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New books explain Social Security retirement and disability benefits

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Publisher i30 Media today released its newest IN 30 MINUTES guides: Social Security In 30 Minutes, Volume 1: Retirement Benefits and Social Security In 30 Minutes, Volume 2: Disability Benefits. The two-volume set aims to help readers and family members better navigate the complex rules governing the government-run insurance programs and maximize the benefits that are available to them.

Some 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits. They include people who are disabled or retired, as well as the family members of those who are disabled, retired, or deceased. This assistance is divided into two primary programs:

  • Retirement benefits
  • Disability benefits (SSI and SSDI)

Within these programs are subgroups of benefits designated for qualified survivors, spouses, children, ex-spouses, and sometimes parents.

Emily Pogue, authorThe author of Social Security In 30 Minutes is Emily Pogue, a writer who worked for 12 years in the human services field, coordinating services and performing case management for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“I was once new to Social Security, and I understand the paralyzing fear people feel when faced with complicated formulas, a slew of obscure terms and acronyms, and pages and pages of rules,” Pogue notes in the introduction. “While the system may be unfamiliar, it is reassuring to know that at the end of the day, millions of people manage to successfully apply for benefits every year.”

Social Security In 30 Minutes is designed to help ease the way, by explaining in plain English how Social Security works, how to apply for benefits, and what recipients and potential recipients need to do to maximize benefits and troubleshoot common problems. For instance, volume 1 makes a point of illustrating the cost of taking retirement benefits too early, while volume 2 goes over the many programs that can help SSI and SSDI recipients return to work (if they are able) and still receive disability benefits.

Social Security In 30 Minutes is available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover editions on socialsecurity.in30minutes.com. The companion website also contains links, blog posts, and additional resources relating to Social Security.

About IN 30 MINUTES Guides

The award-winning IN 30 MINUTES series has helped readers all over the world grasp complex topics, from health to social media. Newton, Massachusetts-based publisher i30 Media Corporation officially launched the series in 2013. The books, blog posts, and online videos have reached hundreds of thousands of people in the years since. Learn more at the official IN 30 MINUTES website.

Microsoft Word In 30 Minutes updated for Word 2019

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Microsoft Word In 30 Minutes (Second Edition)Publisher i30 Media today released Microsoft Word In 30 Minutes, Second Edition: Make a bigger impact with your documents and master the writing, formatting, and collaboration tools in Word 2019 and Word Online (Author: Angela Rose, ISBN: 978-1-64188-025-1). 

The revised edition follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, explaining Microsoft’s flagship writing tool in a friendly, easy-to-understand manner, while also explaining the updated interface for Word 2019 and Word Online. Other topics include:

  • Office 365 subscriptions and OneDrive
  • Working with .docx, .doc, .txt, PDF, and other file formats in Word 2019 and Word Online
  • Locating recovered files
  • Printing documents, envelopes, and labels
  • How to format Word documents using styles, themes, and style sets
  • Creating Word documents with professional-quality templates
  • Adding images, video, hyperlinks, and drawings
  • How to automatically create a table of contents in Word
  • Adding footnotes, endnotes, citations, a bibliography, and an index
  • Word spelling, tracking, and other reviewing tools
  • Collaboration tools, from comments to live collaboration
  • Microsoft Word security features

Early reviewers have offered wide-ranging praise for the new edition: 

“Microsoft Word is perhaps the most ubiquitous computer program in the world. This short guide presents a wealth of information for those interested in using the newest version of the program. Just the list of keyboard shortcuts makes this a worthwhile read.”

  • Clinton Greaves, NetGalley

“I work in education as a tutor so am always on the lookout for any guides to recommend to my learners. This is a great little book – easy to read, illustrations, very accessible – I learnt a lot myself so would not hesitate to recommend. I also liked the way terms are explained, different version explained (the difference between Office 365 and the online version) great for anyone who needs a little more understanding but doesn’t know where to go to get information.” 

  • Maria Martignetti, Librarian, NetGalley

“This was an easy read and I quite enjoyed that the author decided to compare the various available versions of Word 2019. It’s great refresher in Word and excellent learning tool for new users to Word. I personally enjoyed the keyboard shortcuts index at the back of the book.”

