Nebraska Book Company Obtains Approval for Revised Credit Agreement

LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Nebraska Book Company, Inc., a Kansas corporation (the "Company"), announced that it has received required lender approval for amendments to its current Senior Credit Facility. The Company indicated that it expects to close on the amendments within days.

The amendments, as previously announced by the Company in early January, include an extension of the term of its Revolving Credit Facility (the "Revolver") until May 31, 2010 and changes in certain financial ratios and definitions under the Senior Credit Facility. The Company indicated that in connection with the closing of the extension and amendments, its majority equity holder, Weston Presidio will invest $10 million into the Company.

Mark Oppegard, the Company's CEO, said, "We are gratified that, even in arguably the most difficult financing environment in many, many years, we are able to access the capital needed to help us continue to grow our business. We think that is a testament to the durability of our business model and the dedication of our workforce."

The Company also announced that it expects to report a low-single-digit percentage increase in total company consolidated revenue when it releases full results for its quarter ended December 31, 2008 in mid-February.

ABOUT NEBRASKA BOOK COMPANY

Nebraska Book Company began in 1915 with a single bookstore near the University of Nebraska campus but now serves more than 2.1 million students through its network of over 270 stores located across the country. Our Textbook Division serves more than 2,500 bookstores through the sale of almost seven million textbooks, and our Complementary Services Division has installed more than 1,200 technology platforms and e-commerce sites. Additional information about Nebraska Book Company can be found at the company's website: www.nebook.com.

SAFE HARBOR REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning the Company's expectation of closing the amendment within days, its ability to continue to grow its business, the durability of its business model and its expectation as to its consolidated revenue for its quarter ended December 31, 2008 constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, that Nebraska Book will be unable to close on the amendment, that it will be unable to continue to grow revenue and EBITDA, that the business model will fail to be applicable to the changing economy, that consolidated revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 will deviate from current expectations when finalized, that the general economic slowdown and credit crisis will cause long-term revenue and EBITDA to decline, and that the overall state of the college bookstore industry will be impacted by the continued general economic slowdown and the credit crisis. More information about potential factors that could affect the Company's business and financial results are included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at the Security and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release.

'The Adventures of Andreux': The Story of a Young Man as He Traverses Several Kingdoms While Fighting the Forces of Evil from Within and Beyond

CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine yourself in a time and place where both ordinary and magical dragons fly in the sky, where time is measured in hogashes instead of years and the mysterious past of one young man is lost in a sea of secrecy. In this time lives a character named Andreux who studies the mystical powers of magic at an academy in Aranya. As Andreux grows older and wiser, he begins to ask his mother questions about his past, especially those pertaining to the mystery behind his father's death. Avoiding direct responses to his inquiring mind, Andreux's mother is overheard one evening speaking in hushed tones about her son's curiosity to the master. Although very quiet in their conversation, Andreux is able to make out a name: Veritus.

Srinivas Pabbaraju is proud to introduce his new release, "The Adventures of Andreux: Book One-Aranya" (published by iUniverse). Written as the first in a series of books, "The Adventures of Andreux: Book One-Aranya" is a story filled with dangers of all sorts from ruthless predators, cunning magic folk, evil sorcerers, spiteful foes and back stabbing friends.

Try as he may, the young wizard can do little to unravel the mystery of his ancestry or learn the identity of the one they call Veritus. One day while continuing to investigate answers to his looming questions, Andreux's world is turned upside down when strange occurrences begin to happen around him. Secrets hidden hitherto are revealed and he, along with his best friend Senfred, set out on an all-encompassing mission to reclaim his true identity once and for all.

"The people of Vauns have suffered enough. It's time for justice to prevail. Let us waste no more time. The time to avenge is upon is," he declared. "I want revenge, not just for myself, but for everyone who suffered under the new king."

About the Author

Srinivas Pabbaraju lives with his family in Calgary, Alberta where he works as a chartered accountant. "The Adventures of Andreux: Book One-Aranya" was first conceptualized in 1988 yet remained unpenned until 2004, when one night, the exciting adventures were narrated as a bed time story to his daughter. The story is dedicated to every child at heart. "The Adventures of Andreux: Book One-Aranya" is Pabbaraju's first book.

"The Adventures of Andreux" is available at: http://www.iUniverse.com, http://www.bn.com, and http://www.amazon.com

ISBN: 9780595409648 - 6 x 9 - Paperback - 176 pages - $13.95

ISBN: 9781440100758 - 6 x 9 - Hardcover - 176 pages - $23.95

iUniverse offers a variety of publishing services to help individuals publish, market and sell fiction, poetry and nonfiction books. The company utilizes print-on-demand technology, and is one of the largest self-publishing companies in the U.S. iUniverse is based in Bloomington, Indiana.

