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Conversations with the Inspiring Linda Foster Radke

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Foster Radke.

Linda is the president of Story Monsters LLC and publisher of Story Monsters Ink® magazine. For more than 30 years, she has been ahead of the game in producing and marketing award-winning books for all ages. Clients and the media describe Linda as an industry leader in creativity, innovation, and customer service. She has received numerous publishing, public relations, and marketing awards, including being named “Book Marketer of the Year” by Book Publicists of Southern California. Tireless in her efforts of helping authors make their dreams a reality, Linda’s motto is, “You can’t compromise on quality. Do it right or don’t do it all!”

Linda’s foray into publishing began with a desire to print a how-to book to complement the household employment agency she owned. For her, teased on more than one occasion about having “printer’s ink in her veins,” the experience of publishing the book was exhilarating, which prompted her to change careers without looking back. In 1985, she launched Five Star Publications, Inc. She went on to add marketing and publicity services, networking opportunities, and special event coordination with the goal to help deserving authors achieve visibility.

A former special education teacher for grades K-12, she is dedicated to helping kids develop a love for reading and writing. To that end, she created the Story Monsters Approved! designation program which tells parents, teachers, and librarians they are giving children the very best. In 2014, she published her very first magazine, Story Monsters Ink, which has been named among the “great magazines for kids and teens” by School Library Journal. On the heels of the success of the Story Monster brand, in 2016, she founded Story Monsters LLC to bring all of her services together under one umbrella. Today, she continues to target and brand the services Story Monsters LLC offers to authors, children, parents, teachers, and librarians with programs such as the Dragonfly Book Award Contests, School Express Press, and AuthorBookings.com.

Linda is also a member of the Children’s Book Council, National Federation of Press Women, and Independent Book Publishing Association. Based in Chandler, Arizona, Linda is passionate about her work and is invested in serving her community. Her personal hobbies include camping, photography, and enjoying time with her family and their German Shepard, Riley.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Do something right and striving for excellence is never a road taken without a few bumps along the way. You will learn from those bumps. Remember to listen to your gut and know that going against your gut will result in new lessons to be learned.

Think about marketing before you start any business. Know your target market and learn how to reach them.

Surround yourself with a dynamic team and listen to the voice of experience.

what should we know about Story Monsters LLC? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our Mission
Story Monsters LLC is home to the award-winning Story Monsters Ink® magazine, the literary resource for teachers, librarians, and parents — selected by School Library Journal as one of the best magazines for kid and teens.

We also help authors of all genres strive for excellence through our marketing and publicity services, Dragonfly Book Awards contests, Story Monsters Approved! The awards program, and opportunities to connect with schools and the media.

You have come to the right place. A place to tell your story.

Our Magazine
Story Monsters Ink®, the literary resource for teachers, librarians, and parents, is an award-winning magazine that offers the latest news on children’s books and products, celebrity and independent author profiles, book reviews, activities, reading guides, specially featured columns, and more! It’s a monster of a magazine, filled with great reads for growing minds!

Story Monsters Ink has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services. Gold Award Recipient, Mom’s Choice Awards.

Named among the “great magazines for kids and teens” by School Library Journal.

2016 Irwin Award winner for “Best Publisher of a Literary Magazine” and “Best Editorial Director”

Our Services
Story Monsters LLC is committed to providing the highest level of marketing and publicity and consulting services to our clients. Under the helm of Linda F. Radke, our team of skilled professionals brings more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Every program is individually tailored to meet each author’s specific goals. We take pride in each and every printed page and strive for excellence in our services we provide and in the relationships we build. We are passionate to help both aspiring and established authors reach new heights.

Our Programs
Tireless in our efforts to give deserving authors a winning chance, Story Monsters LLC proudly sponsors the following programs:

#CAUGHTREADING
A campaign started by Story Monsters Ink to encourage folks of all ages to pick up a book and read!

AuthorBookings.com
A place that gives authors, artists, and speakers the opportunity to connect with schools and the media.

Dragonfly Book Awards
The Royal Dragonfly and Purple Dragonfly Book Awards are prestigious national book contests recognizing exceptional authors for excellence in writing and publishing.

School Express Press
A program that makes it possible for schools, teachers, and librarians who want to print individual or classroom student projects, creative writing projects, school histories or other anthologies on a budget.

Story Monster on the Road
Story Monster is an ambassador for literacy and opens the world of reading to folks of all ages and Story Monsters LLC supports the efforts of authors at events that promote books and reading.

Story Monsters Approved!
A program showcasing “books worth devouring.” A Story Monsters Approved! A book must inspire, inform, teach or entertain, and adhere to rigorous standards of excellence.

Giving Back
Story Monsters Ink magazine and Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California (RIFSoCal) have teamed up to create home libraries for kids and motivate them to read.

The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a team you can trust to deliver a product of the highest quality while providing superior service, you have come to the right place. Story Monsters LLC is the place to tell your story!

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
My parents always believed in me. The road to growing up was not easy, but the foundation was based on unconditional love. It instilled in me the confidence to take a risk and to believe in myself. My grandmother always told me that my name should always be like a star and her life was a true inspiration.

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