This week Smashwords announced that all 100,000 of the e-books they have in their catalogue will be available to public libraries through Baker & Taylor (a large distribution firm). What does this mean to self-publishers? It means we have another avenue for selling books!
Just who is Smashwords? They are the leading distributor of independently published e-books. They distribute to such online retailers as Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, and Diesel eBook Store. Their books are also available for certain mobile e-reading applications such as Blio, Aldiko, Stanza and FBReader. It is free, easy and fast to get your book converted and available for readers to download. Dan Poynter highly recommends them.
Have a look at their website and blog to see if this would be a good fit for you.
When I finish converting my books for Kindle, I'll do them in Smashword and report to all of you.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Is there an easy way to convert books to e-books?
Amazon.com has detailed instructions on how to turn your book into a Kindle e-book. It gives directions for both Mac and PC platforms. But the basic premise is that you have to use your original Word document to make the change. They recommend Word because it's easy to format. If you have your book broken into separate files for each chapter, start a file called "Your Book, Kindle version" and copy/past each chapter into the one file. Insert a Page Break at the end of each chapter. Save your file to a .doc file and not .rtf or .docx. The newer versions of Word do not translate well to Kindle.
I am now converting Self Publishing in Canada Second Edition to a file for the Kindle reader. Of course I will use other formats too. Most public libraries across Canada are using the Kobo reader as their platform for lending e-books. That is a whole different format to convert our books into. So why can't they just have a standard? Is there an easy way to convert books to e-books?
I am now converting Self Publishing in Canada Second Edition to a file for the Kindle reader. Of course I will use other formats too. Most public libraries across Canada are using the Kobo reader as their platform for lending e-books. That is a whole different format to convert our books into. So why can't they just have a standard? Is there an easy way to convert books to e-books?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Why I am changing direction on self-publishing
After much discussion, we have decided not to self-publish printed books anymore. In 2011 we put out an out-of-print book by a deceased author and the Second Edition of Self Publishing in Canada. Even though we have a distributor and even though we have marketed the book, sales are not as good as we had expected. The question became, "Do keep doing this as a hobby or find another way to self-publish?" The truth is we can't afford this as a hobby, so we need to find another way.
We are committing ourselves to publishing e-books. The sales of e-readers was phenomenal at Christmas and we see it as a less expensive way to get our message out without either having to put up the funds to pay for printing costs or find a place to store books. I am currently formatting Self Publishing in Canada and All On Her Own to a Kindle format. Then I have to completely type up Good Morning Quadra since nothing will read that kind of disk anymore.
Does this mean the print book is dead? Not at all. It's just not the right fit for us at this time. Check in regularly and learn about the new adventure...and how to self-publish the old fashioned way.
We are committing ourselves to publishing e-books. The sales of e-readers was phenomenal at Christmas and we see it as a less expensive way to get our message out without either having to put up the funds to pay for printing costs or find a place to store books. I am currently formatting Self Publishing in Canada and All On Her Own to a Kindle format. Then I have to completely type up Good Morning Quadra since nothing will read that kind of disk anymore.
Does this mean the print book is dead? Not at all. It's just not the right fit for us at this time. Check in regularly and learn about the new adventure...and how to self-publish the old fashioned way.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
New international organization for self-publishers
A British author and former literary agent has established an international non-profit organization for self-published authors. The Alliance of Independent Authors will represent the interests of self-publishers when they have to deal with agents, booksellers, wholesalers, and trade publishing companies.
Organizer Orna Nass hopes to sign up 500 members in the first year. She plans to offer a newsletter, a helpline, monthly meetings, and a biannual conference. This could be a real boon for self-publishers. Even though it is in Britain, it might we worth looking at.
Their website will be live in a few weeks. I will post the website when it comes online.
Organizer Orna Nass hopes to sign up 500 members in the first year. She plans to offer a newsletter, a helpline, monthly meetings, and a biannual conference. This could be a real boon for self-publishers. Even though it is in Britain, it might we worth looking at.
Their website will be live in a few weeks. I will post the website when it comes online.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Distribution for self-publishers
Self-published author David Korinetz started Red Tuque Books to help others distribute their own books. He sells books to Canadian libraries and any independent bookstore that uses BookManager. He does not sell to Chapters/Indigo.
In order to be listed in BookManager, an author has to have a distributor. Red Tuque Books has filled this need.
Chapters/Indigo's terms are just too harsh for the little guy. They want too large a discount, and expect to be able to return unsold books "anytime and in any condition." Small publishers would lose too much money.
Contact David at http://www.redtuquebooks.ca/ or phone him at 778-476-5750.
Make 2012 the year you get your book into print!
In order to be listed in BookManager, an author has to have a distributor. Red Tuque Books has filled this need.
Chapters/Indigo's terms are just too harsh for the little guy. They want too large a discount, and expect to be able to return unsold books "anytime and in any condition." Small publishers would lose too much money.
Contact David at http://www.redtuquebooks.ca/ or phone him at 778-476-5750.
Make 2012 the year you get your book into print!
Self Publishing workshop March 10 in Victoria
Self Publishing Workshop about the business side of writing and self-publishing. Saturday, March 10 from 1-4:30 pm at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre in Victoria, BC. Only $50! Speakers are Bernice Lever of the Canadian Author Association and Joyce Sandilands of Whitlands Publishing. Register at 250-885-9010 or www.3pennypublishing.com.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Amazon dramatically drops price of Kindle reader
When Amazon unveiled the new Kindle Fire, a tablet style computer, they dramatically lowered the price of the Kindle readers. Readers can now purchase a basic Kindle reader for as low as $79 (US). What does this mean for self-publishers?
It means that more people are going to be reading e-books - and especially Amazon.com e-books. It is easy and inexpensive for a self-publisher to make their book into an e-book and post it on Amazon.com. There is no printing or formatting cost. Amazon has clear instructions on how to turn your document into an e-book. It just doesn't get easier than that.
It means that more people are going to be reading e-books - and especially Amazon.com e-books. It is easy and inexpensive for a self-publisher to make their book into an e-book and post it on Amazon.com. There is no printing or formatting cost. Amazon has clear instructions on how to turn your document into an e-book. It just doesn't get easier than that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)