Question about Free Books.

[Kath]

I think this is the reason that some authors, particularly of short works, put contents tables and acknowledgements at the back.

[P.A.]

Raises an interesting question regarding front matter. Does it all need to go at the front? I'm thinking in particular of the copyright notice and legal disclaimer (this is a work of fiction, blah blah blah). If it were to go at the back, would it still be effective as a disclaimer? Isn't that like handing a credit card user their terms and conditions after they've already started racking up purchases?

[Jim]

Ignite wrote: "Spell checkers are the spawn of Beelzebub. They lure you into a false sense of security. I use google chrome thanks Geoff) but I query it when it gives me a wiggly line!"

especially when it has you writing like a damned yankee!

[Kath]

P.A. (U.L.) wrote: "Raises an interesting question regarding front matter. Does it all need to go at the front? I'm thinking in particular of the copyright notice and legal disclaimer (this is a work of fiction, bla..."

Dunno Paul. I just know that some authors do it and when I've asked, that's why. You're on a loser trying to sue an indie though!

[P.A.]

I'd have a crack at suing Amanda Hocking if I could find an angle.

[Kath]

Does she still count as indie?

[P.A.]

Ignite wrote: "Does she still count as indie?"

I don't know ... I couldn't remember the other guy's name. You know, whatsisface.

[P.A.]

Adam wrote: "P.A. (U.L.) wrote: "Raises an interesting question regarding front matter. Does it all need to go at the front? I'm thinking in particular of the copyright notice and legal disclaimer (this is a ..."

Worth a try Adam. I'll think about it. Then I'll forget what I was thinking about. Then I'll eat some chicken. Mmm, chicken.

[Lance]

If you participate in Amazon's Search Inside the Book program, you send them a PDF that they use for the scan. You can remove any of the front matter you wish (although I kept my copyright page in). The SITB copy is the one used for the hardcopy Look Inside feature.

You're not required to have a TOC at the front for either Kindle or ePub editions. If you use Calibre, you have to tell it to put one there if you haven't baked it into your HTML source. So the Look Inside for a Kindle edition should show only what you yourself put at the beginning of your book.

Smashwords requires a copyright page at the beginning of an e-book.

I keep my copyright page in front because I understand librarians like it there, and I have delusions of selling my book to libraries.

[P.A.]

I haven't heard of the search inside program. Can you post a link for that Lance?

[Elle]

Once the novelty of free books wore off I avoided free lists.

The only ones I get now are the ones that I have on my wishlist already and when I get my own personal price drop email. Although in saying that I use this not for tracking when books go free but just on sale/get cheaper.

I understand writers need to make a living but I don't have a great amount of money to spend on books so I will save money wherever I can.

[Lance]

P.A. (U.L.) wrote: "I haven't heard of the search inside program. Can you post a link for that Lance?"

Here's the FAQ from Amazon.com (I imagine it's the same for Amazon.uk): http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custome...

The fun thing about this is that if someone searches for a particular phrase in Google or Bing and it appears in your book, your book page will show up in the search results.