How do I create and sell .epub files

[Tyler]

Last week I didn't know an epub from an Irish Pub. Today I need to learn how to sell my books on my website to those who want to read it on I-pads and Nooks.

I could sure use some help and wisdom from those of you with experience. Managing payments isn't the issue but using the right tool to create the .epub from .pdf seems to be the hitch. Plenty of license restrictions seem to get in the way.

[K.P.]

sigil, calibre and notepad++

[Martin]

Smashwords.com

Createspace.com

[Ian]

Depends how much you want to do for yourself. I don't want to have to manage all that stuff myself so I signed up with Smashwords. They take an MS Word doc and convert it into all the major e-formats and distribute it to Apple and B&N among others. That might not suit you if you want to sell direct from your website though.

[April]

I use Calibre. It's free software, easy to use, and awesome. I use it to produce .epub files, .mobi files (for Amazon), etc... It can convert your book into all kinds of format types.

[Lisa]

Draft2Digital is the third party distributor that I used to get my book on iTunes and Nook (Barnes&Noble). You can upload a word doc or pdf and they will convert to epub for you. They will even create the front and end matter for you if you want. Once the file is converted to epub you can download a copy to use however you like even if you don't use them as a distributor. If you want more control over how your epub looks it is easy to create your own. I have templates available to help you do this. Just private message me and I can send you the files and instructions.

[Tyler]

Tyler wrote: "April wrote: "I use Calibre. It's free software, easy to use, and awesome. I use it to produce .epub files, .mobi files (for Amazon), etc... It can convert your book into all kinds of format types...."

Got it!!! Once I downloaded the pdf book file from my PC to Calibre, it was easy. Thanks.

I think I might just like this tool.

[Tyler]

OK, You guys rock. I have Calibre and can make any flavor of e-book. Now, how do I send them to my wife's Kindle Fire? Or my friend's Nook? Is there a drop box service somewhere?

[Charles]

Calibre is amazing.

[Tom]

Tyler wrote: "OK, You guys rock. I have Calibre and can make any flavor of e-book. Now, how do I send them to my wife's Kindle Fire? Or my friend's Nook? Is there a drop box service somewhere?"

Tyler, you should be able to "Save to Disk", and that will make a folder containing all the formats you've converted your book to—epub, mobi, etc. You can then send them by email like a normal document, or place them online via Dropbox or a similar service. I check my own mobi files on my Kindle Fire using this method (email), and it works perfectly.

[Tyler]

Tom wrote: "Tyler wrote: "OK, You guys rock. I have Calibre and can make any flavor of e-book. Now, how do I send them to my wife's Kindle Fire? Or my friend's Nook? Is there a drop box service somewhere?"
..."

Thanks Tom,

Does mobi work best on Kindle Fire? We tried another one but didn't like some aspects of the display.