Friday: November 25

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AND TOUR OF TREES AT TPC SAWGRASS

Enjoy the ceremonial lighting of the tree at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse, 110 TPC Boulevard in Ponte Vedra Beach. There will be holiday music and hot cocoa for this fun family event which takes place form 5:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. The TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse is open for Holiday Tree tours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through January 1, 2012. For more information, call 904.271-3235 or visithttp://www.tpc.com/sawgrassholiday.

FAMILY BOATING EXCURSION

Avoid the shopping madness by taking a cruise into the waters surrounding St. Augustine for a tour you’ll be talking about in years to come. Passionate Captains explain marine wildlife behavior.  Underwater microphones make for a unique experience as you listen for dolphins, snapping shrimp & more!  $35/Adults, $30/Kids 3-12. (There’s also a Thanksgiving Day Eco Tour.) Call St. Augustine Eco Tours today at 904-377-7245.  www.staugustineecotours.com

THANKSGIVING GOES WILD

The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park will continue the city’s wildest Thanksgiving tradition with Thanksgiving-themed feeding sessions and special holiday hours on Thanksgiving Day and Friday for the 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Goes Wild. Maximo will leap for a turkey dinner, alligators will enjoy a special poultry feast, tortoises will munch on winter squash, and much more.  This year, guests will even be invited to design and create enrichment devices for the animals. Call 904.824.3337

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: November 25, 26, 27

TOUR DE CHOCOLATE

Join City Walks on the brand new Tour de Chocolate every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 12:00 noon for a 2-hour fantastic journey into the world of Chocolate. From the Aztecs and Mayans to Europe via the Spanish Conquistadors, explore the history and indulge yourself in the wonderful world of CHOCOLATE. The tour is 2 hours long and includes all tastes and samplings, and a VERY special take home gift of chocolates. All ages welcome, Adults are $36 and Children under 10 are $25, per person. Reservations are required and are available for online reservations/purchase, where guests will save $2 per person. Make your reservation now at http://www.staugustinecitywalks.com or call904.377.8234

SUNSET SAIL

See the sparkling Nights of Lights from the beautiful deck of the Schooner Freedom on these special daily sunset sails. The Schooner Freedom departs daily from the St. Augustine City Marina at 4:15 p.m. for 2 hours, will feature the illumination of the city. Rates are $45 per adults, kids 2-12 are $35, under 2 sails free, we provide complimentary beer, wine, soda, and water. Call 904.810.1010

Friday and Saturday: November 25, 26

46^TH ANNUAL FALL ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL

See art created from lace to limestone and crayons to crystal. More than 150 artists from around the USA are juried into this Thanksgiving Weekend art festival takes place at Francis Field behind the St. Augustine Downtown Historic Parking Facility located on West Castillo Drive in St. Augustine. The festival is sponsored by the St. Augustine Art Association and takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is a $1 donation. For more information, call904.824.2310 or visit www.staaa.org.

WINTER WONDERLAND AT ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE

Bring the whole family to enjoy St. Augustine’s Winter Wonderland which features a real ice skating rink, ice slide, Elf Express train rides, The Elf Village, sleigh rides and SNOW!  There are even scheduled visits from Santa.  Adults are welcome to relax and enjoy refreshments in the Igloo Lounge (21 and up only). St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A St. Augustine. Hours are November 26 through December 16, Monday through Friday 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 10 p.m..; and December 17 through January 1 from 2 to 10 p.m. daily except Christmas Day (5 – 10 p.m.) and New Year’s Eve (noon to 5 p.m.) Admission is free with activity participation fees.   For more information, call 904.209.0367 or visit www.WinterWonderlandFlorida.com.

Saturday: November 26

LIVING HISTORY DAYS AT FORT MOSE

Experience living history demonstrations as volunteers in period dress offer visitors a fascinating glimpse into the past. Program is weather permitting.The demonstrations take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fort Mose State Park located at 15 Fort Mose Trail in St. Augustine. Admission is $4 per vehicle or $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists. For more information, call 904.823.2232 or visitwww.floridastateparks.org/fortmose.

