Why Electronic Publishing?

We knew electronic publishing long before we joined the Mylero team, though we hadn't yet been published online. Our foray into the business began in 1992, when we signed contracts with BiblioBytes, a company in the process of a long and painful birth. Eighteen months later they were still having labor pains, and we bailed. Next came the Green Tower Press, a well-intentioned, extremely short-lived publisher of books on disk. The problem there was, nobody wanted books on disk, at least not in 1996. We stayed away for a couple of years during which we worked in film and television (a story in itself, and not a pretty one) and then we started our foray into online publishing.

BiblioBytes indicated they would still like to publish our fantasy series, The Lost Myths Saga. When we originally signed with them, two volumes were finished. Now all four were finished, but before BiblioBytes produced contracts, we signed with Mylero (first known as Thornton Literary, then RoxyBooks and finally, in 2001, as Mylero -- a division of genieBooks). We are blissfully happy with them, but we realize there are as many different needs in publishing as there are writers, and that's where we'd like to help you.

Electronic publishing is the future of the industry. Nobody disputes this point, though they might not like it. Most of the people who don't like it are editors at mainstream publishers or authors already making six or seven figure salaries. As it becomes harder to enter the publishing arena, more good writers are left by the roadside as literary road kill. But electronic publishing has room for many more writers, books, magazines, newspapers. New ways to read, store and retrieve anything you're looking for. Many electronic publishers are now publishing on cd-rom, disk, in paperback and as print-on-demand. They took the nontraditional route, and they offer a lot more to writers than most mainstream publishers can or are willing to. Here are the basics...

Check out: www.terrycampbell.com for information about and links to electronic publishers that pay royalties.

NUVO-MEDIA AND ROCKET E-BOOKS

It is not enough to choose the right publisher. Authors interested in E book publishing have to take a look at the technology of the business and there that might lead them. It isn't easy being in at the beginning of any new enterprise.

Rocket e-books has a new hand-held book reader. Lightweight and small in size, it isn't necessary for the reader to have any other equipment. It is back-lit for convenience in reading in a darkened room (perhaps you like to read in bed while your significant other snores?) such as a bedroom or on an airplane. It can be taken wherever you go, just like a paperback, but provides its' own light. You can read on public transport, on your breaks at work, or while standing in line for a ticket to an upcoming concert. There is no need to sit at your computer, an easy chair will work fine. Thousands of pages can be stored at a time, which means a couple of text books, or 5 or 6 novels (depending on length). Books can be transferred in and out of the Rocket e-book whenever you want, directly from the internet. There are many places to get e-books in this system, including Barnes and Noble. Public domain titles can be downloaded free, just like at your local library, and e books can normally be purchased at a far smaller price than hardback or paperback versions.

This is an html format, which means that any author who chooses to put their book in this format is not locked down to this one company. And when you are choosing which way to go, a certain mobility may be just what you're looking for.

Nuvo-Media Inc. is working hard to become a distribution solution for e-book and other online publishing by offering a network infrastructure for publishers, retailers and users to publish, distribute, purchase and read electronic content securely and efficiently over the world wide web. They sell Rocket e-books for $199., which I note is down from the first price I saw of $250. It's getting more affordable, as all new technology does. Also, Nuvo-media is part of the Microsoft-founded Frankfurt e-book awards, the winners of which will be announced at the annual Frankfurt book fair.

GLASSBOOK

Another fore-runner in this field is Glassbook. Len Kawell and Mary Ellen Heinen help head up this company. The company has been promoting their products, designed for use in reading electronic books. The Glassbook Reader, which has software for Windows or Macintosh notebook computers, Window CE devices, and handheld information appliances, gives the reader a chance to avail him or herself of some of the latest technology. With this system readers can lend or borrow e-books they have already purchased, create libraries within families or with co-workers, and view sophisticated graphics and page layouts without a problem.

