The e-book revolution.

Self-publishing goes high-tech

E-publishing. Is this the evolution of publishing--or just the Internet's version of the pet rock? According to Brandon Massey, the successfully e-published author of the suspense novel Thunderland, "most people are not ready for lengthy, pure electronic books yet; but this will eventually change as electronic book reading devices become more affordable and convenient." Massey e-published Thunderland in February 1999 and has since sold more than 2,000 copies at $13.95 each.

Networking and promoting are the most important aspects of becoming a successful writer, says Massey. Because of his active networking mostly via e-mail, Massey was able to reach 5,000 potential customers through an e-mail marketing campaign. And his Website (www.brandonmassey.com) has received more than 15,000 visitors since November 1998. Thunderland subsequently won the 2000 Gold Pen Award for Best Thriller awarded by the Black Writer's Alliance (www.blackwriters.org).

"The e-publishing revolution finally kicked my career into gear. E-publishing opened a door for me, and that's the beauty of technology; it opens doors, offers options, and allows the world to discover new voices and new talent," says Massey.

HOW IT WORKS

Electronic publishing, or e-publishing, is the process of producing and storing poetry, short stories, novels, and so on, electronically. E-books can be produced in various formats such as online, on a disk, or on a CD-ROM--as a file that can be downloaded or transmitted via e-mail, or as a file that can be down-loaded to a handheld device such as an e-book reader or a PDA.

There are three distinct forms of electronic publishing: commercial e-publishing, subsidy e-publishing, and self-publishing. Commercial e-publishers function like commercial print publishers. Manuscripts are accepted on the basis of marketability and quality; authors do not pay a fee and they receive royalties. E-books are sold primarily through the publisher's Website but can be ordered through any bookstore (printed on demand).

Subsidy e-publishers produce and distribute books for a fee, usually between $300 and $1,200. These publishers provide limited screening and usually accept all manuscripts. No editorial services are provided (although some may offer such services for an extra fee), and books are posted as submitted. Promotion of e-books is the sole responsibility of the author and royalties are comparable to that of commercial e-publishers: typically print royalties are 20%, electronic royalties are 50%, and subsidiary rights are 50%.

With self-publishing, the author is entirely responsible for producing the book. A self-published e-book will usually be posted on and sold through the author's Website. All expenses incurred are the responsibility of the author.

Maxine Thompson, founder and president of Maxine Thompson's Literary Services (www.maxine thompson.com), is the author of several e-books. Frustrated with numerous rejections from traditional publishers, she decided to self-publish her books electronically. "I was tired of seeing so many authors that were not African American receiving a positive response. After reading their manuscripts, I realized that something was wrong; my work was much better," says Thompson. Thompson has three books and a short story collection under her belt, including The Ebony Tree, No Pockets in a Shroud, A Place Called Home, and a how-to book on publishing and marketing, How to Promote, Market, and Sell Your Book via e-Book Publishing. Since e-publishing in March 2000, her sales have reached more than $40,000, and she expects that number to double within the next six months. Thompson is also the winner of numerous awards, including Ebony magazine's first writing competition--the Gertrude Johnson Williams Literary Contest--in 1989.

Thompson says e-publishing is simpler than the print process. "Costs are cut considerably because you don't need to worry about paper, graphic artist fees, and returns," she says. She adds that success is virtually guaranteed if you "do your homework, read your contract, promote on the Internet, network, and find reviewers."

FROM PEN TO CUSTOMER

So how do you go from manuscript to e-books? Easy. E-books are distributed through a variety of formats including, HTML, RTF (rich text format), Aportis-Doc for Palm Pilots, and PDF (Adobe's Portable Document Format). Some major publishers and distributors of e-books include iPublish.com (Time Warner Books), iUniverse.com, Xlibris.com (partly owned by Random House), DiskUs Publishing, and Hard Shell Word Factory. These companies work with Amazon.com, Borders.com, and Books in Print to distribute published works. E-publishers such as DiskUs receive 75% of their profit by selling directly to the public. Others, such as Hard Shell Word Factory, report that half of their sales come from outlets like Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Like the publishing formats, the price of e-books varies as well. Fiction titles can range from $5 to $10, whereas nonfiction titles can cost more, from $10 to $30 or higher. And given that a higher percentage of these sales go to the author, compared with pairing with traditional publishers, an author can make a considerable profit if the book is heavily promoted. Most subsidy publishers let authors sell their books anywhere, without being bound by a contract.

So why e-publish? For one, writers have greater control over the process. Second, it's typically easier to break into e-publishing than mainstream publishing. And writers often receive higher royalty fees and enjoy author-friendly contracts. Furthermore, the process is quicker than the traditional route, giving authors access to a wider audience and greater opportunities for success. E-books typically have a longer shelf life, too.

But there are drawbacks. First, you'll have to do everything yourself: from publishing to promoting to marketing. And as in the mainstream, success is not guaranteed. Other disadvantages include lower sales, no advance payments, fewer reviews, lack of security, high prices, and consumer reluctance to read online.

Yet, e-publishing offers greater opportunities than traditional publishing--if you do your homework and network. Just be prepared to pound the virtual pavement.