The new road to self-publishing...iTunes?

[mygoditsraining]

So, Apple have revealed their new self-publishing scheme whereby people can sell their own work on the iTune Bookstore.

Apple Reveals New Service for Authors to Sell Their Books Directly in the iBookstore | Mac|Life

Current requirements:

Must have a 13 digit ISBN
Must be in ePub format and validate against epubcheck 1.0.5
Must contain no unmanifested files

The author/seller must have:

A US tax ID
A current iTunes account with credit card on file
An Intel based Mac running OS X 10.5 or later

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While I like the idea, and I imagine the Tax ID part will loosen up as they expand to other territories, it annoys me that I've got to have a Mac. They are sexy sexy pieces of kit, yes, but I have precious little buck and this must shop in the PC aisle to obtain my desired quantity of bang.

Of course there will be re-sellers (or aggregators as Apple is calling them), but then this sort of thing attracts people who will gladly chance an arm at the prospect of some easy dough. It's going to take a while to sort out the wheat from the opportunistic chaff, IMO.

Of course, I could just be being cynical, and it will all proceed perfectly from the get-go.

 

[A_J_Lath]

^^AFAIA, if you submit your ebook to Smashwords and make it into their premium catalogue, they'll distribute it through Apple for you (eventually)...

 

[ctg]

So, Apple have revealed their new self-publishing scheme whereby people can sell their own work on the iTune Bookstore.

Apple Reveals New Service for Authors to Sell Their Books Directly in the iBookstore | Mac|Life

Current requirements:

Must have a 13 digit ISBN
Must be in ePub format and validate against epubcheck 1.0.5
Must contain no unmanifested files

The author/seller must have:

A US tax ID
A current iTunes account with credit card on file
An Intel based Mac running OS X 10.5 or later

------

What a terrible requirements. I believe that Apple is going to sell these books for profit and rip off authors probably even more than what they would get from the publishers. Note that some of the publishers are offering 50% royalties on ebooks. And them asking for author to have a credit card. Man that's almost as if they're asking you to have a huge pile of debt.

 

[J Riff]

It's easy to make an eBook with freeware. I'd do that and make it available - if it's good it should draw attention.
This reminds me of club owners who want the musicians to sell tickets, bring their own audience, while they collect for doing precious little. ..... hmmmmmm