Digital Formatting and Distribution FAQ
General Information
- What is ePub?
- How much does it cost to have my book published in ePub Format?
- Does this mean books will now be ePubs?
- What about press-ready titles?
- What will be the pricing for the e-Book? Do I get to select how much to charge?
- What is my royalty percentage?
- Will the price of the e-Book sold on AuthorHouse.com have to change?
- When will the e-Book be submitted to the channel?
- How long does it take for books to be posted on retail sites?
- How many devices will be allowed to share one file? Can the purchaser make copies?
- Will I be able to see channel e-Book Sales in the Author Center?
- Will there be an ISBN connected to this format?
Digital Readers
- Where will potential customers be able to purchase my book in the digital format?
- What is the Amazon Kindle?
- How does the partnership with Amazon benefit me, the author?
- What is Google Play Books?
- What is Kobo Distribution?
- What is the Barnes & Noble eReader?
- How will I benefit from distribution to Barnes & Noble?
- What is the NOOK?
- What is the iBooks Store?
- Why isn't my book in the iBooks Store?
- What formats does each digital content device accept?
- How do I sideload my Mobi e-Book file onto my Kindle Fire?
General Information
What is ePub?
ePub is the file format your manuscript must take in order for it to be compatible with digital content devices. This allows your book to be distributed and read on select electronic devices (eReaders).
How much does it cost to have my book published in ePub Format?
For contracts signed on or after December 1, 2010, Digital Formatting and Distribution services are included in all packages. This service is not available as an add-on for other packages or for previously published books.
Does this mean books will now be ePubs?
Yes, books with contracts signed after December 1, 2010, will have an ePub file so that it can be distributed to the various digital content partners but may be subject to technical limitations and restrictions.
Disclaimer: Press-ready files in portable document format (PDF) or designed interior file sizes larger than 10 MB are ineligible for this service.
What about press-ready titles?
Text files that you have submitted as press-ready cannot be converted to an ePub file.
What will be the pricing for the e-Book? Do I get to select how much to charge?
We will set the default and maximum price of all e-Books solely at our discretion. However, if the paperback format of the work has a price less than the default price, the e-Book will be sold at the lower price. Additionally, the price can be modified prior to retail channel submission at the author’s request.
What is my royalty percentage?
You will receive 50% of the digital net payments received from sales of the e-Book. Royalties will not be paid on copies provided free of charge or sold to you. You will always receive 50% of the digital net sale when sold. (Therefore, if sold on Authorhouse.com at $3.99, you will receive $2.00. If sold in the retail channel at $3.99, the channel discount (which varies by partner) will be deducted from the sales price and you will receive 50% of what is left.
Will the price of the e-Book sold on AuthorHouse.com have to change?
Yes. The e-Book price, regardless of the channel where it is sold, will need to be consistent.
When will the e-Book be submitted to the channel?
When the print edition of the book is made active, we will submit the e-Book to the retail channel.
How long does it take for books to be posted on retail sites?
It will take no more than four weeks for the e-Book to appear on all retail sites.
Will I be able to see channel e-Book Sales in AuthorCenter?
Currently, your e-Book sales will be paid quarterly in conjunction with print book sales. However, the online statement currently will not reflect these sales. We are working on adding these items to the monthly statement.
Will many electronic devices will be allowed to share one file? Can the purchaser make copies?
For Barnes & Noble, the e-Books can be loaned to friends for a specific period of time. The purchaser, however, cannot make copies or print the book.
Will there be an ISBN connected to this format?
Yes. The e-Book will have the same ISBN, regardless of the channel of the format it is sold in.
Digital Readers
Where will potential customers be able to purchase my book in digital format?
Your book in digital format will be available on the Amazon Kindle, iBooks Store, Barnes & Noble NOOK, Rakuten Kobo Books, and Google Play Books (coming soon).
What is the Amazon Kindle?
The Amazon Kindle is the most popular handheld eReader device on the market. With access to 420,000 titles from over 100 countries around the globe, it provides the reader with unlimited options of literature at their fingertips. As a Kindle user, you have access to top magazines and newspapers, as well as audio books. And with the Kindle for PC and Kindle for iPhone apps, you can read Kindle books even if you don’t have your Kindle with you.
How does the partnership with Amazon Kindle benefit the author?
AuthorHouse's partnership with Kindle is a great opportunity for our authors to offer their digital content through the most popular eReader device in the industry.
What is Google Play Books?
Google launched an e-Book store called Google Play Books, which allows the purchase of thousands of titles through any web-enabled computer, eReader, or mobile phone instead of a dedicated device.
What is Rakuten Kobo Books?
A leading global eReading service for smartphones, laptops, eReaders, and any other device used for reading digital content, Rakuten Kobo Inc. provides access of your book’s content (book block and cover) to book enthusiasts from more than 200 countries. Once your book has been digitally formatted, it will be made available for sale on the Rakuten Kobo website. It can then be downloaded to a digital device that allows the buyer to adjust the font size and more for readability.
What is the Barnes & Noble eReader?
The Barnes & Noble eReader is an application used to read Barnes & Noble e-Books on your iPhone, Blackberry, Windows PC, or Mac. Without it, you will not be able to read Barnes & Noble e-Books. Barnes & Noble E-Books are encrypted to protect their authors’ work. Thus, other e-Book Readers will not work with Barnes & Noble e-Books.
The Barnes & Noble eReader can display styled text (italicized, underlined, etc.) and formatting as well as perform functions not found on other e-Book readers. The Barnes & Noble eReader is free to download and is supported on multiple devices.
How will I benefit from distribution to Barnes & Noble?
Having your book added to the Barnes & Noble e-Book store gives the public access to your books through various digital media such as the NOOK, PC, and Mac (by downloading the free Barnes & Noble Reader). Barnes & Noble is one of the largest retailers in the country, and having access to their e-store expands distribution opportunities for your books.
What is the NOOK?
The NOOK is Barnes & Noble's digital eReader with access to more than 1 million titles.
What is the iBooks Store?
The Apple iBooks Store* is an e-Book store created by Apple. Books can be downloaded to an iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch via the iBooks Store.
Why isn't my book in the iBooks Store?*
It can take up to three months for your book to appear in the iBooks Store. If your book is still not available after that period of time, it is possible that Apple did not accept your content. Reasons that Apple may choose to deny content include typos, poor editing, poor formatting and subject matter.
What formats does each digital content device accept?
Other partners require ePub files. This is why digital formatting and distribution is now included in all publishing packages.
How do I sideload my Mobi e-Book file onto my Kindle Fire?
Sideloading Kindle Fire with access to a computer (easiest):
- Download the e-Book file on your computer and open the folder that contains it.
- Using a mini USB to USB cord, connect the Kindle Fire to your computer.
- Using a file explorer program, open the Kindle (which will show as a temporary drive).
- Drag the e-Book file from your computer to the Kindle Fire Books directory.
- Follow your computer’s procedure for disconnecting peripheral devices. The book will now be available in the Kindle Fire’s Books tab.
Sideloading using only the Kindle Fire:
- Download the e-Book file to the Kindle Fire either through the browser or via email.
- Install a file explorer program. (For example, you can get "ES File Explorer" from the Amazon Appstore for free.)
- Using the file explorer of your choice, find the book file on the main Kindle directory. Copy it by pressing and holding the icon until the sub-menu pops up.
- Go to the Books folder.
- Paste the file. (With ES Explorer, you will need to select Operations then hit paste.)
- Power the Kindle Fire off and back on.
- The e-Book should be in the Books tab.