What's New?

Hello, Everybody!

2017 was quite the year and it has been quite a while since there has been an update from me about Purple Butterfly Pages! There will be no Top 5 blog posts countdown from PBP last year. I didn't even post 5 blogs {Oops!} and I realize what a good habit I had of actually posting often as I am a feeling a bit rusty at it now; but I really want to update you on where PBP has been this year and where I am taking Purple Butterfly Publications this next year.

In 2017, I moved from Toccoa, GA to Hiawassee, GA and of course my publishing company came with me. It has been a process as those of you have moved can understand. I invested in property beside my parents' mountain property and added a gorgeous building. Looking forward to getting the place turned into a proper office space eventually. I named the property "Butterfly Hill"and what a transformation it has seen from summer to winter! 

Moving meant a new city, a new network, new readers to reach; new everything for my business. This was the hardest part of the move for me. If you know me, you know I love "comfortable" and familiar. While I love Hiawassee, I miss Toccoa. I especially miss the Chamber of Commerce and the amazing network there. Blessed to take the experiences, connections, network, and friendships of Toccoa with me!

The Process

Hello, Everyone!

~ He knows what is on the next page. We don't have to know. We just need to trust and turn the page. ~

In June 2010, I had just left a job as a barista; was

business law homework 

English PP presentation notes

celebrating my younger sister's high school graduation; was celebrating my mother's recent book publication; and was taking summer classes at NGTC. Needless to say, my life has never been tame. My summer classes that quarter (yes, this was before NGTC moved to semesters) were business law, english, and marketing. I had no idea what kind of job I wanted to end up with or what industry I was headed, but I loved learning from these classes and instructors. I completed my homework assignments with the idea that I would manage a bakery with my younger sister who was about to begin college as a Culinary Arts major. It was toward the end of this summer quarter when an opportunity to sell and promote products became crystal clear.  I started Purple Butterfly Pages seven years ago to sell and promote the book my mother had written and was recently published at the time. I switched gears from guessing I would work as a manager in my sister's bakery to being in the book sales industry.

Purple Butterfly Publications 

is a business aiming to publish quality novels that we believe in and know that readers will benefit from in a positive way. We strive to help produce and promote literature that inspires, comforts, and entertains.

A brief summary of Purple Butterfly Pages before I began publishing division: Purple Butterfly Publications in September 2013. My company scheduled book signings, festival appearances, and speaking engagements for PBP's featured author, Stephanie Townsend Ayers, my mother. Since I started publishing, the work has been different. Because I published an ebook, Their Inheritance, the work I do in sales & marketing is different than face-to-face sales. This required me to switch to mostly online work.

While the author works on writing and bringing an encouraging read to life, I work on the potential marketing plan. The book market changes frequently. Once the author is finished writing, it takes a move to the editing department. The editing process includes editing of grammar, story flow, and overall story coherence. Once the editing is complete, it is the creative department's turn! The book's formatting steps include setting the margins, putting the paragraph separator symbols in place, the credits page, the copyright page, the contents page (if included). The cover art is also part of the creativity process. The placement of the ISBN number is also part of the book cover creation.


Boom! The book is edited, formatted, and looks great then it is published and ready to sell. I work all departments of my publishing company. The different processes can be time consuming, but unquestionably rewarding.
Now you have an idea of what I do in my corner of book world. 

***questions, comments, and shares are all welcome***

Believe.

Caitlin,

Proprietor & Publisher

Summer Reading Update

Hello, Everybody!

An update from my corner of the book world about the adult summer reading program at my local library:

The Adult Summer Reading Program has come to an end at the Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library. My personal goal was to read more books this summer than I read last summer. Last summer I read one book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Proud to say that I found time to read three books during May 21-July 15, 2016. Personal goal achieved! I read Angels Don't Die: My Father's Gift of Faith written by Patti Davis. I listened to Phil Robertson's Happy, Happy, Happy! book on CD. I also read an autobiography by Esther Williams with Digby Diehl, The Million Dollar Mermaid. All were great reads. I found them inspiring and enlightening each in their own way.

As I mentioned in previous posts, Purple Butterfly Pages was happy to support the first Adult Summer Reading Program to be held at the Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library! I added a free download of my first publishing project, Their Inheritance ebook written by author Stephanie Townsend Ayers, to the grand prize winner's gift basket. The winner will be announced later this week! I would love to know what books you have read so far this summer! Let me know in the comments. :)

Myself(L), Sarah (C), and Faith(R)

I'd also like to take this post to say a big thank-you to a recent former librarian at TSCPL who invited me to be part of the new adult summer reading program, Sarah Edmonds! We have been friends for several years. She was a librarian for a few years. Sarah and her husband recently moved out of state with his amazing new job opportunity. She is missed at the library, but her work and encouragement continues!

NEW Project Announcement:

Finally, I have begun the first step of the editing process for my next publication*. The working title is 'Through the Storms' . Look for more details about the publishing process in the upcoming blog posts. Sneak peeks are available on our Instagram page: @pbpublications !

Until next time, BELIEVE!

Caitlin

*I am the publisher, not the author.

Celebrating 6 Years @ PBP!

 Hello, Everyone!

This June makes six years since I started Purple Butterfly Pages. I realize the huge blessing it is to be able to be a young American woman and have my own business. Thankful for the individuals who fought for my rights as a human, as a woman, and as an American. 

