What is an eBook?

eBook stands for electronic book, which is a digital version of your manuscript. eBooks consist of text, images, or both. They can be read on most mobile devices; including smart phones, like the iPhone or Android; tablets, like an iPad or Surface; and eReaders, like a Kindle or Nook. All of these mobile devices can hold hundreds of titles at once. It’s like taking a library with you on the go.

How do you buy an eBook?

You can buy eBooks from thousands of retailers, including Amazon, iBookStore, and Barnes & Noble. You can also buy eBooks directly from an author’s website.

Where can I sell my eBook?

With BookBaby, you can sell your eBook through major retail outlets, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble; in app stores like iTunes and Google Play; and through BookShop™, a free online store front exclusively for BookBaby authors.

What kind of books can be eBooks?

Any book can become an eBook, from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to Chris Van Allsburg’s Jumanji. And that includes your book, too! BookBaby can help transform your book into an eBook.

Will my eBook look just like my printed book?

All of your content will be in your eBook, but it will not look exactly the same. With eBooks, readers can customize their experience by changing the format, like font styles and line spacing. That means eBook content needs to be flexible within readers’ preferences and devices. But don’t worry, BookBaby has a team of conversion specialists that can handle it all for you. They can also design a cover for your eBook (should you need one) to make it stand out on the virtual bookshelves.

What do I need to get started?

Send us your finished Word document or PDF file. We’ll convert your book into an eBook-compatible file within six to eight business days.

Want to read more? Check out these posts:

Seven basic – but important – questions about eBooks

Even though they’ve been around for almost 10 years, a lot of folks are still trying to understand the world of eBooks. Our BookBaby publishing specialists field dozens of questions about eBooks every day, and any question, no matter how basic, deserves a good answer.

Your eBook Checklist

Think you’re ready to self-publish your eBook? Great! We’re here to help, and this eBook checklist will help you get off on the right foot in your journey from your laptop to the marketplace. Note: many of these items are needed for printed book production as well.

Fixed Or Standard Layout For Your eBook?

For many BookBaby authors, understanding the nuances of eBook formatting – like fixed vs. standard layout – can be a challenge. Gino Vasquez and Kyle Fadigan from our eBook Conversion team play an important role in many BookBaby authors’ lives, converting manuscripts from programs such as Word or Pages into formats that work on eReaders.

Product, Payment, and Profits… BookShop and Your Print On Demand Success

BookBaby’s BookShop helps self-published authors unlock the full profit potential of Print On Demand by keeping books stocked 24/7/365, paying authors more per sale, and paying faster than the big online retailers.

Why Doesn’t My eBook Look Like My Printed Book?

Authors are still acclimating to the world of eBook publishing, which has some asking, “Why doesn’t my eBook look like my printed book?” There are practical reasons why.