Helloooooooo...

Hello, Everybody!

I know it has been a while since you've heard the latest from my corner of the book world. The reality is that I haven't made time to stop and fill you guys in on the latest! Here's to doing better and posting more in March. :)

A look into January and February's life:

Coffee time with my GSP brother at Java Station after a
TSC Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting 

2016's most read blog posts were counted down ! Thanks for reading& sharing :)

 Have you ever noticed that you look at your smartphone to see what time it is and next thing you know you are scrolling through timelines, photos, and apps? I might be the only one! I found that wearing a watch to check the time keeps me away from useless smartphone time.

Grabbed some fresh time pieces with
butterflies of course!

Enjoyed a lovely February brunch with
PBP's featured author a.k.a. Momma, and a few of my sisters
at The Cellar in Blairsville, GA

Finally, a LOVEly Valentine's Day party with parents, brother, sisters, and nephews was a blast! It was cool to take a day that is usually devoted to couples and simply celebrate the people in my life that I love. Mom and everyone went al out with FOOD and hearts everywhere. I had so much fun celebrating LOVE.

I also repainted my office space a nice light purple/lavender in January. 

Well, that's a brief overview of my last couple of months from my corner of the book world. I am currently in the editing process of project Through the Storms. Stephanie Ayers is a big part of the current editing process. We are currently making sure the story flows, an important part of editing and another step towards getting it to readers around the globe! 

Believe.

Caitlin Ayers

@PBPages

The Weary World Rejoices!

Hello, Everybody!

Hope you had a very Happy Christmas! It was a very merry Christmas in my corner of the book world! Let's keep the love and merriment going this last week of 2016.

Whatever your Christmas weekend was like, don't forget to remember the God has already given us the best gift we will ever receive: eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ! May this love fill you with hope and believe in the future God has for you.

Let your actions and words be love-filled. Remember to think about the people around you who may need an extra cheery "Hello!" or who may be dealing with the loss of a loved one! Just spread love.

My sweet Merry had plenty of cuddles all Christmas

The Falcons won their division title on Christmas Eve. Go Falcons!

With a mug of homemade hot chocolate with peppermint marshmallows, you can't go wrong.

Whatever the next day, year brings, don't stop believing in God, in yourself, in your dreams, in the magic of life.

#believe
Caitlin A.

Butterfly Journey

Hello, Everybody!

As I was on the way home from running errands today, a song came on from the shuffle of my handpicked playlist. The song was "Butterfly" sung by Tracy Lawrence. 

"Butterfly" lyrics

"Butterfly" lyrics

Inspired by all things butterfly, I was reminded of the butterfly journey that I am a part of. I am in the middle of editing PBP's next publishing project. Right now the story is exactly that. It is a story. It is my job to turn it into a book. A book that many can enjoy and draw inspiration and encouragement from. The story is currently in caterpillar form and with editing, proofreading, formatting, designing, and marketing, it is becoming a butterfly in the book world.

Subscribe to this blog, The Purple Butterfly Purpose, and be the first to know about book updates straight from the publisher's desk...a.k.a my desk. ;)

Believe.

Caitlin A.

Love, Faith, and Trust in God: 9/11 Remembrance

Hello, Everybody!

As you all know, yesterday marked the fifteen year anniversary of remembrance on September 11, 2001. As my family and I were watching tributes and different stories of the tragic day, we came across the Palombo family's story shared by Anderson Cooper. 

The Palombo family struck me in a few ways not just one. For starters, like my family, there are ten children in their family. What has happened to them over the last several years is very similar to the children in 'Their Inheritance', the book I didn't write but did publish three years ago this month. The Palombo's father was a firefighter who lost his life while courageously and faithfully doing his job on September 11, 2001. Eight years later, after a four year battle with cancer, their mother passed away. The children decided to stay together and raise each other. Their parents' love, faith, and values have carried them this far. 

