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AV Publishing
I am an indie publisher with two books currently published; "Reunited: When the Past Becomes a Present", and "From Italy and Back: Coming Full Circle." The first book was published in July, 2013 and the second in October, 2018. My past professional life has been in education, consulting, coaching, and retail. I am currently focusing on memoir and travel writing.
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Book Talk at Sarasota Selby Library
My husband, Alan Votta, and I will be doing a Book Talk at the Sarasota Selby Library on Wednesday, February 14th–Valentines’s Day. We are happy to be sharing our love story on this day to inspire others in the pursuit of lost love. The book was originally published in 2013 and has gained much attention on social media as a true account that happiness can come at any age. We have known one another for almost 70 years, we were high school sweethearts at 18, we married at 67, and now are in our 82nd year! We live every day with joy and laughter and gratitude for the multitude of blessings that have come our way. Our story is usually awe-inspiring to many who may have lost hope, and we love to share the adventurous account of our rekindling romance.
We also will be sharing information about our publishing journey during the past eleven years. To date we have published four books–all memoirs detailing accounts of our lives, careers, and travels. Following the “Reunited” book, I published “From Italy and Back:Coming Full Circle,” and then Alan finished his book, “Real Stories from a Nuclear Submariner” in 2021 during the covid pandemic. My latest book, “The Growth of the Work/Life Movement in Corporate America” was published in December of 2023. All of the books are inter-related in one way or another as they all tell about our lives either independent of one another or during our shared lives together. We feel that we have stories to tell and love sharing. As one of our Airbnb guests so aptly put it, “If you want stories, they’ve got ’em! The Vottas are storytellers.”
You can find each book on Amazon.
www.amazon.com/dp/098897570X
www.amazon.com/dp/0988975734
www.amazon.com/dp/0988975750
www.amazon.com/dp/0988975777
Posted in Book
Tagged author, book-review, books, Lost love, love story, Memoir, Reuniting, writing
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Book Giveaway
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Growth of the Work/Life Movement in Corporate America
by Ann Votta
Giveaway ends November 19, 2023.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
The Giveaway ended and winners were identified. Books were sent out to the five winners. Looking forward to their feedback.
Watch for additional Giveaways. Follow my blog for information on future Giveaways.
PROFESSIONAL MEMOIR PUBLISHED
I am thrilled to announce that my new book, ‘The Growth of the Work/Life Movement in Corporate America: And the Professionals Who Made It Happen,’ ‘is now available on Amazon and in bookstores nationwide through IngramSpark, in both paperback and ebook formats. The following press release has been forwarded to media outlets to get the word out.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contat person: Ann Vincola Votta; AV Publishing; 508-221-8650; annpvotta@gmail.com; https//.www.av-publishing.com
Sarasota, FL, 10/20/23 — AV Publishing is pleased to announce the publication of a new professional memoir by author Ann Vincola Votta, entitled “The Growth of the Work/Life Movement in Corporate America: And the Professionals Who Made It Happen.” It is now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions. It can also be ordered and purchased at Barnes and Noble and other bookstores nationwide.
This professional memoir is about the author’s experience as a consultant in the work/life arena as it began in the early 80s. The back cover of the book states:
What evolved to become the work/life movement in corporate America began in the early 80s, when several professionals recognized the inadequacy of programs or policies to fulfill the needs of working parents, as women entered the workforce in record numbers. Those professionals became the Pioneers within a new industry. As corporate executives were faced with the challenge of retaining a talented and dedicated workforce, and keeping workers productive on the job, they sought assistance from those forward-thinking and committed individuals. This book is one consultant’s journey as the new field was being created, and the role she and her colleagues played in its development. Ann Vincola Votta describes the environment, the players, and the process, as attention grew to incorporating work/life programs and policies into a comprehensive human resource agenda. The author describes the economic impetus for the creation of new programs, such as on-site child care, as well as other types of programs and services established. She also outlines her journey as her own career evolved during the twenty-year period from 1981-to 2001. This is a history of what pahppend, and how some of the professionals involved achieved a worthwhile goal.
As Desiree Del_Zio, Ed.D., CEO and Principal Consultant of DE&C Consulting Firm, stated: “Ann Vincola Votta has shown that the historical and current perspectives on work/life balance effectively emphasize our changing society as it shifted the cultural focus from family to individual diversity. Her recognition that while there may be shifts in focus, the underlying and pervasive reality that employers must respond to and support a balanced life for its human capital prevails and remains timeless.”
