PDF file dilemma

[Sheila]

Authors, hello. Hope your projects are all going well!
Please weigh in on this question. When you get a request to send a PDF file of your novel to a reader, do you send it in book format (2 pages per screen) or in ebook format (one wider page), or in a different format?
The 2-page format seems awkward and harder to read. As the author, I want the book to read easily.

[Eric]

I would never send a PDF file. It's far too easy to manipulate and/or steal. There's no real reason for any reader to ask for a PDF these days (in my never humble opinion). If they want the book, they can buy it in kindle/mobi format or epub format.

If you've offered a free copy for a review (as I have on occasion), then there should still be no PDF version sent out. Frankly, a reader who claims to "need" a PDF is a reader I'm far too suspicious to trust.

Just my USD .02.

Eric

[Frances]

I totally agree, Sheila.

[Sheila]

Thanks, Eric and Frances. This is the feedback was looking for.

[Tilly]

I would never send a PDF. Apart from being a red flag of scammers/pirates, they look terrible on e-readers as they don’t auto adjust and you have to scroll left and right as well as up and down.

I use BookFunnel which allows readers to download whichever file type their device requires. They also have certified ARC delivery which embeds each file with a watermark and advanced readers get a unique code that can only be used once.