BLOOMINGTON, Ind., June 25, 2008 -- iUniverse (http://www.iuniverse.com), the leading book marketing, editorial services and supported self-publishing (http://www.iuniverse.com/why-iuniverse/supported-self-publishing.htm) company, has launched the RISING STAR Recognition Program.

RISING STAR titles will receive exclusive benefits and professional support from the day of publication to help make certain the book reaches its full market potential. Some of the key benefits of this select program include:

-- Titles will be presented by a national sales force to national, regional, and local retail buyers, including Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Books-A-Million.
-- Industry-standard retailer and wholesaler discounts, including book returnability.
-- iUniverse will submit the title for awards and competitions, i.e., Writer's Digest and IPPY.
-- A comprehensive marketing evaluation and consultation aimed at pushing the title to its maximum retail potential.

Authors who purchase the Premier Pro publishing package from iUniverse will be eligible for RISING STAR. To be declared a RISING STAR title, the manuscript must first receive an iUniverse Editorial Evaluation to determine if the title qualifies for the Editor's Choice designation. If the book is awarded Editor's Choice, the book is then given marketing and design evaluations, to ensure that there is a clear marketing plan and the design meets the highest retail standards. Once the book meets the criteria outlined in the evaluations, the book is reviewed by the iUniverse publishing board to decide if it will be selected as a RISING STAR title.

"iUniverse has always been committed to providing authors with the greatest opportunity for commercial success by offering evaluations and services comparable to what you would find at a traditional publisher. RISING STAR is just another example of this commitment to both authors and booksellers to make sure that books meet industry standards and reach their full market potential," said Terry Dwyer, Author Solutions vice president of sales.

RISING STAR replaces the popular Publisher's Choice recognition program that has been part of the Premier Pro package. Publisher's Choice commitments will be honored through the end of 2008, but Publisher's Choice authors still in process will also have an opportunity to be a part of the RISING STAR program.

Shelley Rogers, iUniverse publishing program manager, added, "Our special programs and awards are already unique in the industry and have been most popular with iUniverse authors over the years. With the launch of the RISING STAR program, we can do even more to accelerate the success of promising authors."

For more information on iUniverse and RISING STAR, please call 1-800-AUTHORS, or log on to http://www.iuniverse.com.

About iUniverse

iUniverse, an Author Services brand of Author Solutions (http://www.authorsolutions.com), is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing company, publishing more than 5,000 new titles annually. The iUniverse management team has extensive editorial and managerial experience with traditional publishers such as HarperCollins, Putnam, Simon & Schuster and Holtzbrinck. iUniverse has strategic alliances with Barnes & Noble, Inc. in the U.S. and Chapters Indigo in Canada. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse also operates offices in New York and Indianapolis. For more information, please visit iuniverse.com, or call 1-800-AUTHORS.