FORT MATANZAS NATURE EXPLORATIONS

Be a part of this National Parks Service Nature Series at Fort Matanzas National Monument. These ranger-led walks are part of a series of excursions, each exploring a different habitat or ecosystem at Fort Matanzas. The tours take place on the last Saturday of each month from 9:30 – 11:30 am. Fort Matanzas National Monument is located on A1A at the south end of Anastasia Island approximately 15 miles south of St. Augustine.  For more information, call 904.461.0116 or visit www.nps.gov/foma.

SALT MARSH KAYAK TRIP

Work off Thanksgiving dinner with a little exercise on a 10am-12pm kayak trip.  Fascinating natural history information & great equipment make this tour a slam dunk!  Professional Guides lead the way and ensure a safe & memorable kayaking experience. 10:00AM-12:00PM. $40/Adult, $35/kids 6-12.  Call St. Augustine Eco Tours at 904-377-7245. www.staugustineecotours.com

LOW TIDE BIKE RIDE AT ANASTASIA STATE PARK

Get a great cardio workout on one of the most awesome beaches in Florida. The ride is a 3 ½ mile loop and includes an ecology talk at the point of Conch Island. Riders should be prepared for weather conditions on the beach which could be influenced by heat, cold, wind and sand. This fun and energetic ride takes place at 2 p.m. Bring at least one pint of water, bicycle, snack, binoculars, and sunscreen. Bike rentals will be available. Admission to the park is $8 per vehicle, up to 8 people, $4 for single occupant admission, and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. Anastasia State Park is located on A1A on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.461.2035, or visitwww.floridastateparks.org/anastasia.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Witness twilight time in colonial St. Augustine as soldiers guarding the town are dismissed for the night, and their replacements arrive to take over guarding Government House. The commander of the new watch puts the replacement soldiers through a rigorous drill before they take over their posts. The retiring soldiers are ordered to clear their weapons with the command of “Disparen!” The resounding blast of musket fire assures 18th century St. Augustine that the changing of the guard has taken place and the town is safe for the night. This traditional Spanish military parade travels along St. George Street from City Gates at 5:30 p.m. The changing of the guard takes place at 6 p.m. in front of St. Augustine’s Government House in the Plaza de la Constitucion. The event is free. For more information, call 904.808-1999.

UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT

EMMA CONCERT SERIES: WOLFGANG DAVID & DAVID GOMPPER

Enjoy a musical presentation by international violin recitalist Wolgang David and pianist/composer David Gompper at the Flagler College Auditorium, 14 Granada Street in St. Augustine. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $25 per person. For more information or to order tickets, visitwww.EmmaConcerts.com or call 904.797.2800.

HOLLY JOLLY TROLLEY NIGHTS OF LIGHTS TOUR

Explore St. Augustine’s famous Nights of Lights in the cozy comfort of the Holly Jolly Trolleys. Guests of all ages delight at the festive glittering lights throughout St. Augustine’s historic area while enjoying caroling, hot apple cider and homemade cookies. Each guest will receive complimentary magical viewing glasses that will enhance the twinkle and glimmer of the lights. And, children and adults alike will get the chance to meet Santa during the tour. Tours are nightly through December 31 and take place between 6 and 8 p.m., departing from the St. Augustine Visitors Information Center, located at 11 W. Castillo Drive in St. Augustine. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children. For more information, call904.829.3800.

ST. AUGUSTINE GOLD TOURS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS

Tour the dazzling display of lights in comfort and style with just 7 passengers on all electric silent shuttle bus with individual seat restraints. All tours are $7 (inclusive of 3D glasses) starting and finishing at the Old Drug Store car park on Orange Street where the kids can meet Santa.

Tours take place each night, except Tuesday from 5 till 10 p.m. For more information, call904.325.0547, or visit www.staugustinegoldtours.com.     

