And now comes the E-book

Most sources advise independent authors to make our books available in e-book format at the same time the trade paperback is published.  I’ve been successful in ignoring that advice for more than 18 months.  I’ve reached Create Space where my books have been published and for $75 they will reformat the book and make it available on Amazon.  The only downside is that is the only platform that accepts the create space format, Smashwords for instance, uses a different file format.

I acknowledge the logic of making my books available in every format imaginable in an effort to appeal to both physical book readers and e-book readers.  As a newbie author the lure of having a physical book to promote is intoxicating.  I just didn’t have the energy to pursue whatever was needed to transform my first book into an e-book on various platforms.

I’ve worked with Christine Keleny of CK Books to publish the second in the Murphy series novels, Out of Darkness.  Christine asked if I wanted to publish both a trade paperback and an e-book.  I explained that I hadn’t made Murphy’s Troubles available yet in e-book format.  I asked if she thought it was worthwhile to publish Out of Darkness in both formats at the same time.

Christine was appalled that Murphy’s Troubles wasn’t an e-book and insisted that Out of Darkness should be published in both formats at the same time.  Sensing my reluctance Christine offered to undertake the work and quoted an exceptionally reasonable price.  It would take me the next six months to learn how to change file formats and I’m not at all interested in technical work like that.  I accepted Christine’s offer.

In a matter of days Christine sent me files to publish both Murphy’s Troubles and Out of Darkness on Amazon and Smashwords.  I confess that I don’t understand how to use Smashwords to attract readers.  I’ve given myself the job of learning Smashwords marketing this year. 

Thanks to Christine I’m now thoroughly modern.  To contact Christine to learn about her business and her writing go to www.ckbookspublishing.com.  For my books go to www.Amazon.com/author/rexowens or www.smashwords.com.