Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Any air travel consumer traveling either domestically or internationally.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Mishandled luggage rates have soared to record high numbers for over 7 years. According to the New York Times this past fall, close to 5 million air travelers at the end of 2007 will find themselves scratching their heads at a baggage carousel. On May 3, 2006 a Congressional panel called for a special meeting with the senior VP of the Air Transportation Association to see what was being done to address the soaring problems with checked and carry-on luggage. In the end the panel was sympathetic but concluded there was no help on the way. This was my reason for writing The Empty Carousel. This little book is packed with valuable information and helpful advice for the modern traveler. The advice in the book will probably save you many times its cost in contents and inconvenience when you luggage is lost, damaged, delayed, or pilfered.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Scott Mueller is passionate about making a difference for air travelers and their luggage as he has successfully demonstrated for almost 20 years as a veteran of the airline industry. Scott helped thousands of air travelers in his former career as the system manager for baggage services for more than 50 cities. Scott realized his customers all had one thing in common; they did not know the baggage process, their rights or what to do when their luggage was lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered. Scott realized that the information the air travelers needed was both vague at best, and difficult to find. Scott decided the only way to make a difference in the continual spiraling world of baggage handling for the air traveler was to write The Empty Carousel so travelers could make an informed decision and take back some control of their personal property when they travel. Scott served as a member of the Air Transportation Association’s baggage services management council and attended yearly meetings in Washington D.C. Scott has appeared on local and national radio and has had multiple interviews with the media.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: The Empty Carousel is the first book that specifically addresses the soaring problems associated with mishandled luggage. The Empty Carousel is the insiders guide to help educate the travelers on the entire process involved with luggage handling, it will provide the information travelers need to take back some control of what happens to their luggage when they travel and what they need to do to protect themselves and their property from becoming another statistic in the declining world of checked and carry-on airline luggage handling. The Empty Carousel will teach the air traveler on what to do if they have luggage problems on their trip.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: The author, Scott T. Mueller, was manager for baggage services for an airline. He knows what he is talking about and he shares it with you. The book has ten short chapters: Baggage Check-in & Proper ID, Luggage & Locks, Before You Pack, Luggage Damage & What’s Covered, What Thieves Target and When, Domestic vs International Compensation, Luggage Security at the Carousel, Where Does Luggage Go When It Disappears, Filing a Luggage Claim with the Airline, and Make the Best of Your Travel Experience.

The text of each chapter is concisely and clearly written. There is a little teaser box at the beginning to get you to read it. And at the end there is a nice list of the points made in the chapter. Simple, Handy, and Helpful. Author Scott T. Mueller cites statistics indicating 10,000 bags are lost each day in the United States alone. He presents solid and practical advice for avoiding this common, annoying and even costly travel pitfall.

You can visit the www.TheEmptyCarousel.com to view a link for the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) monthly domestic airline baggage mishandle ratios as reported by the airlines. You can email Scott at Scott@TheEmptyCarousel.com before, during or after your travel for any baggage related questions and he will offer you real time help to your situation. The Empty Carousel is currently available on Amazon.com and through the website, and will be available soon at other locations such as Airport book stores, Target, Barnes and Noble, Borders and more.

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Explore Costa Rica is tailored for any visitor to the country who wants to learn about Costa Rica’s ecology, government, culture, restaurants, as well as where to stay and what to eat. Even people who are staying in package hotels will find the book most useful and informative.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Explore Costa Rica is designed expressly to help you better understand and appreciate the country. The book also tells you how to help avoid theft, how to get around and what to prepare for. So you’ll learn about the lifestyles of the monkeys you’ll be seeing, what to expect to find when dining at a Costa Rican restaurant, the environmental problems facing a park or reserve you’re visiting, and where to avoid the tourist traps and explore the real Costa Rica.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I’ve been writing travel guidebooks to Costa Rica more than 15 years, so I have a lot of contacts and a lot of familiarity with the country. I’ve also traveled extensively, both in Central America and elsewhere in the tropics, so I have a wide range of experiences with which to both evaluate and compare Costa Rica.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: Most of the guidebooks to Costa Rica are written for series titles owned by large corporations such as Pearson, Wiley, and Viacom, and you’ll often find them dry to read. Mine is more individual, has a good sense of humor and contains insights you will not find elsewhere. I have sidebars on some special topics (such as coral reefs, permaculture, rainforests, and environmental issues) that you will not find in other guides.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: The guide includes numerous color and black-and-white photos and illustrations, 36 maps, and thousands of fax numbers, web sites, and e-mail addresses. Explore Costa Rica is distributed in the US and Canada by SCB Distributors (www.scbdistributors.com). Gazelle distributes Manatee Press titles in Europe and the UK. If your bookstore does not have Explore Costa Rica, ask them to order a copy. Purchase it on the internet at http://www.EcoCostaRica.com where you will also find valuable information that will help you plan your trip.