PRIVATE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS TOUR CHARTERS

Plan a private tour of the Nights of Lights for your large group. Old Town Trolley Tours offers a special 40 minute tour for groups of 20 or more. Tours are available in advance every night except Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Private tour rates are $9 for adults and $4 for children. Tours depart from the Visitor Information Center, located at 11 W Castillo Drive in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.829.3800.

Sunday: November 27

LINCOLNVILLE FARMER’S MARKET

Get fresh produce, arts, crafts, jewelry, delicious lunch selections and family fun at downtown St. Augustine’s new Lincolnville Farmer’s Market.  Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — turn south on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and follow it to the market behind the Galimore Center.

THE LIVES AND WIVES OF HENRY FLAGLER AT RAINTREE RESTAURANT

The Raintree Restaurant and the same production team that brought you “Murder in the Olde City”, are proud to present the public debut of “The Lives and Wives of Henry Flagler”, in a limited run just before the holidays begin. This dinner theatre experience will be staged AT Raintree Restaurant, located at 102 San Marco avenue in St. Augustine. Authored by Candace B. Fleming, a longtime St. Augustine resident and graduate of Flagler College, the play features Margaret Kaler, Dianne Jacoby, Darlene Jacobs, and Robert Gill. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $39.95 per person. For more information, call 904.824.7211 or visit http://www.raintreerestaurant.com.

PRANCER’S PUTT-PUTT

Stop by Ripley’s Bayfront Golf at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina for a round of golf with Prancer and his friend. Bayfront Golf will be transformed into a mini-North Pole through the holidays. Bayfront Golf’s Prancer’s Putt-Putt golf is open through January 2 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Regular prices are $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children, or just $1 per person when purchased with tickets for Santa’s Big Red Christmas Train tours. Bayfront Golf is located at 11 Avenida Menendez ion St. Augustine’s Bayfront. For more information, call 904-824-1606.

SANTA’S BIG RED CHRISTMAS TRAIN

Come ride Santa’s Big Red Christmas Train this Ho-Ho-Holiday Season! Get into the holiday spirit as our Big Red Trains transport you through our magical city to view the Nights of Lights celebration nightly through January 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 -9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $7 for adults ages 12 and over and $3 for children ages 3-1. Ticket includes complimentary magical glasses that make the light displays extra amazing. December 2nd through 24th tours include stops at Santa’s Village and Prancer’s Putt-Putt for only $1 each! 904.824.1606 www.redtrains.com

Friday and Saturday: October 14 & 15

ST. AUGUSTINE AMATEUR MEN’S GOLF TOURNAMENT

See some of the nation’s best amateur and collegiate golfers competing in what has become one of the best tournaments of its kind in the Southeast.  Played over 54 holes at the St. Johns Golf Club, the tournament’s competitors will be selected on the basis of their golfing resumes.   Points awarded to the winner, runner up and Top 5 finishers will count toward the Golfweek/Titleist Men’s Amateur Rankings.   The St. Johns Golf Club is located at 4900 Cypress Links Blvd., in Elkton. For more information, call904.209.0352 or visit www.staugustineamateur.org.

THE PELLICER CREEK RAID

Experience a Civil War reenactment at the Florida Agricultural Museum. There will be several living history groups from around the Southeastern US on hand to demonstrate what Civil War military life was like in 1864. On Saturday and Sunday, infantry, cavalry and artillery troops will stage a battle at 1 p.m. The encampment is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Florida Agricultural Museum, located on the corner of Old Kings Road and U.S. 1 in Palm Coast. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children, toddlers and infants are free. For more information, call 386.446.7630 or visit www.myAgMuseum.com.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

Enjoy this classic production at the Limelight Theatre. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this family-friendly musical comedy tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. Show times through October 23 are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $20 for students and active military. The Limelight Theater is located at 11 Old Mission Avenue in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.825.1164 or visit www.Limelight-Theatre.org

MUSIC AT SARA’S CREPE CAFE

Friday:  October 14

CELEBRATE PONTE VEDRA

Support the arts in grand style at this annual benefit for the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach.  Held at the beautiful TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse, THE PLAYERS Benefit for the Arts will feature delicious food, an open bar, silent auction and live music and dancing under the stars.  Cocktails and auction begin at 5:30 p.m. and the music performed by ”Party On the Moon” is from 7:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.   The TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse is located at 110 Championship Way in Ponte Vedra Beach.  Tickets are $150 each. For more information, call 904-280-0614 x 202 or go to www.ccpvb.org .

