Late last week authors began reporting that they could not open a new account on Google Play Books’ Partner Center. Google Play Books is a cross-platform application which allows users to both download and upload books in PDF and ePub formats. Unlike Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iBooks, Google Play Books is an open publishing and sales…
Google Play Books – Reviewed
What more could a self-published author want? The world’s largest search engine combined with the world’s largest e-bookstore. Google Play Books is a cross-platform application which allows users to both download and upload books in PDF and ePub formats. Unlike Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iBooks, Google Play Books is an open publishing and sales platform…
ISBNs: The Blame Game
There have been a couple of articles written this month on the subject of ISBNs and their use — or rather non-use — by self-published authors, particularly authors publishing exclusively in e-book form. It’s a subject TIPM has visited a number of times, most notably Ian Lamont’s guest post; How Bowker uses its U.S. ISBN…
Draft2Digital – Reviewed
Draft2Digital (D2D) is an Oklahoma-based digital publishing aggregator providing conversion and distribution services for authors. The company was founded in 2012 and currently Kris Austin is co-owner and CEO. D2D is one of the more recent arrivals to the self-publishing service field and from some of the feedback I’ve had over the past year, it’s…
Publishing Service Index | October 2014
This is the PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX for October 2014. This update reflects some review updates and author feedback over the past four weeks. There is no great change in the top positions, but Lulu strengthens its position in the top ten with a move to eight. Bowker in the USA has just released a report on…
Publishing Service Index: September 2014
This is the PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX for September 2014. This update reflects some review updates and author feedback over the past eight weeks. CreateSpace drops from the top spot to second, with Amazon KDP back where it was in June. Both have swapped places several times over the past few months. Two suppliers that ceased trading have…
Publishing Service Index | July 2014
This is the PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX for July 2014. This update reflects some review updates and author feedback over the past four weeks. CreateSpace has retaken the top spot ahead of Amazon KDP. Both have swapped places several times over the past few months.This months index sees the introduction of Kobo Writing Life and Publish Green, reviewed in full on TIPM…
Publish Green – Reviewed
Publish Green is the e-book publishing division of Hillcrest Media Group, based in Minneapolis, USA. Launched in 2011, it provides a full range of e-book services, from file conversion, formatting, editing, distribution, marketing and custom web design to authors (both self and traditionally published) and small presses. Our patent-pending eBook formatting techniques are unique to…
Kobo Writing Life – Reviewed
Founded in December 2009, Toronto-based Kobo has emerged in the last two years as a global DIY self-publishing platform and e-bookstore, as well as producing its own range of e-reader devices. Originally owned by Indigo Books & Music, Japanese corporation Rakuten bought a controlling, majority stake in the company in 2012. The company’s name is…
Smashwords: The Little Engine That Could
Smashwords, the e-book distributor and self-publishing platform, continues to expand its global reach with new retail partners, as well as subscription services and library channels. The company has already added Overdrive, the world’s largest library e-book platform and subscription services Oyster (last September) and Scribd (in February). Here is another deal inked with txtr.com, a Germany e-retailer and reading…