The book will appeal to those individuals who took part in the creation of the new movement, as well as to those who are currently engaged in promoting work/life balance for employees with today’s human resource arena, where the focus is on diversity, equity, and inclusion Without a doubt the current scene owes a debt of gratitude to the Pioneers who took risks and thought outside the box before it became mainstream.
Some of her colleagues had this to say in anticipation of the book release:
“Can’t wait to read it, Ann. This is a much-needed contribution to a pivotal (not to mention turbulent) half century of American life.” Kathy Lingle, former Executive Director, Alliance for Work-Life Progress, WorldatWork.
“Congrats, Ann! What a passion project this must be for you! I am so glad we met back during the time you are writing about. I look forward to reading the book and taking a walk down memory lane….” Joan Hemingway, Interim Director, Institute for Professional Leadership at the University of Tennessee College of Law.
“Congrats Ann. Looking forward to the release of your new book. It will be interesting to see how the current focus on wellbeing in corporate strategy had its roots in the work/life movement. Thank you for memorializing your work and that of the early pioneers.” Mary Ellen Gornick, Global Employee Assistance Effectiveness Expert and Work/Life Innovator.
“I am so proud of our collective accomplishments in shining the light on these work/life issues. Real change happened because of us and all of the other pioneers!” Cathy Leibow, Vice President of Business Development, Circles North America.
Ann Vincola Votta has enjoyed an extensive career as an educator, consultant, and business owner. She is currently concentrating on memoir writing, and along with her husband, Alan Votta (also an author), the pair have published four books through their publishing company, AV Publishing LLC in Sarasota, Florida. Her background includes fifteen years as a teacher, consultant, and Professor of Early Childhood Education; twenty years as a nationally recognized human resource and work/life consultant, and ten years in retail as owner of an antiques and interiors business on Martha’s Vineyard. She holds a B.A. degree in English from SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY, and an M.ED. in Administration from Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged child care, diversity, employee benefits, Human Resources, Work/Life, work/life balance, workforce
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Book Launch #2
It is now October and my book is finally going live. We lost a few months due to additions and corrections, but we are finally there. And I am very excited to announce that my book about the work/life movement will be available on Amazon and at bookstores throughout the country this week, and the ebook will also be available later this week as well. I am looking forward to reaction from the people who meant so much to me during the time of my involvement in the work/life arena. Thus far, I know that the friends that I contacted during the writing of the book were so supportive of my effort and glad that I attempted to draw attention to a time when we worked so hard to achieve a goal. As my Dedication states:
To all my brilliant friends and colleagues, who became the Pioneers of the work/life field and began working diligently forty years ago to raise CEO awareness to promote the concept that work/life balance matters.
Many of those friends and colleagues are mentioned throughout the pages of the book, and, sad to say, many of my special friends have since passed away, leaving a lasting legacy. I hope that you will join me in praising all of the efforts during that important time from the early 80s to the beginning of the new millennium.
It is also my hope that those individuals who are currently serving within the human resource arena will take a look back in history with me to see how the important work of The Pioneers impacted the current scene, and can reflect on its importance.
The back cover reads:
What evolved to become the work/life movement in corporate America began in the early 80s, when several professionals recognized the inadequacy of programs or policies to fulfill the needs of working parents as women entered the workforce in record numbers. Those professionals became the Pioneers within a new industry. As corporate executives were faced with the challenge of retaining a talented and dedicated workforce, and keeping workers productive on the job, they sought assistance from those forward-thinking and committed individuals.
This book is one consultant’s journey as the new field was being created, and the role she and her colleagues played in its development. Ann Vincola Votta describes the environment, the players, and the process, as attention grew to incorporating work/life programs and policies into a compressive human resource agenda.
The author describes the economic impetus for the creation of new programs, such as on-site child care, as well as other types of programs and services established. She also outlines her journey as her own career evolved during the twenty-year period from 1981 to 2001.
This is a history of what happened, and how some of the professional involved achieved a worthwhile goal.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Ann Vincola Votta has shown that the historical and current perspectives on work/life balance effectively emphasize our changing society as it shifted the cultural focus from family to individual diversity. Her recognition that while there may be shifts in focus, the underlying and pervasive reality that employers must respond to and support a balanced life for his human capital prevails and remains timeless. Dr. Desiree Del-Zio, Ed.D, CEO and Principal Consultant, DE&C Consulting, Charlotte, NC.
I hope you will agree and enjoy taking a look back.
Posted in Book
Tagged benefits, child care, diversity, EAPs, flexibility, Human Resources, resource and referral, wellness, work/life balance
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Book Launch
We have been hard at work getting my book ready for publication. It is almost ready. It should be released next week, and up on Amazon and available in bookstores in both paperback and ebook forms.