    Contact:

    Tom Hudock
    Personal Media Publicist
    thudock@authorsolutions.com
    Toll-free: 1-800-AUTHORS (288-4677) ext.5553
    Fax: 812-961-3133

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

'Collective Bargaining': NBA Team Owners Conspire to Lower Player Salaries in New Novel

CARLYLE, Ill., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Many people express the opinion that professional athletes believe less in the spirit of the sport than in the multimillion dollar price tag attached to player status. In her new book, "Collective Bargaining: Taking Control Away From the Players!" (published by AuthorHouse) Kelly Wilken offers a fictional account of what happens when NBA team owners decide to strike back against this perceived greed by hitting season draft picks where it hurts -- the wallet.

The story begins in the office of James Mitchum IV, owner of the Houston Tornados. Astounded by the 20 million dollar salary he is expected to pay his number-one draft pick, Mitchum formulates a plan that will involve every NBA team owner and shake the foundation of professional basketball.

After the season's draft picks enjoy their night in the spotlight at Casey Center in New York, the agents step in to begin the annual bargaining ritual that brings big bucks to their clients. This year, they are in for a shock. Unbeknownst to them, Mitchum has convinced every team owner to support him in revamping the pay structure for incoming players. Every rookie receives a certain amount, no matter their place in the pick. Negotiations are out. The agents cry foul and embark on a mission to fight the conspiracy. In the middle are the players, who must decide what is more important -- playing the game they love or making the millions they expected to be part of the package.

Wilken centers her story around two young athletes, Marcus Wilkerson, the number-one draft pick, and Tyson Williams, the number-four pick. The young men come from two different worlds, but they both believe one thing: the NBA owes them millions of dollars.

"Collective Bargaining" also explores the differences between American athletes and those from other countries. For the international draft picks, the unfolding drama about players' salaries has an entirely different meaning, and Wilken delves into how cultural backgrounds may impact the response to such drastic changes to player contracts.

As the story unfolds, Wilken takes readers from state to state, following the choices each player must make. In the final chapter, decisions come to light and readers discover what wins out -- passion for sport or lust for money.

About the Author

Kelly Wilken was born in Youngstown, Ohio. She served more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy, working in London, England, as an administrative specialist. She also lived in Stuttgart, Germany, and Misawa, Japan. Her service in the military included work in intelligence, security and aviation administration. Serving aboard two military ships, the Steamship PFC Eugene A. Obregon and the Motor Vessel 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, Wilken visited foreign ports around the world. She retired from the Navy in 2000 and now works as a classification specialist for the federal government. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in business administration, Bachelor of Science Degree in management, and a Master of Science degree in human resource management. Wilken lives in Carlyle, Ill., with her husband, retired Master Sgt. Alan Wilken of the U.S. Air Force. They have one daughter, Jessica. "Collective Bargaining" is her first novel.

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com.

    EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:

    Promotional Services Department
    Tel: 888-728-8467 ext. 5192
    Fax: 812-961-3133
    Email: rvaughn@authorhouse.com
    (When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

Island Def Jam Music Group Forms Strategic Partnership With Author Tina Wells to Launch Mackenzie Blue

FIRST HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN'S BOOK IN THE SERIES ARRIVES MAY 5th

IDJ announces talent search to discover the REAL Mackenzie Blue

Mackenzie Blue series created and written by Tina Wells of Buzz Marketing

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Tweens everywhere will discover a new heroine this spring with the May 5th appearance of Mackenzie Blue, the first in the series of HarperCollins Children's Books about the many adventures of seventh-grader and aspiring pop star Mackenzie Blue.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080402/LAW018LOGO)

Island Def Jam Music Group and author Tina Wells have formed a strategic partnership to launch a major talent search and discover the REAL Mackenzie Blue, it was announced today by Antonio 'L.A.' Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group. This forward-looking '360' arrangement will bring the fictional Mackenzie Blue to life as the leader of her own recording and touring pop band. The talent search will be the prelude to Mackenzie Blue's first EP release on Island Def Jam coinciding with the publication of the debut book in May.

"I am thrilled with the opportunities that are presented by this partnership with Island Def Jam and L.A. Reid," said Ms. Wells. "The company truly understands the world of Mackenzie Blue and the potential of following her young character's aspirations to become a music star as the books develop. The sky is the limit for IDJ and Mackenzie Blue as other new and exciting branding options arise in the future."

