Until recently Wiley was considering publishing the book, but decided the fit wasn’t right so I am now self publishing it. I plan to launch the book around Easter next year.

I have interviewed some amazingly inspiring women about how they make businesses work around their family. These interviews are now finished and I’m about to get stuck into the writing phase with a vengeance.

While that is happening I wanted to share the list of women who have been generous enough to share their stories with me:

• Janine Allis, Boost Juice

• Rebecca Mezzino, Clear Space Organising Services

• Naomi Simson, Red Balloon

• Polly McGee, StartUp Tasmania

• Alycia Edgar, Roaly Group

• Alli Price, Motivating Mum

• Sarah Allen, Sarah Allen Consulting

• Sara Redman, BodyZen

• Celine Egan, TCY Coaching & Training

• Janet Beckers, Wonderful Web Women

• Kristy-Lee Johnston, Footprint Recruitment

• Annalisa Holmes, The Transcription People

• Amanda Cox, Real Mums

• Anita Lincolne-Lomax, Babes in Arms

• Amanda Gonzalez, Untangle the Web

• Renee Mayne, Bra Queen

• Susan Pearse, Mind Gardener

• Kaz Cooke, Women’s Stuff author

• Carolyn Cresswell, Carman’s Muesli

• And me!

There will soon be a website dedicated to the Business & Baby on Board book, blog and workshops so stay tuned.

If you enjoy playing softball or T-ball, come along to Mingara’s athletics field between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday and consider joining Decoys for the summer competition.

After building up its membership last year, Decoys Softball Club is now sponsored by Erina-based business The Transcription People. Director Annalisa Holmes, who is also a Decoys player, said the club was looking forward to a good turn out of new members on Saturday.

“A lot of our members play T-ball on school teams and become softballers as they get older. We’d love new players of all ages – children and adults – to join the club,” Ms Holmes said.

“Softball is a fun way to spend some time developing new skills and honing existing techniques, and is something entire families can get involved with. It’s a fun sport,” she added.

Formed in 1977, Decoys is currently taking registrations for the summer competition, with men, women and children all welcome to join. Decoys are looking for players of all ages, including under 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s, 19s and opens.

Decoys Softball Club was the Central Coast Softball Association Incorporated (CCSAI) Club Champions for 2004-05 and plays each Saturday between mid October and late March.

Join the Decoys Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Decoys.Softball.Club

Follow Decoys Softball Club on Twitter: @decoyssoftball

Watch the Decoys website develop: www.decoys.softball.net.au

For more information about Decoys please contact team member Annalisa Holmes from Decoys sponsor The Transcription People on 1300 787 092 or annalisa@ttp.com.au

Annalisa Holmes from The Transcription People will speak about the transition from home business to commercial premises and Justin Roberts from Big Click Studios will share simple tips on increasing your business’s ranking on Google.

CCBiz began informally earlier this year when a group of Central Coast small business people who had been communicating via social media decided to meet up in person.

This small group started to grow as other business people were invited to join in. The founding members decided to meet once a month at venues around the Central Coast and formalise their group, calling themselves CCBiz.

CCBiz is run by small businesses with small business issues in mind, CCBiz coordinator and owner of Nicole Hammett Business Support Nicole Hammett explained.

“One of the reasons we met in the first place was because we wanted to be able to talk about our businesses with other business people, but without the pressure if having to network with everyone in the room,” she said.

“We focus on informal meetings where everyone is relaxed and can speak to whoever they want to.

“This comfortable group situation has led many of our members to start doing business with each other, as well as offer support on whatever issues are affecting our businesses at the time. Someone else always has another option or solution to consider,” Nicole said.

Besides the monthly meetings, CCBiz has also launched a website www.ccbiz.com.au, which includes posts by CCBiz members, a Central Coast business directory, resources for small businesses on the Central Coast and information about the group.

The website was set up by CCBiz founding members. Dean Collins and Justin Roberts from Big Click Studios designed the site, Dave Holmes from Dictate Australia is hosting the site and Nicole Hammett from Nicole Hammett Business Support runs the site.

CCBiz has three main goals:
• Provide a support network for Central Coast businesses
• Encourage the Central Coast business community to support one another and help to grow our local economy
• Provide informal and low-cost networking functions

Tickets for the CCBiz launch event are $26. Space is limited so bookings are essential at the CCBiz events page: http://ccbiz.com.au/events/

For more information about CCBiz and upcoming events visit: www.ccbiz.com.au

Entrepreneur Annalisa Holmes has found her business niche in providing great outsourced transcription services. The Transcription People have a long list of blue chip clients from around the world who depend on the speedy, high quality transcription services for their own businesses.

Launched from Ms Holmes home office with her business partner and husband David almost 10 years ago, The Transcription People was initially a side project to her corporate job in Sydney. However, when she was made redundant Ms Holmes decided to push ahead with the business – something she found satisfying as she was able to continue working at her own pace while pregnant with her son. The couple in work and life have since had a daughter and expanded the business.

“Working from home around two children met my dual aims in work and life,” Ms Holmes said.

“I am stimulated through work and building a business, while at the same time being a great mum,” she said.

As The Transcription People grew, Ms Holmes started contracting other businesswomen as typists and proofreaders to cope with the increasing workload.

“Not only am I building a business for myself, but I am helping other female entrepreneurs grow too.”

The business moved from the couple’s home office to dedicated space in Erina’s growing business district on the NSW Central Coast. Here there is room for Annalisa and David Holmes, their office staff and on-site typists.

“Our office space gives us the room to expand that our home office didn’t, and this is becoming more relevant every day as our staff needs grow,” Ms Holmes said.

The Transcription People’s client list includes Ernst & Young, Sony BMG, Tikitiboo, Canon Australia, IBM Australia, Wesley Mission, Macquarie University, KPMG and Sydney Water.