevention coordinator, visit VeteransCrisisLine.net. For more information about VA mental health resources, visit mentalhealth.va.gov.

Guest Post by Tina Ayres

This is from Tina Ayres who edits THE ORIGINAL VAN GOGH'S EAR ANTHOLOGY.

Tina doesn't write often enough to please most of us and I really appreciate it when she does and allows me to be the first to set it free on the world.



You don't have to be dead to be a ghost. It is usually a gradual thing. A slow and steady decline of the quality of life and the acknowledgement of existence. We are all the same you see. Whether anyone likes to believe it or not. Some people just seem to slip between the cracks until the world seems to forget that they still are.

Isolation leads the soul to fear dying. It is not the death, nor being forgotten. It is the fear that the loneliness of life will follow you to the grave. Beyond the void, you will be stuck, as alone and invisible as when you were breathing. In life bearable in death eternal. Alone forever is a fate worse than hell.

Eternally alone. No words, no feelings just numb. Numb to the pain and blind to the masses. The matters of the world matter not when you are not in it.
It happens at all ages you know. The youngest of children alone on the playground. Children avoid them and the teachers whisper in the corners, "there is just something..wrong with them. They are not like the rest" They forget that we are all the same you see. It happens to the elderly who have the curse of watching their bodies decline, who have outlived everyone they have ever known. Sometimes you just find that in this world you are alone.

Alone and still living left without feeling. But that is just a lie. A lie to the self to help you keep going. Shut out the indifference and turn off your dreams. Hide your soul away, protect it well. Don't let them close. Never let them close. The world doesn't know. It cannot understand. No one can hurt you if you don't let them in. You love them all anyway that is just how you are.

People go about their lives unaware they encounter ghosts in the flesh nearly every day. The people who do not fit. The edge of madness for them is not so far. They walk around empty, stare at the walls. Silently longing, dreams never spoke. Listening intently silent for things no one else can hear.

It all comes down to closeness and love. A soul alone is a very lost thing. Love is the dream to which the soul clings. In life and in death buried within the self the one thing timeless, eternal and deep. The ageless eternal longing of the soul to just belong to another at the end of it all.

Copyright 2014 by Tina Ayres and Baryon.

New Donald Grant Newsletter

Donald M. Grant Publisher Newsletter # 90
Wed 8/27/2014 8:18 AM

Welcome to issue #90 of the Donald M. Grant Newsletter

27 August 2014

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. THE DARK TOWER: REMARQUED COPIES
2. DELUXE GOAD AVAILABLE
3. RAY BRADBURY SPECIAL OFFER
4. RICK BERRY ORIGINAL ART FOR SALE
5. PHIL HALE ORIGINAL ART FOR SALE
6. DESPERATION - GIFT EDITION
7. THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE - ARTIST EDITION
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note - If your order is over $300.00 you may pay in 3 monthly
installments. Please say so in the Comment box when you check
out. Your order will be shipped to you after the final payment is
made.

1. THE DARK TOWER: REMARQUED COPIES

Phil Hale, Dave McKean and Jae Lee have done original illustra-
tions in copies of the Dark Tower novels they illustrated. You
can choose the illustration you want and they will sold in the
order that we receive the on-line order (please do not phone
our office). If the book you want has been sold you will be
offered alternatives (putting second and third choices in your
order won't hurt).

Orders can be placed and images can be seen at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/DT2-Remarqued.html

2. DELUXE GOAD AVAILABLE

We have finally received the last 20 copies of the edition from
Phil. Unfortunately for us, his original binder in England had
retired and these last 20 books cost us more than $100 per copy
than the first ones that Phil sent us. Phil has signed these on
the limitation page as well as on the original pencil drawing that
is bound in.

They can be ordered at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/z-artists-phil-hale.html

3. RAY BRADBURY SPECIAL OFFER

We have only 3 copies left of the Lettered Edition of BRAD-
BURY: AN ILLUSTRATED LIFE by Jerry Weist. We will give
$200.00 off the total price if you order a copy of both the
Lettered Edition and the Limited 350 copy Numbered Edition.

You can of course order either edition alone at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/z-titles-bradbury.html

4. RICK BERRY ORIGINAL ART FOR SALE

Rick Berry has up for sale the original paintings he did for the
Easton Press limited Edition of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA. We
have posted them as a service to Rick and his fans and if you
wish to purchase one you will be dealing with Rick directly.
Images and information are posted at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/Rick_Berry_art_for_Sale_2014.html

5. PHIL HALE ORIGINAL ART FOR SALE

Phil Hale has created his own web side and is offering originals
for sale. You can check it out at:

http://philhalestudio.com/available_works.html

6. DESPERATION GIFT EDITION

In 2010 we sold our last copy of the Gift Edition of DESPER-
TION. Or so we thought. We just found a few cases of the book
in our warehouse/barn and have just 7 copies left. While they
last they are available at our original price of $75 plus shipping.
Illustrated by Don Maitz it was released a week prior to the
Viking Trade Edition:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/z-sk-desperation.html

7. THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE - ARTIST EDITION

You can still order copies of the slipcased Artist Edition (signed
by Jae Lee) of THE DARK TOWER: THE WIND THROUGH 
THE KEYHOLE at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/z-sk-dt-twttk.html


Thank you.

