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Custom sliding barn doors are a great decoration in luxury homes, whether in urban minimalist or farmhouse chic interiors. Functional art, using artisan carved panels and incorporating them into interior doors, closets, library or study, gives the house an old world character, connecting with its roots and learning from the past. Hand-carved, tree of life doors, carrying nature’s beautiful and amazingly healing energy, earthy and natural colors, create a dramatic design statement for exclusive million-dollar properties in Naples, Florida.

Barn doors are a popular interior design trend in Southwest Florida luxury condominiums as they are highly practical, functional, and versatile. Custom carved doors can be used almost anywhere in your space, the doorway between the master bedroom and bathroom being one of the most popular ways. Old world carved doors make your space look spacious and unique, and optimize space utilization in a practical way for bathroom and bedroom. Custom reclaimed wood doors slide right into the wall giving you plenty of room on both sides as well as the artistic design element. You are looking at a beautiful and exceptional handmade design, as unique as the craftsman who carved it.

Rustic carved sliding doors offer lots of extra space when used as closet doors in a hallway or foyer. Guest room closets are also the perfect place for hand carved barn doors, so you can show off your character. Large rustic reclaimed wood barn doors can divide your rooms and give your waterfront home a more intimate feel.

Downtown Tampa condos, Miami luxury townhomes, handcrafted doors are improvements being incorporated into design as renters value the experience of unique art and modern interior design. Custom doors are made from old reclaimed doors, framed in such a way that the back of the door is visible with its grounding nails that remove harmful ions from the atmosphere and ground them through the old wood. Maintaining the character of the doors is of paramount importance and is an exclusive design created specifically in-house at Mogulinterior.

Open Floor Plans In modern farmhouses in urban Massachusetts or rural Virginia, rustic barn doors make the home airy and less compartmentalized. You can also use these doors as privacy shutters if you have a lot of sliders, as seen on most waterfront properties, that you like to keep open during the day and don’t mind using curtains. Hand carved barn doors can slide these windows open at night and open to the sides during the day giving your room an eclectic artistic temperament.

Our beautiful, unique, hand-carved barn doors can double as a custom media center design that covers the plasma TV on your wall when you’re not using it, making the room look more elegant for formal dinner parties. of guests. Impressive, unique, yet practical, hand carved, they are perfect for your home office. We can customize it according to your requirements, whether it is a commercial restaurant, a boutique hotel or a resort. Embrace the rustic chic art trend seen in the houses and apartments of Soho, New York.

A trip to Venice offers an unforgettable insight into life in one of the world’s most unique cities. Venice is made up of six main neighborhoods, all separated by the Grand Canal. The heart of the city is considered to be San Marco, which sits on the major lower bend of the Grand Canal.

Several of Venice’s must-see parts can be found here and the key sights of San Marco are linked by three main thoroughfares that form a rough triangle: from piazza San Marco to the Rialto Bridge, from the Rialto to the Accademia. Bridge and from there back to the square.

Lavishly designed in Byzantine, Gothic, Classical, and late Renaissance styles, Piazza San Marco, or Saint Mark’s Square, is Venice’s main square and a central landmark and meeting place for visitors and residents.

The square is crowned by Saint Mark’s Basilica (Basilica de San Marco), a notable place of worship that is the most famous of the city’s churches and one of the best-known examples of Byzantine architecture.

Also accessible from the square is the Doge’s Palace or Palazzo Ducale, the residence of Venice’s elected leader and a political center consisting of grandiose staterooms, adorned with priceless works of art. The Biblioteca Marciana, or San Marcos National Library, is also located on the square and houses one of the largest collections of classical texts in the world.

The Correr Museum also branches off St. Mark’s Square and is dedicated to the art and history of Venice. Filled with all kinds of fascinating artifacts and paraphernalia, the museum also gives access to the Museo Archeologico (Museum of Archaeology), which is one of the oldest museums in Venice and houses rich collections from Greek, Egyptian, Roman and Assyro-Babylonian civilizations. .

To the east of the city is Castello, a working, inhabited and traffic-free side of Venice. Bohemian and chic, Dorsoduro is packed with art treasures and lies to the south of the city, while the quiet north of Cannaregio is a great escape if you need to get off the beaten track.

When looking for hotels in Venice, remember that there are certain times of the year when Venice is busier than usual.