The gift of every day is not guaranteed. I am continuously determined to use my abilities in whatever way God needs to use me to impact readers', fans', and supporters' lives. A big thank you to all of you for reading a story written by Stephanie Townsend Ayers and thank her for continuing to write (yes, more stories are coming). 


I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some photos from 2010 through 2016!

 "We delight in the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." -Maya Angelou

Alexandra: A Williams Family Journey was the first book I sold as an independent book seller in 2010.

Second book for sale at Purple Butterfly Pages and first publication for Purple Butterfly Publications: Their Inheritance

Featured author, Stepanie Townsend Ayers....a.k.a. mom 

PBP owner circa 2012, second year in business selling books and in college!

My first public speaking event at the Rotary Club meeting for Habersham County, GA
I'l never forget it! Thanks to one of my college instructors at the time, Mrs. King, who invited me to share the journey of
Purple Butterfly Pages.

Proprietor of Purple Butterfly Pages
& Publisher at Purple Butterfly Publications circa fall of 2015

Custom PBP sign hung at a book signing event in 2010

PBP sign displayed as a proud sponsor in the 2016 Currahee Cornhole Challenge presented by
the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce!

Thankful to be a part of such an open-minded and welcoming 

Chamber of Commerce in my community! I have been a member for a few years, now. This summer, I was asked to be a part of the adult summer reading program at the Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library. Of course I could not refuse to be a part of this exciting library event! I added a free download of Their Inheritance ebook in the prize winning baskets!

Grand prize basket for the 2016 adult summer reading program
at the Toccoa-Stephens Public Library

Thanks for scrolling through memory lane with me. I am grateful for everyone who has been a part of my journey at Purple Butterfly Pages and Publications. 

Believe.- Caitlin

Toccoa (not taco) Tuesdays

Hello, Everybody!

It snowed in Georgia last week! Yes, I survived winter storm Jonas. Fortunately, the amount of ice that fell was less than estimated and I did not suffer through power outages. I was blessed to be able to spend time in the snow and living in northeast Georgia, I had hills to sled down! I also engaged in intense snowball battles against siblings. They were packed so hard, those snowballs hurt! My fur baby enjoyed the snow (not as much as I did, though).

Merry Mae a.k.a. furry baby

Toccoa's January 23, 2015 snowfall

January 22, 2015 snowfall in Toccoa, GA

Enough about the magically wonderful and rare snow that Georgia received! Moving on...I am introducing a new weekly blog post theme: Toccoa Tuesday. Not to be confused with Taco Tuesday, Toccoa Tuesday is a series of posts about the town where I live and work in Georgia. Toccoa means "Beautiful". Toccoa is full of history and natural beauty. I look forward to virtually sharing parts of my town with you!

I will continue to post about the book world and everyday life that it accompanies. Just showing a bit of love to Toccoa! Another weekly topic will be Their Inheritance Thursdays.

Believe.

Caitlin
Purple Butterfly Pages & Publications

Yesteryear's Winter

Hello, Everybody!

I am at my desk listening to the radio as rain falls on the tin roof sings in the background. I am awaiting the snow side of 2016 winter storm Jonas. I am a bit of a weather nerd. The power that God put into the weather fascinates me so much. As I was busy preparing for some winter weather this weekend, I was thinking back a little bit. Ok, a lot back, to the late 1800's. What were their winters like?

Winter has not changed that much over time, but there have been changes to society's knowledge and preparation of winter weather. Could you imagine going to bed with  grey skies above and then waking up to head to work or hang out the wash and finding a foot or more of snow; or, watching an afternoon snowfall turn into a week-long blizzard? Winter happened yesteryear just as it is happening today. They were more dependent on the Farmer's Almanac and weather patterns and we are more dependent on The Weather Channel and our local meteorologists to tell us when to expect bad weather. They had little time to prepare their lives for the disruptions that a winter storm brings. Today, meteorologists work to inform citizens of severe weather weeks in advance.

Back then, the families had very little time before a blizzard hit to get their livestock taken care of, food from the cellar, trees chopped for firewood, and few had healthy winter clothing to protect them from the bitter cold temperatures that accompanied big snowfalls and ice storms. In preparation for winter weather on its way today, I made a pot of chili, my younger sisters made a batch of cookies and Momma made a gnocchi and potato soup. Daddy made the grocery store stop for bread and milk....we will not starve this weekend! All the food can be heated over the grill. :) I stocked up on batteries for my radio/cd player. Yes, I still listen to am/fm radio and prefer to own CDs rather than digital music. That discussion is for another blog! SO, I am feeling as prepared for winter storm Jonas as a northeast Georgian can be.


If you are not in the path of 2016 winter storm Jonas, enjoy your winter weekend and make the most of it! To everyone in the path of winter storm Jonas, make the most of it. Embrace the magical snowfall and the powerful layered ice. If you lose electricity, embrace the unplugged pause. It is not always a bad thing to have to reschedule the weekend's plans. Use the "unplugged" winter storm time to get some work done or items crossed off your "to-do" list. There is no time like the present. Everyone, have a safe weekend! Share your wintery pix with me and other readers on my Facebook page: Purple Butterfly Pages! I want to see some snow. I will share my winter storm pix in my next post.

Believe.

Caitlin 
Purple Butterfly Pages