Take a couple of minutes out of your day to watch this video of the Palombo's family. Be blessed by their testimony. I have nothing to add to this incredible testimony of faith and love. I hope that the Palombo family inspires you like they have me on this fifteen year anniversary of their father's passing.

I am working on sending this awesome family a copy of 'Their Inheritance'. If you are reading this and know any of the 'Palombo 10', please contact me! 

My prayers and thoughts are with every family who lost loved ones on the tragic September 11, 2001. I will never forget.

BELIEVE.
Caitlin A.

'Their Inheritance' Thursday: Prayer

Hello, Everybody!

It is another fantastic Thursday to talk about the capital of my book world: Their Inheritance. Today is also National Prayer Day. The dictionary definitions of prayer are 1: words spoken to God 2: the act of praying to God 3: a strong hope or wish. James, Alexandra, Christine, and Lee all prayed. They leaned on God for wisdom.  

The first chapter of Their Inheritance begins with Alexandra praying by her parents' graves. 

“Forgive me, Lord. Make me strong and guide me. I don’t understand, but Ma always said you don’t give us more than we can handle. I hope I don’t disappoint you. Be patient with me. I promise to try harder to be courageous.  Amen,” she whispered.

She asked for strength and guidance and wisdom in understanding. In chapter three, Alexandra prayed for forgiveness when her thoughts wander to distrust or lose faith.

"Forgive me, Lord, for my weakness. I know you are taking care of things. Help me to stop worrying so. Even if I must lug that tub of water, I believe you can give me the strength to do it. Amen."

Alexandra prayed for her marriage when considering a marriage proposal.  

"Dear God, please guide me in the direction you want my life to go. Help my thoughts be pure, and please help me get some sleep. Amen."

Alexandra Williams spoke to God and depended on Him to get her through many life-changing circumstances! I was inspired to depend on prayer more after reading 'Their Inheritance' for the first time. I hope you all will check out 'Their Inheritance' ebook if you haven't already. My prayer for you, as a reader, is that you are encouraged and inspired by 'Their Inheritance' in some way!

Believe.
Caitlin A.

Toccoa Tuesday: Java Station

Hello, Everybody!

My corner of the book world is a bit soggy today. It is one of those droopy rainy Tuesdays in Toccoa, Georgia making this "Toccoa Tuesday" all about my local coffee shop! I am so thankful that my corner of the book world has a fantastic coffee shop: Java Station. After all, what better pair than coffee shop and a book publisher, right?!

An old gas station was remodeled to become 
the home of Java Station & Cafe.

So, Toccoa does not have a Dunkin Donuts, a Starbucks, or any super coffee shop chain; however, Toccoa does have a coffee shop! I like to think of the Java Station as a pivotal meeting place in the community. The Java Station is a host to parties, meetings, dates, networking, study groups, etc...


About a year ago, the Java Station expanded their kitchen services. Now, they serve a variety of sandwiches, salads, burgers, and an occasional grilled sandwich.  It has been nice to see the kitchen grow into producing full entree's at dinner time. Delicious!

Hot Drinks on a cold day!

The food and drinks are tasty, healthy, and original. The chefs do wonderful jobs in the kitchen! The baristas are in a class of their own. I stop in to the Java Station most every week. Most of the time I am accompanied by my younger brother. He has special needs and has been working to improve his social skills by ordering a drink for himself. The baristas are kind enough to not rush him when ordering. Instead, they treat him respectfully letting him get his order in. If my brother forgets to ask for the drink sugar free, the barista asks him if he would like the ordered drink sugar free. It is the extra step that counts. A friendly greeting when arriving and departing makes the Java Station & Cafe just the right fit for Toccoa, Georgia. Also, the background music is always something different. Sometimes it is classical music or 70's classic rock hits and everything in between. 

I feel like it is cliche to say that coffee or hot tea and a good book is all you need on a rainy day, but come on. Who craves something hot to drink on a cold and rainy winter day? I know I do! Go download Their Inheritance today to read with your cup of coffee or hot tea, whichever you fancy. :)

Believe.