For the ten days leading up to Shrove Tuesday, the Venice Carnival takes over the city with parades, street theater and masquerade balls. The beginning of summer brings the Vogalonga rowing regatta in June followed by the Redentore Festival in July. In addition, the Venice International Film Festival, usually in August and September, is a high-profile event, while the Biennale of Architecture, from September to November, attracts more than 100,000 visitors.

As you can see, no matter what time of year you choose to visit Venice, you really won’t be short of things to see and do on a trip to this popular Italian city.

Documentation of ancient plums growing in ancient times is scant. The best evidence for that earliest existence is best documented through America’s most famous pomologist, Luther Burbank, who reported in his twelve-volume botanical literary classic, Small Fruits, Volume IV, page 136, that the European plum, Prunus domestica, and its ancestor fruit originated in the Caucasus Mountains near the Caspian Sea. Burbank detailed evidence that the prune (dried plum) was a staple food of the Tatars, Mongols, Turks, and Huns “who maintained a crude horticulture from a very early period.” Various websites have put forward the absurd idea that because the European plum, Prunus domestica, no seeds were found in the ruins of Pompeii after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. C., “whereas most other Old World fruits were,” that this Plum could be concluded to be a recent “spontaneous chromosome” hybrid that duplicates to produce hexaploid offspring.

The earliest reference to the history of plums in the American colonies comes from the Prince Nursery of Flushing, New York, which was established in 1737 and reported in 1771 in an advertisement for “33 Kinds of Plums” for sale. These plum trees were undoubtedly European plum trees, Prunus domestica.

After 1755, Henry Laurens, a guest and friend of Wililam Bartram, introduced olives, limes, ginger, evergreen strawberries, red raspberries, and blue grapes to the United States. From the south of France he introduced apples, pears, plums, and the white Chasselas grape, which bore abundant fruit. Henry Laurens lived in Charleston, South Carolina and served as President of the Continental Congress.

William Bartram described two species of American plums in his famous book, Travels, on his 1792 trip to Georgia, where he identified the Chicasaw plum, Prunus Chicasaw, and in Alabama found a wild plum, Prunus indica.

Luther Burbank contributed more to breeding and hybridizing plum trees of different species than any other person in history. His work on the stone fruit plum group is distinguished from anyone else by his unparalleled contribution to the improvement of various fruits grown and enjoyed today.

Burbank states that his importation of twelve plum seedlings in the year 1885 was the “largest importation of fruit trees ever made at a single time into the United States.”

Burbank brought in plums from around the world and interbred them in a giant “melting pot” to produce the best characteristics and reject the wrong ones. These plum genetic mixes were recombined over many generations, resulting in plum hybrids that are so different from the original species that they appear to be new species.

Burbank claimed that it spent more time hybridizing plums than any other breeding program, reporting that it evaluated 7.5 million crosses of hybrid plum seedlings before releasing outstanding cultivars for sale. His famous line of plum trees, which were popular in the late 1890s, are still admired and grown commercially for sale and in backyards today, including Burbank, Santa Rosa, Wickson, Golden, Satsuma, Shiro and Ozark. Premier. His first big success was applauded by USDA professor HE Van Deman, who suggested that Luther Burbank’s creation be named after its creator, thus “Burbank Plum.”

The most successful crosses between plums come from the most exotic Japanese plum, ‘Satsuma’, a name suggested by Professor HE Van Deman of the USDA, who identified it as imported from the Satsuma province of Japan. This unique plum developed a red skin with an overlay of pale blue mesh flowers. The pulp was deep purple red, firm, tasty and of excellent quality to be preferred for home use.

Burbank’s experimental species were the Japanese plums, Prunus triflora, which grew wild in Japan and were gathered by the natives. Japanese plums grew in many colors on the skin from white to purple, they were large and quite tasteless, but the native Japanese ate them while they were green and hard. Japanese plum genes seem to dominate most hybrid plum descendants. Chinese plums, Prunus simonii, were aromatic, with brightly colored skins, a small pit, but the skin cracks and the fruit tastes bitter.

European plums, Prunus domestica, range in size from large to small, sweet or tart, complex genes, many colored skins, highly adaptable, good to eat fresh, dried or canned. The downside: they are too juicy or watery. “Green Gage” is a well-known standard European cultivar. Plums are very high in sugar content.

