Author, Rudy Sawyer made a courtesy call on the Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator Kwasi Thompson on Monday, March 25, 2019, where he presented the Minister with a copy of his new book, 'Grand Bahama Treasure & Tour Guide: Settlements and Freeport.'

The book is a comprehensive fact-based compilation of information about the entire island of Grand Bahama, including every settlement and community from East Grand Bahama to West Grand Bahama. Sawyer said that the book took him several years to write and produce, because of the amount of research involved in gathering the facts about the island.

Minister Thompson congratulated Sawyer for his hard work and dedication in completing the project and noted that it will be a valuable resource not just for Bahamians, but for visitors as well.

“I know that you had mentioned to me some time back that you wanted to work on this project and so I’m glad to see that it is completed,” Minister Thompson told the author.

“What I like about this book is that it is specifically about Grand Bahama. There are many books about the Bahamas and about Nassau, so it is good to see such a comprehensive project on Grand Bahama.” 

Mr. Sawyer (second right) presented a copy of the book to Minister Thompson (second left), to Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (GB), Harcourt Brown, and to Takia Spencer, Senior Legal Counsel and Customer Service Manager in the Office of the Prime Minister. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

Governor General, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling hosted a Private Book Signing with Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent in Celebrating Women International, at Government House, Saturday afternoon. 

Also present was Mrs. Patricia Minnis, wife of Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis. Princess Michael of Kent in her autobiography, "A Cheetah's Tale," tells of growing up in Mozambique, raising a cheetah called Tess, and the incredible bond that can exist between humans and animals. 

She is pictured left, signing a copy and presenting it to the Governor General, and standing with the Governor General and Mrs. Minnis. The event was followed by a Reception. (BIS Photos/Derek Smith)

Photographer Alessandro will hold a book signing at Oasis Furniture at Sandyport Plaza. Sarno’s third book, Eleuthera: The Garden of Freedom, was officially launched last month at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. 

Those in love with Eleuthera and all of its charms will have an opportunity to meet and talk with Italian photographer Alessandro Sarno who captured the idyllic beauty of the island in his newly released photo book, Eleuthera: The Garden of Freedom and its complimenting travel guide, White Bull on the Highway. 

Sarno will host a book signing from 12 to 2pm Saturday at Oasis Furniture, the boutique home and décor store downstairs from Club One Fitness Centre in Sandyport’s Plaza.

Sarno’s latest photographic work, the second in his island series, will be on sale at the store beginning Thursday.

Inspired by an island celebrated the world over for its beautiful pink sand beaches, Sarno’s book pays homage to Eleuthera.

Sarno had the idea of featuring a painting as the book’s cover rather than a photograph. He asked a dear friend and artist, Paula Boyd-Farrington to paint it, capturing the essence of Eleuthera such as the pineapples, pink sand, sun and vibrant colours of the island. A special surprise, the book features poetry provided by Farrington, Felicity Darville and Tyrone Sawyer. It is published by the Nassau-based company, Philautia.

From 5,000 or so photographs taken during numerous visits to the island, the self-taught photographer culled the book down to some 200 amazing images.

In providing a unique and in-depth look at Eleuthera through a creative compilation of extraordinary landmarks and little known facts Sarno hopes to get domestic and international visitors fired up about visiting the historically rich island once home to English Puritans who embodied their collective dream of religious freedom in the name they bestowed upon the 110-mile long land mass – “eleutheria,” the Greek word for freedom.

White Bull on the Highway, the accompanying travel guide to the book, is unlike any other with its concentration of photographs and author’s recommendation on places to eat, play, shop and stay. By listing the telephone contact of residents mentioned in the photo guide, Sarno allows the reader to build their own people-to-people, travel experience and connect to locals.

Italian photographer Alessandro Sarno with his two photographic works Eleuthera: The Garden of Freedom and its complimenting travel guide, White Bull on the Highway seek to capture the beauty of The Bahamas, its islands, people and culture. 

Sarno is the creator of Catch da Cat, documenting his love affair with Cat Island and Junkanoo: The Spirit of a People, the country’s premier cultural expression.

Photographer Alessandro Sarno’s third book, Eleuthera: The Garden of Freedom, will be officially launched Wednesday, November 28, at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas at 6:30 pm. 

If a picture is worth a thousand words Italian photographer Alessandro Sarno said a mouth full in his coffee table, photo book, Eleuthera: The Garden of Freedom and its complimenting travel guide, White Bull on the Highway – a beautiful way for armchair travelers to explore the idyllic island and for locals to rediscover favored hideaways.

The official book launch and signing for Sarno’s latest photographic work, the second in his island series, is set for Wednesday at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas at 6:30 pm.

Inspired by an island celebrated the world over for its beautiful pink sand beaches, Sarno’s book pays homage to Eleuthera.

Sarno had the idea of featuring a painting as the book’s cover rather than a photograph.

He asked a dear friend and artist, Paula Boyd-Farrington to paint it, capturing the essence of Eleuthera such as the pineapples, pink sand, sun and vibrant colours of the island.

The book is published by the Nassau-based company, Philautia.

A labour of love, the self-taught photographer whittled down his book to around 200 breathtaking images from 5,000 or so photographs taken during numerous visits to the island.

In providing a unique and in-depth look at Eleuthera through a creative compilation of extraordinary landmarks and little known facts Sarno hopes to get domestic and international visitors fired up about visiting the historically rich island once home to English Puritans who embodied their collective dream of religious freedom in the name they bestowed upon the 110-mile long land mass – “eleutheria,” the Greek word for freedom.

Italian photographer Alessandro Sarno with his two photographic works Eleuthera: The Garden of Freedom and its complimenting travel guide, White Bull on the Highway seek to capture the beauty of The Bahamas, its islands, people and culture. Sarno’s will officially launch his latest book, Eleuthera: The Garden of Freedom at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas on Wednesday, November 28 at 6:30pm.

“The newest book was quite a challenge, consuming time and energy. It took two years and lots of travel to Eleuthera with long periods of time driving up and down to document,” explained Sarno, who created Catch da Cat, documenting his love affair with Cat Island and Junkanoo: The Spirit of a People, the country’s premier cultural expression.

“It was equally challenging to choose between thousands of photos assembling a collection that could work together and sequence the book in such a way so readers wouldn’t become bored.”

Virtually every page contains a special surprise with accompanying poetry provided by Paula Boyd Farrington, Felicity Darville and Tyrone Sawyer. The trio will be on hand for readings during Wednesday’s event.

White Bull on the Highway, the accompanying travel guide to the book, is unlike any other with its concentration of photographs and author’s recommendation on places to eat, play, shop and stay.

By listing the telephone contact of residents mentioned in the photo guide, Sarno allows the reader to build their own people-to-people, travel experience and connect to locals.

Both books are available online at shop.thelonesomephotographer.com/products as well as local retailers, Logos, Emporium at Albany, Island Store at Lyford Cay, The Linen Shop and The Current at Baha Mar.