Caitlin
Purple Butterfly Pages

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

How Lucky is 13?

Hello, Everybody!

Hoping the first thirteen days of this new year is treating you all well. So far, my 2016 has been about refreshment. I have been exploring different avenues of creativity outside of the book world. By spreading the creativity around, I have found more inspiration to use for my book world! I grew up watching my Momma sew by hand and on her sewing machine. I have made it a personal goal for the new year to create more of my own closet items and sew more gifts. How are you coming along with your goals for the new year? Is anybody trying to sew more?! Have you had any luck with your own sewing? I would love to know your tricks!

Speaking of luck...

I am wondering how many Americans feel lucky today and will venture out to their local convenience store or gas station and buy a Powerball lottery ticket. Do you feel lucky? As a publisher, I am thinking how many books the current jackpot could buy! A couple of books could be purchased I am sure. Have you asked yourself what you would do with the estimated $1.4 billion Powerball jackpot (if you are playing)?

Losers

What about when you don't win any money from the historic lottery drawing? Would you still be able to call yourself a winner? I believe everyone can...if you are grateful for what you already have. If you choose gratefulness over greediness, you will be a happy loser! Be happy for the winner (if there is one)! Make the most of life with what you have. Strive to be grateful for what you have as you work to gain more. Someone who chooses to be grateful instead of greedy is a winner in my book!

Believe.  

Best of luck on this thirteenth day of January! You have what it takes to accomplish whatever you set out to do today.  

*If you want an encouraging read, check out Their Inheritance on Amazon! 

Caitlin

Purple Butterfly Pages &Publications

'Tis the Season

Hello, Everybody!

Sprinkle and kiss embellished sugar cookies

I am taking a few minutes break from baking Christmas cookies right now. My sister and I are hosting a Christmas cookie exchange party this evening. The punch ingredients are awaiting their mixing and the bourbon chicken is marinating! I want to take this "baking break" to reflect on the Christmas celebrations.

Embrace Your Pace

Are you are finding yourself bogged down with Christmas parties, responsibilities, gift-giving pressures, or time management stress that the month of December can bring? I am not selling you Vitameatavegemin (I'll leave that to Lucy),  but I do understand there are end of the year goals to meet, LOTS of people to visit before the year runs out, and have a cheery smile on your face all at at the same time. We can all get carried away with the tide of busyness during Christmas time. Then, there are those friends of ours who have nobody to visit with or to celebrate the wonderful Gift that we celebrate with. Whether you are the person finding themselves way too busy to keep up with life or if you are the person wanting a busier life, EMBRACE where you are and how fast life is moving quickly or slowly around you. 

Be grateful for the busy schedule. Each responsibility and event is serving a purpose in your life. Be grateful for the slow pace that you are living life. Spend your time really being there for those who are around you.

Never Too Old 

It is so important to not forget the magic of Christmas! There is the magic of Santa, the elves, the snowy days {so, maybe not much snow around this year, but in general ;) }. I am talking about the MOST important magical part of Christmas that I celebrate: Jesus' birth. The newborn who would save the world from eternal agony. The history of this baby is incredible. Find a Bible and read Luke 2:1-21, the story of Jesus' birth, and tell me it is not magical! I just want to remind you that nobody is too old to believe in magic, especially the spiritual kind!

A Christmas wish for you!

My Christmas wish for you all reading this:

Enjoy your Christmas whatever your circumstances. Create moments. Embrace those moments. Count every tiny blessing. Be a blessing to someone else. Don't forget to believe in the magic that surrounds you. May the peace that Jesus' birth brings film your hearts!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!!

Believe.

Caitlin

Proprietor & Publisherwww.PurpleButterflyPages.com

And That Is Why It Is Butterfly

Hello all!

Happy Spring! 