Saturday: October 15

CRACKER DAY

Celebrate Florida’s Country Cracker Heritage with bluegrass banjos, horsemanship demonstrations and mouth-watering barbecue. Enjoy a full day of horseback games, horseback racing, barrel racing, livestock show, cracker whipping demonstrations, and exhibits of Florida Cracker equipment. Events take place all day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Barbecue is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds located on SR 207 west in Elkton. Adult admission is s $10, children (under 12) admission is $4. Price includes parking and barbecue dinner (Race participation fees not included). For more information, call Chuck Stephens at 904.824.9720.

TOLOMATO CEMETERY TOURS

Come explore the historic markers at the oldest extant cemetery in Florida. The self-guided and docent led tours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. TheTolomato Cemetery, an historic cemetery is located on Cordova Street, the site of an earlier Franciscan Indian mission (Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Tolomato) in St Augustine. Burials officially ceased in 1884. Visits are free of charge, but visitors are encouraged to offer a donation.  All money goes to the preservation and restoration of the cemetery. For more information, visit www.tolomatocemetery.com.

FAMILY MARINE BIOLOGY ADVENTURE

Join the Captains & Naturalists of St. Augustine Eco Tours on their research boat for a fun ride into the estuary where dolphins and other marine life abound.  The 11:30-1:00 trip leaves time for lunch in downtown after your trip!  $40/adults, $30/kids.  Call (904) 377-7245 to make reservations!  Visitwww.staugustineecotours.com for more information, including testimonials!

OCEAN WISE SUSTAINABLE DINING EVENT

Enjoy a signature dining event at the GTM Research Reserve Center. Selected chefs from local restaurants will prepare and offer a variety of ocean-friendly sustainable seafood fare. The evening will begin with a beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres cocktail reception. There will also be ocean-friendly exhibits and a silent auction that will benefit the Friends of the GTM Reserve.  Ocean Wise starts at 6 p.m. at the GTM Research Reserve Environmental Center, located at 505 Guana River Road, off A1A at Ponte Vedra South. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information, visitwww.friendsofgtmoceanwise.org or call 904.823.4527.

ROMANZA BIG BAND CONCERT: SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

Swing into history at Romanza’s second celebration of St Augustine during WWII when the Coast Guard occupied the Ponce de Leon Hotel and German submarines were spotted near our beaches.  This fun-filled evening features the 18-piece Florida Swing Orchestra from Jacksonville. This sentimental journey will take place from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at the National Guard Armory, 190 San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine. Tickets are $35 general admission and $50 for reserved VIP seating. Military dress or 40′s attire encouraged. For more information, visit www.RomanzaFL.org  or email:RomanzaFL@gmail.com.

Sunday: October 16

WETLANDS AND FORESTS KAYAK TOURS AT FAVER-DYKES

Paddle along miles of protected Florida marshland and witness Clapper Rails and Otters foraging for food. See Monarch butterflies and many other varieties fluttering just overhead as they continue on their 1,000+ mile migrations. Expedition kayaks glide effortlessly and silently along the water without disturbing wildlife and paddling with a certified UF Master Naturalist Instructor is certain to enlighten and enrich this journey. The tour is from noon to 3 p.m. and the cost is $55 per person which includes free admission into the park, guide service, and the finest kayaking equipment.  Faver-Dykes State Park is located on Faver-Dykes Road, off US 1 South at I95 Exit 294 in St. Augustine. Space is limited so to ensure a high quality experience: 904.347.1565 www.RippleEffectEcotours.com

ATTENTION BOOK LOVERS!

Say Goodbye to Forks and Hello to Vaalbara!

