Ebook conversion company - can anyone recommend a good but inexpensive one (sigh)?

[Lucinda]

Hello. Unfortunately, my ebook conversion company have let me down so badly I think it's the parting of the ways (and they are meant to be so reputable, have even published a book on Self Publishing).

They were supposed to do some alterations. They put in a lot of mistakes, refuse to admit it, have even sent me a screen shot of one of the pages I'm querying, complete with errors, saying there's nothing wrong, it must be my PC.

So, I'm having to start from scratch again. Can anyone suggest a good one? Some companies seem to charge a ridiculous amount.

Thanks in advance.

[Nick]

What do you need done? What can't they format?

[Lucinda]

I don't know what happened exactly, Nick, but I found some errors in the ebook, 'gentleman' instead of 'gentlemen' in one place, which I wanted corrected. Now they've replaced many instances where 'gentleman' is correct with 'gentlemen'. It looks as if they did some e book formatting equivalent of search and replace. That sort of thing...

[[deleted user]]

Which company were you dealing with?

I've heard good things about Booklocker and have been on their site, but no personal experience.

Please let me know if it's Booklocker :)

[Hock]

If you have not published the book in print and want to, do this through Createspace. For a small fee (under $100), Createspace will convert your pdf into the format for Kindle.

If you do not want a print version, submit your m/s in Word to Smashwords and its "meatgrinder" will convert that into all e-book formats and even distriute to Amazon, B & N, Apple, etc.

[Nick]

Lucinda wrote: "I don't know what happened exactly, Nick, but I found some errors in the ebook, 'gentleman' instead of 'gentlemen' in one place, which I wanted corrected. Now they've replaced many instances where ..."

I wouldn't let them do anything. I'd find a place where they take pdf files -- lulu -- and just upload that. Microsoft Word formatting, inexplicably to me, presented all kinds of problems for smashwords and amazon.

[[deleted user]]

So would you recommend lulu or smashwords...generally speaking.

Another question - have you heard about Booklocker. I am slowly getting to that process and would like any recommendations

Thx :)

[Nick]

Never heard of booklocker.

[[deleted user]]

LOL, okay, well that says a lot right there. thx.

[M.R.]

I have found that Smashwords' ePub conversion works great, esp. if you use Arial font, no more than 4 spaces on either side of any Page Break, and no hard indents. BookBaby will do it for you and distribute it to every vendor (almost), saving you a ton of work (they'll create the ePub file themselves), but it costs $149. Not sure how much you're willing to spend.

[[deleted user]]

M.R. wrote: "I have found that Smashwords' ePub conversion works great, esp. if you use Arial font, no more than 4 spaces on either side of any Page Break, and no hard indents. BookBaby will do it for you and d..."

Thank you M.R. I don't think $149.00 is unreasonable but then again what is the guideline...is there a guideline?

I'm sure all places vary in price.

[Seeley]

I had EditorialDepartment.com do my epub/mobi for $225. It was higher than anyone else, but the end result was the best. It works on anything and flows like butter.

However, the whole concept is not difficult. If you have 2 days, you could do it yourself from then on. I've heard many great things about the wordprocessor called Scrivener. "they" tell me: You push a button and it makes perfect epubs.

Peace, Seeley

[[deleted user]]

Seeley wrote: "I had EditorialDepartment.com do my epub/mobi for $225. It was higher than anyone else, but the end result was the best. It works on anything and flows like butter.

However, the whole concept is ..."

LOL, I like...'they'...'they' always have such nice things to say.

[Cassandra]

Pressbooks.com--FREE

[M.R.]

Baking powder? Free?

[M.R.]

By the way, I use Scrivener 2.0 and it's an awesome program for Writing Your Bestselling novel. Great for compiling into a .doc for submission as well.

[M.R.]

Now I have a question, and I can ask it as well here as anywhere else. Smashwords assigned my ebook an ISBN, but I'm not going to go with them. Can I still use it when I publish on my own on B&N and Amazon? If not, where is the cheapest place to get a universal ISBN? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? :O)

[Storm]

I write in DOC, save as RTF, then use Calibre (free) software to convert it to EPUB. Then I read it on my iPad, make corrections to the original DOC and then I upload to Smashwords (free).

It's a pain, but it does mean you get to check everything properly and it's free.

For Smashwords easy convert, write your DOC any way you like: block paras, indent, whatever. Just make sure it's all the same. Then highlight the entire DOC and click on AUTOFORMAT.

Smashwords also do free ISBNs and they pay every 3 months to Paypal accounts. Send me a link when you're done, and I'll mention it on my pages, ok?