Easter sunrise at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds on Lake Chatuge

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter and spring break! Maybe you spent the spring break reading Their Inheritance? Hope so! I have had a lot on my mind the last couple of weeks and unsure what to write about and share with you all this month. For some reason the dawn of a new season brings with it a bundle of new things to try, do, and dominate. I have been blessed to be able to spend some office time working outdoors (thankful for my MacBook Pro) which led me to open up and share with you all in this blog the purpose of my choice in using "Butterfly" in my business' name . Out of all of the characters in the stories of spring, butterflies are my favorite.

Do I publish books about purple butterflies?

I have been asked many times why I named my book selling business Purple Butterfly Pages and my publishing company Purple Butterfly Publications. I chose butterfly to represent my business, clients, and products because I simply love butterflies, and I believe that butterflies are very similar to books in the way they come to life. From a pen and paper lying around to a manuscript to the publisher to the readers' lives, a book parallels a butterfly. A caterpillar is moving around for awhile, gets to the dirty cocoon stage, and magically turns into a beautiful entity to be seen throughout nature. Beautiful!

Every time I see a butterfly, it takes my breath away. A refreshing reminder of beauty and freedom and peacefulness in a moment. No matter what is happening in the office, if there is a butterfly fluttering by the window, I am reminded of the endless possibilities that lie before me. Like a butterfly drifting through nature, I believe a book is the same way. A book is able to be read by readers worldwide.

When a butterfly goes flying by, it is a drifting kind of way that is sure to catch your eye. No matter the size or how many different colors on a butterfly, you are gonna see it flying out of the corner of your eye. Once the butterfly has your eye, it draws you into its peaceful beauty. Butterflies have a stillness that persuades you to stop whatever you may be doing as it flutters by and just look at it and wonder. Wonder how something so beautiful came from a dark and dirty cocoon to a thing of beauty. When you stop and think about a butterfly's life, its freedoms are endless. The form is no longer bound to the ground as a caterpillar or bound to entombment by a cocoon. Instead, a butterfly is free to fly, explore, and BE wherever it wants to go while completely trusting its Creator to guide its path.

It is okay to have butterflies.

Whatever you are facing today, take a minute to step outside and look for that glimpse of color fluttering by! You might be reminded that after being through so much, the butterfly comes out the other side prettier, more peaceful, and more trusting than it ever was before. Ready to face endless possibilities and reach endless goals, the butterfly confidently flutters by. Believe in yourself and you can do the same. So the next time someone asks, "Do you have butterflies? Are you feeling nervous?", remember everything a butterfly is and know that having "butterflies" can be a good thing!

Every time my logo is seen whether online or on a book's spine, I hope it serves as a reminder of all that a butterfly is!

Believe.

Caitlin Ayers, Publisher

Purple Butterfly Publications

www.PurpleButterflyPages.com

Hello, New Year!

Happy New Year and WELCOME 2015!

Hello everyone! I hope your year is off to a bright start. I want to share some of what I will be doing as Publisher at Purple Butterfly Publications this new year. My mission for Purple Butterfly Publications is to continue striving to produce and promote literature that inspires, comforts, and entertains readers worldwide. In 2015, I will continue working with Stephanie Townsend Ayers as she is writing her current novel with a working title of Through the Storms! More details on that later.

"Write it on your heart that each day is the best day in the year." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

New This Year...

Since 2010, there have been near ten thousand visitors to www.PurpleButterflyPages.com! Starting this year, the Purple Butterfly Pages and Publications website will be updated weekly making it easier for readers worldwide to find book excerpts from my publications as well as stay informed and up to date with ongoing projects. This means that the website may be down at times during the first of the year, but no worries. I will let you all know when those few days come. I will be writing a Q & A blog sometime this year as well. I want to answer all of your questions about my small business, publishing, or publications! Email, post, message, or tweet questions to me as you think of them and I will make a compilation in a future blog post.  

Make the most of every day in the new year.

