Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Download the most trusted ebook publishing tools

Although there are still several ebook formats out there, by far the most widely used is the .PDF file. Luckily, this is an easy format to deal with. Just write your manuscript in your favorite word processing software, then convert it to a .PDF with a few clicks of your mouse. If you already have Adobe software to create .PDFs, you're home free; if not, you can either buy the correct Adobe software or use freeware to get the job done.

I recommend: Adobe Acrobat, or any Adobe software that creates .PDFs, is the software of choice for making ebooks. Pdf995 is popular freeware for creating PDF files; you can even get free encryption with Signature 995, from the same creator. Just visit pdf995 and click on the software that interests you. For more free .PDF creators, check out the list at ebook-publishing-guide.com.

Research electronic book publishers

Although most electronic book writers are involved in ebook self-publishing, in some cases, you may want to turn over the design of your ebook to a publisher. If that's the case, it's vital to find a reliable company; there are far too many shady publishers out there, ready to take your money and produce something amateurish...or nothing at all. Look for a royalty-paying publisher who asks for no money from you.

I recommend: Ebook Crossroads offers an excellent list of royalty-paying, non-vanity ebook publishers, as does Dowse.com. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America presents a good overview on finding a reputable ebook publisher. All publishers should be checked against Predators & Editors website to ensure they don't have a shady past.

Learn about ebook distribution

You may have your own website or blog to distribute your ebook, but it's always a good idea to find other outlets for distribution. Aside from the most obvious places, like Amazon, look for distributors who carry a lot of books in your genre. For example, if you have a non-fiction business book, the distributor should carry many titles in this niche; this proves they have customers who are interested in your title.

I recommend: Booklocker.com is one of the most esteemed ebook distributors; with writer-friendly terms and a large base, Booklocker distributes ebooks from many genres. Lulu is another popular place to get your ebooks published and distributed.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sure, ebook publishing can earn you money directly, but ebooks are also useful tools for earning money indirectly. Ebooks provide excellent free content to give away through your newsletter, blog or website, and they are great incentives to get readers to sign up for your mailing list.

Guide to E-Book Publishers

Narrow your list of e-book publishers or produce your own e-book

By Lisa J. Jackson, Writer / Editor

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use e-book publishing tools for e-book self-publishing

Finding e-book publishing software is becoming easier as the market needs increase for the technology. Finding a free e-book publisher is well within the realm of possibilities, too. Publishing e-books can be as simple as creating PDF or EXE versions of your book and making them available via your website.

I recommend: CutePDF offers a free PDF maker. They also have more robust PDF options for a fee. eBook Technologies, Inc. (ETI), has been involved with e-book technology since 1998. Among their offerings, ETI has e-book publishing tools which include their free eBook Publisher. WebCompiler allows you to turn your website, or any group of html pages, into an e-book. While offering a fully functional free trial version, if you want to purchase it, the software is over $150. A free full version of Activ E-Book Compiler is available. You don't pay the one time registration fee until you know it's the product for you.

Choose from a growing list of e-book distributors

As the list of e-book distributors continues to grow, so do the number of available e-books. Although most available readers are free and can adapt to any e-book format, you will want to consider the reading platform when distributing your e-book.

I recommend: People who e-book shop through Amazon, need to have the Kindle wireless reading device. PDF e-books are compatible with Adobe Reader. Microsoft Reader works on any Microsoft-based device including tablets and Pocket PCs. The Mobipocket eBook Reader is available for Windows PCs, as well as any PDA, Blackberry, or smartphone.

Find an e-book publisher to do the work for you

Turning your manuscript over to a professional who can format your manuscript into an e-book may be what you're looking for. You can find professionals who will assist you in any step of the process from initial design to final publication.

I recommend: Neil Tarvin of eBook Graphics is an e-book publisher, as well as a traditional publisher. He works with writers to design and create e-book publications. He also can assist in developing Web pages to promote your e-book. eBook Mall offers an eBook Conversion program for authors and publishers.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many Web-savvy marketing folks offer e-book generators, which is great on the surface. However, they require your name and e-mail address be added to their marketing database before they share any information. Avoid these unless you want a lot of junk mail.
• •  If free e-books are an important marketing tool for you, using the rebranding EXE formats (versus PDF) is a key to success. People will be more inclined to promote your free e-book if they can customize it with their personal affiliate links.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

E-book

An e-book, or electronic book, is a book published as a computer file that can be downloaded onto a computer or mobile device for reading.

I recommend: eBookMall has a handy explanation of what eBooks are and how they are used.

Electronic publishing

Electronic publishing is sometimes known as e-publishing. This is a specialized form of publishing for creating e-books rather than print books.

I recommend: Writer Beware has a useful guide to electronic publishing that includes a list of possible warning signs of a bad e-publisher.

E-Book reader

An e-book reader is a device that is used to view electronic books. Usually, this device is highly mobile and allows users to view books clearly.

I recommend: WiseGEEK has a detailed description of what e-book readers are and some of their most salient features.

E-book formats

The e-book format refers to the type of software used to publish the e-book. Choosing a software is important, since only readers who can access that particular software can read your book.

I recommend: When I Have Time has a detailed explanation of what e-book formats are and which formats are most popular.

Portable Document Format (PDF)

The Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) is one of the most common file formats for e-books. Many e-publishers require books to be submitted in a PDF because this type of file shows exactly how each page is supposed to look in the finished book.

I recommend: The Site Wizard.com has a more information about PDFs and how they are used in creating e-books.

E-book self-publishing

E-book self-publishing means that the author takes all responsibility for the success of an e-book. While a traditional publisher pays an author for rights to publish a book, self-publishing means that the author pays for the formatting, editing, distribution and other costs associated with e-publishing.

I recommend: Web-Source.net has a detailed guide to self-publishing e-books that includes detailed information about exactly what is involved in the publication process.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get basic resources on e-book publishers

The beginner can take away a lot from an 'online e-book publishing tutorial' that addresses not just market values and criteria for relevance, but also how to deal with ownership issues and much more, from the time an idea is hatched to the final result where the electronic book publisher shops are putting that data into digital formats for mass consumption.

I recommend: EBook Apprentice shows beginners everything from what to put into the e-book to copyright and other issues for publishing ebooks for first timers. Get more of this kind of broad spectrum info on dealing with e-book publishers from independent experts like Barbara Feldman online.

Find sources for evaluating e-book publishers

No matter who you happen to be, whether you are representing a business with a stake in e-books, or doing research on the part of an author's business, it's a good idea to check out some sites offering helpful tips on judging e-book publishers (or even tools like ebook publishing software) by their fruits.

I recommend: Check out Dowse for lists of the better ebook publishers. From the cautionary side, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America has posted some relevant info for writers on the pros and cons of this kind of publishing, for the interest of both authors and professionals in related businesses.

Find e-book publishers directories and lists

The web can also assist in finding these digital 'houses of industry.' Online readers can locate e-book publishers by region or by genre, find relevant details about how these ebook distribution or creation centers operate, and get closer to the business connections they will eventually use to 'launch' their works.

I recommend: 21st Century New Media offers lists of ebook supplier shops from their site. See ebookgraphics.com for help and advice.