Robert K. Wiener, President
Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc.


................................................................
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To unsubscribe, return to http://www.grantbooks.com and click the "unsubscribe" button.

A Note from Richard Kadey

Dear Reader,

James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, wasn’t a killer when he was unjustly sent to Hell, but he learned a lot about murder while he was Downtown. Stark escaped back to LA to take revenge on the men who killed his girlfriend and sent him into the Abyss. Along the way, he reluctantly saved the world from destruction. Now it looks like he has to do it one more time.

The old gods that once ran the universe are coming back and they’re not happy. With no help coming from God or Lucifer, Stark is the only person alive with the strange skill set to do anything about it. He just wants some time off, but finds he has to pull the world’s bacon out of the fire. Again.

I hope you enjoy the new book. It takes Stark into new areas, while calling back to his origins. Have a drink. Have a smoke. Punch a shark. Whatever you do to relax, and take a look at THE GETAWAY GOD, out today.

It has teeth, but it doesn’t bite. I promise.

Best,

Richard

Pray for Marines

We are asking everyone to say a prayer for "Dark horse" 3rd Battalion 5th Marines and their
families. They are fighting it out in Afghanistan & they have lost 12 marines in 4 days.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE the message spread if more people could pass it on.

Nothing has been in the media about these guys because no one seems to care, especially our 'president' and his wife.

They are: Justin Allen, 23; Brett Linley, 29; Matthew Weikert, 29; Justus Bartett, 27; Dave Santos, 21; Chase Stanley, 21; Jesse Reed, 26; Matthew Johnson, 21; Zachary Fisher, 24; Brandon King, 23; Christopher Goeke, 23; Sheldon Tate, 27.

All are Marines that gave their lives for YOU this week. Please pray for them, their families, and their country.

A note from The Writers of the Future Contest

Hello Barry


Congratulations to all Hugo nominees and winners. And a particular salute to our alumni:


Aliette de Bodard - Writer winner - WotF 23 - 2007

Brad Torgersen - Writer winner - WotF 26 - 2010

Sarah Webb - Illustrator winner - WotF 30 - 2014


Aliette was nominated for her short story "The Waiting Stars."


Brad was nominated for his novella "The Chaplain's Legacy" and his novellette "The Exchange Officers."


Sarah Webb was nominated for Best Fan Artist and she won the Hugo!


Best wishes,


Joni Labaqui

Writers & Illustrators Contest Director

HELLHOLE INFERNO AVAILABLE NOW

The planet Hellhole, ram shackled by an ancient asteroid impact, it is populated by the hardiest and most desperate colonists. It is one of fifty-four remote frontier worlds forced to pay tribute to the corrupt Constellation, which is ruled by decadent nobles. An exiled rebel general, Tiber Adolphus, was tough enough to keep his colony alive on Hellhole, and he has now mounted a second rebellion against the Constellation, much larger than his earlier failed attempt.

General Adolphus rallies his fellow rebels from across the vast Deep Zone to fight for their independence, while the ruthless leader of the Constellation, Diadem Michella, vows to eliminate the rebellion and all colonists on Hellhole.

As a barrage of deadly asteroids hurtles toward Hellhole, and the Constellation’s gigantic space fleet arrives for a final engagement against General Adolphus, the hardy settlers are caught between a human enemy that wants to demolish their colony and much more powerful aliens who can destroy not only themselves, but human civilization, as well as the foundations of the universe itself; eradicating the very reality that they exist in.

THIS IS VOLUME THREE OF THIS MARVELOUS WELL WRITTEN SERIES FROM THE SAME DYNAMIC DUO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BEST SELLING CONTINUATION OF THE DUNE SERIES. I THINK THE HELLHOLE SERIES IS A SHINING FEATHER IN THE CAPS OF BRIAN HERBERT AND KEVIN J. ANDERSON.

EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE FINISHING VOLUME OF THE TRILOGY, I HAVE HIGH HOPES OF MORE ADVENTURES OF GENERAL ADOLPHUS AND HIS LIBERATION FIGHTERS.

IT'S AVAILABLE FROM TOR AND SHOULD BE AT YOUR FAVORITE BOOK STORE.