Several species of American plums are very hardy and productive to the point of covering the ground in spring with several layers of fruit. These plums may be tasty but they have poor shipping quality. Burbank released an excellent hybrid strain from this cross called “Robinson plum”.

Several species of Native American plums have been used by Luther Burbank in hybridization experiments. American plums, Prunus americana, Scots goose plums, Prunus hortulans, Chicasaw plum, Prunus augustifolia, Western sand plum, Prunus besseyi, Beach plum, Prunus maritima, and California wild plum, Prunus subcordata. These native plum trees are unusually cold hardy and cold temperatures do them no harm, even in the far north central United States.

The ‘Myrobalan’ plum originated as a French species, Prunus cerasifera is widely used as a peach and plum rootstock which tends to be compatible with the resulting fruit tree union and appears to be highly resistant to nematodes and root diseases.

Burbank’s goal in hybridizing plums was to produce a tree that had “stability, novelty, variety, hardiness, beauty, shipping quality, and adaptability.”

Plum leaves and twigs exhibit many subtle characteristics that the plant breeder can experiment with to predict the future characteristics of the fruit to be grown from small seedling crosses. Most hybridizers known from experience have a predictable result, although these plant qualities are too intangible to explain to an audience, such as changes in facial expressions or small variations in color changes. If the leaves of a plant are dark red, the fruit will be red. This same phenomenon is applicable to flowers such as the color of the canna lily leaf and the color of the red rhizome; or in crinum lily cultivars, a red bulb means a red flower; a light green bulb means a white flower.

Luther Burbank developed a seedless plum by hybridizing a French plum variety, “Sans noyaii”. These plums develop in various skin colors ranging from white to yellow, scarlet orange, crimson, violet, deep blue, almost black, striped, spotted and mottled. These seedless plums were delicious and unique, but they never found commercial success with growers or public demand.

Burbank crossed many plums that had a tendency to produce high-sugar fruit, like the sweetness of figs, pineapple, and oranges. This high sugar content makes it possible for the prune to ensure long-term preservation, when dried. The plum contains a thick, hard skin of such a texture that it is required not to crack when the commercial drying process begins and proceeds to deliver a tasty, honey-sweet fruit that lasts well.

A plum will not dry properly and become a marketable fruit unless the plum contains a sugar concentration of at least 15%. Before drying, the prune is briefly immersed in an alkaline solution that prevents future fermentation by preventing microbes from growing on the surface of the skin. For successful prune production commercially, a prune tree must be a reliable producer with a substantial annual crop of fruit. Prune must ripen early, when the days are long and warm, and must fall from the tree to avoid high harvest costs at the proper time of ripening. The prune should be cured and dry to a black color and develop a small pit. Most plum hybrids have been hybridized from the European plum, Prunus domestica.

There are also three ornamental varieties of plum blossoms that are recommended for planting: Newport, Prunus cerasifera ‘Newport’, Purple Pony Prunus cerasifera ‘Purple Pony’, and Red Leaf Plum Prunus cerasifera ‘Thundercloud’, Plum blossoms.

Burbank developed purple left plum trees from a purple-leaved French plum ancestor, Prunus pissardi, which are sold commercially as ‘Storm Cloud’, Vesuvius, and Othello plum blossoms. Some of these red-leaved flowering plums developed by Burbank produced luscious red fruit in addition to the beautiful ornamental red leaves.

Prune is high in antioxidant content that offers many health benefits such as vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, niacin and minerals; Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus and Iron.

Burbank evaluated the intricacies of plum hybridization and even crossed the plum with the almond, Prunus dulcis, in hopes of creating a tasty almond seed and flavorful pulp. He created many crosses with the apricot, Prunus armeniaca L., and created plum trees, a 50/50 mix of plum and apricot trees; The pluot trees demonstrate a 75/25 mix of plum and apricot trees; and Aprium trees, a 75/25 mix of apricot and plum trees.

Copyright (c) 2006 Patrick Malcolm

Mexico! Just remembering your first trip across the border to Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Matamoros, or any other border town probably conjures up thoughts of poverty. Our first introduction to extreme poverty was 25 years ago near the outskirts of Mexico City and we will never forget it. Although poverty still exists in Mexico, it is nothing like the stability of the peso and the boom in the Mexican economy over the last decade. Also, comparing the resort towns of the Mexican Riviera to border towns is like comparing Beverly Hills to Bangladesh. We come to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, known as PV or Vallarta to the locals, and have owned property here since 1984. In 1997 we purchased a beautiful new villa and made it our permanent residence. It has been a wonderful investment, the value of which has tripled over the last ten years. In 2002 we invested some money in the Mexican Stock Exchange at 3.25 pesos per share. That investment is currently trading at 11.55 per share, generating a 255% gain. During those five years, the Mexican peso has held firm at around 10.8 pesos per US dollar.

