ELVIS THE PENGUIN Rockin' Sales Records; Children's Book Debuts to Record Sales

Rockin' n' rollin' its way to the top 1% of book sales, Elvis the Penguin sold 308 books in its first month. The storybook fills a long-vacant market niche for children's books relating to Elvis Presley, and has broken two sales records since its release on November 1, 2013.

Traditionally, self-published books average sales of 100 books or less annually, or 8.3 book sales per month. Elvis the Penguin's record places it in the rare, upper echelons within the self-publishing industry, according to its publisher, David Collins, of WingSpan Press.

Author Kara Casanova recognized she had a unique, marketable storybook soon after completing the manuscript in 2006. After countless rejections from traditional publishers, she decided to self-publish Elvis the Penguin in early 2013.

"I had every belief this book, and this little character, had a place in the market, if only I could get it out there. So it was easy to make the decision to self-publish Elvis the Penguin," said Casanova. "I believed it would do well over time, but I didn't expect it to take off quite like this in its first month. It's been an incredibly exciting time, and I can't wait to see how things go as the book really begins to take off."

Elvis the Penguin's adventures begin the moment he pops out of his shell in the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. His unusual pompadour warrants his being named Elvis, and soon he's waddling in the footsteps of his famous namesake, wanting to sing and perform on stage just like the King of Rock n Roll. His many attempts to reach his dream land Elvis and his friends into one, hot, hilarious mess after another. Fast-paced and full of happy penguins, panicked flamingoes, and a bevy of beautiful Las Vegas showgirls, it's a reminder that dreams, and dreamers, come in all shapes and sizes.

Author Kara Casanova's first book of fiction and first children's book, with illustrations by Anne Lipscomb, is perfect as a read-to or early-reader book for children, but it is also a fun read for anyone interested in penguins, Elvis or a humorous good time.

Elvis the Penguin is published by WingSpan Press, www.wingspanpress.com. Available now from Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com in premium-color softcover (ISBN 978-1-59594-509-9, $17.95) and Kindle/eBook (978-1-59594-851-9, $5.95) For more information, visit www.elvisthepenguin.com.

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