**INTERVIEW with Author/ Publisher LINDA F. RADKE

It is with great pleasure, and an honor to Interview Author/Publisher LINDA F. RADKE! Author of: "The Economical Guide To Self-Publishing" Subtitle: "How To Produce and Market Your Book On a Budget" Genre: Business www.FiveStarPublications.com www.myspace.com/fivestarpublications http://twitter.com/fivestarpub Since 1985, veteran publisher Linda F. Radke, owner of Five Star Publications, has been ahead of her game-self-publishing before it was commonplace, partnership publishing before the rest of the world even knew what it was and producing award-winning traditional and nontraditionally published fiction and nonfiction manuscripts for adults and children. Radke's odyssey to becoming one of the nation's leading consultants in the areas of book production, marketing, publicity and distribution, began simply enough with the desire to print a few books to complement the household employment agency she owned. For Radke, who on more than one occasion has been teased about having "printer's ink in her veins." The experience of publishing the books was exhilarating, prompting her to change careers, and launch Five Star Publications, without looking back. Eventually, Radke added services and acted as a publishing consultant for other self-publishers, ventured into traditional publishing and pioneered partnership publishing to allow her to publish more authors, and make them a more integral part of the creative process of publishing. Among her many accolades, Radke is the author of The Economical Guide To Self Publishing (a Writer's Digest Book Club selection that is now into its second edition) and Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show(a Doubleday Executive Program Book Club selection). She is a founding member of the Arizona Book Publishing Association and was named Book Marketer of the Year by Book Publicists of Southern California. "Every book, no matter how well written, will languish on the shelf unsold without a comprehensive and creative publishing and marketing plan to support it." __Linda F. Radke AUTHOR INTERVIEW Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing? Linda: I enjoy writing non-fiction, and poetry! Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to write? Linda: My cousin Dorothy, she kept a poetry journal. This started me on the road to writing poetry. Geri: Have you written any books based on a true life story? Linda: No Geri: How many books have you written? Linda: Seven Geri: Where can your books be purchased? Linda: www.amazon.com www.barnesandnoble.com www.FiveStarPublications.com Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published. Linda: Proud Geri: Do you have any current work in progress? Linda: The Economical Guide To Self-Publishing-2nd edition Geri: What are some links to your websites? Linda: www.SelfPublishandSave.com www.FiveStarPublications.com Geri: Do you have goals set for the future? Linda: My goals are for children of all ages to experience the thrill of being a published author. www.KidsCanPublish.com Geri: What can help authors to reach their dream? Linda: To work with an experienced team of experts! Geri: Have you ever experienced writer's block? Linda: Yes! Geri: As a child, did you have favorite books? Linda: I loved reading comic books. I could hardly wait to take my fifteen cent allowance, and walk a few miles to a local drugstore for the next issue of my favorite comic books. Okay! Ten cents for the comic book, and five cents worth of candy! Geri: As a child, did you read alot? Linda: I loved my comic books! Geri: If you had the opportunity to live one day the life of a famous author, who would it be? Linda: Me! Geri: Many authors feel a sense of self-satisfaction, self-achievement after publishing a book, can you relate? Linda: Absolutely! Geri: How do you balance occupation with writing? Linda: My writing goals are always put on the back burner. My Five Star authors always come first! Geri: How did you feel at your first book-signing? Linda: Proud! Geri: As writers, we begin with a manuscript, and end with promotions. What was your most difficult task? Linda: Promotion, promotion, and promotion! Too many authors think too late about promotion. You start with your market in mind, and then write a book for it. It's like having a baby, and not thinking beyond the birth. Geri: Some writer's need to listen to music, or look at the ocean, or flowers while writing. Do you have a particular scenery? Linda: I am consumed with my thoughts when writing, and I am oblivious to all other sounds. Geri: Thank you kindly for today's interview. It was quite enjoyable! Linda: Your welcome!