[Seeley]

M.R. wrote: "Now I have a question, and I can ask it as well here as anywhere else. Smashwords assigned my ebook an ISBN, but I'm not going to go with them. Can I still use it when I publish on my own on B&N ..."

You'd have to read the fine print, but I'd bet they own the ISBN number unless they sold it to you under a separate transaction. I've never used them, so I have no idea.

I believe the best way to obtain ISBN's is to buy them from the source, Bowker Ink, at isbn.org. They sell all kinds of things, but the only thing of value is the ISBN 10-pack for $250.00. You need a separate number for each format (1 for ebook, 1 for paperback, 1 for hardback, etc).


Peace, Seeley

[Kim]

Hello Lucinda
Poor you. It sounds like you're have a rough time. I've used the company 'Ebook launch' twice now to format ebooks. I've found them to be professional, inexpensive and quick. They also ensure your file meets Smashword's Premium List requirements for distributing to Apple etc.
Here is the link: http://ebooklaunch.com/
I hope this helps.
With best wishes
Kim

[FAXBoy]

M.R. wrote: "Now I have a question, and I can ask it as well here as anywhere else. Smashwords assigned my ebook an ISBN, but I'm not going to go with them. Can I still use it when I publish on my own on B&N ..."

If I were you, M.R., I would hold on to that eISBN from Smashwords for digital titles distributed elsewhere (everywhere except Amazon, that is, as they assign proprietary eISBN-like numbers (the ASIN)).

For print editions, you can buy a ten-pack of ISBNs here:
https://www.myidentifiers.com/
for $250USD.

[[deleted user]]

M.R. wrote: "Now I have a question, and I can ask it as well here as anywhere else. Smashwords assigned my ebook an ISBN, but I'm not going to go with them. Can I still use it when I publish on my own on B&N ..."

You can't use the Smashwords ISBNs for other purposes. As someone else pointed out, each ISBN is linked to a specific edition of your title, and this is also publisher based. The Smashwords ISBNs are for the Smashwords editions. They will be registered to Smashwords so if you attach them to another edition with another publisher (yourself or another company) there could be legal implications as well as confusion in the records.

[FAXBoy]

David wrote: "M.R. wrote: "Now I have a question, and I can ask it as well here as anywhere else. Smashwords assigned my ebook an ISBN, but I'm not going to go with them. Can I still use it when I publish on m..."

While this is good to know, David, I don't know that the procedures for assigning various ISBNs are actually keeping pace with the growing number of distribution channels available to independent authors.

In the old days, an author would sell a title to a traditional publishing house and his, or her, book could be produced digitally, in print, and as an audiobook with slightly different ISBNs assigned to each format. (I did this as an EA for two of the largest publishing companies in the world.)

To assign different ISBNs to ePub, PDF, and mobi files is to overcomplicate the production of a single eBook that is then made available for distribution and purchase thru multiple channels. This, I feel, will ultimately prove confusing for consumers (i.e, casual readers) and problematic for authors attempting to consolidate metadata (particularly so for reviews).

[Lucinda]

Everyone, thanks for your replies, I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner, I thoght I had the 'email when people comment' on and I hadn't. thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I'm sorry to say the company is Firsty. They have a very good reputation,even wrote a book on self publishing, I can't believe what's happened. Partly I think the production people can't be being straightforward with the manager about the mistakes they have made.

I've got two ISBN's from them, I suppose I keep them as I move on to a new converter.

*Kim* your company sounds great, I'll try them.
Thanks so much *Everyone* for helpful advice.

[Lisa]

Lucinda wrote: "Hello. Unfortunately, my ebook conversion company have let me down so badly I think it's the parting of the ways (and they are meant to be so reputable, have even published a book on Self Publishin..."
If you're just wanting to know how to format and upload an MS Word document to Kindle content, it's pretty easy. I've had so many friends pay online companies money to do something that's really simple. I'm writing a book of easy-to-follow instructions that I hope to release a month from now to help out my indie author friends. If what you're wanting to do is simply converting an MS Word doc into a file to upload on KDP, just let me know and I'll let you know when I publish it in a month from now. I'm so sick of people getting jipped off by companies who try to make like this is a difficult process.
Right now I'm researching the ways to convert to Kindle as well as some other tips I've learned along the way of publishing my own books.
Lisa

[Lisa]

And by the way using Mobipocket Creator is not rocket science, but a lot of people act like it is. I used it to publish my novel and didn't have any problem at all.

[Cynthia]

Nick wrote: "Lucinda wrote: "I don't know what happened exactly, Nick, but I found some errors in the ebook, 'gentleman' instead of 'gentlemen' in one place, which I wanted corrected. Now they've replaced many ..."

