An e-book or 'electronic book' is something you read on screen instead of on paper. Out-of-print texts, new works, fiction, textbooks and reference works are available. E-books may contain extras such as audio, video or hyperlinks.

We can read e-books in three ways:

a) On your home computer or laptop using special software

A free software package can be downloaded from the internet.  This is Adobe Acrobat reader. A registration form asks for an email address and password.  After choosing between Windows and Mac versions, follow the instructions to install.  Once downloaded, it is possible to highlight text and make your own notes.  A library of books can be built and displayed on your desktop with this software - click the title to access it. b) With portable e-book reading devices  These are small hand-held computers. Slightly bigger than a paperback, they're battery-powered with a screen. They display downloaded texts, let the reader search for keywords and add notes and hyperlinks.  

c) Personal digital assistants (PDAs) Acrobat is also available for PDAs. Download free reader software from Mobipocket

Advantages of using e-books?

· · You can take notes, underline, bookmark pages, and search hyperlinks

· · The screen lighting intensity and font size can be altered

· · Some e-book readers include dictionaries or thesaurus

· · E-books don't use paper - save a tree!

Disadvantages of e-books?

· · E-book format is still limited 

· · E-books cannot be printed from a computer

· · Mac users are at a disadvantage because of lack of Mac formats

Cost per unit?

Usually cheaper than paperbacks. No delivery or shipping charge and, if you're downloading them on to your computer, you get free software.

Added extras?

Extra text, hyperlinks and footnotes.

Some publishers are also beginning to add extras to their fiction titles, the way DVDs have.

There are many dedicated e-book sales sites.  Here are some -

Reader's Eden

This well-established Australian site publishes and sells e-books with some print versions available.  Prices usually in US$. An easy-to-navigate site with good stock. Different e-book reader formats are indicated.

Renaissance E-Books

An American site with a large variety of stock.  Another easy-to-navigate site with titles to suit all tastes and all reader formats.

Fictionwise is another good retail site marketing for different publishers.

Amazon

  Amazon uses Adobe Acrobat to provide a number of free downloads as well as a large range of e-books from classics to modern together with reference books.

First, understand this. You won't make a fortune.

On the other hand, it shouldn't cost you anything. Avoid like the plague any sites that offer to publish your book if you pay them. They should eventually pay you royalties, and the royalties are usually quite a high percentage per title.

Writer's Exchange aka Reader's Eden has submission advice, and so has Renaissance Ebooks.

Before rushing in, visit Preditors and Editors for sound advice and lists of approved e-publishers.

I've succeeded in getting a book e-published! Where can I get it marketed?

Your publisher should do it! If not, change them or try The Book Attic