  • Ute Gryba, NetGalley

More information about Microsoft Word In 30 Minutes, Second Edition as well as online ordering options can be found on the companion website, word.in30minutes.com. The site also includes blog posts, videos, and other resources for readers. The paperback retail price is $12.99, while the ebook edition is available on the Amazon Kindle and other devices for $8.99. A hardcover edition costs $19.99.

About the author

Angela Rose is a writer and B2C marketing strategist based in Colorado. When she’s not removing cats from her keyboard, you can find Angela searching for the perfect taco, running 5Ks, whipping up original pastry recipes, and hiking the Colorado Mountains with her photographer husband. Angela is also the author of the award-winning LinkedIn In 30 Minutes (2nd Edition).

About In 30 Minutes guides

i30 Media is the publisher of IN 30 MINUTES guides – “Quick guides for a complex world.” Thousands of readers turn to IN 30 MINUTES guides to understand mildly complex topics, ranging from home-buying to social media. The tone is friendly and easy to understand, with step-by-step instructions and lots of examples. The series has won multiple awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association and Foreword Reviews. Top-selling titles include Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes, Twitter In 30 Minutes, and LinkedIn In 30 Minutes. For more information about the series, visit in30minutes.com.

 

Acid Reflux & Heartburn In 30 Minutes wins gold Ben Franklin award for excellence in publishing

By News

Acid Reflux & Heartburn In 30 Minutes Ben Franklin awardThe Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) last week announced that Acid Reflux & Heartburn In 30 Minutes: A guide to acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD for patients and families has been named the recipient of a gold Benjamin Franklin award for excellence in publishing. Publisher i30 Media Corporation accepted the award at IBPA’s annual conference and award ceremony in Chicago.

The book, authored by J. Thomas Lamont, M.D. of Harvard Medical School, was the winner in the health & fitness category. Other category finalists included books published by Johns Hopkins University Press and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

According to IBPA, some 1,500 titles were submitted for consideration in this year’s competition, covering 54 categories. Ben Franklin judges included approximately 160 publishers, editors, and other independent publishing professionals.

“This is fantastic news, and this is a great honor,” said Lamont. “I certainly would not have written the book without the invitation of publisher i30 Media.”

Acid Reflux & Heartburn In 30 Minutes (ISBN 978-1-64188-019-0) uses plain-English explanations, case studies, and illustrations to explain the basics of heartburn and acid reflux, including causes, diagnosis, and treatments. Kirkus Reviews selected the title to be featured in its June 2018 issue, noting three strengths to the work: “The writing takes complicated subject matter and makes it easy to comprehend; stock illustrations augment the text; and the content is extremely focused.”

Acid Reflux & Heartburn In 30 Minutes is available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook editions. The official book website also contains a glossary of medical terms related to acid reflux and heartburn.

Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes Named 2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist

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Newton, Mass. — Today, publisher i30 Media Corporation is pleased to announce Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes (2nd Edition) has been recognized as a finalist in the 21st annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Magazine, Inc. hosts an annual awards program each year. Finalists represent the best books published in 2018. After more than 2,000 individual titles spread across 56 genres were submitted for consideration, the list of finalists was determined by Foreword’s editorial team. Winners will be decided by an expert team of booksellers and librarians—representing Foreword’s readership—from across the country.

“Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes is our most popular title, and it’s wonderful to get this type of professional recognition,” said author Ian Lamont, who founded i30 Media and the IN 30 MINUTES series of guidebooks in 2013. “The reference category has many strong contenders, and it’s an honor to be listed among them.”

Publisher i30 Media Corporation is pleased to announce Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes (2nd Edition) has been recognized as a finalist in the 21st annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.Winners in each genre—along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s INDIE Publisher of the Year—will be announced June 14, 2019.

Founded in 1998, Foreword Magazine, Inc. is the only media company completely devoted to independent publishing. Publishers of a Folio: award-winning bimonthly print review journal, special interest products, and daily online content feeds, Foreword exclusively covers university and independent (non “Big 5”) publishers, the books they publish, and their authors. Foreword is based in Traverse City, Michigan, with staff based worldwide.