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A time comes an idea possesses you so strongly that you become merely a vehicle for the idea to execute itself. A couple of years ago, frustrated with my lack of knowledge of Goa and the scarcity of info in a compact book, I set out to research and compile basic and detailed information on our land. I trawled the Net, read at the Central Library, met people (Fred,Joel,Percival,..) and finally in December 2003, I published "Amazing Goa Information Cards", a box of 200 information cards carrying five facts each (modelled on Trivial Pursuit-types). One thousand facts for the Goa lover to consume, feast and be inspired. Prior to December, I spent four months with my stuff ready, but with no money to print the project.Cecil Pinto, my beloved amigo had already laid out the design and set up the printer. Mario Miranda had sketched the box cover and other illustrations. But no poixe to print ! Finally through some friends, I contacted Goa Handicrafts Corp and they advanced me funds for 500 copies.The boxes are handmade and sorting and packing employs a lot of people, so I had no qualms.That was a great boost. At the launch at BPS Club, Margao which was honored by Uday Bhembre, Damu Naik (Chairman of GHRSSIDC) and Maria Aurora Couto, I sold 50 copies and I was over the moon. In the following months through Wendell Rodricks bought over 40 boxes as gifts for his refined friends. He included the Amazing Goa box in his Top 10 gifts list in his Goa Today column. Ethel ran an interview on AG in GoaPlus (Times of India), and I had around twenty cuttings from press coverage and interviews.Sunaprant began serializing AG in Konkani with three questions everyday.My bank teller who never looked at me for twelve years smiled at me, recognizing my mug in the Sunaprant column photo.The great Rene Barreto patted my back and carried 50 copies back to the UK. My motorcycle helmet no longer fitted my swollen head! As of today, my firm Amazing Goa Publications has sold 1200 copies of Amazing Goa Info-Cards.Sales through the web are done through Other India Book Store ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). Sales through outlets are slow and this month I have set up a direct marketing team of 25 students who earn a good commission while also gaining mktg experience. Take the 14 lakh population of Goa, the 10 lakh tourists and 5 lakh Non resident Goans, and we have a sizeable market for good 'need-based' Goa-centric publishing. In two months time I hope to publish the Konkani Proverb Project and a book of science fiction stories in Konkani and English by relatively unknown Goan writers. Not all projects will be profitable, I know, but the profitable ones will pull the less lucrative ones through. Its been a rewarding and inspiring experience. I have to pull up my socks though, the website is not yet up, though I booked the domain name in October 2003! Will get it up by June-end. Regards, Jose Lourenco __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/maildemo