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The Digital Reader

Charting the eBook Evolution since 2010

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Entries Tagged as 'Self-Pub'

The Writers’ Union of Canada to Vote On Accepting Self-Published Authors as Members

May 12th, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · Self-Pub → 3 Comments

2da0f0214624ec2690416d022edde855[1]Self publishing has long been accepted by readers, writers, and even (parts of) the publishing as legitimate and mainstream, but some author’s groups are still excluding even successful self-published authors from their membership roles.

But that could soon change. The CBC reported a few days ago that The Writers’ Union of Canada is expected to vote next month on whether to accept self-published authors as members. If the measure passes, TWUC will join The Author’s Guild in accepting self-published authors as members.
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Nook Press Updated: Now Lets Users Edit Previously Published eBooks

May 5th, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · Barnes & Noble, Self-Pub → 1 Comment

nook pressWhen Barnes & Noble announced Nook Press last month it was a great new platform with clever collaboration, a surprisingly powerful online editor, and other useful features.

But as great as it was, Nook Press was lacking one key feature. You couldn’t edit a previously published ebook without losing all the reviews, ratings, and other reader contributions. Last week B&N corrected that oversight.
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Nook Press Won’t Let Users Edit Previously Published eBooks

April 9th, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · Barnes & Noble, Self-Pub → 20 Comments

4085103377_38641cc64a[1]When B&N announced Nook Press earlier today I was thrilled to see that B&N was a step ahead of Amazon. The new online editing and creation tools offered hope that B&N might have the technological ability to go toe to toe with Amazon.

But then readers left comments about their experiences in using Nook Press and reality set in. It turns out that Nook Press is no better designed than PubIt. Not only are users reporting that the site crashes frequently and has broken features, one user has already found the tragic flaw that renders Nook Press useless.

Unlike KDP, you can’t edit a book after you have published it via Nook Press.
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Pressbooks Signs Distribution Deal With Bookbaby

April 9th, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · Self-Pub → 6 Comments

BookBaby-PressBooks-Page-300x215[1]B&N/Nook Media wasn’t the only company to announce major self-publishing news today. The online ebook creation service Pressbooks has just signed their second distribution deal.

Authors can now use Pressbooks to format and create an Epub ebook, and once they’re done they can upload the ebook to BookBaby.


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B&N Launches Nook Press – A New Way to Make and Sell eBooks

April 9th, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · Barnes & Noble, Self-Pub → 22 Comments

nook pressWhen Barnes & Noble launched the self-pub service Pubit in 2010, they were playing catch up to the larger and more successful Amazon KDP. Sure, Pubit accepted Epub and converted from Doc and RTF files, but it was also a distinctly second place service with some users reporting that it was clunky and awkward to use. Today that changes.
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Amazon is Now Beta Testing an Automated Cover Generator for Kindle eBooks

April 3rd, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · ebookstore news, KDP, Self-Pub → 45 Comments

kindle cover generatorThe cover image for an ebook is important to its success, but it’s also a rather difficult skill to master. Not everyone has the artistic skills to design a good cover, but in the not too distant future that will no longer be a problem.

There’s been no announcement from Amazon, but I have just learned that they are working on a new tool that will help self-pub authors make book covers cheaply, cleanly, and well.

A reader sent me this screen shot earlier today:
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B&N Email Hints at Changes to Their Self-Pub Service

April 1st, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · Barnes & Noble, Self-Pub → 17 Comments

bn pubit logoBarnes & Noble sent out a teaser email today to authors that sell their ebooks via B&N PubIt. The email is vague in the extreme but it suggests that some type of announcement is imminent:
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Dymocks to Shut Down Vanity Press D Publishing

March 12th, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · Self-Pub → 2 Comments

titlegraphic[1]The Australian bookstore chain Dymocks has just announced that they are shutting down their vanity press subsidiary. There is a notice on the D Publishing website that informs visitors that operations will cease on 25 March 2013, and authors currently participating in the program have received an email notifying them of the change.
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Yet Another Example of Why You Should Read All Contracts: Autharium

March 10th, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · Self-Pub → 8 Comments

logo_design_autharium_by_lvargas-d3d35z7[1]Random House made a splash this week when the SFWA revealed that RH’s new digital-only imprints (Hydra, Alibi, Flirt) exploited authors with terrible contract terms.

The contract enabled Random House to grab all rights (including subsidiary rights), pay authors nothing in advance, and even bill authors for what would be considered usual business costs (design, editing, and the like).
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Lulu Signs Deal With the Devil – Now Partnered with Author Solutions

March 8th, 2013 by Nate Hoffelder · scam, Self-Pub → 15 Comments

LuluLogo[1]Oh how the mighty have fallen.

The POD and self-pub service Lulu announced earlier this week that they were launching a new suite of marketing and publishing services. Authors can now choose one of several overpriced bundles of services (starting at $999) or authors can overpay for individual service. For more information, visit the Lulu website.
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