The Glassbook Commerce Server purports to provide improved web-server based abilities for publishers, distributors and booksellers. They have a little idea about e-book kiosks to be placed in coffee shops, airport shops, hotel gift shops and the like which might be worth more money than I can imagine. Their Library Server promises to give libraries the same rights they possess now (i.e. the ability to buy and lend books) while still protecting the rights of publishers and authors. Add to all this the fact that they have been getting attention from some big names in the industry, and they might well be a good company with whom to join forces. Hewlett Packard put out 2.5 million dollars for first-round equity rights. The company plans on putting the funds to use in product advancement and promotions. Good plan. Other associations include Adobe Reader and BarnesandNoble.com.

They hooked up with Microsoft to promote the First Annual Frankfurt Book Faire Awards for e-books. The size of the total purse was $160,000. This is the most prize money ever offered in a literary competition, and serves to underscore the importance the e-book field is likely to attain. Just take note that Glassbook isn't the only company to be involved here. Check the section on Nuvo-Media.

For further information about Glassbook visit: www.glassbook.com.

Len Kawell is one of the original three founders of Iris Associates, where he codesigned Lotus Notes (which he co-managed for thirteen years). Glassbook specializes in some products used to read electronic books. The Glassbook reader, software for window or Macintosh notebook computers, window CE devices and handheld information appliances provides readers with a truly evolutionary reading experience. The unique features include the ability to lend or borrow e-books, the ability to have a family or workgroup library, and the ability to read e-books containing color graphics and sophisticated page layouts. They also invented the Glassbook commercial server, which provides secure web-server based e-book preparations, storage, distribution, and fulfillment to publishers, distributors and book sellers. The Glassbook Library Server gives public, academic and corporate libraries the ability to purchase e-books and lend them to patrons while still maintaining the copyright of the book. The Glassbook bookstore kiosk gives brick and mortar stores the ability to sell e-books. Appropriate locations include coffee shops, such as Starbucks, bookstores, airport shops and hotel gift shops.

PULPLESS.COM

One of the pioneers in the field, but not for newcomers. This award-winning publisher only takes on established authors and journalists. But they will take writers trying to leave their category, as long as they have a track record, such as a magazine writer with a first novel. Like most electronic publishers, pulpless only accepts finished books, and they steer away from lavish illustration. And only electronic submissions are accepted, which is becoming an industry standard.

Although they are mainstream in content, the publisher, J. Neil Schulman, is conservative in outlook, as evidenced by his own books. These are available at the pulpless website, and include one entitled Frame of the Century?, which presents the premise that O.J. Simpson might have been framed by a fan; and a book advocating gun ownership, Stopping Power.

Pulpless acquires both electronic and print rights, and doesn't negotiate individual contracts (but there are some options in the standard contract). 1999 is the year multi-media publishing came of age; like a few others, pulpless now publishes their books simultaneously electronically and paperbound (by the Ingram Book Company). Even this is done differently; the books are printed on-demand from bookstores and shipped within 48 hours, thereby eliminating the bane of the industry -- unsold paperbacks stripped and discarded.

Be warned; this publisher follows traditional companies in giving most of its' energy and publicity into already famous authors. It has the awards to back up this policy, but that isn't a lot of comfort to would-be authors. For further information about pulpless.com, visit their website: www.pulpless.com.

BIBLIOBYTES

BiblioBytes was another of the first electronic publishers, formed in 1993. They're very slow at both responses and publishing, so if you go with them, you'll need the patience of a hand-quilter. They had their website up and running in 1994, but much of their time during the next couple of years went to establishing an online payment system and fighting the Internet Censorship Bill. This system, called I.C.E. (Internet Credit Card Encryptor) is now part of a separate company called H.K.S.

They have a strange system -- they give their books away. We haven't been able to crack the gimmick here; they appear to survive on site advertising. Like pulpless, they only publish electronically, and pay a 35% royalty to authors, which is considerably lower than most electronic publishers. But what is the 35% part of, if they are giving away their books? Editor Glenn Hauman never responded to my request for a publisher's statement, so you'll have to find out for yourself. However, they are a good bet for first-timer's, since their list is extensive and eclectic. Their website is located at: www.bb.com.