By Jennifer Hastings, PPS Project Manager
You’ve just completed your book. The hard part is done, right? Well, maybe not. Have you given any thought to how your work will be distributed to your readers? Traditionally, books are printed in set quantities. Selling enough books will cover printing costs and hopefully make a profit. To achieve this, a writer must reach as many readers as possible, but with traditional printing, the expense can be overwhelming. How can your book be distributed to your readers without incurring those printing costs? Converting your book into an ePUB could be the ideal solution.
What is an ePUB?
First, “what is an e-book?” An e-book is a book in digital format. Readers use electronic devices, such as tablets, phones, or laptops, to read an e-book. There are many e-book formats: .epub, .mobi, .azw3, and .pdf, to name a few. The most common format is the ePUB. An ePUB, short for “electronic publication,” is an open e-book standard format that is supported by most e-readers.
An ePUB has many advantages for both author and reader. For the author, an ePUB is less expensive to produce than a traditional printed book. There are no printing, shipping, or storage costs for ePUBs. For the reader, ePUBs are easier to travel with and store, no bookshelves required. The reader can customize each ePUB by changing the font, font size, color, and screen brightness on an e-reader.
Conversion is easy. Formatting is not.
Converting your book to an ePUB is easy; there are many free or inexpensive programs readily available, such as Draft2Digital. However, even the simplest content requires correct formatting for the conversion program to work properly. Text, headings, and tables should be set consistently using styles and all art should be the correct color, size, and format. Adding videos or interactive forms requires a higher level of manipulation in the program. Conversion programs will automate the ePUB conversion but knowing how to use the software will help if manual changes are needed.
Check the results.
Check your newly converted ePUB on a variety of e-readers. Each e-reader will interpret the ePUB coding differently. Review the pages throughout the ePUB to make sure text and other elements look and function properly. Tables may look great on an iPad but may be too large on a smartphone. All links should go to the correct location. If not, search for the cause of the issue and manually fix the coding in the conversion software.
Professional conversion.
Did you remember to add the metadata and cover file? Alternative text for images? Feeling overwhelmed? Professional services are available and at affordable rates. Professionals in the publishing industry are trained to handle the entire conversion process. Based on experience, they can anticipate content problems by identifying and fixing any issues before the ePUB is created. A professional conversion will also include checking and certifying the ePUB to ensure that it works properly and readers will have a positive reading experience.