Kindle only

JSWolf · 08-15-2011, 01:16 PM

Please, when you come in plugging your latest book, please don't tell us it's only available for the Kindle. That just makes you look bad. If you are going to plug your book, please make sure it's also available in ePub. But please, not ePub from Smashwords. They do a terrible job there.

Giggleton · 08-15-2011, 01:34 PM

epub is a fad, straight up HTML is the way to go.

OneandonlyDoc · 08-15-2011, 01:39 PM

Smashwords only does a terrible job if the person uploading the book isn't doing their part.

JSWolf · 08-15-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneandonlyDoc

Smashwords only does a terrible job if the person uploading the book isn't doing their part.

There is no way to do it so the code comes out clean. It's not possible from Word. Basically, Smashwords is a Calibre conversion from Word. Garbage in, garbage out. That's why it's not good. If there's a want/need to tailor the ePub to the way the reader wants it, it's not going to be as easy as it should be as it may require a lot of cleaning up. If Smashwords allowed a direct upload, the author could post clean code and problem solved.

toddos · 08-15-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giggleton

epub is a fad, straight up HTML is the way to go.

Implying epub isn't just straight up HTML with some wrapping functionality. If you can publish in straight up HTML, you can publish in epub with little to no extra effort.

jgaiser · 08-15-2011, 04:11 PM

Come on Jon. Get Calibre and convert. Not everyone can't publish their books for your needs.

DiapDealer · 08-15-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Please, when you come in plugging your latest book, please don't tell us it's only available for the Kindle.

So as long as they keep that part to themselves, it's cool, right?

anamardoll · 08-15-2011, 04:35 PM

I'll admit it bothers me when authors only have Kindle books, but not because I don't want to buy the Kindle version -- I want to leap in and tell them about all the other stores where they are missing out on sales!! I worry for indie authors, what can I say?

I can understand it, though -- it's not easy to publish in multiple format. I'm writing in Word and hand-converting to epub, and am somewhat concerned about the mobi conversion process down the line. *sigh*

GoSharks · 08-15-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Please, when you come in plugging your latest book, please don't tell us it's only available for the Kindle. That just makes you look bad. If you are going to plug your book, please make sure it's also available in ePub. But please, not ePub from Smashwords. They do a terrible job there.

So...if the author told us their book was only available as ePub you would be just as upset? I think not....
Maybe we could all pitch-in and buy Jon a pony that does more than one trick.

mr ploppy · 08-15-2011, 06:24 PM

Publishing epub anywhere except Smashwords isn't easy.

anamardoll · 08-15-2011, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Publishing epub anywhere except Smashwords isn't easy.

What? I haven't been through the B&N PubIt! engine, but I have friends who have and I don't remember it being mentioned as OMG PAINFUL.

I've also dug up links for Sony and Kobo publishing and posted them on my website before in various related posts.

I've never heard this before.

Elfwreck · 08-15-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Please, when you come in plugging your latest book, please don't tell us it's only available for the Kindle. That just makes you look bad. If you are going to plug your book, please make sure it's also available in ePub. But please, not ePub from Smashwords. They do a terrible job there.

So, "create an ePub manually and offer it for sale on your personal site, managing sales & delivery by yourself?" I suspect that's not going to be a popular choice.

Authors who follow the SW style guide get acceptable ePubs.

Where do you recommend they sell their ePubs--B&N, which requires a special app to receive & inflicts DRM on the ebooks?

I don't mind the authors who only sell Kindle ebooks; I assume I'm not part of their customer base, just like I'm not part of the customer base of people selling military dramas. I don't get offended because someone isn't intending to sell to me; there's certainly no shortage of books I want to buy but can't afford. I don't need the entire literary universe to be within my range of potential purchases.

toddos · 08-15-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

Where do you recommend they sell their ePubs--B&N, which requires a special app to receive & inflicts DRM on the ebooks?

Not necessarily true. There are plenty of DRM-free books on the Nook store. They don't make it obvious which ones are DRM-free at purchase time, but it's pretty obvious when you go to rip the DRM off and there's none to remove

abookreader · 08-15-2011, 07:09 PM

I think JSWolfe should contact Sony and demand they add mobi capability so he can read the books he wants.

GoSharks · 08-15-2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abookreader

I think JSWolfe should contact Sony and demand they add mobi capability so he can read the books he wants.

08-15-2011, 01:16 PM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,125 Karma: 144284184 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Kindle only Please, when you come in plugging your latest book, please don't tell us it's only available for the Kindle. That just makes you look bad. If you are going to plug your book, please make sure it's also available in ePub. But please, not ePub from Smashwords. They do a terrible job there.

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08-15-2011, 01:34 PM	#2
Giggleton Banned Posts: 1,687 Karma: 4368191 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle3	epub is a fad, straight up HTML is the way to go.

08-15-2011, 01:39 PM	#3
OneandonlyDoc Fearless Writer Posts: 210 Karma: 375317 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: In a mitten! Device: Kobo Wifi	Smashwords only does a terrible job if the person uploading the book isn't doing their part.

08-15-2011, 04:11 PM	#6
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Come on Jon. Get Calibre and convert. Not everyone can't publish their books for your needs.

08-15-2011, 04:35 PM	#8
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	I'll admit it bothers me when authors only have Kindle books, but not because I don't want to buy the Kindle version -- I want to leap in and tell them about all the other stores where they are missing out on sales!! I worry for indie authors, what can I say? I can understand it, though -- it's not easy to publish in multiple format. I'm writing in Word and hand-converting to epub, and am somewhat concerned about the mobi conversion process down the line. sigh

08-15-2011, 06:24 PM	#10
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Publishing epub anywhere except Smashwords isn't easy.

08-15-2011, 07:09 PM	#14
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	I think JSWolfe should contact Sony and demand they add mobi capability so he can read the books he wants.