12-year old seventh grader Mackenzie Blue ('Zee') is the charismatic, fashionable, pop culture savvy, and down-to-earth star of the new series of books that chronicle the adventures of a diverse crew of friends trying to survive middle school at prestigious Brookdale Academy. Mackenzie Blue is upbeat and promotes positive messages to tweens about making good choices. Dynamic black-and-white illustrations, diary entries, instant messages, and emails make Zee's world and friends come alive.

Mackenzie Blue marks the writing debut of youth expert Tina Wells, CEO and founder of Buzz Marketing Group (BuzzMG), and its newly formed division, Buzz Publishing Group. BuzzMG is America's premiere by-youth-for-youth marketing and communications agency. It has created innovative marketing strategies for numerous clients within the music, beauty, entertain­ment, fashion, financial, and lifestyle sectors, along them Sony BMG, Sesame Work­shop, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon Wireless, and Procter + Gamble.

2008 Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Self-Publishes First Book With WWAOW.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- WWAOW.com (Worldwide Association of Writers) - the self-publishing service of Peleman Industries, manufacturer of the award-winning Unibind product line - is proud to announce the recently released book A Better You, Inspirations for Life's Journey written by 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winner, Veronica Campbell-Brown.

Campbell-Brown will be signing books at a reception to be held at the Consulate General of Jamaica, located at 767 Third Avenue on the 2nd floor in New York, NY on January 28. Call 770-420-1075 for reservations.

Campbell-Brown is a two-time Olympic champion and only the 2nd female athlete to win back-to-back gold medals in the 200 meter sprint.

Her most recent win was a gold medal in the 200M in the 2008 Beijing Games. With a long list of exceptional accomplishments, Campbell-Brown is ready to inspire athletes across the world with her new book.

She encourages readers to believe in their dreams and to have confidence that their mind is their biggest asset. "The intention of this book is to inspire and motivate each reader mentally, spiritually and even physically."

About Veronica Campbell-Brown

Originally from Trelawny, Jamaica, she resides in Clermont, FL with husband, Omar Brown, also an accomplished athlete. Campbell-Brown began her career in 1999 when she became the first female to win the World Youth Games and go on the next year to win a silver medal at the Sydney games in a relay. She continued her success by receiving the title of the "Most Successful Caribbean Athlete" at the Sydney Olympic Games. Campbell-Brown also received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

About WWAOW

WWAOW.com (pronounced WOW!) is a brand name of Peleman Industries Inc. and a self-publishing service for printing high quality hard and soft cover books, documents and manuals and placing them for sale in their online bookstore. All products are printed and shipped at Peleman's North American headquarters in Alpharetta, GA.www.wwaow.com

About Peleman Industries

Peleman Industries Inc, a privately held manufacturer of binding, laminating and presentation products founded was in 1939. With its worldwide headquarters in Puurs, Belgium, the company opened its U.S. corporate office in Alpharetta, GA., in 1999. Unibind products are distributed on six continents in more than 120 countries. www.unibind.com.

Stereotypical Expectations of 'Internet Love' Ring False... True Love Story and Travel Documentary with Original Photographs and Artwork Demonstrate How Compelling Such Communications Can Be

Book Provides Intimate Examination of The Joys and Challenges of a Cross-Cultural Courtship and Marriage in Both English and Spanish

LONG ISLAND, N.Y., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet Love: How I Met My Wife chronicles the journey of two ordinary people in two different countries who courted via the Internet for nine months and then married, only to discover they needed to learn each other's languages and cultures to make a true union.

Author Dennis Cleasby is a world traveler, artist, musician, and photographer who asked a friend from Colombia if she had any single companions in her home country. Enter Diana Marcela, who has dual masters' degrees, gave up two careers, and left Colombia for the "land of milk and honey" in the pursuit of love. The climate and cultural changes were nearly enough to cause her retreat, yet in the spirit of Valentines Day, love prevails.

Replete with insider tips such as using a translation program is not the best way to interpret love letters and that introductory photographs do not always work as a means of attraction, Dennis reaffirms that finding true love came as a result of persistence, blind faith, and tremendous risk-taking.

With the tone and authenticity of journal entries, the author describes his yearning to find his soul mate, their long-distance Internet dating, his journey to Columbia to meet her, their marriage, the legal paper-chase, and their subsequent travels in the United States and abroad. As the intricacies of life intervene they meet one another's family and friends, and this network of characters blossoms into a real-life global family.

