I've been shopping for formatting software. I'm going to buy Atticus even though I wanted a trial version. A friend of mine has it, and she said it had very little learning curve which is perfect for me. I've been watching YouTube tutorials, and I think I'll format a fabulous looking book. The price suits me, too. I'm sure the other option is as good or better. I wish they had options for the book cover, too. In the future, they may upgrade the programs to include it.
As for your question about print vs ebooks, I think it's split down the middle. I think readers like choices, and I plan on offering both even though I don't write romance.
Thanks for an informative column, Kay. Let me begin with your question: << Do you think romance readers prefer ebooks? Do you offer print books? >>
To the best of my knowledge, readers of "steamy romances" and erotica VASTLY prefer ebooks for the reasons you have cited. However, "romance" itself covers such a wide range of categories and sub-categories that I'm sure a good number prefer printed texts.
My series, THE PASSION OF ELENA BIANCHI, is indeed a romance, but I made the egregious mistake of writing a cross-genre tale with spiritual and supernatural elements as well as hard-core sadomasochism. [Mea maxima culpa!] All of my works are available in paperback as well as digital, but I may begin by offering my next in paperback only and do the digital publications a few weeks later. [This is another piece of "advice" I've had sent my way. I do not understand how or why that should improve my sales, but what do I know?]
I have found Draft2Digital's software quite good and very user-friendly for formatting (at least for my purposes), but I also like Kindle. The first two volumes of my series were released by a small (traditional) publisher, but I self-published the other two (Amazon only -- a long story; I got "censored" elsewhere). I also published a tiny volume with a pair of short plays through IngramSpark, but I found their software user-antagonistic, and they did not offer any real support. Similarly, I published one paperback (THE IBBUR'S TALE) on Barnes & Noble (as well as on Amazon) and found the software disappointing.
The above are, of course, just my subjective opinions based on limited personal experience.
Yes, you will pick it up easily. I had two books on Atticus quickly. I put my first print book up today as a draft with no problem from Amazon. I ordered a print copy to proof. I get it Thursday. I'm working on the Vellum platform now on another book. It is really elegant and if I were a professional formatter, it may be worth the money. It allows you so much control. You are able to create specific files for formatting, no matter what platform and even though there are less manuscript choices, each one is beautiful. Value wise, you an author can't beat Atticus.
I love it when people share their experiences with different platforms. It's beneficial. I like Draft2Digital, but I find it painful when Amazon allows you to furnish your own barcode and have it on your book, and Draft2Digital won't let you submit the cover with it already on. Having to create different covers for different submissions is cumbersome and time-consuming. If I don't make the cover, I have to pay the designer, or I'm forced to purchase the barcode from the distributor, a kind of blackmail. However, Draft2Digital does offer support. As much as some people seem to bitch about Amazon, KDP, I've found they are good with getting back to you and giving you answers when you have questions. I was actually thinking of trying Ingram. Now, after hearing what you had to say, I'm still determining. I always have questions. Ha! TikTok pushes actual books, so they may be more popular than I think, but they are usually hardback, and I'm not ready for that. Books that have illustrations need to be actual books. Authors may miss buyers if they don't offer books in all formats, but when you start out, it might not always be feasible.
I like a mix—print, ebook, and audiobook—and I'm always rotating through those when I'm reading. If I find a book I love, though, I'll definitely want a physical copy. As such, I think having the option for one or the other is ideal!
I've been shopping for formatting software. I'm going to buy Atticus even though I wanted a trial version. A friend of mine has it, and she said it had very little learning curve which is perfect for me. I've been watching YouTube tutorials, and I think I'll format a fabulous looking book. The price suits me, too. I'm sure the other option is as good or better. I wish they had options for the book cover, too. In the future, they may upgrade the programs to include it.
As for your question about print vs ebooks, I think it's split down the middle. I think readers like choices, and I plan on offering both even though I don't write romance.
Thanks for an informative column, Kay. Let me begin with your question: << Do you think romance readers prefer ebooks? Do you offer print books? >>
To the best of my knowledge, readers of "steamy romances" and erotica VASTLY prefer ebooks for the reasons you have cited. However, "romance" itself covers such a wide range of categories and sub-categories that I'm sure a good number prefer printed texts.
My series, THE PASSION OF ELENA BIANCHI, is indeed a romance, but I made the egregious mistake of writing a cross-genre tale with spiritual and supernatural elements as well as hard-core sadomasochism. [Mea maxima culpa!] All of my works are available in paperback as well as digital, but I may begin by offering my next in paperback only and do the digital publications a few weeks later. [This is another piece of "advice" I've had sent my way. I do not understand how or why that should improve my sales, but what do I know?]
I have found Draft2Digital's software quite good and very user-friendly for formatting (at least for my purposes), but I also like Kindle. The first two volumes of my series were released by a small (traditional) publisher, but I self-published the other two (Amazon only -- a long story; I got "censored" elsewhere). I also published a tiny volume with a pair of short plays through IngramSpark, but I found their software user-antagonistic, and they did not offer any real support. Similarly, I published one paperback (THE IBBUR'S TALE) on Barnes & Noble (as well as on Amazon) and found the software disappointing.
The above are, of course, just my subjective opinions based on limited personal experience.
Yes, you will pick it up easily. I had two books on Atticus quickly. I put my first print book up today as a draft with no problem from Amazon. I ordered a print copy to proof. I get it Thursday. I'm working on the Vellum platform now on another book. It is really elegant and if I were a professional formatter, it may be worth the money. It allows you so much control. You are able to create specific files for formatting, no matter what platform and even though there are less manuscript choices, each one is beautiful. Value wise, you an author can't beat Atticus.
I love it when people share their experiences with different platforms. It's beneficial. I like Draft2Digital, but I find it painful when Amazon allows you to furnish your own barcode and have it on your book, and Draft2Digital won't let you submit the cover with it already on. Having to create different covers for different submissions is cumbersome and time-consuming. If I don't make the cover, I have to pay the designer, or I'm forced to purchase the barcode from the distributor, a kind of blackmail. However, Draft2Digital does offer support. As much as some people seem to bitch about Amazon, KDP, I've found they are good with getting back to you and giving you answers when you have questions. I was actually thinking of trying Ingram. Now, after hearing what you had to say, I'm still determining. I always have questions. Ha! TikTok pushes actual books, so they may be more popular than I think, but they are usually hardback, and I'm not ready for that. Books that have illustrations need to be actual books. Authors may miss buyers if they don't offer books in all formats, but when you start out, it might not always be feasible.
I like a mix—print, ebook, and audiobook—and I'm always rotating through those when I'm reading. If I find a book I love, though, I'll definitely want a physical copy. As such, I think having the option for one or the other is ideal!