eBooks's topics - tribe.net

Sony's New E-Book Reader

gregcollver — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 15:37:12 GMT

Way too expensive, IMHO, but maybe we will see more activity this year to get a reasonable ebook reader (under $100) on the market:

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/01/08/1136655086801.html

posted in eBooks - 9 replies

A Kiwi Songwriter Podcast

BluesBro — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 00:40:07 GMT

Giday folks, I am a songwriter based in Auckland. I have a new podcast which might be of interest to other songwriters, performers looking for new material or just people interested in a bit of new Kiwiana. If you have iTunes or any other means of subscribing to podcasts, you can get mine at http://luigicappel.libsyn.com/rss. I also have a music site at www.musicforte.com/member/bluesbro.

Btw, I'm not off topic. My Podcast is really an audio book and for those who don't like paying for them, this one is free:)

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

How Many?

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 17:38:00 GMT

I think I've read about ten ebooks over the years. Now I read on my Sony Ericsson s710a with tequilacat's Java applet of a reader.

posted in eBooks - 2 replies

Audiobooks in and from the public domain

gregcollver — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 16:36:40 GMT

Audiobooks in and from the public domain
By Bryan Alexander

Librivox offers DIY audiobooks presented to the public domain. Download, listen, and mix, or volunteer your readings.

I'm enjoying the Librivox recording of Herman Meville's Typee (1846). It's not as rich, visionary, or audacious as the later novels, but is still a treat. Michael Scherer does a fine job of reading, teasing out Melville's humor and splendid language. You can find the whole text from Gutenberg, or explore Virginia's "fluid text edition."

Link:
http://infocult.typepad.com/infocult/2006/03/audiobooks_in_a.html

posted in eBooks - 4 replies

an experiment in publishing...

kristopher — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 18:34:37 GMT

i tried posting this a few minutes ago and my computer seemed to fritz out on me... so if this is a repost i apoligize.

i'm posting this because i've just published my novel online for free. it's under a rather different publishing paradigm - in addition to having the novel online for free, there is a trade-paperback available at cost. it's an entirely contribution based system.

as far as this tribe goes, i'm more interested in discussion of the ideas behind the publishing than the book itself, though hey, people seem to dig the book so maybe you will too.

www.anothersky.org

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

EU to build six million volume internet public library

gregcollver — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 15:24:34 GMT

EU to build six million volume internet public library
In Libraries and Technology

The European Commissionis to build a European digital library able to display around six million books, photographs and films and available to all internet users by 2010.

US Internet search giant Google started an international race to build an online library when it announced plans in December 2004 to digitise books and documents from a handful of big libraries.

Since then, US Internet and software giants Yahoo, Microsoft and Amazon have announced separate plans while France, upset that private companies took the lead, has pushed for the creation of a public digital library, AFP reports.

http://connect.educause.edu/blog/stuartyeates/eu_to_build_six_million_volume_internet_public_library/2074

posted in eBooks - 1 reply

Electronic Standard Book Number

gregcollver — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:24:53 GMT

Electronic Standard Book Number (ESBN) is the unique identifier of electronic media. ESBNs are recognized worldwide by electronic publishing companies and electronic content providers. ESBNs are simple and quick to generate and serve as branded identifier for individuals or companies acquiring electronic media.

http://www.esbn.org/esbn/default.asp

posted in eBooks - 2 replies

Ebook listing sites

rinkjustice — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 04:46:04 GMT

Awesome tribe here! Some very helpful links floatin around. My question is, where are good places to promote and list an ebook? I've recently written one called "Zero to Superhero" - the supporting website is here: http://www.zerotosuperhero.com - and other than a few ebook directories ala ebookjungle, I've been really underwhelmed. Any suggestions?

posted in eBooks - 1 reply

Santa Claus

the rev — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 00:00:36 GMT

This is off topic, but here is a link to Norad's Santa Tracker/

http://www.noradsanta.org/

Peace to all of you Tribeniks out there.

