iUniverse Authors Picked Up by Doubleday, Venus Book Clubs

Authors Say iUniverse Played Strong Role in Success; New "Star Program" Demonstrates Publisher's Commitment to Promoting Talent

Lincoln, Neb. - February 11, 2003 - iUniverse, one of the largest publishers in the United States, today announced that two books recently published through iUniverse have been selected for book club distribution. The titles are:

• A Maid for All Seasons by Devlin O'Neill, available through the Doubleday Book Club and the Venus Book Club.
• My Life as a Girl by Leslie, available through the Venus Book Club.

iUniverse offers a proven alternative to traditional publishing, with advantages that most publishers don't offer," says Devlin. "I attribute a good deal of the success of my book to their support."

"What sets iUniverse apart from other self-publishing firms is its commitment to helping its authors find a wider audience," says Leslie.

As part of its commitment to helping promising authors, iUniverse recently announced the "Star Program," in which iUniverse will invest in books that demonstrate strong initial sales. iUniverse will cover (or share in) the costs of many of the program's benefits, which include securing book reviews, direct marketing initiatives, book packaging, and co-op advertising.

Through the Star Program and other support services, iUniverse says it can serve as an incubator for talented or undiscovered authors.

"We're happy to serve as a 'farm team' for traditional publishers and agents," says Kimra Hawley, president and CEO of iUniverse. "Through the Star Program, if an author shows promise in the market, we'll back him or her with dollars and solid marketing support. We can also leverage our relationships within the industry by presenting their manuscripts to our traditional publishing partners, such as Kensington Publishing Corporation."

Initial industry response to the Star Program has been positive. Industry analysts CAP Ventures recently noted, "iUniverse's strategy is particularly interesting from the perspective of the traditional publishing community, in that its efforts to act as an incubator for untested authors presents a different and compelling model that is built upon advances in book-on-demand technology."

About iUniverse, Inc.

iUniverse helps individuals publish, market, and sell fiction and non-fiction books. The company is one of the largest publishers in the United States and publishes more than 5,000 new titles per year. iUniverse publishing programs are endorsed by industry leading author organizations, including the Authors Guild, ASJA, and the Mystery Writers of America. The company's major investors include Warburg Pincus and Barnes & Noble.