The fans of Twilight are, of course, waiting for that Part I and Part II of “Breaking Dawn” to be unveiled and then…the spotlight will fade from ‘Forks’ and the world of the beloved ‘Cullen vamps’ and werewolves (with Taylor Lautner’s fantastic abs).  As I have reviewed, interviewed, and listened to readers galore out there, I have noticed that a trembling is beginning in the limbs of many and a frightening feeling has come over all of Meyer’s fans like a pall of death. Yes, she will write again. BUT those diehard soulless romantics with the hard-to-see canines are fading into the twilight and a new hero, heroine, and ‘destiny’ is needed to fill that huge void.

Thankfully…there is a world about to be born in the realm of fiction that is based on a young girl who is immensely bored with normalcy.  And she – as well as the readers – is about to take the ride of a lifetime that will involve romance, warriors, beauty, love triangles, action, adventure, mystical and fantastical scenarios.

In a new, much-anticipated release from Precious Gems Publishing – Vaalbara: Visions and Shadows is about to conquer the YA market (and, yes, there will still be abs galore).  Aislinn is our heroine – Ryan our hero.  Yet, all readers should know that those are the names that will only be spoken in the normal, everyday world of high school.  Aislinn is famous for her sarcasm.  In fact, this writer found her to be a soul mate considering that sarcasm (as Jon Stewart has shown) is really the language that America best understands.  Aislinn is normal, per se, but she has always felt like there was something far grander out there for her that she could feel in her soul, yet could only talk to her friend, Sid, about.  Sid, a true sloth with the ultimate attitude will also become a favorite of ALL readers.

Always being a girl out of place, Aislinn blushes, stutters, feels odd – basically, she’s your typical teenage girl.  But this truly fantastical secret that is held within her heart, brain, and soul is something that creates the nightmares that disturb her waking life; frightening dreams that feel so realistic she can barely breathe at times.

Her life begins to change rather quickly when a new student named Ryan comes to town, and this handsome stranger sparks feelings in Aislinn that she never knew she owned.  Her sarcasm is the way she gets through life, but as this new “heartthrob” continues to follow her around, Aislinn begins to notice some odd quirks about the ‘new guy’ that feeds her with more than just sarcastic lines.  Ryan speaks as if he’s from another time and place, and the stories he unleashes upon Aislinn have her monumentally confused.  Is the guy crazy?  After all, most ‘hotties’ are; their egos, alone, have grown so large they can barely balance themselves enough to smile and chew gum at the same time, let alone be normal.

As readers become drawn in by the overtones of a huge romance in the making – with trials and tribulations that vamps and werewolves have never even seen – facts are uncovered that show Aislinn the dreams causing her sleepless nights and painful days are actually…quite real.  The names change as Aislinn leaves herself behind for Alchera – the girl she always was; and she follows Ryan, her actual guardian named Raighne who has been sent to bring her back home.

The waterfall is the passage gate, and after stepping through the stunning, monumental scenery, Alchera soon finds herself in Vaalbara, her homeland.  Here, the sarcastic girl and her friend ‘Sid’ must figure out a way to survive the ultimate job that Alchera was apparently born to do.

Going from living a life with no one who cared about her, Alchera suddenly receives a warrior sister who is SO un-accepting of Alchera that she can’t even imagine how they came from the same mother; to inheriting yet another sibling who actually roams in the realm of angels; to discovering her parents – complete and utter strangers -who know far more about Alchera than she would like.  Dealing with this whole new ‘family unit,’ Alchera is thrust into a world that was already ‘set up’ for her to live in – to train in – and to go on a journey that may just tear her apart.

As Raighne stays by her side and focuses on being her guardian and her beloved, Alchera must soon contend with Adeth – a monstrous immortal who will do anything to make sure that Alchera’s journey does not succeed.  And, Carter, the monster’s son, who – in a twist of fate – goes from torturer to confidant in the blink of an eye.  The only man who seems to understand Alchera’s dreams and heartaches, and will do anything to help her.

The romance is beyond thrilling, and the ultimate decision of who Alchera SHOULD be with, versus who she wants to be with, will have readers panting over every page.  On top of everything else, the journey to find a group of truly ‘chosen’ people, will have readers wondering how on earth Alchera and Raighne will survive.