Internet Love: How I Met My Wife has global distribution:

www.denniscleasby.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.borders.com

Ebook is available at www.booksonboard.com

To view Dennis' 'Surprise Wedding Song' for Diana click link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyx6cWOAEOs

Internet Love: How I Met My Wife by Dennis Cleasby;

$38.00 Large Full Color soft cover; ISBN 978-0981701509.

$22.00 Small English soft cover; ISBN: 978-0979459801.

$22.00 Small Spanish soft cover; ISBN 978-0981701523

The American Idol for Writers and Illustrators

L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 24

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- If you think the chance to win on a show like American Idol is steep, try writing or drawing. Each year, tens of thousands are turned away by the publishing industry. It's a brutal weeding out process that causes many creatives to stop their dreams dead.

But there's one entrant-friendly contest that's been called the "American Idol" for writers and illustrators. That's because it gives instant worldwide recognition, cash, and coaching to fledgling writers and illustrators. It's the worldwide L. Ron Hubbard's Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest just completing its 24th successful year -- a writing contest and illustrating contest that's free for all entrants and age groups. www.writersofthefuture.com

"Beginning writers and illustrators are driven by the same things that you see of the contestants on 'American Idol'," says John Goodwin, president Galaxy Press, contest book publisher. "They've got passion, creative drive, and a dream: they just need a break."

This year's winners came from around the globe including Argentina, Australia, Canada and throughout the United States.

"You could call the Writers of the Future Contest 'The American Idol for Writers' -- long before there ever was an American Idol," said USA Today and New York Times best-selling author and Contest judge Kevin J. Anderson (Dune prequels, Saga of Seven Suns, Star Wars). "It's amazing to me that a good 60 to 70 percent of the winners go on with successful careers in writing, and several have become best-selling authors themselves."

Each year, Galaxy Press awards all winners with cash prizes, free travel and accommodations, week-long professional workshop, and guaranteed publication in their best-selling annual speculative fiction anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers and Illustrators of the Future.

Throughout the Contest's 24-year history, more than 500 writers and illustrators have been recognized as winners, according to Galaxy Press' Goodwin. Writers have gone on to publish over 300 novels and 3,000 short stories. Former writing contest winners with works listed on the New York Times best-seller's list include Stephen Baxter, Jo Beverly, Leonard Carpenter, Nancy Farmer, Karen Joy Fowler, Robert Reed, Patrick Rothfus, Dean Wesley Smith, Sean Williams, Dave Wolverton and David Zindell. In addition to Kevin J. Anderson, well-known contest judges include national best-selling authors such as Orson Scott Card, Anne McCaffrey, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Tim Powers, Robert Sawyer, Robert Silverberg and K.D. Wentworth.

Inspired by best-selling author L. Ron Hubbard, the merit-based Writers of the Future writing contest was initiated 25 years ago to discover and encourage talented beginning writers of science fiction and fantasy. The Contest was later expanded to include illustrators whose winners have also gone on to successful illustration and design careers. Writers of the Future Volume 24 (Galaxy Press, 2008) features the works of all winners and is due in bookstores this March.

For information on how to enter the contests, go to www.writersofthefuture.com.

'Project Egypt: A Politically Incorrect View': An American Contractor Offers Uncensored Take on Egyptian Project and Society

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- "Project Egypt: A Politically Incorrect View" (published by AuthorHouse), a new book by Patrick Roelle, offers a no-holds-barred account of his time working and living in Cairo as a construction project director. From a building project that is plagued with difficulties to the eye-opening realities of life for the city's citizens, Project Egypt is a straightforward account of a country that Roelle believes is both modern and of the Third World.

"Project Egypt" is a construction project based in Cairo. The purpose of the project is to build the Egyptian army and its corrupt general a new computer center. Managed by a slew of government agencies -- each contributing additional headaches to what should be a simple project -- and funded by the American taxpayer, the endeavor was administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, the project is managed by an inexperienced Seattle-based American company as a joint venture with an Egyptian construction company. The entire operation is overseen by the U.S. Office of Military Cooperation.

With classic bureaucratic hurdles and "a society of rampant corruption but no rules," the project must endure construction managers who bicker with the Core of Engineers and General Aziz, the corrupt general overseeing the project. Roelle recounts a variety of over-the-top occurrences at the site, including trees being placed under military arrest and floods caused by local construction methods dating back to the Middle Ages. The project ultimately runs 8 months longer than originally planned.

While highlighting the sometimes ridiculous scenes and politics surrounding the project, Roelle also describes the way of life for the citizens outside the military compound. Poverty and indifference are daily challenges for the citizens of Egypt who have lived the same way since the land was ruled by pharaohs. Roelle offers insight into the goodness of Egyptian people and the awe-inspiring moments spent in this ancient Middle Eastern metropolis. Roelle juxtaposes the corrupt and self-serving actions of those involved in "Project Egypt" with the realities of people in the surrounding villages.

