Bermuda puts its best side forward in a new coffee table book designed to raise money for local charities.‘Bermuda’ was written and compiled by architect Georgia Crowe-Benevides and her friend and frequent Bermuda visitor, Kathryn Deane. It includes a foreword written by actor and former resident Michael Douglas whose mother, Diana Dill, was Bermudian.In the forward, Mr Douglas wrote: “Perhaps more than any other quality, I admire Bermuda’s sense of community. People from all walks of life recognise each other on the street and family values unite them in familiar ways that create a positive atmosphere of friendliness and support for their island. Bermuda has become part of the bigger world in my lifetime and the island of innocence has had to face the same problems that all modern countries face. We continue to treasure Bermuda and the optimism and civility that see them through modern times. Catherine and I have been supporters of the Family Centre and other good causes in Bermuda that are helping families to move into the 21st century recognising that they come from a special place and have what they need to build a happy future.”Mrs Benevides said the idea for ‘Bermuda’ came about last year when the Island’s public image seemed to be at an all-time low following a spate of community violence.“We thought that any tourist who would go into a bookstore, would see beautiful books on places like St Barts and the Bahamas, but only see something boring to represent Bermuda,” she said. “We wanted to get up to the same calibre as what the other islands have as far as books go. During that time there were so many shootings in Bermuda. So we were really trying to think of a public relations thing for Bermuda to make Bermuda come across as a more desirable destination.”The book is filled with photos of Bermudians from all walks of life Johnny Barnes waving at the tourists; the band Mohawk Radio; musician Collie Buddz; entrepreneur and artist Barbara Finsness; environmentalist and writer Andrew Stevenson, and Attorney General and Justice Minister Michael Scott.“We thought that it would be good for young Bermudians to see how many accomplished Bermudians there are here,” said Mrs Benevides. “We wanted the children to see they don’t have to go into gangs. They can accomplish so many amazing things.”Pictures of people profiled in the book are set against beautiful Bermudian scenery. In one photo, teenagers perch precariously on a scooter on the beach; in another little boys sit on an old Bermuda above-ground water tank. In another photo, environmentalists hold a baby cahow chick. There are also pictures of Bermudians swimming, kite-boarding and golfing.“These photos show that Bermuda is still glamorous and wonderful,” said Mrs Benevides. “We wanted Bermuda to come across in a much better light than it has been shown recently. Those were our primary objectives.”The book will go on sale in November for $75. Profits will be donated mainly to the Family Centre, but funds will also go to the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), the Masterworks Foundation and The Audubon Society. The book can be pre-ordered on www.bermudaspirit.com.Mrs Benevides is an architect with the firm Benevides & Associates with her husband, David Benevides. She studied architecture at the University of Houston, but minored in photography. She took many of the photos in the book.Mrs Deane also took photographs for the book and did the writing. She was previously in the fashion industry and worked on a trade publication called The Toby Report.