The YA market, as we all know, is saturated with the stories of vampires; authors wanting desperately to imitate or duplicate the ‘vamp family’ everyone fell in love with and stood beside from twilight to a breaking dawn. But as ‘Forks’ recedes into that good night and Vaalbara steps into the limelight, readers will be rewarded with characters who are so interesting, funny, fresh, and mouth-wateringly DIFFEREN’T from all the other titles out there right now, that the YA audience will be beside themselves with glee.

Michelle Horst, the fantastic author of Vaalbara: Visions and Shadows, began with a very simple feeling that built into a monumental craving to bring the world these amazing and unforgettable characters.  The scenes are so vibrant and in-depth that they practically jump from the page and enter the reader’s mind.  The romance is so new and unusual – the ‘love triangle’ so different – that young adults and adults are going to end up fighting over ‘whose the best hero’ once again.  The dialog is fun, fast and mind-bending, drawing in every reader.  From watching Alchera fight the strange forces growing inside her own heart, and doing her best to stay away from the Land of Shadows; to spending time with her wit and charm as she speaks with Sid and tries to figure out what on…Vaalbara…is going on – readers everywhere will see this brand new YA as a huge triumph!  Humor, drama, romance, adventure – this book has it all.  AND, the best news is that this is the FIRST in a monumental series that will have fans running to download this exceptional read in droves – just waiting to vote on who will be the best actor to play Raighne on the ‘big screen.’

This writer reads over sixty books a month, and after being inundated with YA fiction over the past few years, I have to say that Michelle Horst has finally NAILED a new world, new characters, and presents a fresh voice.

So…although the hearts will break as ‘Forks’ and the ‘Cullen family’ disappear, readers should know right off the bat that a new dawn is breaking in the world of fiction – and that breathtaking path leads straight to Vaalbara!

We’re going to be talking about THIS one for a LONG time to come!

Until Next Time, Everybody.

For more information go to:

www.preciousgemspublishing.com

http://www.michellehorst.com

http://www.amazon.com/Vaalbara-Visions-and-Shadows-ebook/dp/B005QV57G0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317392179&sr=1-1

The Extreme Power of Social Networking & Digital Publishing

Precious Gems & Be Wisdom - The Best of The Best!

In 2007, as we all know, Amazon came out and launched an ‘e-reader.’  Many thought this was a joke, but there is certainly no one laughing now.

Digital publishing and branding have become the ultimate ways to get ahead, or even recognized, in the cutthroat recession-wary publishing world as it stands today.  Publishers are looking at the bottom line.  Are they poor?  Are publishing houses becoming dinosaurs?  No.  Make no mistake, people, no matter what the agencies and publishers tell you, total book sales in the United States last year came in at 13.9 billion dollars.  Random House, the top rung of the so-called “Big Six Publishers,” reported profits of 2.5 billion.  However, a large percentage of revenue is now being recorded as digital downloads.  And this area is growing bigger every year.

Precious Gems Publishing (PGP), a brand new digital fiction publisher, has entered the scene.  And not only have they entered it, they have already made their mark with their first book becoming a hit in the Amazon sales rankings overnight!  By releasing, Tallent & Lowery: 13, PGP has blossomed into a ‘fast’ branding engine that not only helps the author, Amy Lignor, but also helps Precious Gems Publishing climb up the ladder of fiction publishers in the United States.

Then along comes, Be Wisdom Publishers - the non-fiction branch – that has already had queries and are working their ‘tales’ off to introduce the immense world of readers to innovative and unique authors who have something to say!

Yes, there will always be those out in the world who want that paper copy – that copy they can hold in their hands.  And Precious Gems Publishing and Be Wisdom will also put out the paperbacks and hardcovers that the non-electronic world still calls out for!  However, there are a great deal of authors out there right now who are truly magnificent, yet they are not getting the opportunities to be published.