When we moved to PV ten years ago, women sitting on sidewalks nursing their babies, hand and cup in front of them, were common. The few old cars and buses often had dragging or missing mufflers, were often dented and dented beyond recognition, and always came in such a variety of colors that it was virtually impossible to determine their original color. The streets and sidewalks were dirty and in need of repair and the shops looked like what one would expect in a sleepy little Mexican fishing village. Unemployment was high and help was available for $10 a day. None of the streets had signs or center lines, making driving your basic game. Ten years ago, prices in stores and restaurants were relatively low because labor was cheap, they only had locally produced products, and very few had air conditioning. Even in Vallarta, there was a certain degree of poverty, but one could survive due to the low level and the related cost of living.

Things have changed drastically in PV over the last ten years. The Mexican economy is booming and this is especially true in Vallarta as a result of tourism. There is virtually full employment with most younger Mexicans speaking some degree of English as income is about three times higher if one speaks and understands English. Ten years ago, we had a cruise ship that visited Puerto Vallarta every other day, whereas now, with the new maritime terminal, we have two or three cruise ships here every day. The International Airport is about four times the size it was ten years ago, with flights constantly arriving and departing. A second International Airport is currently in the planning stages. Real estate prices have roughly tripled over the last ten years, as have the prices of materials and labor.

With the economy booming and full employment, most of the locals now have their own cars and a good portion of them are brand new. Most of the nozzles are new and clean, and you rarely see a clunker with a muffler dragging on it. In fact, the standard of driving has improved substantially because the locals are proud of and take care of their new cars. All fairways are now clearly marked, often lined with palm trees and kept immaculate. All public roads are new or have doubled in size with new bridges, lighting, etc. There are so many cars now in PV that congestion and parking have become major issues in our beautiful Paradise.

Three new downtown parking lots have been built in the last four years; one above ground and two below ground with public parks above. Old stores are being renovated or torn down and replaced with beautiful new buildings. Because there is such an opportunity available in Vallarta, the level of education is constantly improving at the new campus of the University of Guadalajara, providing the ideal setting for thousands of young Vallartans to receive advanced education. The booming economy has attracted some of Mexico’s best doctors and dentists, many educated in the United States or Europe.

With the rise of talented doctors and dentists, two large medical centers housing state-of-the-art sophisticated equipment have been built in the last five years. Fine restaurants abound in PV, all with clean, modern kitchens, providing employment for thousands of workers as do many modern hotels. New high-rise condominiums and those currently under construction are seen everywhere and provide excellent employment for thousands of construction workers.

On the nights during the “high season”, from November to May, when everyone is having dinner or partying, the streets almost resemble New York with yellow cabs everywhere. In fact, the Malecón, or promenade along the beach, has more people browsing and shopping at midnight than at noon. The sleepy little Mexican fishing village is no longer sleepy or small, with a population now exceeding 350,000. During “high season”, PV oscillates for about 18 hours a day. One has to wonder if those sidewalk women ever got jobs or moved to Los Angeles. Poverty is certainly not to be seen in Vallarta today!

More and more people, especially those planning to find their homes, are now beginning to recognize Long Beach’s pleasing qualities, both as a haven for business and pleasure. This interesting city seems to be the perfect example of a place where bikinis and business suits are harmoniously combined while elegant buildings where business and commerce is a common scene rise imposingly next to the Pacific Ocean. This pleasant mystery is one of the driving factors that lead many home seekers to dig into Long Beach homes for sale and Long Beach real estate listings.

In fact, investing in homes for sale in Long Beach is a worthwhile venture, whether you plan to live in it for a long time or rent it out to tourists. There are many things that I like about owning a home in this nice community.

1. Convenient means of transportation

5 ½ miles of fascinating coastline with an airport serving domestic flights that is easily accessed by a light rail system known as the Blue Line MetroRail that takes travelers to and from Staples Center and downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena and Hollywood are just a few of the many reasons that attract not only tourists but also aspiring residents to invest in Long Beach real estate.

