Article by Nanette Wiser
Local Authors
If you’re like me, your nightstand is a mix of fiction, self help and biography. My best fiction read this summer was local legend Sterling Watson’s newest novel, “The Committee.” Could not put it down and understand completely why Tampa Bay Times wrote: “In this sharply crafted novel, his seventh, [Watson] re-creates the era with rich detail and a creeping sense of dread…The Committee is the kind of story that makes you hope it can’t happen here–but reminds you that it already has.”
Self-improvement took me for a spin with another local author, Ed Kopko’s “Project Bold Life – The Proven Formula to Take on Challenges and Achieve Happiness and Success.” Kopko divides his time between NYC and St. Petersburg and serves up inspiring stories of people from all walks of life who turned setbacks into amazing deeds. He showed me how to take on challenges and move forward, even when you Fall Off The Horse!
NOVA’s founder Michael Novilla is more than an entrepreneur and mentor. Paradise News (PN) asked him to share his journey from business to writing and everything in between.
PN: What brought you to St. Pete, how long have you been here?
Michael: I was born at Bayfront hospital, on April Fool’s Day, 1968. My mother Leslie Clark, emergency room nurse, and father Michael Francis, pharmacist and attorney, raised me, along with brother Chris and sister Nurse Julie, on the west side of St. Petersburg. Near Abercrombie Park. I graduated from Boca Ciega High School (Bogie) in 1986, after getting (not so politely) asked to leave St. Pete Catholic. Then I was off to SPJC for a bit, before UF for 3 years, then back to Tampa USF for my MBA in 1993. I’m a St. Pete native, true and through.
PN: How did NOVA come about?
Michael: Building an apartment community, Crescent Lake Apartments, was 7 days a week, hands on, grueling mentally and physically. After about 7 years of it, I started to travel. And caught #WanderLust right away. Apartments became more rinse and repeat, so my “Squirrel” brain wanted more. I imagined combining a swanky lounge with a high end art gallery, all inside of a 5-star event venue. My Art Lounge concept, after 3 years and $3MM, evolved into NOVA 535 Unique Event Space. With the help of many amazing people, especially Mike Mitchell, Mike Lewis, Emily Morgavan, Drew Edwards, Jon Aljasir and Chuck Taylor. Please take a peek at www.NOVA535.com.
PN: What’s going on with the space and entrepreneur academy.
Michael: In 2009, needing the company of like-minded folks, I created the Entrepreneur Social Club, a network of business owners from around the world. We meet every Thursday night to collaborate, mentor, and share knowledge. It’s been an incredible experience, meeting thousands of fellow entrepreneurs, from every corner of our planet, who work in every possible sector imaginable. We are still going strong, though our COVID meetings have been mostly ZOOM, or ZOOM + Analog (local) when possible. We all cannot wait to get back to in-person gatherings, removing all social distance between us. It’s every Thursday Night, 6-8pm, check out EntrepreneurSocialClub.com.
PN: How did you decide to start writing?
Michael: I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing, and penned a film-script called Landlord, co-authored by Michael Graf, back in the 90s. It still sits on the proverbial ‘shelf’ gathering dust. For my first published work, It’s 5 AM Go Home, that began back in 2014, when I joined the business accelerator program, KPI. Become a “Key Person of Influence”, a program founded by global entrepreneur Daniel Priestley.
I was still shell shocked, in 2014, after losing my 20-year real estate project, my 100 lakefront apartments, during the (no so) Great Recession of 2008-2010. I was knee deep running live events at NOVA 535, and unsure of what exactly my book was to be about. The KPI program preaches the 5 Ps. Pitch. Publish. Product. Profile. Partnership.
A 9-month class that required us to write (PUBLISH) a book.
I started out writing about St. Pete vs Tampa, a comedic version of why St. Pete is better, but that wasn’t my full story. I floundered around, and eventually those 9 months passed, without me publishing a book. I finally understood what I needed to write about. Here I am a guy, single, never married, who is the “King” of St. Pete Weddings. HA-HA!
I’m selling, planning and producing 3, 4, 5 sometimes 6 live events EVERY WEEK! That’s when I discovered my ‘voice’, which led me to the title “It’s 5 AM Go Home” because, well that’s exactly what I’m saying at the end of (some) of the EPIC parties that I’m hosting.
PN: Who inspires you?
Michael: Masters of their craft. Lately it’s actors. I tried acting last summer for my Canadian actor/producer pal Kevin Kincaid. He needed one more actor to fill in for an insurance group’s TV commercial. I pulled it off, even got paid $200, but wow, so much harder than you’d expect. Creators, like authors, film producers, architects, chefs, and so on. People who LOVE what they are doing so much they continue to improve. Continuous Improvement. Until death do us part.
PN: Tell us a little bit about each of the books.
Michael: My hilarious first book, It’s 5 AM Go Home, is a wild and crazy adventure story. Where I share my passion for a smart, healthy, helpful, and FUN life. Plus business success and wild party stories, many of those here in St. Pete, while teaching you exactly how to produce parties and weddings so good, your guests won’t want to leave! If you want to laugh while learning how to throw events that get you 5-star reviews, buy my book, and let’s party!!! Its5amGoHome.com World’s Favorite Words, (2021) is a beautifully illustrated travelers’ guide book. WorldsFavoriteWords.com 416 Days is the story of my epic 416 days spent traveling around the planet. Guess what? It’s not flat! 416Days.com
PN: What are your pastimes and hobbies, other than writing?
Michael: Traveling, wandering new streets and places. Hiking, climbing trees, swimming. Laughing, reading, mostly sci-fi. Bike riding, making people laugh, solving problems, and helping people.
PN: Who would be at your literary dinner party, alive or dead?
Michael: Ben Franklin, Walt Disney, my father Michael Francis Novilla, J.R.R Tolkein, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Greg Bear, William Gibson, Haruki Murakami, and, wow so many more to invite; good thing I enjoy throwing dinner parties!
PN: What’s next for you?
Michael: Plans are to continue Globetrotting, 91 countries and counting, using my expertise to consult with business owners along the way. Showing them how to achieve world-class service and operations in their business. Trading my solutions for stays at their boutique hotels, or for dinner and drinks at their restaurant. A true Win-Win. I most certainly want to see well over 100 countries, while connecting and mentoring as many of my fellow problem-solving Entrepreneurs as possible. Learn more at MichaelSNovilla.com.