
Author LtCol Ted Blickwedel is taking his latest book, BREAKING PROMISES on tour – a Virtual Book Tour, that is, with Outskirts Press! Technology has created a wide variety of ways to reach audiences all over the world. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box, and nowadays you can market a self-published book in a variety of affordable and impactful ways. Virtual book tours, for example, are a great way to connect with readers from all corners of the globe, all from the comfort of your own home.
Luckily for us, LtCol Ted Blickwedel was kind enough to answer a few questions as the tour was getting started so that we can give you a sneak peek into the mind of the creator of BREAKING PROMISES.
Join LtCol Ted Blickwedel as he discusses BREAKING PROMISES in features and interviews (such as the one below) in the weeks and months ahead!
OP: Tell us a little bit about BREAKING PROMISES. What is it about?
LtCol Ted: My whistleblower crusade to expose the callous and dispassionate leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) whose unethical clinical performance policies sacrificed and diminished quality mental health care and counselor welfare for the sake of numbers in the VA VET Center Program. It also describes the toxic, malicious and deceptive whistleblower retaliation tactics inflicted on me by VA officials designed to silence me from ‘speaking truth to power,’ and reveals the horrific impact these retributions had on me, family members, clients and counselors.
It also chronicles how my courageous campaign led to a federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation that substantiated my allegations, which resulted in legislation being passed and signed into law by the U.S. Congress that ensures VA management is accountable for protecting the quality of care for our veterans and their families, as well as safeguarding the well-being and morale of counselors who provide services to them at over 300 VET Centers nationwide.
OP: Why did you decide to write this story?
LtCol Ted: To raise awareness about the abuse and misconduct perpetuated by VA officials and their detrimental policies which have compromised quality mental health care for veterans and harmed the welfare of the counselors who serve them.
It was further written to inspire politicians, the news media, VA clinicians, veterans, whistleblowers, and the general public to take corrective action to make sure that the VA complies with the Congressional Legislation which is now law, so that this injustice is rectified and does not continue with impunity.
OP: How did you get your book published?
LtCol Ted: Through Outskirts Press, Inc.
OP: What types of readers would be interested in this story?
LtCol Ted: Veterans, Counselors/Therapists, VA employees, Department of Defense Employees, Whistleblowers, Whistleblower Attorneys, News Reporters, Bloggers, Politicians, and anyone who cares about the mental health and welfare of our nation’s veterans and those who care for them.
OP: What is special about your book?
LtCol Ted: It poignantly and passionately expresses the harmful impact of the VA’s unethical policies on veteran quality care and counselor well-being, as well as uncover the toxic and malicious retaliation tactics used by VA management in their attempts to silence me and others for addressing the issues I raised.
It further reveals the overwhelming support and opinions of veterans and counselors that validate the compromised veteran quality care and damaged counselor welfare claims at the VA, and the need for this to be resolved.
The book also exposes VA officials by name, which is rare, who are specifically accountable for implementing the harmful clinical performance standards and the unwarranted reprisals against me and others who ‘spoke truth to power.’
‘Broken Promises’ provides very moving reviews from prominent persons that are disturbing, which compels people to want action taken to correct this injustice for our veterans and those who care for them so they receive the proper treatment they deserve.
OP: What differentiates it from other books in the same category?
LtCol Ted: My character and credibility that is substantiated by local and national news coverage, as well as through pollical action and support in Washington, DC which led to a federal GAO investigation and U.S. Congressional Legislation that became law, which supported my allegations and held VA leadership responsible to restore and maintain veteran quality care and counselor welfare in the VA VET Center program.
Additionally, ‘Broken Promises’ inspires hope that ‘David can beat Goliath’ when taking on the federal government and winning, while empowering whistleblowers through providing the most effective tactics to enhance success in similar advocacy endeavors which can result in the most favorable outcome possible.
OP: Have you published any other books, and do you plan to publish more?
LtCol Ted: I have not published any other books, and I have not yet decided if I will publish more.
OP: How can someone learn more about your book or purchase it?
LtCol Ted: The book description, video trailer, and purchase options are available at www.VAbreakingpromises.com
More information can also be obtained on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and https://outskirtspress.com/brokenpromisested.
OP: Thanks for your time, LtCol Ted! We look forward to learning more about you as you visit other bloggers!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ted Blickwedel, a Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and combat veteran, became a licensed clinical social worker after retiring from the military. He worked as a counselor at the VA VET Center in Warwick, Rhode Island, where, in 2017, he began to “speak truth to power” in an effort to have management revise clinical productivity policies that were harmful to counselors and compromising quality care for veterans. Blickwedel’s crusade has been featured on NBC and NPR, to include the Military Times, other publications, and local news broadcasts.
For more information:
www.VAbreakingpromises.com
TED.BLICKWEDEL2@GMAIL.COM
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