Mark and Lesleyann Coker wrote a novel, Boob Tube, based on her experiences as a soap opera reporter. They found an agent, who shopped it around to traditional publishers to no avail. Rather than give up, however, they decided to start their own e-book publishing company, Smashwords, to give their book — and others — a chance. “The entire traditional publishing industry is built around the notion that a book’s merit is built on its commercial potential,” said Mark Coker. “I thought that’s the wrong way to value books.”
Most self-published authors quickly find that loading a book on ebook platforms does not result in anybody being aware that their book exists. Self-publishing on one platform has some appeal if the platform commands a high level of the sales for the category (genre fiction such as science fiction, fantasy, and romance), but those categories are few and far between. For most categories, local stores still provide the majority of sales so partnering with a provider that can get books in those stores and drive readers into those stores remains important.
Hybrid publishing service companies (such as the company I manage, WestBow Press) help an author get their book on all the ebook platforms and the online book retailer sites--and we offer authors sales and distribution services to get their printed editions in local stores.
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E-Book Self-Publishing: Brave New Words
Posted by: Vivian Wagner April 17, 2014 06:13 AMMark and Lesleyann Coker wrote a novel, Boob Tube, based on her experiences as a soap opera reporter. They found an agent, who shopped it around to traditional publishers to no avail. Rather than give up, however, they decided to start their own e-book publishing company, Smashwords, to give their book — and others — a chance. “The entire traditional publishing industry is built around the notion that a book’s merit is built on its commercial potential,” said Mark Coker. “I thought that’s the wrong way to value books.”
Hybrid publishing service companies (such as the company I manage, WestBow Press) help an author get their book on all the ebook platforms and the online book retailer sites--and we offer authors sales and distribution services to get their printed editions in local stores.