Santa Barbara

Friday, August 26, 2011

Global Ebook Awards, Celebrating Authors in Style 

                                                  Contact: Barbara Gaughen (805) 968 8567



Imagine.

You drive to an award ceremony.

You hear a jazz band playing.

The sunny picturesque entrance to the venue is flanked by a Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

As you ascend the 3 stairs, you encounter a red carpet leading to the distant entrance.

The carpet is flanked by red ropes and silver stanchions.

The staff is in formal dress.

Imagine.

You are greeted by Jessica Carbone and Lucia Obarr.

Signing the guestbook, you notice the pen has silver ink and the book has black pages. The guestbook is a creation of Becky Carbone, Business Director for the Awards.

Imagine.

This elegant event is being captured by professional photographer Rick Carter and the cruising paparazzi.

Imagine.

It is whispered that the incredible venue and fabulous decorations were arranged by Barbara Gaughen of Gaughen Global Public Relations.

Imagine.

On entering the state-of-the-art theater you're amazed at the quality of the venue.

The acoustics in the Forum are incredible.

A whisper can be heard everywhere in the large, well-designed room.

Welcome to the Fe Bland Forum in Santa Barbara.

Imagine.

The program is opened by radio personality Bill Frank, Master of Ceremonies.

Frank acknowledges Ellen Reid, Irwin Zucker and other notables in the audience. He points out Sean Somics, the artist who created the logo, stickers and other artwork for the Awards.

Imagine.

Frank introduces Joseph Dowdy, the Director of the Global Ebook Awards. You hear that Dowdy built the web site, organized the judges, tallied the scores, notified the entrants, recorded all the work in spreadsheets, ran the audio-visual show and much more

Dowdy welcomes the audience to the ceremonies.

Dan Poynter, the founder of the Awards is next.

Poynter shares the history of both ebooks and the Awards to honor the future of publishing.

There are cameras everywhere.

Imagine.

Speakers include Marilyn Tam, author and business leader, Jeraldine Saunders, author of The Love Boat, and Emmanuel Itier, film producer.

Imagine.

Joseph Dowdy announces the Award winners and then invites finalist and winners to be honored on the stage.

Imagine

Being part of this magical evening and being honored for your book.

Imagine

The many judges who loved contributing their time to read new books in their favorite category.

Imagine.

Patricia Bragg, of Health-Science Publishing, is awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for setting records for number of books, the number of printings and the number of revisions. It is noted that next year will be the 100th anniversary of when her father, Paul Bragg, opened the first health-food store.

Imagine.

Barbara Gaughen wraps up the ceremonies and invites the audience to the Awards Banquet.

Bill Frank closes the event.

Imagine.

It is a short drive to the Harbor Restaurant, out on the pier, on the beach in Santa Barbara.

You arrive just in time to witness the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.

And that was the 2011 Global Ebook Award ceremony and dinner.

Those who attended witnessed history.

The rest of the world can only imagine what it was like.

-30-

Dan Poynter

Author-Publisher-Speaker

Para Publishing

Santa Barbara

805-968-7277