"Project Egypt: A Politically Incorrect View" offers humor and compassion, as well as an uncensored view of a foreign construction project's corrupt and incompetent managers. Roelle offers a unique glimpse inside a society often shielded from American view.

About the Author: Patrick Roelle is retired from 45 years in the construction business. He resides in a coastal town in Florida, but he has lived, traveled and worked in numerous countries throughout the Middle East and Africa. "Project Egypt: A Politically Incorrect View" is the author's second book and was a result of almost two years spent working and living in Egypt.

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit www.authorhouse.com.

    EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:

    Promotional Services Department
    Tel: 888-728-8467 ext. 5192
    Fax: 812-961-3133
    Email: rvaughn@authorhouse.com
    (When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

YBP Library Services Announces Full Cataloging Support for Oxford Scholarship Online eBook Collections

CONTOOCOOK, N.H., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- YBP Library Services, Inc. today announced the availability of fully customizable MARC records for all titles included in Oxford Scholarship Online eBook Collections. Oxford University Press initially launched Oxford Scholarship Online, a vast and rapidly expanding cross-searchable library which now offers quick and easy access to the full text of 2,556 Oxford books, in a subscription database in 2003, and added the perpetual purchase option in 2005. At least 450 new and recently-published books are added each year. YBP Library Services, a Baker & Taylor company and the world's largest provider of materials to academic libraries, began offering Oxford Scholarship Online to its customers late last year.

Now, whether you choose to purchase one, two or all of the 16 available subject collections YBP can easily deliver cataloging for the content of those collections, including the new updates as released. "This eContent Cataloging Service enhances our extensive technical service offerings to libraries and consortia with the option of full and customized MARC records for all titles in the Oxford Scholarship Online (OSO) library. At YBP, we continue our commitment to provide an unparalleled level of service and workflow support to our customers," said Mark Kendall Senior Vice President of Sales at YBP Library Services.

"Oxford University Press is pleased that YBP Library Services is able to provide this excellent service, enabling our mutual customers to more easily and quickly integrate Oxford Scholarship Online titles into library catalogs to ensure visibility to the end users," noted Rebecca Seger, Marketing and Sales Director, Oxford University Press. "Scholarly monographs are the foundation of the Oxford University Press publishing program and enabling the acquisition and cataloging of the e-versions to be more seamless to libraries is an essential development. YBP's eContent Cataloging Service is a perfect fit for our Oxford Scholarship Online Collection."

About YBP Library Services

YBP Library Services, a Baker & Taylor company, provides books and supporting collection management and technical services to academic, research, and special libraries in North America and around the world. GOBI(R), YBP's online, interactive bibliographic information service, provides access to 2.0 million titles in an English-language database. YBP's corporate headquarters are in Contoocook, New Hampshire, USA. Further information about the company is available on their web site, www.ybp.com.

About Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press, Inc. (OUP-US) is affiliated with Oxford University Press in the United Kingdom (OUP-UK), a department of Oxford University. OUP, Inc is a nonprofit publisher and the largest university press in the US. OUP, Inc. publishes works that further Oxford University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship and education. OUP, Inc. has become familiar to millions through a diverse publishing program that includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, Bibles, music, school and college textbooks, business and economic books, online scholarly resource sites, dictionaries and reference books, and academic journals.

OUP, Inc. produces approximately 500 new titles a year, of which about half are scholarly research monographs, and imports close to 800 titles from OUP-UK and other branch offices around the world. OUP, Inc. has ~5,000 scholarly books in print and stocks another 8,700 import titles. All publications are first vetted by OUP delegates, who are leading scholars at Oxford University and other top US institutions.

Between its offices in New York City and the Research Triangle of North Carolina, OUP, Inc. employs close to 700 individuals in the US. The U.S. books garner numerous awards each year from academic and professional societies.

Robert Kiyosaki Responds to Financial Crisis With a Free, Collaborative Book to Be Released Online

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Business Plus, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing (Hachette Book Group), announced today that one of its flagship authors, Robert T. Kiyosaki of Rich Dad Poor Dad fame, will release an innovative new book, CONSPIRACY OF THE RICH: The 8 New Rules of Money, that will be available worldwide online -- and for free.