In fact, the market has shifted right in front of the literary realm’s eyes.  There were barely any agents or publishers out there that would’ve told you twenty years ago that YA would ever be a big market.  What they didn’t see coming, of course, was J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer’s ‘vamps,’ and many others who took the world by storm.  One of the most ironic issues about new authors who do hit the market full force, is that most of them were taken on by interns or new hires in a literary agency; people who just stepped in and felt as if they had to prove themselves to their bosses.  Why were they the ones who found all these big names?  Because those new interns still knew what it felt like to read a good book.  They were still fresh, not yet caught up in the muck and mire of the bottom line.  They took a chance and they scored – simple as that.

In mid-2010, Amazon announced that they were selling MORE e-books than hardcover’s, which caused a division in the literary society.  The division and arguments still abound about the digital world becoming ‘King’ one day, but whether or not anyone likes it, the internet IS the ‘King’ of the 21^st Century.

Many young adults (and some adults, I have to say) are learning their grammar and penmanship through text messaging now – “How are you?” has become “How r u?”  Everyone is on the go, and their e-readers, Kindles, etc. make life a whole lot easier than having to trudge to the library, or spend a greater amount of money in the bookstore.  Readers can simply call up Amazon, call up the book they want, and ‘boom,’ there it is on the device that they have grown to love as much as their cell phones.

One of the biggest moments for digital publishing was when the New York Times suddenly realized this growing phenomenon and – whether they liked it or not, and most did not – they began a digital bestseller list – an e-book ‘Top Ten.’  Not only that, although the New York Times Book Review is still a monolith in the publishing world, they are quickly being set aside for the ultimate reviewers - the actual fans and readers who are constantly on Facebook and Twitter.

With the world of social networking, an author can reach millions of people with their synopsis, book trailers on YouTube, announcements, events, downloadable book sites, reviews, interviews, and more.  Whereas authors once had to depend on marketing giants, agents, and the publishing company to do the work for them, they now can take matters into their own hands and get the exposure they need for their title.  And, let’s face it, the one person who has the most passion for a book – the optimal salesperson for their title – is themselves.  With publishers and agents, the author is just one of many being served.

Exposure is the key element to selling a book right now.  Yes, the old names such as King, Koontz, Rowling, etc. will sell no matter what – simply because their name is on the cover and they have spent years gathering millions of fans.  But the new authors who are truly writing fantastic fiction, who are being completely overlooked by agencies and publishers who don’t wish to take a chance on a new name, are building their fan list through social networking; branding themselves through radio programs, websites, the constant Twittering – reaching all the readers out there who simply don’t have the time, inclination, or the energy to go to the library or spend hard-earned money at the bookstore.

Even well-known authors are now reporting that 20%-to sometimes 40% of their sales are coming from Kindle and e-reader downloads.  With the odd part being that, if things keep progressing this way, the ‘Big Six’ is going to drop down to the ‘Big Three’ one of these days.

Another issue?  Literary agencies.  People are stunned at times that agencies are replying with rejection letters that don’t match up with the book the author even sent in the first place.  Giving you a personal example, this writer was sent a rejection letter once saying that my character, Susan, was outstanding but the locations were a little too eerie for them.  My main character’s name was Leah – not even a close resemblance to Susan.  When I replied to said agent, there was a nice answer of ‘whoops,’ and I was actually told that sometimes they are so busy, they don’t read what is sent.

I put this in so that I can stop one thing from happening.  Writers can NOT give up on their books or their dreams because of rejection letters.  Sometimes, trust me, they’re not even being read.  The rejection letter is mostly now just a ‘form response;’ it is automatic and is simply sent because A) they’re too busy, or B), they want to make sure they don’t make a mistake in their reply causing the author to realize that their query wasn’t even looked at.  I shudder to think that if Rowling hadn’t had the courage to continue after receiving rejection letter after rejection letter – and she had placed our beloved ‘Harry’ in a drawer – the entire generation would’ve been the poorer for it.

