Through IndyPublish your book is finished and is available for purchase at online bookstores and thousands of traditional bookstores through the Books-in-Print database. Now you need to market it. A press release is one of several excellent tools for doing so. A press release is a news announcement about your book; the news being that it is available, or soon will be available, for purchase. Where you send it and how to use it will be subjects of upcoming articles. Here we will discuss only the writing of a press release. In short, a press release is designed to be sent to editors of news media, such as newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV stations, in the hope that they will find it interesting, call you, write about it or interview you, thus generating publicity. Here is how to develop one.

The elements of a press release are as follows:

	Heading that states "For Immediate Release";
	Book publication date;
	Contact Information (i.e., author name, phone number and e-mail);
	Catchy headline designed to hook the reader;
	Opening paragraph that immediately gets to the main point of the release (which is to announce your book publication or upcoming publication);
	Supporting paragraphs that contain:

- A supporting quote
- Additional intriguing details about the book
- Additional details about your credentials, expertise, any other coverage, etc.;

A "For further information, please visit [appropriate website]" statement;

Book information to include

- Book title
- Author name
- Publication date
- Price
- Number of pages
- ISBN number.

Press releases are written in a journalistic style, meaning they introduce the primary point and then support it with quotes and additional relevant details. The style is straightforward and the release should not contain any "salesy" language such as lavish praise or hype. It should sell by creating further questions and intrigue in your reader's mind. The goal is to get interested editors, buyers, and other people to contact you about your book. The way to do this is to:

	Create a headline that really hooks the reader;
	Make sure the opening line of your first paragraph is intriguing;
	Use a quote that serves as a testimonial to your book such as praise from a fellow expert (e.g., if your book is a non-fiction book about business finance, a quote from a recognized expert would be good) or recognized author if is fiction;
	Intriguing supporting paragraphs such as a brief synopsis if it is a fiction book, or a few major bullet points if it is a non-fiction book.

Press releases typically are one page, but can extend to two. It is best to keep them to one page if possible.