Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Self Publish to Apple's iBookstore?

This is topic Self Publish to Apple's iBookstore? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=006245

Posted by Owasm (Member # 8501) on :

With all the discussion on self-publishing and e-publishing, I read this today. How will a book distinguish itself in Apples' iBookstore? A star rating system with comments?

Here's the link:

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/05/27/apple-increases-support-for-self-publishing- in-ibookstore/

Something to think about. What about self-publishing your own collection of short stories or even publish a anthology of others'?

Having some understanding of copyright issues and contracts (difficult) as well as knowing how to get an ISBN number (easy) and EPUB format (probably not really hard) and you are in.

From David Farland's Daily Kick in the Pants today:

The real question in my mind is this: How many iPad owners will actually use it as a reading device on a regular basis? Is this the electronic revolution that industry analysts have been prophesying for the past 20 years?

It is.

Perhaps with an explosion of e-book readers and the barriers of entry falling in getting published, the playing field may be leveled a bit in the e-book marketing segment. Will the big problem be promotion?

How do you hold a book signing for an e-book?

[This message has been edited by Owasm (edited May 28, 2010).]

Posted by jayazman (Member # 2818) on :

I wonder why they are requiring an ISBN for ebooks? I'm pretty sure Google doesn't require it for their Kindle ebooks. Any one know for sure?
Not that getting an ISBN is difficult, but if they really want to support independent authors, you'd think they would want to keep it as simple as possible. And having to make a certain number of sales to get payout? Seems like they want to lose people to Kindle.

Posted by tchernabyelo (Member # 2651) on :

No, I'd say it seems they want to try and establish some kind of filter limiting the flood of self-published ebooks.

An ISBN is a useful thing to have, frankly, in terms of making your prduct seem like a "real book".

I'm not convinced about the iPad as an eReader. A lot of people have issues with screen brightness which is why most eReaders do the "eInk" approach.

But we shall see. It is certainly another step forward for the emarket.