Nearly three years ago, Betsy DeMars (fellow Media Mom) and I worked tirelessly to create and launch the monthly magazine, Spirit of Saratoga. Our collective vision along with that of Mike O'Sullivan, publisher and Barb Lombardo, managing editor, was to bring Saratogians a monthly publication that captured the essence of what it's like to live, work and play in Saratoga. The tagline "fine living in Saratoga and beyond" is the foundation for the people-centric magazine. So, with more than 30 issues under our belt, you'd think it would get a little routine.

But it certainly doesn't. This month's lineup is fresh and fun! The Mothers' Day feature spread chronicles one deserving mom's weekend of pampering, compliments of local businesses in our community. Betsy and her team just wrapped up the 2010 Golf Guide and a great piece on the new local Hot Yoga studio in Saratoga. When the owner, Cindy, came in to see Betsy, two enthusiastic members of my sales team who - like me - are hooked on the yoga practice, followed her to the newsroom.

So you see, it's not at all routine. I think that's what keeps us passionate about the magazine that will turn three this summer.


The bulk of my work on the magazine (leading the team responsible for selling ads in print and online) ends before Betsy and her team really get going. In the final moments of what we call "crunch time" though, we come together with 'one mind' to ensure the magazine is what we both envisioned some 90 days prior. Today alone I've talked with Betsy more than a dozen times. It's the little things that make a great issue and we're all about the details. Is every ad where it should be? Should we read the Mother's Day feature spread one more time? This month, like most, we ask ourselves if we need to take a walk up to Broadway, get some coffee, and create some space between us and 40+ pages of words, photos, ads, etc. The answer is a resounding YES! Not that we have time to, of course.

As we work to get the May issue "out the door" today, I'm reminded of how wonderful it is to be on the other side of the laborious task of publishing a magazine. As soon as the issue arrives at homes in print and online each month, the buzz starts. "The cover looks amazing", "my friends are calling from all over the country to congratulate me on the story you wrote", "The photograph spread really showcased my passion as an artist", and my personal favorite "I'm already getting calls from my ad."

As I take a break from this blog post to review ad placement with Betsy, I'm reminded that two weeks from now we'll see the fruit of our labor (mostly Betsy's). With an eye on the end game, we review the last minute touches needed for the two of us to feel proud of the monthly journey we share together with our fellow Saratogians.