9/25/2002 -- Later today, Que Publishing is expected to officially announce that it will be relaunching the popular Exam Cram line of certification guides.

In the deal, which was finalized Friday, Que Publishing purchased the world-wide English language rights to Exam Cram from Waterside Productions, a literary agency, for an undisclosed amount. The purchase includes the Exam Cram customer list, logos, copyrights and Web site. Waterside retains the foreign language rights to the line.

Exam Cram's previous publisher, Coriolis, folded in April after its majority-owner, Haights-Cross, decided that it was not financially viable. Waterside Productions bought the rights from Haights-Cross in June.

According to Que Certification Publishing Executive Editor Jeff Riley, Que began pursuing the Exam Cram line back in April because they felt it would be a good match for the company's existing line of certification training guides. "It's the best selling certification line of all time -- there's roughly a million books sold," he said. "There's a lot of benefit to taking over a line that's been so successful.

"The feedback we get from the market is that most people will buy...a cram-type book and a more in-depth training guide, so we feel it's a perfect complement for [our existing] line."

The books will now be called Exam Cram 2, with six appearing on the shelves by the end of this year, with a more expansive relaunch coming in early 2003. Four of the titles will be completely new books or editions. Two will be updated reissues: one for Microsoft Exam #70-270, which was published right before Coriolis went under, and the other for Microsoft exam #70-218, was at the printers when the company closed.

Riley said that all Exam Cram 2 titles will feature new practice test CDs from PrepLogic and a lower price point of $29.99. According to Riley, the line will retain everything that made it popular with readers, but will feature a more stringent internal technical review process, plus review by IT certification Web site CramSession for its seal of approval.

Ed Tittel, founder of the Exam Cram line, told CertCities.com that he's thrilled that the line has found a new lease on life. "It was a terrible shame that the previous owners had to close their doors, [but] I'm proud to realize that the series concept has enough value to be worth another publisher's while to resuscitate," he said.

Tittel, who has been hired by Que Certifiction to be the series' supervising editor, said he's looking forward to the job. "I will be pretty hands-on in helping to develop guidelines, examples, go-bys, sample materials, and in working with book buyers to help them understand where and how the Training Guides and Exam Crams can be useful to certification candidates in particular, and IT professionals in general," Tittel said. "Because previous buyers have certain expectations of the Exam Cram series, we're maintaining the usual layout, the book's look and feel, both inside and outside the covers. What's most important to keep the same, however, is the intense focus on exam coverage, relevant content, and plenty of opportunities to study and practice for the 'real thing.'"

Neil Gudovitz, foreign rights manager for Waterside Productions, said his company is looking forward to continuing to grow the series' profile worldwide. "The series has been highly successful in foreign language-markets and we anticipate this success will be bolstered by the affiliation with the respected Que name," he said. "We will be cooperating closely with Que as we undertake foreign rights representation for the series while we continue to work with those foreign publishers who have made a commitment to the series in their respective languages." -B.N.