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Publish you book electronically. It's the only way to go. 7/2/2010 3:42:34 PM
A few good reasons to publish electronically. Self-published authors, if you have reached the point where you’re about to give up on your manuscript, because it’s just not getting anywhere, don’t do it, not just yet. There is another way.
I have all but given up on the idea of my novel - A Strange Twist of Fate – ever getting anywhere in today's market. It's only been eight months since it was released and I have spent a small fortune trying to make it visible – social media campaigns, email campaigns, press releases, advertising on Facebook (lots of hits – no takers) – but nothing much has been happening.
I’ve got it posted on wordpress with lots of links, just in case the prospective buyer decides to bite the bullet and go for it. It is also on Author's Den, Scribd and my Blogger site and it even has its own Fan Page on Facebook. It has a presence on online book sites like Goodreads, Shelfari and Library Thing and is available from Amazon, Trafford Publishing, Barnes and Noble and numerous other online bookstores, but the problem is that in today’s market new books are appearing by the thousands - and that's just on an hourly basis and it is all happening on the internet.
My thinking on hard copy sales changed after I had my manuscript published as an e-book with Smashwords. When I checked out their online sample, I also discovered the Smashwords version of a flip book. Reading a book online suddenly took on a whole new meaning – it was so easy.
I recently had an opportunity to check out the Apple iPad. I had to wait my turn as there were hundreds of people waiting to get a look at it and that's just in one store in the city of Cairns. It was my first ever experience of an e-reader and I am here to tell you that reading a flip book version of Winnie the Pooh on the iPad worked for me.
I also realised that it will not be long before e-reading devices will be everywhere, particularly in classrooms and kids will re-discover the joy of reading once again. E-book reader sales are soaring and more and more readers are reading online or on their phone or personal e-reader.
So, disheartened authors, if your book is not already available in an electronic format, it might be a god idea to get on the bandwagon as the future of publishing really is on the internet. There are numerous options for online publishing, but one of the best is also free. Ezines and flip-books have been around for a while and they’re great to read. I'm not talking about the old fashioned type that you made as a kid - but the hi-tech, digital version.
Check out the sample from Scribd. http://www.scribd.com/doc/33299943/Part-One-of-a-Strange-Twist-of-Fate It’s not just a flip-book; you can also scroll through it or read it as a slide. You navigate from one page to another with one simple click - you can enlarge the page by clicking on the zoom function – but you can enlarge the entire book if you click on the full screen button at the top. It’s quick; it’s easy and works so seamlessly. It takes online reading to a whole new level.
So, if you are a self-published author – spread your wings and get electronic. It’s the only way to go.
