From: newsdistribution@gaydata.com Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 19:57:55 -0500 Subject: CONTROVERSIAL GAY AUTHOR TAKES CENTER STAGE AT iUNIVERSE.COM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Sheri Kaye Sand and Glass Creatives 818.752.8696 dalewilliam@email.com CONTROVERSIAL GAY AUTHOR TAKES CENTER STAGE AT iUNIVERSE.COM Author's Novel and Online Community Catch the Eye of the Large Internet Book Seller June 14, 2000, Los Angeles- iUniverse.com, dubbed the Internet's largest bookseller is celebrating Gay Pride Month in a new way this year. By featuring one of its most notorious gay authors. Dale William, author of My Clothes are Overcoming Me, is front and center on iUnvierse's marketplace homepage during the Pride celebration month. Called "fresh and irreverent" by iUniverses representatives, the author has splashed into the iUniverse publishing scene the best way he knows how-loudly. Dale William caught iUniverse's attention through his outrageous book and the online community he created within their website. Dale William's Padded Room is an open forum for anyone to join, participate, and sound off. Members are encouraged to submit articles and opinion that are featured within the community and all over iUnvierse. The community has quickly grown in the two weeks it's been open and fast brought the attention of iUniverse employees. With membership in his community growing daily, William has created a place where everyone is welcome and no content is rejected. William also produces a daily opinion column called "Out of the Will," and that's where he's really been noticed. "I started writing the column just to get some content in the community," he says. "Within the first week, I knew I'd have to start writing it daily. People were really drawn to it and asking for more." The focus of the column is to talk about topics no one else wants to talk about. "I've really put a lot of thought into the column. I want to provoke people to look beyond their hang-ups and taboos. So far, I haven't had a complaint," the 27 year-old author says. Also featured on the Marketplace and in the "Padded Room" is William's novel My Clothes are Overcoming Me. The book, recently published by iUniverse, is a fictionalized account of William's early adult life in Montana. The novel recently caused stirs on the internet when excerpts were leaked before publication and after it's release. "It's been a pretty wild ride," says William, who has received threats over the publication of the controversial book. "But I'm still moving forward," he confirms. IUniverse.com is an online publisher and bookseller of current and out-of-print literature. Owned in part by Barnes and Noble, the web-based publisher has changed the face of publishing with its Internet and on-demand printing. Dale William's feature on the marketplace will be available through the month of June.