Last year, I was fortunate to be a part of my local Chamber of Commerce and attend several events. When I introduce myself as a Publisher, a lot of people's first reaction is to tell me about an author they know or about an idea for a book they want to write. Everyone says they don't have time to write or they don't think they are any good at writing. I love hearing book ideas from others and am inspired by the love of story telling and imaginations that we share! As a book publisher, authors and readers of all subjects are very important to me. I started something last year and I'd like to carry the idea over into 2015. I challenge you to encourage your family members, your children, your friends, and yourself to Write It Down. Whether you think a book idea or a poem is great or not, write it down! When you have something on your mind but you have no way of getting it out, write it down! If you have a story that your grandparent told you in your childhood, write it down! Nobody can ever read it if you don't write it down. Think about all of the knowledge you would not have if someone had not taken time to write it down...no bookstores, no libraries, no Bible, no schools, no museums, and the list goes on. So in 2015, I challenge you to Write It Down! Use the hashtag #WriteItDown to mark your progress online and to acknowledge the accepted challenge. The challenge starts today! Do you accept it?

Their Inheritance ebook has been read worldwide!

I am proud to say there were over 2000 copies of Their Inheritance read last year. I am ecstatic and inspired that an ebook that I published has been read worldwide reaching United Kingdom, France, Denmark, and Canada to name a few of the countries! I hope this ebook has and continues to inspire you on cloudy days, comfort you in times of grief, and encourage you when you need an extra push toward faith. You are never alone as God walks with you through every day in this new year!

Read and Believe.

Caitlin Ayers, Publisher at Purple Butterfly Publications

Purple Butterfly Pages on Facebook

@PBPages on Twitter 

@pbpublications on Instagram

caitlin@purplebutterflypages.com for emails

It is Almost Thanksgiving!

Hello, everybody!

With the leaves at their peak colors of the newest season and the wind swirling them around,  I find myself wishing for more time to sit in my favorite chair, sip a warm brew from a mug, and read. Today, I am inspired to share a few words of gratitude with you.

In fact, as I walked out of the house this morning I was thrown into a state of Thanksgiving… the crisp mountain air was filled with the scent of a neighbor's wood burning stove. The autumn breeze was rustling the last of the crispy fading leaves. I felt that if I were to walk back into the house, I would find the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the television providing a background for the day's festivities; half the family bustling in the kitchen preparing some sort of food for us to savor as we gather around a full table of loved ones; and the other half of the family split between actually watching the parade and catching up with each others' lives. Of course when you are twenty-three years-old and have nine siblings (two of which serve in the military), it is a rare holiday occasion to have the entire gang and all the cousins present on such days of celebration. However, I have no doubts that the house will be full of bustling, parade-watching, and talking with whichever family members can make it home this year!

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." ~H.U. Westermayer

I believe that today, we all are just like the Pilgrims and Indians in 1621 and the Americans in 1977, when President Washington declared a day of thanksgiving after multiple victories in the Revolutionary war. No matter what we have all been through this year; this week; and even today; we have something to be thankful for. Whatever or whomever is in front of you today, be thankful!
Lastly, be thankful for the hard times because they make the good times even better.

Excuse me, for the interruption of your day with gratitude, but I am certainly grateful for all of you who take time to connect and read The Purple Butterfly Purpose each month!

Be sure to like Purple Butterfly Pages on Facebook for a few Thanksgiving-related book excerpts from 'Their Inheritance'!

Happy Thanksgiving month to you all!

Caitlin Ayers, Publisher

Purple Butterfly Publications

Hello All!

Well, hello all!

Welcome to the 2014 blog of Purple Butterfly Pages. Caitlin here. I am the owner at Purple Butterfly Pages and Purple Butterfly Publications! I will be blogging about what is new with Purple Butterfly Pages AND Purple Butterfly Publications as well as other randomness that comes around.

Although Purple Butterfly Pages has been in business since 2010, I just graduated college last semester.  Yes, I was nineteen when I started my own business. It has been quite the journey! I have learned so much about the industry and business since then, and I continue to learn everyday. I love meeting new people and finding the best qualities in my products to promote. I strive to meet the needs of the people through answered questions and with a smile.

Follow my blog and learn what it has been like being a college student and business owner!