the rev

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

All Systems Go: The Newly Emerging Infrastructure to Support Free Books

gregcollver — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 15:13:02 GMT

"With the cost of college textbooks up 62% over the last decade, pressure is building for an alternative model of publishing: the free book. Five years ago, an author had to be very persistent --- maybe even a little crazy --- to try the new approach. But now a whole new infrastructure is springing up to make it easier. This is the third article in an intermittent series about what's going on in the world of free books."

http://kairosnews.org/node/4561

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

Cory Doctorow interview

phil — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 18:59:58 GMT

On creative commons and releasing ebooks for free.

http://www.openbusiness.cc/2005/12/06/cory-doctorow-and-creative-distribution/

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

eScholarship Repository--California Digital Library

gregcollver — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:41:21 GMT

"The eScholarhip site aggregates resources from all the University of California campuses. The site is browseable according to Campus, Research Unit, Journals, Seminars, and Postprints categories; the site is also searchable using keywords or authors' names. The home page shows a "Paper of the Day" and also a display of the top ten downloads. eScholarship shows very effectively how a repository can be used to collect and exchange scholarly resources; it does not attempt to fulfill some of the other functions described in the "EduResources--Higher Education Resources Online"

http://repositories.cdlib.org/escholarship/

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

A New Publisher of Romantic Literature

Mahpiya — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 05:43:57 GMT

This e-publisher only accepts authors that they feel are worthy of paperback as well, for all their books hit that medium within days of being released in e-book form. They are also planning on Audio Books and have contacts with Amazon.com

Their main criteria is that it most be a romance of some form. It can cross into any other genre... Historical, Paranormal, Interracial, Erotica, BDSM, Mature (Older Couples), and many more.

If you are interested in reading works or in seeking publication visit their website at www.blackvelvetseductions.com

Thank you,
Robert Cloud
Author of Toy's Story, to be released in February of 2006.

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

Plastic Logic Display

gregcollver — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 17:24:34 GMT

The technology is finally getting real!

http://www.plasticlogic.com/

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

Textbook-less classrooms

gregcollver — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 20:31:19 GMT

http://tribes.tribe.net/virtualeducation/thread/3c6f922d-6610-4950-ae29-01f6c798ae4f#5bebd7f4-be88-48c4-b8ae-2bb28f74d279

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

Librivox: Free Audio Books

gregcollver — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 19:32:49 GMT

LibriVox provides totally free audiobooks from the public domain.

http://librivox.org/

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

What's taking so long?

gregcollver — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:32:16 GMT

http://www.hyperorg.com/blogger/mtarchive/the_ebook_reader.html

I'm hoping that MIT's $100 laptop (or UCB's similar project) will spur a similar commercial device.

posted in eBooks - 3 replies

Library of Congress Launches Global "Rare Book" Digitization Project with Google Donation

gregcollver — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 16:46:58 GMT

http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb051128-2.shtml

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

Open Format for E-books

gregcollver — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 19:34:01 GMT

My main interest in ebooks is that they remain in an open format.

My delicious ebook links:
http://del.icio.us/greg_collver/e-books

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

Aeon Speculative Fiction

marti — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:31:06 GMT

There's now a tribe for anyone interested in Aeon Speculative Fiction, the quarterly ebook magazine. Discuss the stories, meet the writers, get links to the story previews, talk writing, reading...

We hope to see you there.

aeonmagazine.tribe.net.

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

The Pros & Cons of PublishAmerica & other PODs

Adam — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 17:15:50 GMT

Having recently published with Publish Americas, a POD publisher (but not a Vanity press) I would like to list the real world pros and cons of publishing with companies like PA.

PRO's:
1) They'll publish almost anyone
2) You will have almost complete control over the jacket, spine, and book layout. PA did not limit my cover pic to a 4"x4" graphic like most Vanity presses do. I designed the cover and they had graphic artists recreate it (and do a little better job than I did.)
3) You have complete editorial control over the book content. Their editors give it a couple of quick read thrus for typos and glaring errors, but make no content changes--only suggestions.
4) No cost to you, and you get an ISBN number, placement on Amazon.com, B&N.com, Lightning source, Ingram, and Baker & taylor.
5) High royalty rate--9% and up depending on sales volume.