The introduction has been released and is available on www.conspiracyoftherich.com as well as via a direct link from www.richdad.com

An unprecedented publishing event for Kiyosaki and The Rich Dad Company, CONSPIRACY OF THE RICH will be an interactive, "Wiki-style" project in which Kiyosaki will invite feedback, commentary, and questions from readers across the globe which will then be incorporated into the book as it is written and released, chapter by chapter, on the Internet. The entire process is interactive -- featuring a blog written by Kiyosaki, forums with questions related to specific chapters where readers can share their comments and respond to forum posts from other readers, and an email process by which readers can send in their questions

This bold and unique approach will enable the millions of people around the world who have put the Rich Dad principles to work in their lives -- as well as those who are challenged by today's harrowing economic times -- to engage directly with Kiyosaki and literally help him shape his new book as it is being written.

CONSPIRACY OF THE RICH will share Kiyosaki's view of global economics and why people are now finding themselves challenged by these turbulent times. As Kiyosaki attests, people not only want solutions to their financial problems, but also real answers as to what created today's economic chaos -- and how it can be eased. As CONSPIRACY OF THE RICH will make clear, what appears to be the worst of times may very well be an opportunity in the making. In Kiyosaki's opinion, people should expand their means and live a life that they want to live by investing in their financial education. "This is the right book... at the right time... at the right price," said Kiyosaki, in reference to the free and universal access to this book. "This is not the time for traditional answers. The time for this book is now... and the Web will let us do that."

"We are living in tumultuous, unsettling and frightening economic times," said Rick Wolff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Business Plus and publisher of Rich Dad Poor Dad and the 26 books in the Rich Dad series, "and Robert believes that people today, perhaps more than ever before, are hungry for information and financial education." Wolff stressed, "The fact that Robert is committed to writing and distributing a new book to the world for free is amazing to us, and indicative of his genuine concern for the challenging economic times in which we live. Today, more than ever, the world needs a voice they can trust and someone they can rely on to deliver the cold, hard facts about what is really happening in the world."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert Kiyosaki's first book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, ranks as the longest running bestseller on all four of the lists that report to Publishers Weekly -- The New York Times, Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today -- and has held a top spot on the famed New York Times bestseller list for over six years. Translated into 51 languages and available in 109 countries, the Rich Dad series has sold over 27 million copies worldwide and has dominated bestseller lists across the United States, Asia, Australia, South America, Mexico, and Europe. In 2005, Robert was inducted into the Amazon.com Hall of Fame as one of its Top 25 authors. There are currently 26 books in the Rich Dad series. www.richdad.com

About Business Plus/Hachette Book Group

Business Plus, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Book Group, publishes books in areas such as personal finance, marketing, management, economic trends, careers, and leadership. At the forefront of publishing new and provocative titles, Business Plus books address issues facing today's global business community. Bestselling Business Plus authors include Robert Kiyosaki, Jack Welch, Michael Abrashoff, Robert I. Sutton, and Stephen Leeb.

Hachette Book Group is a leading trade publisher based in New York and a division of Hachette Livre, the second largest publisher in the world. Hachette Book Group's product lines include adult, illustrated, religious, children's and audio books under the Little, Brown and Company, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Grand Central Publishing, FaithWords, Center Street, Orbit, Yen Press and Hachette Book Group Digital Media imprints.

Governor Rendell Announces Live and Learn Weekends for 2009

PA QUEST FOR FREEDOM COMPANION BOOK SERIES EXAMINES THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND CIVIL WAR

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the return of the Pennsylvania Quest for Freedom Live and Learn Weekends, which offer a forum for a unique dialogue on race, culture, and the Underground Railroad.

The events, which are free of charge, allow participants to discover the stories of the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania through a book series, conversations, and living history experiences that explore the past and present along Pennsylvania's Civil War Trails.

"Pennsylvania is committed to sharing our stories of the Underground Railroad and the role it played in shaping the history of our state and our nation," Governor Rendell said. "Through this unique program, Pennsylvania citizens and visitors can explore the sacrifices our ancestors made to preserve the union, protect the commonwealth, and achieve the Quest for Freedom."

A four-part series of Quest for Freedom Live and Learn Weekends will be held during 2009 in various locations in Pennsylvania. During each weekend, participants will discuss the selected book, take part in historic site tours, and meet with living history experts to hear the incredible stories of those who lived during this time in American history. Participants also will be encouraged to spend more time in these communities that were so deeply affected by the Underground Railroad and Civil War.

The 2009 Live and Learn series features books which explore race and culture through the themes of flight, resistance, social change, and self-empowerment. The series begins with, "The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Lincoln and the Triumph of Anti-Slavery Politics." This account by historian James Oakes sheds new light on the central issues of slavery, race, and equality in the Civil War era. Opponents at first, Lincoln and Douglass gradually became allies, and their meetings in the White House signaled a profound shift in the direction of the Civil War, and in the fate of the United States.

