Delaware Authors: Dan Shortridge

There's no place quite like Delaware. Where else can you drive the length of the state in three hours, bump into a US Senator at the grocery store, and see the preserved hull of a 1798 shipwreck-all in the same day? It may be one of the smallest states in the Union, but Delaware has countless hidden gems to offer visitors and residents alike. 100 Things to Do in Delaware Before You Die is your handbook to discovering these diamonds in the Diamond State, from the warm ocean beaches to bucolic farm country, complete with family-friendly listings and must-do itineraries. Try the best beach popcorn and the unique creation known as scrapple. Get ready for outdoor adventure like paddling into primeval forests or watching birds from all over the Atlantic flyway. Tour a Civil War island prison, watch a movie in a classic single-screen theatre, and find the best antique shopping around.Delaware experts Rachel Kipp and Dan Shortridge will escort you around the First State's best-kept secrets. From horseshoe crabs to Colonial architecture, their detailed inside scoops will fascinate visitors and locals alike.

Getting good PR is easier--and cheaper--than you think! If you want to get media attention, you don't need to spend a dime--and you definitely don't have to pay someone to do the work for you. Here's how to do it yourself. In DIY Public Relations, PR and marketing expert Dan Shortridge lays out a roadmap for your local organization, small business, or nonprofit to tell its story and spread the word. If you don't have a communications and marketing staff, if you're just getting started in your PR career, or if you've just been told to "get us on the news," this is the book to read. Full of hands-on advice scaled to the local level, it draws on the author's more than 20 years of experience in community journalism and state-level PR to show how to ace a media interview, organize a successful press event, and steer your organization through a crisis. "Getting your news out there isn't about making friends with reporters or having a giant list of contacts--it's about having a good story and telling it in the most effective way possible," says Shortridge, who's helped advise nonprofits, small businesses, and government agencies. "You don't need a lot of money--or any money--and you can do it all yourself with some simple tools and by following these techniques." Business owners, PR and marketing professionals and nonprofit leaders will share their insights and tips to maximize positive publicity. You'll learn about how to research targeted media outlets, pick the best time for reaching out, handle all the tiny details with confidence, and write a news release so an editor will run your story without changing a word. With field-tested advice on every page drawn from newsrooms and PR people from around the country, readers will get practical guidance on how to: Pitch a story and stick the landing for success Adapt one of 14 specific story angles perfect for local organizations Make those first connections with local reporters Use bridging statements to handle a tough question Write well and clearly using seven simple steps Avoid saying "no comment" even when you don't want to comment Attract and take care of elected officials and other VIPs Define, research, and reach your audience Be consistent with your media outreach Build a crisis communications plan that will let you sleep at night One key chapter focuses on repurposing materials for the media into content for annual reports, social media, website copy, and newsletters--showing how PR can fit seamlessly into an overall marketing plan. Another chapter contains 16 tried-and-true tips on what not to do when working with the media, including playing secretive games or falling for scams. As a bonus, it features a toolkit with examples and templates for writing a hard news announcement, event preview, media advisory, calendar item, staff promotion or hiring news, and crisis statements. DIY Public Relations is your complete guide for media success.

Delaware may be known primarily for that iconic Wayne's World scene, for tax-free shopping, and for President Joe Biden. Secret Delaware: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure pulls back the curtain on the First State's historic happenings and modern institutions, showcasing the people, places, and artifacts that make Delaware what it is.Learn the stories of people like the Black ballplayer who had an astounding career in the Negro Leagues and the newspaper reporter who discovered an unknown shipwreck while she was strolling on the beach. Dive deep into Delaware history, from the standing stones that make up the border with Maryland to the site where the United States flag is said to have first flown in battle.You'll read about how a children's book author created the modern image of the buccaneer, how a quarantine center for immigrants is now a tremendously popular state park, and how a lab experiment led to a decades-long economic boom for one small town.Secret Delaware: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure will help guide you on adventures to discover the secret of eternal life, the story behind a world-famous LGBTQ destination, and the resting place of British Royal Navy sailors who died in 1798.Local authors and former reporters Rachel Kipp and Dan Shortridge will take you on a whirlwind, behind-the-scenes tour of Delaware's oddities, irregularities, and strange stuff.