Success of eBook Publishing
An ebook is an electronic book in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, accessible on computers, mobile devices, and proprietary e-readers [Medlar Publishing Solutions]
Ebooks have created a tsunami in the world of publishing, which has led to an exciting range of options for readers whom can now access their favourite must-reads, not only in printed form, but via attractive online formats.
In terms of history, it’s hard to pin down the first ebook. Author Peter James is well-known for his pioneering ‘Host’ novel in 1993, about a scientist who downloads his brain onto a computer. It was available on two floppy disks (remember them?) and promoted as the ‘world’s first electronic novel’. He sold 12,000 copies. The Science Museum in London, England, has since accepted Host into its canon of early ebooks. However, there are other examples of early electronic reading material set up by innovators: Dorling Kindersley, Grolier Encyclopaedia and Project Gutenburg to name a few. Interactive computer games in the 1980s also paved the way for ebooks as we know them today. Tolkien’s The Hobbit in 1982 is perhaps the earliest example. Poet Robert Pinsky also called his Mindwheel (1984), an ‘electronic novel’. The first mass buying by eager readers of any electronic book was the Bible by Franklin in 1989 – as a singular, stand-out hardware publication.
How would you define an ‘ebook?’ Here at Medlar Publishing Solutions, we’ve given our own definition in the opening sentence of this blog. Yet the meaning is open to interpretation, as long as it is linked to electronic presentations, and that’s the joy of creative publishing in the present day. The Kindle and other devices have certainly lifted ebooks into the wider net in recent years and electronic books are no longer just text on a screen, increasingly they’re becoming interactive.
There are a number of online channels available to present your book: Smashwords, Amazon, Booktangle, Scribd are some of the well-known examples. Of course, perhaps you have broader plans than just self-publishing. You may want a printed version to complement your ebook (ask Medlar Publishing Solutions for help with this) or the ebook is needed within an in-house educational or professional software setting.
If you want to publish an ebook, why not put together a plan and ask yourself some simple questions: What are you trying to achieve? What kind of design do you want? Have you thought about which fonts will attract your target audience? How many pages will you need? Has the ebook been thoroughly proofread and copy edited? In what kind of manner will the ebook be distributed – do you have a marketing budget? Are you creating a social media page for the ebook on the usual channels and is there to be a website with SEO relevant content? What kind of profit margins are you looking for?
At Medlar Publishing Solutions, we tend to find that clients have four general concerns about their ebooks: [1] Writing the content [2] Copy editing and proofreading relevant drafts [3] Designing and formatting the copy and [4] Marketing the Ebook to the target audience.
It goes without saying that the original author needs to write the content. From that point on, however, Medlar’s team can ably assist you. Our multi-services team offers bespoke support from the beginning to the end of the ebook process. We will also ensure that the final product fits in with your needs, whether that’s a simple PDF presentation of your script or a smartly designed ebook with front and back cover designs (clearly presentable in thumbnail size too) or layouts which read well. You’re also welcome to bounce basic marketing ideas off us, and we can put you in touch with a reliable outside agency for further expertise. We also provide copy editing and proofreading services by outsourcing to a reliable, professional partner.
In short – numbers [2] and [3] of clients’ general concerns (copy editing, proofreading, designing and formatting) can be completely handled by Medlar Publishing Solutions. Not only that, but we can point you in the right direction for [4] marketing, so that you feel supported at every point of the process. If you’ve just started writing the ebook (number [1] above!], why not ask our editors for an opinion on the narrative voice and technical structure of the content? Whatever question you have, our professional team is always happy to help.
Due to copyright agreements, we are not at liberty to mention the name of ebooks we have completed for clients. If you would like to receive some testimonials, or just to talk further about your project, please do get in touch for free, no-obligation advice. The team at Medlar Publishing Solutions are experienced in all aspects of the publishing process.