Live and Learn discussions of this informative book will take place Feb. 6-7 in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Chambersburg/Carlisle.

Visit www.paquestforfreedom.com to register and learn more about all four of the participating locations and dates. Suggested books can be ordered online at www.pabookstore.com/pastbo.html. Free books will be provided by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council to the first 50 people who register for each book weekend.

Quest for Freedom and the Live and Learn Weekends are projects of the Pennsylvania Tourism Office. Jump Street, the Pennsylvania Humanities Council (PHC), and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) are co-sponsors of the Quest for Freedom Live and Learn Weekends. Jump Street provides tour guides to Underground Railroad sites and first-person living history personas who will engage in dialogue about their own Quests for Freedom. PHC offers trained scholars and facilitators for the events. PHMC assists sites in the evaluation of their historic assets and provides articles on the Underground Railroad though Heritage Magazine.

American Urban Radio Network and The New Pittsburgh Courier also have provided promotional support for this project.

Pennsylvania is proud to be a partner with the National Park Services Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The Network to Freedom program is a diverse collection of resources comprised of historic sites, facilities and programs that have a verifiable association to the Underground Railroad; and, tells the story of resistance against the institution of slavery in the United States through escape and flight. Pennsylvania has more than 30 sites, facilities and programs certified by the Network to Freedom.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.

    CONTACT:        
    Chuck Ardo
    717-783-1116

    Michael Chapaloney
    717-720-1301 (Tourism)

SRA/McGraw-Hill Introduces SRA Snapshots Simply Science(TM)

Research-Based Science and Literacy Program Combines Technology with Picture Books to Engage Grades 1-2 Students in Science

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- SRA/McGraw-Hill recently expanded upon the popular methodology used in SRA Snapshots Video Science(TM) to create SRA Snapshots Simply Science(TM), a multimedia-based program designed to introduce science to students in Grades 1 and 2. SRA Snapshots Simply Science merges picture books, science facts, and simple technology to make learning science more accessible to children by tapping into their vivid imaginations.

The core science content found in SRA Snapshots Simply Science is based on the recommendations of the National Academy of Science and the National Science Teachers Association. To foster science education for young students, this program employs a systematic approach in which students See Science! Hear Science! and Learn Science! This method gives ample opportunities for differentiated instruction. SRA Snapshots Simply Science is a complete science and literacy integration, incorporating these elements:

• Multimedia science instruction
• Specialized vocabulary development
• Differentiated instruction opportunities
• Core science content

Now available, SRA Snapshots Simply Science is designed to integrate the use of video and other media, in order to increase students' understanding and retention of content in the science classroom. Videos generate excitement, allow for classroom flexibility, and enhance instruction.

Research fully supports the combination of science content and concepts with literacy skills. Like SRA Snapshots Video Science for Grades 3-5, SRA Snapshots Simply Science effectively combines the two in a successful read-aloud-based science program. Furthermore, studies show that learning science content at the same time as learning reading and comprehension skills helps young students in both their content area classes and in reading classes in the future.

"My theory in authoring this program is that fiction picture books containing science themes give students creative stories that they can then incorporate into their free play," said Dr. John Lucas, program author. "When coupled with related science facts, the fictional themes spark imaginative play both reinforcing the facts learned in school and fostering a greater desire to learn more."

Some of the research centers and professionals Dr. Lucas consulted when developing "Snapshots Simply Science" include:

• FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• The Early Care and Education Center at the University of California, Los Angeles
• Marilyn Fleer at Monash University in Australia

To learn more about SRA Snapshots Simply Science, visit: SRAonline.com/snapshots_web/home.html

About SRA/McGraw-Hill

SRA/McGraw-Hill is the top provider of specialized research-based educational programs and professional development for the elementary market. Leading programs include SRA Imagine It! reading program, Direct Instruction, SRA Number Worlds, and additional core and supplemental programs. SRA is part of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP). McGraw-Hill Education is a leading global provider of instructional, assessment, and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 60 languages. Additional information is available at MHEducation.com. For more information on SRA/McGraw-Hill's products, call 1-888-SRA-4543 and visit SRAonline.com.