CON's:
1) Because PA has a no return policy--even for wholesalers--many big box stores like B&N will not carry them on their shelves. Only on their web site. B&N will not handle consignments anymore either so forget about buying copies to sell yourself.
2) High cost! The books run $20+ for a 300 page paperback.
3) Limited reviews--no one will review your book if it is self published or POD. Talk about stigma.
4) Hard to get on the BookList. This is the list published by the ALA and used by most libraries to choose their new purchases. If you are not on this list you have to contact libraries one at a time and ask that they carry your book (which most are willing to do if asked, but this is tedius!)
5) Not the best referance. When appealing to agents and publishers for future work, saying this is your second book doesn't always fly when the first one was a POD. Amazon has a paid service now that allows publishers and agents to see actual sales figure for your book.
6) Limited contact with your publisher. PA is hard to get hold of, you have to send an email and wait for a reply.
7) Limited editorial process. My book went out with quite a number of errors and typos in it. Also, a real editor could have helped me tighten up the storyline and made it a better book. With PA they just gloss over it so don'r rely on their editors to find all of your faux-pas.
8) Odd sized books. Publishing in a 6"x9" format, the books are the wrong size for paperback racks which leaves you in the cold when marketing to drug and grocery stores. Why can't they publish a paperback in regular paperback size?
9) Questionable royalty payments. I had done a lot of work promoting my book via amazon.com, B&N, and public libraries. In fact, I had my sales ranking down below the 50k mark, but my first royalty check was abysmal. According to PA, major retailers take 90 days to make payments, and the cutoff date for my first check was prior to this mark. So now I am waiting to see if the next check is better. I know I sold more books than they credited me for--the amazon sales ranking reflects actual sales and mine was better than the PA book of the month for the last 6 months in a row. (their BoM's were ranking 500k-1millionth on Amazon.)

posted in eBooks - 2 replies

CafePress

phil — Sun, 23 Nov 2003 03:51:32 GMT

Anyone made a book with CafePress? If so, how was it?

http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/sell/books.aspx

(Not quite an eBook, I know, but I'm curious.)

posted in eBooks - 13 replies

Self publishing real books

phil — Thu, 01 Jul 2004 11:40:48 GMT

http://donxml.com/grokthis/archive/2004/05/07/686.aspx?Pending=true

What do people think?

posted in eBooks - 8 replies

Google digitising libraries

phil — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 18:32:57 GMT

Any thoughts on this story?

(links here : http://www.nooranch.com/synaesmedia/wiki/wiki.cgi?OnGoogle/EatsLibraries )

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

Aeon Speculative Fiction - Issue One

bridgetmckenna — Wed, 10 Nov 2004 19:44:56 GMT

Æon One takes on a final shape as a heavyweight bonus issue! Stories by Gene Wolfe, Walter Jon Williams, John Meaney, and Jay Lake, as well as the first of many columns by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, head up a premi ère issue PACKED with content.

Also in Æon One: Steven R. Boyett, Gordon Gross, Holly Wade Matter, Lori Ann White, nonfiction by Pat MacEwen, and an introductory editorial in which your humble Æon editors attempt to explain what the heck they think they're doing here.

Like a sample? Here are previews of all the Aeon One fiction:

www.aeonmagazine.com/currentissue.html

Æon Speculative Fiction is a quarterly electronic magazine/anthology of fiction and nonfiction of interest to readers of science fiction and fantasy. We publish high-quality speculative stories of all kinds by new and established writers.

www.aeonmagazine.com

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

Seeking input on Sci-Fi novel

Adam — Thu, 19 Aug 2004 02:18:08 GMT

I am reworking a book of mine because I think the characters need further developing. In the meantime I am posting a copy of this book for people to offer feedback on it. This is sci-fi, and a story about the difficulties in becoming a Timelord. This novel covers the first 152 years of an apprentice Timelord's new life as he struggles through school, and adapting to life in a vastly advanced society.

Feel free to post input. Let me know if the format is difficult to read also.

http://home.comcast.net/~earthenewfrontier/Memoirs-of-a-Timelord.pdf

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

increasing sales of e-book novella

Chris — Thu, 11 Dec 2003 13:09:41 GMT

Hey. my name is Chris Treagus. I have an e-book out from CyberPulp Press ("Building A Better Monster") It is doing decently, but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to increase sales?

