iUniverse Writes New Chapter in POD Publishing

Company First to Offer Editorial Review, Full Range of Traditional Publishing Services

Lincoln, Neb. - April 14, 2003 - iUniverse, one of the largest publishers in the United States, today announced that it now offers an Editorial Review program to all authors who want to improve the quality - and salability - of their books. Editorial Review, combined with the company's innovative Star Program to promote promising authors, makes iUniverse the first publisher to offer the full complement of services previously obtainable only through "traditional" publishers along with the time-to-market advantages of print on demand (POD).

According to iUniverse President and CEO Kimra Hawley, publishers should perform four key functions for authors: (1) editorial review and filtering; (2) book design and printing; (3) book distribution; and (4) sales and marketing investments. Hawley says that traditional publishers perform all four functions - but, because of financial constraints, only for a few select authors. For many talented authors unable to break through the publishing industry's "paper wall," POD or self-publishing companies provide an alternative, but one that in the past only really offered printing and distribution services.

"Editorial advice and marketing investments are critical to any book's success, and POD publishers have not provided these services," says Hawley. "iUniverse's new Editorial Review and Star marketing investment programs demonstrate our commitment to offering serious authors all the tools they need to make their books successful. We're combining many of the advantages of traditional publishing with the benefits of POD, such as heightened author involvement in the publishing process and faster time to market."

Hawley says that the company is also providing an important service to traditional publishers by fostering talented authors, evidenced by the number of iUniverse authors that have moved on to traditional publishing contracts.

Through the review process, industry experts evaluate manuscripts for style, content and overall quality, and provide author feedback on areas for improvement. Books that score exceptionally high qualify for the Editor's Choice Program and receive an Editor's Choice icon, making them more visible to people shopping at iUniverse book outlets. Editorial filtering is also a prerequisite for acceptance into advanced author programs, such as the Star Program.

iUniverse authors that have undergone the Editorial Review give the program high marks.

"I was very impressed with the depth of the review and the comments made by the reviewer, which left me with no doubt that the reviewer had made an extremely professional and detailed analysis of my novel," says Donald G. Moore, author of Yoshiwara, which received the Editor's Choice designation.

iUniverse's Editorial Review product is available immediately as part of the company's Premier publishing program package. It will be available to all iUniverse authors beginning May 1.

iUniverse's Star Program, introduced in January 2003, is designed to promote promising authors and market books that demonstrate strong initial sales. Benefits of the program include securing book reviews, direct marketing initiatives, book packaging, co-op advertising and other sales support activities.

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 partners with industry leading author organizations, including the Authors Guild, ASJA, and the Mystery Writers of America, to bring innovative publishing programs to their members. The company's major investors include Warburg Pincus and Barnes & Noble.