Book of Poetry Bring Comfort to Grieving Family

Self-published book of poetry helps a family express their grief and appreciation of murdered poet Carlos Rivera.


One should never underestimate the power of written or spoken words to give life, inspire, comfort, and bring healing. This is true in the life of Maria Elena Balcazar and her family, who found consolation in the words of poetry in “Breaking Down the Wall of Silence”, her son Carlos A. Rivera’s book of poems.

Balcazar, who published the book of poetry after the murder of her son, says, “Carlos was a very gifted person,” adding that the book shows the true nature of Rivera – a sensitive poet, artist and student of life.

Her son’s reflections on love, pain, addiction and God are revealed in Breaking Down the Wall of Silence. Apart from being a collection of Rivera’s poems, visual artworks and pictures, this Xlibris published title also includes thoughts on Rivera himself from his mother and brothers.

Balcazar testifies in the book that Rivera was more than a son to her and that he was her best friend and someone she could always count on. One of Rivera’s younger brothers, Hugo, relates that Carlos was the head and the heart of the family.

The poetry in Breaking Down the Wall of Silence has not only brought words of comfort to the family, but is also uniting Balcazar and her three other sons as they celebrate the life of a “very gifted person.”

More on Carlos Rivera’s story at http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=c1ee0a52-62ea-4fb0-afae-18652c7512bc.

Breaking Down the Wall of Silence is available at the online bookstores of Target.com and Xlibris.com.


About Xlibris
Xlibris was founded in 1997 and, as the leading publishing services provider for authors, has helped to publish more than 20,000 titles. Xlibris is based in Philadelphia, PA and provides authors with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound, and full-color formats.

For more information, please visit www.xlibris.com, e-mail pressrelease@xlibris.com or call at 1-888-795-4247, to receive a free publishing guide.

Xlibris Children’s Book Author Named Winner in New York Book Festival

B.J. Moesner’s self-published picture book wins children’s category in New York book competition.


Xlibris author B.J. Moesner was among the honored few to be named winners in the 2008 New York Book Awards, an award-giving body honoring books that deserve greater recognition.

Moesner’s self-published book, Monty, the Traveling Cat, was announced winner in the Children’s Book category of the competition. This children’s picture book, illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier, tells the story of a cat who goes on a cross-country trip across America with his Mom and a dog named Tootsie.

Other titles that competed with Monty, the Traveling Cat in the same category include Emerita by Cindy Mauro Reisenauer, Sunny Bunnies by Margie Blumberg and June Goulding, Trains and Real Locomotives by William Trombello, and How A Real Locomotive Works by William Trombello.

The New York Book Awards aims to recognize the achievement of writers in the non-fiction, fiction, children’s books, teenage, poetry, how-to, audio/spoken word, comics, e-books, wild card, science fiction, romance and biography/autobiography genres.

Winners in the different categories will be appearing on June 28 at the 2008 New York Book Festival in Central Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To read more about the festival, visit http://newyorkbookfest.brinkster.net/portal. For more on B.J. Moesner and Monty, the Traveling Cat log on to www.xlibris.com or check out http://montythetravelingcat.com.


About the Author
B.J. Moesner has traveled for a year in a motor home across the United States with her cat, Monty, and Shih Tzu, Tootsie. Originally from Southern Indiana, Moesner now resides in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Her experience as a newspaper reporter, travel agent and librarian have prepared and inspired her to write Monty, the Traveling Cat.

Moesner adopted Monty in Indianapolis, Indiana while attending a family gathering at the Indianapolis 500 race in May of 2000. The book is based on the true story of his experiences in the motor home. While traveling and seeing sights across the United States, Monty transformed from being a scaredy-cat to being a traveling cat.


About Xlibris
Xlibris was founded in 1997 and, as the leading publishing services provider for authors, has helped to publish more than 20,000 titles. Xlibris is based in Philadelphia, PA and provides authors with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound, and full-color formats.

For more information, please visit www.xlibris.com, e-mail pressrelease@xlibris.com or call at 1-888-795-4247, to receive a free publishing guide.

Xlibris Offers Library of Congress, Copyright Registration in July

Self-publishing promo for early sign-up made available for writers


Writers who wish to become authors with the publication of their book will have more reasons to get excited when they choose to self-publish with Xlibris.

The leader in the self-publishing industry will be including Library of Congress and Copyright Registration in every publishing package, at no additional charge, when authors sign up to publish before July 16.

These free registrations are on top of huge July savings of up to $2,650. Even with an unfinished manuscript, writers can take advantage of Xlibris’ unbeatable offers by signing up on or before July 16 and submit their final manuscript when they are ready. With black & white and full-color publishing services starting at just $299, Xlibris is making it even easier and more attractive for writers to realize their dream of becoming a published author.

For more information, visit www.xlibris.com/promo.html.


About Xlibris
Xlibris was founded in 1997 and, as the leading publishing services provider for authors, has helped to publish more than 20,000 titles. Xlibris is based in Philadelphia, PA and provides authors with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound, and full-color formats.

For more information, please visit www.xlibris.com, e-mail pressrelease@xlibris.com or call at 1-888-795-4247, to receive a free publishing guide.