iBookstore - so I must have a Mac to publish, right?

[karenbryant]

Hi all,

I'm looking into listing my books on the iBookstore. Reading their requirements, it appears I need a Mac OS. Is that right? Is there no workaround for Windows users? Or does it mean I'll have to buy Mac in order to list my titles?

Thanks,
Karen

[frahse]

Originally Posted by karenbryant

Hi all,

I'm looking into listing my books on the iBookstore. Reading their requirements, it appears I need a Mac OS. Is that right? Is there no workaround for Windows users? Or does it mean I'll have to buy Mac in order to list my titles?

Thanks,
Karen

I am no expert on this, but I don't think you need a Mac computer. I think you might only need iTunes and an account and I have had those myself. Someone with more Apple expertise will know more, I am sure.

If you have to use a Mac, a friend, or a library should be able to help, or you can get a used Mac. I have relatives and all their Apple computers are bought used.

[Hellmark]

You do need a mac to run iBooks Author. You also can only read iBooks purchased ebooks kn an iOS device. You can't even read on a mac. (iBooks Author is only for making)

[Muckraker]

If you want to list directly with Apple then you need a Mac since the software they require you to upload with will only run on Mac (that's right--upload with. The same thing you can do on a website anyplace else). I bought a Mac for this sole purpose and went through six months of headaches early this year in my quest to post books directly with Apple. Every step is complicated, takes forever, and there is NO support from Apple on anything. I think the largest company on the planet could find a few pennies in the budget to hire someone to answer the phone.

I was set up with Amazon and BN and had books up within a day. When I had finally jumped through all Apple's hoops and submitted the book it then sat in "Quality Assurance" status--for three months.

If you are going to post with Apple I highly recommend just using one of their aggregators. (Ingram, Smashwords, Lulu in the US and Bookwire for international)

I have 22 books I was going to post there but after the first one I unplugged the Mac and never looked back. It blows my mind that a company that big could be so incompetent, unreachable, and get away with treating their customers and content providers like such crap. And yes, I am bitter.

[karenbryant]

Hi Thanks for your detailed reply. What sort of royalty cut do Lulu take if I list through them to the iBookstore?

[RobertLCollins]

I go through Smashwords, which only takes about 30%. Smashwords also gets you into other stores like Kobo and Sony.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by RobertLCollins

I go through Smashwords, which only takes about 30%. Smashwords also gets you into other stores like Kobo and Sony.

I agree. This is what I do. I have a mac and the software required, but it is better, IMO, to let Smash worry about it.

I go direct to Amazon, and probably will go direct to B&N with my next book, but for the rest I let Smashwords handle it.

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by Muckraker

If you want to list directly with Apple then you need a Mac since the software they require you to upload with will only run on Mac (that's right--upload with. The same thing you can do on a website anyplace else). I bought a Mac for this sole purpose and went through six months of headaches early this year in my quest to post books directly with Apple. Every step is complicated, takes forever, and there is NO support from Apple on anything. I think the largest company on the planet could find a few pennies in the budget to hire someone to answer the phone.

I was set up with Amazon and BN and had books up within a day. When I had finally jumped through all Apple's hoops and submitted the book it then sat in "Quality Assurance" status--for three months.

If you are going to post with Apple I highly recommend just using one of their aggregators. (Ingram, Smashwords, Lulu in the US and Bookwire for international)

I have 22 books I was going to post there but after the first one I unplugged the Mac and never looked back. It blows my mind that a company that big could be so incompetent, unreachable, and get away with treating their customers and content providers like such crap. And yes, I am bitter.

Sometimes Apple sounds like a horror movie!

[karenbryant]

If I'm right in assuming Apple offer 50% royalty, is that Smash 30% cut taken from that 50? What percentage would I get of the net price of the book? Sounds a big cut which ever way!

Anyone know Lulu's cut?

[frahse]

In what now seems to be the good old days, the publisher had to edit the book, print it, advertise it, distribute it, take back unsold copies, resell, etc.

You understood them taking 70% or so of the sales. Now days with eBooks, it seems awful high for them to take more than 30%.

(The above is a simplified model given to make a point.)

[teh603]

Originally Posted by karenbryant

I'm looking into listing my books on the iBookstore.

I'm going to draw a lot of flak from a couple of people for suggesting this, but Smashwords can distribute to the Apple store through its premium catalog. If you don't want to run Apple's own writer app, you can still get in that way.

Edit: Dang it, someone beat me to it.

[avantman42]

Originally Posted by karenbryant

If I'm right in assuming Apple offer 50% royalty, is that Smash 30% cut taken from that 50? What percentage would I get of the net price of the book? Sounds a big cut which ever way!

Anyone know Lulu's cut?

Smashwords give you 60% of the list price. From the Smashwords FAQ:

Sales originated by retailers earn authors/publishers 60% of the list price.

So, for example, if your book is priced at $5, you get $3. I don't know what Lulu pay.

[Lazer]

I've got a Mac and went through Smashwords to get on iBooks. Saved me a chunk of change when it came to the ISBN.

L