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#1 |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Norfolk, England
Device: Kindle Oasis
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Where to Sell?
I'm just about ready to start selling my first commercial ebook. I currently have it nicely formatted in ePub format, bar a few final tweaks, and I'll be able to get a (poorer) version done in Mobipocket without too much trouble that I could then convert with Calibre to other formats if necessary. And I can make a PDF version as well, since I already have files for the print version where the visible page area isn't too much more than a 6" eInk screen.
And I've now found that there's not many places where I can sell it. Amazon: I'm not in the US, I don't have a US bank account. And anyway, they'd want 65% of the purchase price. With royalties to be paid to the author and illustrator, that leaves very little in the kitty for me! Mobipocket: Not accepting new publishers, and would also want 65% Fictionwise: I'm not big enough for them Smashwords: They seem to only accept ebooks made by using their generic conversion from RTF. Otherwise they seem excellent. There is some mention of Premiun Distribution of ePub that sounds interesting, but there's not much detail on the site about it. Lulu: Only PDF [EDIT: And now ePub too] Own site using Google: Yes, but low traffic Own site using PayPal: Yes, but low traffic Have I missed anyone? Currently it looks like Smashwords is my best bet, but I dread what's going to happen to my formatting! All suggestions gratefully received. [EDIT: A useful resource: http://ebookarchitects.com/conversions/retailers.php which lists all current options for selling through retailers.] Last edited by pdurrant; 11-18-2009 at 12:58 PM. Reason: Added link to useful web site |
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#2 |
Guru
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Join Date: May 2007
Device: Galaxy Tab A (2019) - iPhone 11 - KA1 - Onyx Boox Nova Pro
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What about baen.com?
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#3 |
Wizard
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Join Date: May 2009
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#4 |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Karma: 315126578
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Norfolk, England
Device: Kindle Oasis
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I did consider webscription.net (aka Arnold Bailey), but they are really a SF/Fantasy house, and I don't think they are taking ebooks from anyone except carefully selected partners.
On a more positive note, I wrote to smashwords and got back an encouraging response. I'll probably go with them initially, perhaps with direct downloads from my website as well. Unless anyone has other suggestions? |
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#5 | |
Wizard
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Quote:
Thanks! - Ahi |
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#6 |
Wizard
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: In my own imagination.
Device: Sony Prs 650, 505
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I would have thought Smashwords was the best option, I have found their formatting to be generally satisfactory and they most definitely return the most generous portion of fees to the author of anybody.
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#7 |
Where tech and story meet
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Device: iPad
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Agreed with Smashswords. But why not do Kindle too? What do you have to lose? I understand the concern with regards to distribution fees, but they are a large and accessible market.
MFS |
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#8 |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Norfolk, England
Device: Kindle Oasis
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They don't accept books from publishers who do not have a US presence and bank account or credit card. Otherwise I would.
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#9 |
Where tech and story meet
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Device: iPad
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That's not actually true. You need a TIN - or a Tax Payer Identification Number. I'm Canadian and applied and received one without a great deal of difficulty. Might different from the UK. I have no US bank account. They just send me checks.
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#10 | |
Wizard
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Quote:
Do you pay US taxes? - Ahi |
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#11 |
Where tech and story meet
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Depends on your countries deal with the US. Canadians do not pay US taxes if they are non residents. UK may well have some withholdings - I don't know.
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#12 | |
Wizard
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Quote:
I'm guessing we are both Canadian... so your example should apply fully to me. - Ahi |
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#13 |
Where tech and story meet
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Nothing that I'm aware of, Ahi. It's more so that Amazon can keep them abreast of my USD income I believe. And, yes, I'm Canadian and don't have dual citizenship or anything like that.
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#14 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Smashwords isn't a bad way to get your book out there, and they do offer guidance on how to format your book for the best output on their site. Although more exotic layouts might strain their system, your basic chapter and paragraph book should render just fine there.
Keep in mind, though, that a lot of people upload books to Smashwords... you could have as much of a visibility problem there as anywhere else... don't just assume you'll see "loads of hits" just by virtue of being there. (Same thing goes for the Kindle store.) The secret is in your marketing, whatever your book's location, to generate sales. (With successful marketing, your own site or a Paypal site might do as well). |
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#15 |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Norfolk, England
Device: Kindle Oasis
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You're completely correct, of course. Marketing is the really tricky bit. But it'll be nice to have it for sale somewhere soon.
I've decided to go the PDF route at Lulu.com, the multi-format at Smashwords, and custom ePub at my site, with links from my site to the other sales locations. |
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Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
For Every 100 Books amazon Sell In Physical, they Sell 48 Kindle Books | yagiz | News | 3 | 12-01-2009 10:55 AM |