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Calling all authors: How to sell your books in the iBook store

by David Winograd May 27th 2010 at 4:00PM

Have you got a novel or two in your bottom desk drawer? Did you participate in the National Novel Writing Month competition last November? Are you a budding author who needs that last nudge to actually get writing? If any of these describe you, Apple has just given you a way to get your masterpiece into the iBooks store for the iPad, and you can do it yourself. You don't need a publisher, distributor, agent or anything else for that matter. You can decide how much to charge and which countries (that have an iBook store) to sell into. You also get the same deal as the app publishers, meaning that Apple takes 30% and you keep 70% of the revenue.

There are some requirements though but help is available.You'll need to have:
  • ISBN numbers for the books you want to distribute
  • the ability to deliver the book in EPUB format
  • the book pass EpubCheck 1.0.5
  • a US Tax ID (sorry world, this is only open to the US at this point)
  • an iTunes account backed up by a credit card
  • a fairly good idea of where you'll sell and how much you'll sell
  • an Intel-based Mac running OS 10.5 or better (sorry PC users, their game, their rules) and meet some reasonable technical requirements

If you don't know how to get an ISBN number or potentially want to get paid faster, Apple suggests that you use an Apple-approved aggregator. These are firms that have a financial arrangement with Apple and can provide a number of services at what seems to be a reasonable cost. Each aggregator delivers a different set of services, but let's take Bookbaby as an example. They charge $49 per book the first year and then $19 per book each year the book is in the store. For an additional $19 they can snag you an ISBN number, and if your book isn't in the proper format, another $19 will get that done. Other services, such as Smashwords takes no upfront money but does take a cut of the profits. Many supply marketing assistance, collect payments and handle other details.

Who would have thought, just three years ago, that opening the App Store to submissions from just about anyone would wind up to be such a home-run? I have a feeling of déjà vu on this as well, and think that opening iBooks to the writing community will have wide-reaching effects over the next year. I'm also interested to see what sort of content Apple decides to let in. Books for sure, but what about novellas, scholarly articles, or even a collection of blog posts? I might see a market for a book of everything TUAW has written about the iPhone to date. Originality, function and expertise has fueled the App Store, bringing to it apps that no one would have ever thought of, and here we have another wide open market for almost anyone to jump in on. Who knows what the publishing world will be like a year from now?

So writers, get writing! Apple may have just cleared the brush from the yellow-brick road.

[via MacLife]

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17 Comments

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Jens Lauritsen

Does anyone here know what the payment terms for the content provider is? That is: How long does it take from someone buys my book / app / music in the Itunes store until the 70% of the purchase amount hits my bank account?

I've been looking for the content provider terms and conditions for Itunes store / AppStore / iBooksstore - if anyone knows where to find these, a link would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jens

February 02 2011 at 5:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Patrick

Hi

I am wondering if this is now available to people in Uk/Ireland?

I had a book on Facebook Statuses published in 2009 that did reasonably well (is: The Phenomenon of the Facebook Status) and it would be great to get it on this medium.

All info greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Patrick

January 08 2011 at 11:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael

Will we be able to sell our PDF books in the iBook Store? Assuming that all the requirements are met, e.g., ISBN number, and so on, has Apple given any indication that we will be able to sell e-books in the PDF format?

July 06 2010 at 2:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
howard

Karen, your tax ID is your social security number. Garrett, if you are an apple app developer, you will have to create a new apple account with a different e-mail to sell books. Or go through a third party company that will publish for you for a fee. Dave, you need a mac so that you can use itunes producer to upload your books or media to the store.

June 21 2010 at 6:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Garrett Gibbons

So why does it tell me that my Apple ID doesn't have permission? I'm in the USA, it's a consumer account with a credit card, etc.... Any ideas?

June 14 2010 at 5:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Karen

How do I get a tax ID?

June 10 2010 at 4:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric Dew

Hi,

Would like to know how to write for the iBooks Store that can best take advantage of the iPad/iPhone medium. That is, would like to include video clips (3-5 seconds long), scroll over indicators (e.g., when the cursor or finger scrolls over a picture or diagram, either a pop-up text or additional graphics may be displayed). What tools would I need? Can I do it on Pages and then upload the whole thing? Is it possible to charge a lower rate for static photos and then charge a higher rate for video clips? Can I charge micro-fees for every time a video is played?

June 08 2010 at 6:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John McAlester

Has anyone delivered a book to Apple via iTunes Connect/iTunes Producer and then had the book go live? I cannot find information anywhere on how long to expect between upload and availability of books in the iBookStore.

Thanks!

June 01 2010 at 8:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Blair

What's Apple's cut?

May 29 2010 at 5:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Blair's comment
David Winograd

Apple's cut is 30% with 70% going to author. This is exactly the same deal as they offer for iPhone/iPad apps.

May 29 2010 at 5:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hypothesard

Any idea when It'll be avalaible outside the US? (France for example) and if you can publish a book in another language (not french for example) and mor important, if we can make It avalaible in all countries where iBooks is avalaible?

Thanks

May 27 2010 at 6:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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