The Troy Book Makers can currently convert books in which we have formatted the interior and the book is completely approved for print. This is because once a conversion is complete, the file uploaded and accepted to the marketplaces of choice, changes cannot be made to correct typos (or it can be very, very costly!). A book containing many typos may also be rejected from certain marketplaces.
Because of the variety of devices that are currently available, there are several different marketplaces where your eBook can be listed for sale. Each of these eBook retailers has different requirements, and each device will display the text slightly differently. eBook conversions strip out almost all of the custom formatting and typeface choices that were made for the print edition. However, eBooks let the reader customize the reading experience, allowing the reader to choose the type size and sometimes the typeface, so the text that is supplied in an eBook is really just your content, without any frills.
The major advantage to eBooks is that you as the author do not have to tie up money in printed book inverntoy. The per sale ‘royalties’ end up being quite similar even though eBooks have a lower retail price.
Just as you have to tell people that your book is available for purchase in brick-and-mortar bookstores, you have to let potential customers know your book is available as an e-book. Just because you did the conversion to e-status doesn’t mean hundreds of people will automatically know where to look for your book – you still have to get the word out.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Digital Edition ISBN As with any other edition of your book, a new ISBN is required. A single ISBN can be used for all the digital editions of your title, no matter where they are being sold. $100
Book Cover Of course your print edition had a cover, so usually that cover can be used. But if you negotiated use of artwork or purchased a stock photo, extra permissions may be needed. Some conversion will might need to be done to make it read better at a thumbnail size, and to adjust the aspect ratio of the cover. $25-100.
eBook Conversion Minimum charge of $100 includes up to 250 pages and 10 images. Additional images cost $2 each. Books with more complicated formatting might incur an additional $100 fee. These fees are paid directly to BookBaby.com. The Troy Book Makers will help you submit your book, but BookBaby.com actually does the conversion and places the title with each eBook retailer.
eBOOK PRICING
We suggest selling your eBook for $6.99 or less. The price of your eBook should be 20% lower than the retail price of a printed copy of the same book. Most successful eBook authors are finding the greatest success in the $0.99 to $2.99 range, since there are so many eBooks available just a click away, but you need to find a balance between a good price for readers and properly valuing your content. Keep in mind that you do not need to manage inventory or pay for printing when readers are purchasing an eBook instead of a printed copy of your book.
eBOOK RETAILERS
We submit your files to BookBaby.com and then your book is distributed to the eBook retailers below.
New marketplaces are always being added, you will have the option of making your book available in the new venues as well. Due to the new nature of the eBook industry, some eBook retailers might not always be available. When your eBook is sold you will receive between 30-70% of the retail price of your book, depending on where your eBook is purchased from Neither BookBaby.com not The Troy Book Makers takes any percentage of the net profits of the eBook sales. . Once your book is converted you will receive log-in details and you will be able to track the sales of your book. Keep in mind that BookBaby.com will charge a yearly hosting fee (after the first year), but you have complete control over when you get paid, and where your eBook is sold.
Ready to go digital?
If you are interested in having The Troy Book Makers convert your book into a digital edition, please call or e-mail us with any questions about converting your book. If you are ready now, just click the button below, fill out the form, and then we’ll follow up with you.
A DIY option:
As with almost all of the services that The Troy Book Makers offers, you can convert your book yourself. You can work with BookBaby.com directly or use a free service called Smashwords. Either way, you’ll need to have a word document of the final version of your book (we can export it for you for $25).
If using Smashwords expect to need a few hours to read the style-guide, and a few more hours to convert your text to the proper format. Once you clean up your text you upload it to Smashwords, they then run it through their “meatgrinder ” converter. You are then notified of any errors, and have to make adjustments and resubmit. Once you are approved, you are listed in the Premium catalog, and within a few weeks your eBook should be available in the major eBook markets. When Smashwords sells an eBook on your behalf you’ll earn between 35 and 60% of the retail price, depending on the venue and the type of sale.