Chris

posted in eBooks - 10 replies

Cory Doctoroy talk

phil — Mon, 21 Jun 2004 06:09:50 GMT

I guess you all read this, right? What do people think?

http://www.craphound.com/ebooksneitherenorbooks.txt

posted in eBooks - 1 reply

Creating E-books

Adam — Sat, 24 Jul 2004 02:16:37 GMT

I thought this might be an interesting article for this Tribe. I was asked to write it by a friend before I joined tribes.
http://home.comcast.net/~adam_celaya/
This is a very insightful article on creating E-books, the big issue I try to cover is how to best format e-books for maximum readability. Cool stuff.

posted in eBooks - 0 replies

Free White Paper

BluesBro — Sat, 30 Aug 2003 01:01:12 GMT

I've published a free white paper on eBooks, are they going to replace paper? Copies are available for download for Palm, Pocket PC, PC, Mac....at www.smartphoneacademy.co.nz.

posted in eBooks - 4 replies

DIY

chronovore — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 14:37:54 GMT

Does anyone here make their own eBooks?
I saw Peter's post on Zeenster, but I'm talking about something mucho simple.

There's so much to read on the web, and reading on a PC screen with one's butt on a seat is not much fun, so I grab articles, essays, and whatever non-eBook formatted prose I am interested in, and grind it through Palm DropBook. Viola, instant book to read on the train.

Does anyone else use this app, or its markup language?

posted in eBooks - 4 replies

Questions

unixarcade — Wed, 19 Nov 2003 09:13:07 GMT

If you have formatted your book and layed it out in quark express then turned it into a .pdf can a the .pdf file format be considered an ebook?
What are the file formats that you are most often dealing with when you are dealing with ebooks?
What are some of the web sites that will sell your ebook on them?

What are the most important parts of creating a book what elements are included in almost every book?
Can any of these elements not be included, is there any augmentation that could occur to make them more pleasent to ingest?

How much are people generally paying their editors?

How many errors generally crop up in books?

How much of any writing should you give away to generate interest in what you are writing?

How can you fit giving in with good business?

posted in eBooks - 6 replies

Vanity vs. Royalty Publishing

marti — Thu, 29 Jan 2004 04:09:17 GMT

Since the subject has come up a few times, I thought I'd start a topic.

For those who don't know, a vanity press is one that you pay to publish your work. They don't care who you are or whether you can write, they're happy to publish your book if you pay what they ask. There are a number of problems with this model in my opinion, not the least of which is that if your book bears a vanity press logo, many people (including reviewers, editors, potential future publishers) won't take it seriously.

Also, as I think Luigi mentioned, the only ones who seem to make money here are the publishers. If your book isn't good enough that an editor wanted to buy it, readers probably won't either.

A royalty-paying press publishes books their editors deem worthy, and pays the author a percentage of sales. This is considered, by most professionals I know, to be "legitimate" publishing as opposed to the vanity model. Without an editor between writers and readers, the market is flooded with mediocre works and shopping for books becomes a lot like shopping at Salvation Army -- you know the good stuff is in there somewhere, but damn, it's hard to find.

It's absolutely true that sometimes good books can't find a home with a royalty-paying publisher, in which case vanity press or self-publishing might be your only option, but I urge authors to think of it as a last resort. Consider whether your book needs more work, or whether you've exhausted all other resources. There are a lot of great royalty-paying small presses out there that are happy to take a chance on something great that didn't fit into Big Publishing's pigeon holes.

Next...

Marti

Scorpius Digital Publishing
http://www.scorpiusdigital.com

posted in eBooks - 3 replies

eComics? eZines?

Peter — Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:41:04 GMT

I just released an application called Zeenster for the Palm OS that you can use to read eBooks that are graphical instead of textual-- like a comic, or a magazine. Anyone interested in creating additional free content? There's some content already available, but the more the merrier. Info at www.peterconrad.com/programming

posted in eBooks - 1 reply