Arriving at this point has been an exhilarating journey and one that has allowed me to reconnect with wonderful friends and colleagues and enjoy the memories. The dedication in the book is as follows:
” To all my brilliant friends and colleagues, who became the pioneers of the work/life field and began working diligently forty year ago to raise CEO awareness to promote the concept that work/life balance matters.”
And in the Acknowledgments I have stated that I have included many individuals who had a distinct influence on the new field and with whom I worked directly. I have apologized if I inadvertently left out anyone, but I wanted to make it clear that this was my story, my history, and my involvement as we worked hard to bring about change. I have included two lists in the book. One is entitled “The Pioneers” and there are thirty-three names on the list. And a second list is entitled “Not To Be Overlooked” with another twenty-two names. There is a notation at the bottom of each page that states; for The Pioneers, “The Pioneers listed are individuals who started in the field in the early 80s and with whom I had a direct connection.”; and for the “Not to Be Overlooked” list, “These individuals continued the work started in the 80s by the Pioneers. I also had a special connection with all of the them.”
Beside those fifty-five names, there are perhaps another twenty-five or fifty people identified within the pages of the book. I am sure that many people who took part in the creation of our movement may be critical that I have missed a few important contributors. I have also stated that I did not include the many human resource managers or CEOs who also played a substantial role, since I concentrated on those professionals who assisted in creating change for the corporate executives.
I have dug deep into my memory bank and I have worked hard at finding some people who meant a lot to me and to our field back then. And, of course, we have lost several. The process has been so intriguing to me, as memories kept flooding back in my brain, and names and people that I couldn’t recall when I first started would somehow come to me in a flash. Most often it seemed like it was yesterday that we worked together and laughed together. We were like family.
I am sure I will have more to say about all of this when the book finally does come out, and I get reaction from the larger community of work/life professionals.
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New Book Cover
My new book is due out soon. Here is the cover that I decided on. Please let me know what you think. The book is about the twenty years I spent as a work/life consultant back in the 80s and 90s. It was a special time for me in my career and a special time within the corporate arena when new benefits and services ensured that employees could enjoy a better work/life balance. A lot of change occurred then, and the human resource and benefits fields continue to make a difference today.
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Work/Life Book
Four months have passed since my last blog post indicating that I was working on a new book about my consulting days as a human resource and work/life consultant. Throughout that time I have continued to work on the book, but it has taken longer than anticipated to get to publication. So what else is new!!
Nevertheless, I am getting there and soon I will have a cover design to share with you and a publication date. I have enjoyed this new journey as I recollected my past and renewed connections with former colleagues. It has been a worthwhile experience for me and it is my hope that the book will be an interesting look at the historical perspective of how the work/life movement started and grew in America. And it will also highlight and give credit to the pioneers of the field who made a distinct impact during the early 80s and beyond–including me!
I encourage you to re-read my past blog post, “Professional Memoir” for more information on this effort. And please watch for forthcoming blogs as the path to publication proceeds forward.
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Professional Memoir
Our publishing company, AV Publishing LLC, has published three books so far: My two personal memoirs, Reunited: When the Past Becomes a Present, and From Italy and Back: Coming Full Circle, and my husband, Alan Votta’s book, Real Stories from a Nuclear Submariner: Once Upon a Time/This Ain’t No Bullshit. We have been pleased with the reception that each book has gotten.
At this time, I have been hard at work writing what I am calling a Professional Memoir, about the twenty years I spent as a work/life and human resource consultant creating, developing, and growing the work/life movement. My working title for the book is: The Growth of the Work/Life Movement in Corporate America: And the Professionals Who Made It Happen. I have spent the past several months writing and recollecting my memoirs of a time that was exceptionally intense, and resulted in moving the needle in a positive direction. I have also found joy and energy in reconnecting with old colleagues and friends with whom I worked during that time frame, and have been delighted to get such positive feedback about my efforts.
I hope to have a first draft of my manuscript in the hands of my initial readers within 4 to 6 weeks, and then will start an aggressive pre-publication marketing effort prior to publication, sometime late spring. I will be posting several more blog posts to inform you of my progress.
In the meantime I have reviewed all of my past blog posts, since I started this blog in 2012 before I published my first book. I admit that I haven’t been all that efficient in posting regularly, but I am hoping to get better at that. I invite you to reread some of my older blog posts to see how far we’ve come.
Thanks for reading.
AV Publishing 