Is writing skill and talent?  Yes.  However, it is also 99.9% pure and utter luck.  As we all know, there are titles that come out every year (many) where the author received an advance (big) and the plots of these stories are the most depressing things on the face of the planet.  AND, they don’t sell.  All of this has to do with taste, yet most publishing companies have been proving, as of the last decade, that they need to move their eyes toward more ‘commercial’ fiction – action adventure, GOOD romances, historicals – genres that DO, and have proven, to bring in the big bucks.

The upside for the authors out there is this digital world.  The comments and sales the author receives come directly from the readers.  THEY are the ones who make the ultimate decision on a book, bypassing a great many people who may have lost that spark of pure enthusiasm when it comes to fiction.  Branding is the key, and the billions of people who reside on the internet every single day are finding their favorite new authors who don’t have an agent – don’t have a mainstream publisher – but still have the courage, determination, and passion to achieve greatness by using what the world of technology has provided.

Yes, the dream will always be there.  The call from a huge agent that says, “I’ll take it.”  The call coming in the next day saying, “Here’s the $250,000 contract from Random House,” etc.  But that dream, in the 21^st Century, can be realized elsewhere.  There’s just a whole heck of a lot more work involved.  Keep in mind that Kindle sales are projected to reach 1.6 billion by 2012.  This number is startling.  Facebook has 750 million active users and grows by the minute.  Twitter now has 105,779,710 registered users (2010), with new users signing up at the rate of 300,000 per day.  Nielsen published stats that the world now spends over 110 billion minutes on social networks and blog sites. This equates to 22% of ‘all time’ being spent online.  For the first time ever, social network and/or blog sites are visited by three quarters of global consumers.  MySpace:  57 million U.S. unique users and growing.  LinkedIn: 60 million users, “As of last December, the network had 55 million members, so its grown by 5 million in less than two months.  And the list goes on…

Agencies and publishers are necessary but, in the end, the author putting it out and the reader buying it and bringing in the revenues are the two most important people in the publishing world. That is one fact that has stayed the same since the beginning of time.  And all authors are now becoming quite aware that those readers are out there in full-force on the internet – not in the library or the bookstore.

A new door has been opened for the author who KNOWS they have a great book, but can’t seem to find an ‘in’ with the names that count (or, used to).  Branding is key!  And, luckily, there are now two companies focusing on the authors who NEED to be heard.  Precious Gems Publishing is looking for fiction writers who have something to say, whose query letters aren’t even being read.  And Be Wisdom Publishing is looking to produce nonfiction, the likes of which the world has never seen!

And, prices?  I believe all writers have seen the scams and gimmicks out there in the world and across the internet, telling writers that they can have their book published, but for thousands of dollars.  Not only that, but they need to pay advances and then buy a certain number of copies themselves once the book has been released.  More?  These sites offer no one to contact, no editor or cover designer to work with – frankly, they are very much like the real publishers who simply are treating authors as an assembly line and not individuals who have something to say!

Precious Gems Publishing and Be Wisdom Publishing are the NEW, BETTER publishing companies focused on the author, themselves.  Each author is an individual, each book is a ‘gift’ to the public, and there is an actual person who speaks, contacts, and edit’s the book; as well as cover designers and graphic artists who are ‘live and in person’ for the author to work with!

Branding, social marketing, social media, networking - Precious Gems Publishing and Be Wisdom Publishing are the best companies to appear in this world in a good, long time!  Take advantage of it!

Until Next Time, Everybody.

www.preciousgemspublishing.com

www.be-wisdom.com

Statistic sources:

http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2010/01/19/a-collection-of-social-network-stats-for-2010/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/14/twitter-user-statistics-r_n_537992.html

www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics

Sharing the list with great American cities like Austin, Durham, Auburn, and Albuquerque, St. Augustine currently appears on the U.S. News and World Report top ten Best Places to Live 2009.

Report writer Luke Mullins highlights the charming St. Augustine aspects of “a highly educated workforce,” “world-class golfing,” and the “refreshing Atlantic breeze,” along with the city’s famous colonial aesthetic.

In the report, local fisherman Donald Edwards said, “Fishing, kayaking, boating—we have just about everything.  I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”