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News Bureau
Myrtle Beach, SC--The Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America (SEMWA) has given its first Magnolia Award to South Carolina author Tamar Myers, author of twenty-four cozy mysteries. Myers, author of the Pennsylvania-Dutch Series including the current Assault and Pepper and the Den of Antiquity Series including Monet Talks, lives in Mt. Pleasant and Rock Hill. Born to missionary parents and reared in the Belgian Congo, Myers was among the first Caucasians to peacefully coexist with the natives after the Congo claimed independence from Belgium. She began writing novels in college, and was published twenty-three years later.
In addition to writing cozies, Myers has also written Angels, Angels Everywhere and Criminal Appetites, two non-series books.
Former SEMWA President Charles Todd said Myers’s “prolific achievements as an author and commitment to promoting reading and writing in the mystery genre” earned her the inaugural Magnolia, a silver charm representing excellence in mystery writing.
Canfor Acquires New South Companies Inc.
Vancouver, BC – Canfor Corporation (TSX:CFP) announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire all the outstanding shares of New South Companies Inc. (“New South”) in a transaction valued at $205 million (USD), which includes working capital of approximately $55 million (USD). New South is headquartered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and operates three sawmills, two treating plants, a finger joint plant and a European lumber import business. All operations are located in North and South Carolina. The annual capacity of New South is 425 million board feet and its main product lines are southern yellow pine.
“Canfor is committed to a strategy of growing with its customers and increasing the volume of high margin products available to them,” said Canfor President and CEO, Jim Shepherd. “New South brings to the Canfor family top quartile sawmills producing high value lumber for our strategic customers throughout the south eastern United States. This transaction also provides access to high value European SPF lumber to be marketed throughout the US,” he said. “This is yet another step Canfor has taken to ensure that it remains the preferred partner to our customers.”
Commenting on the pending acquisition, New South CEO, Mack Singleton said “We are excited and looking forward to becoming part of the Canfor team. Canfor and New South have a mutual desire to continue to expand and further improve our current operations as well as look for opportunistic and synergistic expansion in the Southeast. We are confident the expertise and financial strength of Canfor will greatly benefit us in those strategies.”
New South generated total revenues and EBITDA of approximately $500 million (US) and $35 million (US) respectively in 2005. Its products are primarily sold throughout the southeastern United States. Canfor expects to capture annual synergies of approximately $10 million (US).
The acquisition will be effected by a plan of merger requiring the approval of the holders of two-thirds of New South’s outstanding shares. The acquisition agreement provides for the payment of certain amounts to Canfor in the event that the transaction is not completed by New South for certain reasons. Shareholders of New South representing approximately 80% of the outstanding voting shares of New South have agreed to support the transaction. Other customary closing conditions will apply. The transaction is expected to close late in the first quarter.
Canfor is a leading integrated forest products company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company is the largest producer of softwood lumber and one of the largest producers of northern softwood kraft pulp in Canada. Canfor also produces kraft paper, plywood, remanufactured lumber products, oriented strand board (OSB), hardboard paneling and a range of specialized wood products, including baled fibre and fibre mat at facilities located in BC, Alberta and Quebec.
How savvy authors promote book sales on the Web
Athens, GA—Staying in touch with readers and making purchases easy are vital for authors dedicated to increasing book sales. “An author’s web site must be secure, simple and flexible,” says Marshall Turner, president of Turner Technology, Inc. and creator of WebforAuthors.com. “And a good web site allows an author to easily update their site and to maintain mailing lists for sending regular communications such as newsletters and publication notices.”
Turner, a computer consultant who specializes in helping authors enhance their web visibility, says many authors fail to make the most of web potential. “Sometimes overcoming an electronic obstacle can be tougher than overcoming writer’s block,” Turner said, although he insists even the most entrenched technophobe can succeed with the right software and a positive attitude.
A friend who was working on her first book inspired Turner to create a user-friendly web design service for authors. So, he assembled a team of computer technicians and web designers to create a system that gives authors choices and content control. “WebforAuthors.com allows writers to create their own website and lets each author change web site content as needed,” Turner said.
“Everyone my friend met in publishing kept telling her to ‘get a website,’” he said. “I stopped her and asked, ‘how did your instructors advise you to get a website?’ Surprisingly there was no simple solution or direction. Immediately I thought, there ought to be a better way—a system focused on the needs of authors and writers, a system where they could create and update their own website with no technical skills required.”
Prior to starting his company, Turner worked with Burroughs Corporation, now UNISYS. He earned his undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University and his Master’s Degree from Emory University. He worked also in computer consulting and in the retail, manufacturing and distribution businesses. “Building systems to solve needs is what I do for businesses,” Turner said, “So I decided to apply my skills to deliver web system features for many that would be expensive for one individual writer to afford.”
Authors may learn more about Turner’s services by visiting WebforAuthors.com or the corporate blog, http://WebforAuthors.blogspot.com. Those needing help with web sites or advice may contact Turner either through WebforAuthors.com, or a call to him at 678-753-0043.
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