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Book Introduction

So you've chosen to promote your own book (or other project). Perhaps the cost of hiring a marketing and public relations firm is too high for your budget, or perhaps you're a hands-on person at heart and you don't want to let go of your baby. No matter why you've made the choice, you're stuck with the question: "Now what?"

You could either work at promoting your project by trial and error or you could get some expert advice. Since you've picked up Promote Like a Pro, you've most likely chosen the latter option. So welcome! You've taken an important first step.

Since 1985, Five Star Publications has helped thousands of individuals and/or publishers with their production and marketing needs. Our clients have appeared on CBS' 60 Minutes, C-SPAN Book TV, The Howard Stern Show, The Dr. Toni Grant Show, and hundreds of other radio and television programs. Their projects have been covered by the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Success and Money magazines, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Choice. In addition, our client's books have been featured as selections by Writer's Digest Book Club, The Jewish Book Club, the Doubleday Executive Program Book Club, and Eagle Book Clubs, Inc.

Many of our titles have been selected for distribution by Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Waldenbooks, and one of our cookbooks was selected for distribution by Costco Warehouse (formerly The Price Club). Many of our titles are available online through Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and Borders.com.

Five Star Publications has been in this business for the long haul. We've seen our own ups and downs, as well as the highs and lows of the industry. I wrote The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing to help the independent publisher make it through the maze with as few bumps and bruises as possible. However, publishing is just half the job of making a successful book. Statistics show that every year more than 50,000 books are published and more than 7,000 new presses come into existence. With this kind of competition, you just can't expect your book to make it by word of mouth. A well-prepared marketing plan is absolutely essential, and if you haven't been involved in a marketing project before, you need a road map.

Promote Like a Pro is meant to be that road map. Although I write from the perspective of a book publisher, the essentials apply to any project you need to promote, from school plays to new businesses. I hope that you'll let Promote Like a Pro make your journey a rewarding one.

-Linda F. Radke, Chandler, Arizona
February 2000

ISBN 978-1-877749-36-2
$ 19.95
Published by Five Star Publications, Inc.

Other related items that you might enjoy:
The Economical Guide to Self Publishing