Smashwords Author/Publisher Alert - October 15, 2015

Smashwords Author/Publisher Alert - October 15, 2015

Inside:


1. Smashwords signs distribution deal with Gardners! Adds hundreds of retailers and thousands of libraries.
2. View Mark Coker's Ebook Publishing Intensive - How to Publish Ebooks
3. Update on the demise of Flipkart and Oyster
4. 250 Smashwords authors featured at Bouchercon 2015
5. Helpful Author/Publisher Resources


Your Smashwords page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mohanarun
Your Smashwords account login email: marun2@gmail.com


1. Smashwords Adds Gardners to Smashwords Distribution Network

Exiting news today: Smashwords has signed a comprehensive distribution agreement with Gardners, the UK's largest book wholesaler. The agreement will dramatically enhance the global reach of Smashwords distribution.


Key details:


• Extended distribution to over 400 small ebook retailers powered by Gardners in 32 countries, serving customers in 138 different countries
• Distribution to thousands of public and academic libraries, including 2,000 public libraries in the U.K. In an industry-first, Gardners library distribution offers true patron-driven ebook acquisition. Every Smashwords book will be listed for patrons in every library (unlike with OverDrive, where the book's not discoverable to patrons until the library acquires it.


In your Channel Manager you'll find two Gardners channels listed, one for extended retail distribution and the others for libraries. You can opt out of either from your Channel Manager, though we don't recommend opting out.


Shipments will commence in one week. We expect all books to be listed within six to eight weeks.


Full details about the agreement can be found at the Smashwords blog.


2. How to Publish Ebooks - Learn the Best Practices

Back in July Mark Coker presented a four-part, six-hour e-publishing intensive at the Pacific Northwest writers conference in Seattle. The four modules presented included:


1. Introduction to ebook publishing
2. Ebook publishing best practices
3. iBooks merchandising tips and tricks
4. How to hit the bestseller lists with ebook preorders


The full presentation deck is viewable and downloadable at the Smashwords blog:


• In English
• In Portuguese


If you have a writer friend just starting out in e-publishing, or if you're looking for fresh new ideas to take your publishing to the next level, please check it out! There's something here for novices and experts alike.


3. Update on Flipkart and Oyster

As you may know, in August Smashwords and Flipkart ended their distribution relationship, and in September Oyster announced they're being acquired by Google and will close down their subscription service in early 2016.


Such industry consolidation is it to be expected as the ebook market matures. Although various market forces and missteps conspired to cause these players to exit the ebook business, one fascinating and common thread is Amazon.


If you enjoy, as I do, monitoring the shadow cast by Amazon and how they're using self-published books to undermine their competitors, you might enjoy my two blog posts marking the demise of Flipkart and Oyster.


• Flipkart - Smashwords and Flipkart to End Distribution Relationship
• Oyster - Oyster and the KDP Select Party Train


4. 250 Smashwords Authors Featured at Bouchercon 2015

Earlier this month, Bouchercon 2015 was held in Raleigh, North Carolina. It's of the largest mystery and crime fiction conferences. 250 Smashwords authors were featured in a special thumb drive promotion. Free copies of their ebooks were included in our thumb drive which was placed in the conference registration bags of nearly 1,500 crime fiction fans.


Participating authors were invited from among Smashwords bestsellers, conference attendees and members of Sisters in Crime.


Learn more about the promotion on the Smashwords blog.


Congrats to participating authors! We'll do additional promotions like this in the future. These promotions are among the many benefits of publishing and distributing with Smashwords.


5. Helpful Author/Publisher Resources

• Frequently asked questions

• Smashwords Site Updates

• Smashwords blog (subscribe today via the email option!)

• Smashwords Video Workshops

• Create a Smashwords Interview (self-interviews)

• Smashwords Series Manager (Manage series metadata)

• Smashwords Coupon Manager (Create custom coupon codes)

• How to publish and distribute ebooks with Smashwords
• Connect with fellow Smashwords readers and authors at Facebook

• Mark's List - Low cost cover designers and ebook formatters


Thank you for your continued support, trust and partnership.


When you fully distribute your books with Smashwords, you're directly supporting our ability to continue investing to create exciting new tools such as assetless preorders, and to add new partners such as Gardners. Much more to come!


Do you know authors not yet at Smashwords? Please invite them to join our 100,000+ strong worldwide community.


Together, we're changing the world of publishing one indie ebook at a time.


Happy Publishing!


mark
Mark Coker
Founder
Smashwords
twitter: @markcoker
blog


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2. In the sign in box, enter your email address: marun2@gmail.com followed by your password.
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