June 2005

Dear Friends,

Greetings! Saludos! Spring finally arrived and is now well underway. Mother’s Day is already a fuzzy memory and we are looking forward to Memorial Day and grads and dads commemorative days. With the arrival of Spring came a sudden burst of life and color that a few short weeks ago seemed unimaginable. That’s, of course, Mommy Nature’s way to remind us she’s in the building. We can (and do) speculate, guess and predict, but she definitely will have the last word…that is, when she’s good and ready.

In this perfect season for renewal (and cleaning out our closets), we look forward into a fresh window that will hopefully define the rest of the year. In keeping with this “festival of colors” that Spring’s arrival represents, we've made changes in the look and organization of exitstudio.com. As you “stroll” through the site, redesigned by our Marketing Director, Scott Bushnell, we hope you’ll discover many new features and resources. This new look represents the rapid growth of our company in new and exciting directions. We strive to bring you new points of view in literature and art, framed in tropical technicolor! In that spirit, I too have a bounty of new developments and news.

First: the launch of our new home accessories line called Exit Studio@Home, where our first collection is inspired by the splendor of Puerto Rico’s flora and fauna. This new line of colorful and original arts and crafts for your home represents our efforts to go beyond publishing and reveal more glimpses of Puerto Rican culture not commonly known to our friends here on the mainland. “Puerto Rico Bound” features designs inspired by nature, from the exotic beauty of a flamboyan tree in full, spectacular bloom to the simple (but no less beautiful) “malanga” leaf covered in rain drops.

Secondly; as we continue to expand our company, we are very proud to announce we will be rolling out a version of the website en Español in the near future. So not only we will be able to reach out to our Spanish-speaking audience but our beloved friends who are just learning Spanish can brush up (of course, we won’t be teaching any dirty words!).

Last but not least, is another feature, Moving Forward, which will keep you abreast of new projects in development and related activities. So as you can see, we are advancing at full speed to bring you the best and most entertaining things that Latin America has to offer. Please enjoy our new offerings and we welcome your ideas and feedback!

I would also like to introduce you to the art of photographer Joel Benjamin. You’ll see his magnificent work in the product photos in the Exit Studio@Home section. Mr. Benjamin is an incredible artist who has established a successful photography studio in Boston. When he offered his creative talents to help us showcase our new collection, we were overjoyed. Joel and I go way back to when we both were cutting our creative teeth at Macy’s in New York as Art Directors. I am a first-hand witness to the talent, care, and preparation he invests in all that he does. Joel’s love for and dedication to his art is a mirror image of my own creative goals. If you would like to see more of Joel’s work, please visit him at www.joelbenjamin.com.

Before I close, I want to take this opportunity to share with you our progress with On This Beautiful Island or as I privately refer to it, “the little engine that might.” To my great surprise, this first picture book is steadily garnering great reviews and acceptance. For me this represents an unprecedented validation since most independent authors and publishers have to fight harder for a little bit of attention (and respect). Thanks to you and your continued, unshakeable support--you represent my light at the other side of the tunnel.

I hope you enjoy our new look and please stay tuned for more. In the meantime, Happy Springtime!

Edwin