Smashwords has a detailed guide how to format your Word document for their grinder. If you are having trouble following it, I wrote the barebones guide The Quickie Guide for Formatting Your Ebook for Smashwords. It's free.

[Lucinda]

These books on formatting are a great idea for IT dunces like myself, Lisa and Nick. EBookLaunch did seem to do a pretty good job, but much better not to have to rely on a third party if you can avoid it.

[Lisa]

Lucinda wrote: "These books on formatting are a great idea for IT dunces like myself, Lisa and Nick. EBookLaunch did seem to do a pretty good job, but much better not to have to rely on a third party if you can av..."
I'll let you know when I publish my book and let you know when I run my free promo days so it'll be free. I'm putting everything into this book that I wish I had known beforehand! I've also learned a lot of marketing tips along the way that I think will be helpful.

[Lucinda]

Thanks,Lisa!

[Staci]

Have you looked into Scrivener? I used Scriv to format my novel and it went through the meat grinder on the second try. Amazon it took in the first. SUPER easy.

http://literatureandlatte.com/

[[deleted user]]

I am using Scrivener for my latest manuscript. I find it a good program to use. I haven't gotten to the formatting part yet, but I like the program otherwise.

[Sophia]

I would never pay to have an ebook formatted, fwiw. If you've got a straightforward ebook, try my guide to formatting: http://sophia-martin.blogspot.com/p/f...

If it's more complicated, for instance because of images, try Guido Henkel's guide: http://guidohenkel.com/2010/12/take-p... Guido is also extremely cool about answering emails with questions.

If the trouble has to do with a print edition, I can be of no help at all, I'm afraid. :)

[Lucinda]

Thanks so much for suggestions, everyone. I will certainly read the stuff on DIY,but in the meanwhile I took up Lisa's suggestion of using Ebooklaunch who were pretty good. I do hope to get the convesion process into my stupid head, though I am rubbishy at IT of all sorts.
Lucinda
xx

[[deleted user]]

Sophia wrote: "I would never pay to have an ebook formatted, fwiw. If you've got a straightforward ebook, try my guide to formatting: http://sophia-martin.blogspot.com/p/f...

If it's more compl..."

Hi Sophia

I quickly looked at both of your links over lunch and I must say that it is going to require a quiet room and some serious attention but what I saw was very interesting.

This is going to be a brand new process for me in the next six months, so, thank you so much for posting this for all of us who are new.

:)

[Sparrow]

Lulu.com Amazon.com and smashwords.com (as mentioned before) are good for e-books. If you have pictures in it, I found that it's not the best choice for e-pub,as it is hard to format.

And if you think of formatting why not try Sigil (an ok e-book formatting program) and it's free. There are other programs too.

[Thomas]

I guess the first thing to ask you is where you intend to publish your ebooks. I use several formatting techniques based on the customer's needs. For example, if you are planning to publish only to Amazon, I would create a version of your layout in InDesign and then publish to .mobi format (Kindle file). Most other e-retailers use .epub files, so that can be done with InDesign as well.

For authors who intend to use multiple formats, I recommend Smashwords, since they will convert your file to all the ebook versions. The only catch with that is you have to conform your MS Word document to the Smashwords style guide--basically formatting the entire document in Word, adding chapter bookmarks, etc. I typically do this for authors, since the style guide is a bit confusing if you are unfamiliar with formatting in Word.

Let me know if I can be of any help to you. Please feel free to send me an e-mail at submissions@launchpad-press.com or visit www.launchpad-press.com/book.htm for more details.

Sincerely,

Thomas

[Lucinda]

Thomas wrote: "I guess the first thing to ask you is where you intend to publish your ebooks. I use several formatting techniques based on the customer's needs. For example, if you are planning to publish only to..."

Thanks, Thomas. I'll be in touch for my next, but my writing partner being as fantastic as she is about editing,that'll be a while...

[Francis]

I use iA Writer on the iPhone/iPad/Mac for writing simple text. For EPUB creation I then copy everything to Sigil and sort out formatting there.

[Thomas]

Hi, Lucinda:

Good luck with your next writing project, and happy publishing!

Thomas

[John]

Last years I got some of my pdfs converted into ebooks from a company called Suntec Digital. My experience with them was good because they converted my pdfs into formatted ebooks amazingly, moreover, they were quite quick with the things. if you want you can contact them, their website link is www.suntecdigital.com

[Justin]

I suggest antrikexpress.com, Last years I got some of my books converted into ebooks (epub and kindle) from this company. My experience with them was good because they converted my books into formatted ebooks amazingly, moreover, they were quite quick with the things. if you want you can contact them, their website link is antrikexpress.com

[Lucinda]

Thanks everyone for suggestions and links.