There are also many buses that can take people anywhere in the center and nearby places like Ocean Boulevard where you will find carefully painted and pre-arranged residences and commercial establishments built many decades ago.

This means that even if you don’t have your own car, you can easily report to work and return home without much difficulty, as transportation methods are offered with variations.

2. Diverse and Pleasant Recreational Attractions

As the old adage goes: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well, this wouldn’t happen if you live here. It is definitely one of the most wonderful cities in the nation where there is more than beach to enjoy. Going downtown, you’ll enjoy the plethora of trendy shops, restaurants, and other attractions that offer fun and entertainment for people of all ages.

Shoreline Village offers great shopping and dining where you can see the splendid skyline. California’s fifth largest city is also home to many pleasant parks and other recreational areas where golfing, skateboarding, and lawn bowling are just a few of the many sporting activities you can indulge in during your spare hours.

3. Charming Beaches

As you browse Long Beach MLS, you’re sure to come across descriptions that define the beaches in this part of California. The beautiful city offers some sandy beaches and an equally lovely coastline close to the city center. There are also beach options near Naples and the Long Beach Peninsula where you can just sit and play in the sand with your kids as a respite from a busy week at work. For those who love quiet moments, they can just sit there with their loved one while watching the horizon and the sun set for a romantic yet serene time.

4. But more than anything else, the area’s booming and ever-growing economy is the main reason many are rushing to invest in homes for sale in this part of California.

So it’s pretty easy to understand why investing in homes for sale in Long Beach can benefit you financially if you decide to rent them. At the same time, it can also bring you a lot of pleasure in terms of experience if you decide to use it exclusively with your family.

Puerto del Carmen is the most visited resort on the island of Lanzarote. With beautiful scenery, good clubs or restaurants, it is also a great place for shopping. Arrecife may be the commercial capital of the island, but what could be cooler than shopping on the main strip? Along the total 6 km of strip in Puerto del Carmen you have all kinds of shops that you could have dreamed of.

gift shop

Provided with decorations, Spanish gifts, postcards, sweets and all the typical trinkets, these shops are to everyone’s liking. They are perfect for buying souvenirs or simply buying general beach clothing such as hats, creams, towels or swimsuits.

Tobacco, perfume and alcohol stores

You can find perfumes and aftershave lotions in specific shops along the Puerto del Carmen strip. Except some common and unknown brands, you can even find well-known brands all over the world in one store or another. The deal is particular to tobacco and liquor stores, which sell all makes and models of cigarettes, cigars and rolling tobacco.

Fashion

I’m sure everyone who shops here is hoping to find their designer deal on vacation. The Biosfera shopping center is a place where you can walk around and look for things to your liking. Here you can find stores of leading brands such as Footlocker, Levis, Zara and Mango and also Spanish brands such as Pull and Bear. You can find watches here, even from top brands like Diesel and Lacoste. The Puerto del Carmen strip offers everything one can imagine, from appliances, everyday shops, banks, all kinds of agents to ice cream parlors and bars, restaurants and nightclubs, in an insane mix that makes it unique and unforgettable.

If you’re looking to travel to exciting cities, check out these five:

Berlin is high on the list of cities to visit. It has been compared to the New York City of Europe, and there is no shortage of great things to do while visiting. From world-class museums, incredible shopping and dining, and nightlife, Berlin has emerged to become a world-class destination.

Cape Town, South Africa has been labeled the most beautiful city in the world. They have the best of everything, from the mountains to the ocean, and the people tend to be laid back and laid back. The city itself is a cultural melting pot, where people from all over the world live.

New York City is probably one of the most unique places on Earth. But sadly, most of the people who visit just visit Manhattan. There is much more to the city, and it would be good for the traveler to explore other parts of the Big Apple.

Famous for its delis and hot dog vendors, New York is famous for its food and things to do. You can start your day in Central Park and end it with a visit to the Empire State Building.

On the other side of the world we have Sydney, Australia. Loaded with beautiful parks and natural beauty, this city also has some of the most beautiful ports in the world. Check out the famous Sydney Opera House as well as visit one of the nearby world-class beaches.

Finally, Venice is a city like no other. It is old, and in addition to millennia of tradition and culture, they are also built entirely on water. Take a gondola ride through the heart of the city and experience all the romance that Venice has to offer.