    Contacts:   Lisa Tullos                    Melina Metzger
                SRA/McGraw-Hill                Paul Werth Associates
                (614) 750-7287                 (614) 224-8114 Ext. 236
                lisa_tullos@mcgraw-hill.com    mmetzger@paulwerth.com

A Mama Mia Sort of Setting for a No Country for Old Men Style Story

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Jeffrey Siger's Murder in Mykonos, Greece's best selling English-language book of the summer, has just been published in the United States. Murder in Mykonos has the makings of a classic Greek tragedy: a young woman, a reversal of fate, and a pile of bodies. But without the fates to explain away the crime, the pressure is on Athens homicide detective Andreas Kaldis to uncover the truth.

That truth lies somewhere underneath a remote mountain church where the body and another unidentified pile of bones were found. But the media isn't making Kaldis' investigation any easier. When another young woman disappears, Kaldis must plunge into ancient myths and forgotten island places, before this zealous murderer claims another victim.

"I wanted to write a story that would allow me to describe in detail the way I see Mykonos, the real beauty, the beauty of its people and of the way of life here. Since writing about flowers, pelicans and picturesque tavernas was not exactly my style, I thought that the best way to awaken the interest of the reader was through the intrigue of a murder mystery."

Murder in Mykonos is a fast-paced mystery laced with local, historical, and mythical details that Library Journal praises as having captured "the rare beauty of the Greek islands in this series debut.... His sense of place recalls Donna Leon's Venetian series, but his portrayal of rape and murder is all his own." Written with the ease and expertise of a local, this debut mystery is sure to appeal to travel buffs and mystery lovers.

The completed but not yet published sequel, Assassins of Athens, anticipated much of the current turmoil in Siger's beloved Greece, where he has been compared to Greece's father of the detective mystery, Giannis Maris. Assassins of Athens will be published there this spring in a Greek-language version and released in English in the US early next year.

Jeffrey Siger, born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, practiced law at a major Wall Street law firm and, while there, served as special Counsel to the citizens group responsible for reporting on New York City's prison conditions. He left Wall Street to establish his own New York City law firm and continued as one of its name partners. Now he lives and writes full time among the people, life, and politics of Mykonos, his adopted home of 25 years. When he's not in Greece, he enjoys his other home, a farm outside New York City.

A 21st Century Business Management Governance System Taught in Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Smarter Solutions, Inc. has enhanced the traditional Lean Six Sigma training courses by not only providing the roadmaps and tools sets for truly blending Lean and Six Sigma tools at the process improvement project execution level, but by also providing a business management governance system.

An American Management Association (AMA) MWorld Winter 2008-09 article describes a 21st century business management governance system that addresses this reinvention need. This article describes an Integrated Enterprise Excellence (IEE) business governance system for going Beyond Lean Six and the Balanced Scorecard. IEE provides a long-lasting business management framework for healthy policy-creation with a no-nonsense, structured integration of scorecards, strategic planning, business improvement, and controls.

IEE Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Black Belt training helps organizations create a risk-avoidance system that is not so dependent upon the decisions a superman or superwomen makes when running a business; e.g., Steve Jobs' success at Apple. IEE helps organizations create a system for systematically orchestrating the blending of analytics with innovation so that the enterprise and its scorecards, as a whole, benefits.

        A recent student, Mark Kocour Director of Continuous Improvement at
        MGP Ingredients, stated: "Forrest and his Team do a great job of
        teaching the concepts of Lean Six Sigma in a practical manner, and
        excel at linking these concepts to the performance of the overall
        business through use of the Integrated Enterprise Excellence project
        system.  Their grasp of knowledge in improvement methodologies is
        unparalleled, and I would highly recommend their services to any
        organization which desires to improve their overall business
        performance."

IEE Black Belt and Master Black Belt training follows the detailed roadmaps provided in a new set of books. The author, Forrest Breyfogle, describes IEE training as "not only teaching the tools but also the thought process of how to wisely use Lean and Six Sigma methodologies for both process improvement project execution and enterprise business management governance as well. The IEE Project Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (P-DMAIC) roadmap described in Volume III of the book set guides practitioners through the process improvement project execution. While, the Enterprise process DMAIC (E-DMAIC) system in Volume II provides the roadmap for creating and executing a no-nonsense business governance system that addresses today's business issues."

        Chris Ellis from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company says, "With the
        skills and tools I learned from Smarter Solutions Black Belt
        training, I am able to address organizational and business
        problems with a greater degree of effectiveness than ever
        before." 

IEE provides the framework where non-profit and for-profit organizations can reduce firefighting and move towards the 3 Rs of business; i.e., everyone doing the Right things and doing them Right, at the Right time. The IEE system helps organizations make structural risk assessments, for unintended consequence avoidance. IEE provides the organizational roadmap for achievement of the three Rs of business.

www.SmarterSolutions.com