The digital book or e-book is rising in popularity due to hand held reading devices like Amazon’s Kindle and the availability of reading electronic documents via the iPhone and other cell phones like it.  However, many authors are still holding on to dreams of traditional publishing.  Yet, the bad rap of e-book publishing is not deserved.

The increasing awareness of the environment has made the demand for a paperless society more crucial.  E-books respond to this demand by maintaining a document’s integrity without the extensive printing and loss of trees that can occur.  In fact, print-on-demand publishers were one of the first to respond to the need to reduce paper waste by printing only books that were specifically ordered and purchased.  Though this has been helpful, environmental issues continue to be a concern that warrants alternative processes and technologies.  E-book publishing has proven to be a useful and profitable way for authors to share their work with the world without harming the environment.

• Authors who have their work published online can benefit from selling as many copies of their books through an e-book publisher as they would through more traditional printing methods.

• The internet is known for helping to create fame and fortune for many today and e-books with direct links to instant downloads can sell much quicker than books that have to be shipped.

• New writers can experience the feeling of accomplishment that might not otherwise be available to them through traditional publishing methods.

E-book publishing may be getting a bad rap for not appearing as glamorous as traditional publishing methods.  However, times are changing.  Magazines and newspapers, another printed media, have begun to shift their resources towards online publishing and as book publishing houses merge and collapse, the demand for e-publishers will continue to rise.

Anyone who is thinking about having a book published should seriously consider utilizing an e-book publisher.  Lulu.com is a self-publishing service that offers a variety of publishing resources that includes publishing work as an e-book.  This is certainly worth investigating when considering options for mass producing and marketing your book.

Well, if you have ever written a book and are looking to sell it, you have to understand how many times your book will be judged by its cover.  The book cover is the first thing a potential reader will see. So what should your book cover look like?

• Book covers should be simple and easy to read.  A book cover is no place to tell the whole story.  If there are too many words on the cover, it makes it harder to read.  So take that into consideration when choosing the title for your work.
• Book covers should have a focal point.  If you choose to have a graphic, make sure it is large enough to make out, but not “too busy”.  You don’t want to distract the reader from the title, but draw them to it.
• Book covers should have clear wording.  Fancy fonts are acceptable as long as they are legible and again kept at a minimum.

Book Cover Example

When books are posted on a website the covers are usually thumbnail size.  That means that if the e-book cover has to be shrunk down to suit the purposes of publishing and promotion, it should still be legible.

The example to the left illustrates the point.  The main book title is clearly larger and legible.  The subtitle or second title is listed in a smaller font, however, it is highlighted in red and given its own text area.  The picture is simple, but easily draws  the reader to inquire more.  Readers are intrigued by the expression on the face and instantly drawn to the main title.  Once they are hooked, in most cases, a reader can then click to enlarge the picture.  The smaller text is then made easier to read.  However, if there is no feature to enlarge the book cover pic, that’s okay because the cover has done its job–attracted a reader–and most likely, a buyer.  Now, he or she will seek to learn more.

Don’t let your book cover destroy your chances of selling your book.  Whether it’s an e-book or a printed book, book covers are essential.  The right book cover design can help or hurt your sales.  Professional E-Writers Network (P.E.N.) offers affordable book cover design.

Get a creative, clear and easy to read book cover starting at $20.  Covers are usually formatted as a jpg file, but can also be formatted as a png, bmp or tiff file.  These files can be converted for use on e-books, self-published books, print-on-demand books or traditionally published books.

Remember, whether you like it or not, your book is being judged by its cover.  Make sure it represents your work well.  It’s the window into the writing that you have worked so hard on.   Give your book the start it deserves with a book cover that tells the world, “You’ve got to read what’s in here!”

–Professional E-Writers Network

We hope so!  We all have to work together to sell, sell, sell!  Have you been utilizing your weblink?  Have you forwarded your e-book’s weblink to friends, family, co-workers?  Have you written any articles about your e-book and placed a direct link to where they can purchase your e-book at Guides to Successful Living?  Have you tweeted or facebooked your link lately?

Hmmm…I hope you can say yes to at least one of those questions!  We’re working hard for all of our writers, but we need your support.

Why not share your e-book link at Ebooks Cafe!  Sign up for a free account and create a special page for your e-book.  We were going to do this for you, but each author must sign up to present his or her own e-book.

So go to http://ebookscafe.writergazette.com/ today and sign up!  It’s FREE.

I have listed my e-books there myself.  You have the option to upload an e-book cover to display, however, the dimensions must be 175 x 175 exactly or it won’t take it.  If anyone wants an e-book cover this size, please let me know, we can format one for you.

Now go get listed!

By the way, thanks to Tess C. Taylor from www.TaylorResourcesWritingLLC.com for sharing the information about Ebooks Cafe!  If anyone else has something to share that can support our network, please feel free to forward the information to me and I will make sure we get the word out!

–Professional E-Writers Network

Documents that can be viewed on an electronic device rather than being printed are becoming the norm rather than the exception.  Newspaper publishers, traditional book publishers and magazine publishers have already recognized the growing trend toward electronic downloadable content.

What does this mean for readers and writers today?  Believe it or not, the changes in the way we transmit information benefits many.  For readers, content is instant.  No more going to the local bookstore or news stand or awaiting a shipment.  If there is a problem or query that demands pertinent  information, it can be retrieved and accessed in minutes.

For writers, content is published and distributed with great ease. The high cost of printing, in addition to the politics of publishing, leaves traditional publishing methods just outside the reach of most writers.  However, e-book publishing has cut down on much of the red tape and offers a venue for writers that was not always readily available in the past.

If you are a reader looking for self-help or even fiction books, visit www.Amazon.com to search an e-book gallery with content submitted by professionals from a wide range of industries.

If you are a writer interested in having your original e-book content published and presented for sale, please click here for more details or search this website.

With the ushering in of a new year, it’s time that we all embrace the e-content trend as it is both environmentally responsible and economically sound.

–Professional E-Writers Network