Don’t forget to relax in one or more of the excellent cafes. Accommodation in Venice is expensive, so stay in one of the nearby towns like Mestre and take the train to Venice.

Venice can be a bit pricey, but there are alternatives nearby that can make accommodation more affordable. All you need to do is hop on a bus or take the train into town and watch your savings add up.

Hotel workers in Puerto Rico are prepared to strike at three hotels: the Conrad Condado Plaza Hilton hotel, the Caribe Hilton hotel and the El San Juan Hilton hotel and casino. Although negotiations between the workers and the Hilton Corporation are expected to continue, a strike is considered imminent. There would be major disruptions to most services as the strike would involve more than 1,100 employees, including housekeeping, restaurants, kitchen, bars, room service, banquets, reception, bellmen and porters, swimming pool, telephone, maintenance , croupiers and slot tellers.

All beaches in Puerto Rico are, by law, open to the public, and for the duration of the strike, the beaches adjacent to the hotels will be occupied by striking workers and hundreds of their friends and supporters. From early in the morning until late at night, there will be big and noisy pickets and demonstrations outside the hotels, and especially on the beaches. Hotel guests will be able to come to the beach to meet with the strikers and learn more about the dispute. They also, of course, have the option to go to another beach to relax and have fun.

The strike can start at any time and can last for several months. Guests who have not yet made reservations must book with other hotels. Those who already have reservations must cancel them.

Bottom

UNITE HERE Local 610 represents more than 1,100 employees at three Hilton hotels in Puerto Rico: the Conrad Condado Plaza Hilton hotel, the Caribe Hilton hotel and the El San Juan Hilton hotel and casino. The National Labor Relations Board has issued complaints against Hilton for failing to bargain in good faith with workers and for intimidating and coercing them. At one point, salaries and benefits at these hotels were on par with most other Hilton employees in North America. But, in recent years, the company has taken a hard line in contract negotiations in Puerto Rico, forcing significant reductions in wages and benefits, increasing the workload and imposing unfair and demeaning policies. Although negotiations between the workers and the Hilton Corporation are expected to continue, a strike is considered imminent.

Book studies show that potential readers spend around eight seconds looking at a book’s cover before deciding whether or not to buy. If you open the book and read the table of contents and testimonials, you will likely buy the book. So how can you, as an author, get your reader to pick up your book, open it, and buy it? I think it boils down to four key areas:

A. Willingness of the author to dedicate the rest of his life to the promotion of the book

B. Cover design (including back cover and spine)

C. Title, subtitle, slogan and title of the back cover

D. Finally, Actual Content of the Book

Since the cover design is near the top, here are 13 tips I recommend you implement to help improve your book’s chances of becoming a bestseller. These tips are listed from top to bottom as to how they should appear on the back cover of your book:

1. Book Genre – The only reason this is important is that it tells bookstore employees where to place your book within their store. If your title can fit into multiple genres, I encourage you to list no more than two. This is in the upper left corner of the back cover.

2. Back Cover Title and Subtitle – This is located at the top of the book and should be a bold statement to immediately grab the attention of your potential reader. This headline is basically the title of the back cover. It should be in large, bold print (larger than any other print on the back cover).

3. Summary Paragraph: Below your title/subtitle, you should include a summary of what your book is about, why the reader should care, and how the book will improve the reader’s life. This should typically be 3-5 lines.

4. Author Quote: This author quote is completely optional. However, if you, as an author, have created your own citation and put it on the back cover of your book, it will soon be on the Internet and cited on other websites, all of which will bring more free publicity to your book. .

5. “You will learn how to do it” statement: This comes next on the back cover under the author quote. In this section, you will include 4-8 bullet points of what your reader will learn by reading your book. Often these vignettes can be created by highlighting 4-8 of your best chapters from the book.

6. Testimonials: Let’s face it, no matter what we say about our book, it matters what other famous people say about our book. Therefore, ideally, you should include 2-3 testimonials from other recognizable author names in the same genre as your book. These testimonials should not be longer than 2-3 lines.

7. Photo of the author: if your book is a novel, your photo is not required. If he is writing a work of non-fiction and bills himself as an author, speaker, trainer, and consultant, then it is extremely important to insert a professional color photo on the bottom left of the back cover. Note: never put his photo on the cover of your book unless he is a world famous celebrity. Doing so will be a clear indication that his book is self-published. However, always put your photo on the back cover.

