First Time A Florida Magazine Becomes A Book

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (October 9, 2008) – South Florida Adventures, a media company with a glossy magazine and a website focusing on outdoor sports and fitness in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, has agreed with the University Press of Florida to publish a guidebook for locals and tourists. It is the first time a Florida magazine has been published as a book by an established publisher.

Publishers Marketplace summed up the agreement: “…A GUIDE TO SOUTH FLORIDA ADVENTURES, with recommendations and itineraries for extreme and casual sportspeople living or vacationing in South Florida, to John Byram at the University Press of Florida, in a two-book deal, by Josh Getzler at Writers House.”

“The book brings revenue to the company and further brands South Florida Adventures magazine and SouthFloridaAdventures.com,” said editor and publisher David Raterman. “And from a creative standpoint, we’re really proud. This shows that we found a good niche and are doing a solid job.”

Raterman was a judge of the 2008 Eddies for best magazines. According to an organizer at Folio: magazine, which presents the awards, he was the only judge from Florida. In his free time he has worked on three Miami book projects for National Geographic since 2004. South Florida Adventures’ art director Jayson Teig was a designer with ESPN The Magazine when it launched. His design work and photographs have appeared in numerous publications.

A Guide to South Florida Adventures will be released in late 2009. University Press of Florida, based in Gainesville, is responsible for distributing and selling the book.

According to UPF’s editor-in-chief Byram, this is the first time a Florida magazine has been turned into a book.

About South Florida Adventures
Debuting with a June/July 2005 issue, South Florida Adventures has developed a passionate readership of local runners, scuba divers, cyclists, triathletes, kayakers, hikers and other hardcore and recreational athletes. Besides filling an important niche in a publishing community that otherwise hits the real estate, marine and fashion markets, it has a strong team of writers and photographers who have contributed to National Geographic Adventure, Outside, ESPN The Magazine, the Sun Sentinel and the Miami Herald. NBC 6 news anchor Julia Yarbough, a team physician for the Marlins and Dolphins, and University of Miami sports nutritionist Lisa Dorfman write regularly.

South Florida Adventures magazine is distributed at 275 gyms and sporting goods stores throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, and at select events like marathons and dive expos. Subscriptions are $23.95 for 12 issues. Stories and forums are available at SouthFloridaAdventures.com.