BY LAURA WOOD ERICKSON

Inspiring, Informing, Enriching

Complimentary SPRING 2015

Volume 6, Issue 2

started this magazine 16 years ago. It took months to print the first issue— long enough that my son, Winston, started calling it my“ fake magazine.” My mother, Gene Murphy, helped with the editing, but we did have one funny mistake in that first issue: The Calendar listed the“ Duplicate Bride Club” instead of the“ Duplicate Bridge Club.” Oops!

One of the most important aspects to me has always been that moment when someone decides to pick up a copy of the magazine, so the cover has to instantly grab people’ s attention. And thanks to our team, I think we’ ve consistently achieved that goal. There

Summer 2012 Volume 3, Issue 4

Complimentary

Winter 2011 Summer 2012

N W G E O R G I A

The magazine that gives you more

Hit the Road for Great Day-cations!

Grilling & Chilling HOT Summer Reads

Patio Pizzazz— Build it in a Day

Anniversary Celebration Issue

Featured Artist Jenna Black Captures Your Dog’ s Essence

Create an English Cottage Garden

Skyfall – The Ultimate Adrenaline Rush!

A Celebration Brunch

Holiday Traditions Uncovered

Tips on Holiday Shopping that Won’ t Bust the Piggy Bank

Enter to Win the Stocking Stuffer Giveaway!

See page 7

Host an Intimate Dinner Party Home Away for the Holidays

Clockwise from left: My dog Bam gracing the cover of the Spring 2015 * issue, the cover of the first-ever issue( Spring 2010), and Cartersville’ s iconic 4 Way diner on the Holiday 2020 * cover.

have been so many excellent covers, in fact, it was almost impossible to choose our favorites.

Each cover has its own story, too, adding to the magazine’ s legacy. Many of the earlier covers featured photos by Patricia Montgomery, and those creative sessions are among my favorite memories. For example, on a freezing, blustery day for the Winter 2014 cover shoot featuring Doug’ s Place in Emerson( see below), the sky was gray, but Pat made it shine blue— resulting in a winning cover. For the Celebration 2014 cover showcasing Cartersville’ s historic Grand Oaks estate( not shown), Pat painstakingly edited out the lingering Christmas lights that were still up in late April.

Sixteen years have flown by because this magazine is my passion. I’ m proud of the creative team at Veridian Design Group and my editor, Jill Becker. Of course, I’ m thankful for my advertisers as well. Most of all, I’ m thankful to you for reading NW Georgia Living and supporting my dream.

The Best Joints

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Hearty Winter Squash Recipes Refresh, Renew, Reimagine Your Home Healthy Ways to Lose Holiday Pounds