8. Author BIO: It is very important to have 4 or 5 lines to the right of your photo to tell the world who you are and qualify your experience. Make sure no matter what your top 4 or 5 streams of income are, you include these titles in your bio. If you want to earn speaking, coaching and consulting income, check out these job areas.

9. Closing Line – Virtually all authors overlook this even though it is very important. Basically, here you are re-emphasizing why your potential reader needs to buy your book. For example, my closing line on Creating Your Own Destiny says, “This book is his compass. Let Patrick Snow guide you to his own destiny!”

10. Editorial Imprint: Below the photo and bio, you want to insert your publisher’s logo. If you are self-published, under no circumstances use your last name in any part of your publisher’s name.

11. ISBN Number and Barcode: In the bottom right hand corner of your book, you must include your 13-digit ISBN number and below this number should be your ISBN barcode. This is very important so that bookstores can scan your book and sell it to their readers. Without an ISBN number and barcode, your work isn’t really a book.

12. Price amount and also the price barcode: Just as you need an ISBN number and a barcode, you also need the same for your price. When a bookstore scans this barcode, the price should appear in their system. Often authors will forget to also include the actual price of the book in this area. If your book is in the 150-300 page range and paperback, you should price your book between $14.95 and $19.95. You get over $19.95 for your book if it’s hardcover.

13. URL/Domain/Website: I would say that behind the title of your book, this is the most important element of your book. The URL should appear in large, bold font on the bottom left of the back cover of the book. The only other element on the back cover that has a larger font would be the title and subtitle. Be sure to capitalize the first letter of each word in your website address to make it easier for buyers to read and memorize. I can’t tell you how many readers have joined my newsletter after seeing my URL on my book in a bookstore. Often, instead of buying my book, they just memorized my URL and are now subscribed to my newsletter. If I do my work, they will eventually buy a copy.

As you can see, there are many detailed items to consider that should be included on the back cover of your book. I encourage you not to rush this process. Take your time and get the back cover of your book to look exactly how you want it to look. Most of my clients who come to me for help after their books have been published are those who have room for improvement on their back cover.

If you need help with your back cover, contact me and I’ll offer you a free 30-minute editorial consultation to help you with your back cover and also position your book to become a bestseller through promoting other authors. campaign ideas you may not have considered.

Some countries are more suitable for homes than others. If you have a family of three or more and want to move abroad, somewhere away from the pollution and hustle and bustle of the city, then New York is probably not the best option. This is why more and more families choose Costa Rica as their new place of residence. Known in the past as one of the most notable attractions for young tourists, mainly due to the sandy beaches and active nightlife, Costa Rica is now emerging as the newest real estate location. This applies especially to properties in Surfside, a residential area strategically located at the meeting point between three beaches: Playa Potrero, Playa Grande and Playa del Coco. It’s not hard to see why a family might want to move here. The change from urban noise and pollution to a peaceful property framed by three beaches is definitely a welcome one, and contrary to popular belief, Surfside properties are not luxury. In fact, the average price of a luxury house in Costa Rica is almost equal to that of a small apartment in a metropolis. However, before you invest in the local real estate market, there are a few things you should know about Surfside.

To begin with, Surfside is a Costa Rican real estate project that started in the 1970s. The area quickly became a point of interest for locals, but as the years went by, foreigners began to move here as well. Although the area may seem completely disconnected from the modern world, that is not the case here. Fast cable internet is available and although the main shopping malls are only in Santa Cruz and Liberia, you can do your daily shopping at local stores like Super Wendy’s. There are also many local restaurants and if you ever get bored of sunbathing and swimming, you can head to the Garra De León golf course or Hacienda Pinilla. Unlike other places in the area, Surfside is made specifically for residential use. There are some clubs, but this region does not stand out for that. Although Costa Rica has numerous exotic resorts, Surfside is not one of them. The properties are child friendly in the sense that there are many schools nearby and the area is very safe.

One small drawback to Surfside is that not all roads are completely paved. The work is in progress and in a few years it will probably be finished, but in this region hatchbacks and roadsters are preferable to sports cars. Most people who move here do so because they have traveled here several times and liked it so much that they decided to move. The typical family that lives here is made up of parents and one or more young children. There are various educational opportunities for elementary and middle school, but not so much for high school and college. Last but not least, buying property in Surfside does not mean you have to move there. You can keep it as a vacation home: rent it during the year and spend the summer here again.