Customer Reviews

Electronic Publishing : The Definitive Guide

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This is an excellent resource properly subtitled as "The Definitive Guide." As a print publisher of sixteen years, I wanted to learn about electronic publishing and spent hours on the Internet wading through the various, and often conflicting, information. I purchased a copy of "Weave Your Web" by Karen Wiesner and after reading it decided that I had to have her book on Electronic Publishing. Everything you could possibly want to know is covered in this book. I especially like the way she details the 22 common myths of e-publishing and gives her opinion on the advantages and disadvantages of publishing in this manner. Once I read this book, I no longer felt like a novice and am slowly converting some of my print titles into e-books. If you purchase this book, you will save much time and frustration. Although we have different viewpoints on subsidy publishing and the role it plays with all publishing firms, if I could, I would give this book a rating of ten.

"...Wiesner provides an honest portrait of the state of e-publishing as we know it (so far), giving us the skinny on standard formats, copyright protection, and distribution... After opening arguments about the pros and cons of electronic publishing, the book turns into the e-publishing equivalent of Literary Market Place with 125 pages dedicated to listings of e-publishers, including web site addresses, contact information, submission guidelines, payment terms and distribution methods. The section on book promotion contains low-cost promotional ideas worthy of perusal by both electronic and traditional authors, such as Internet interviews, live chats, exchanging banner ads, issuing on-line press releases, organizing contests and special events, e-serials, promotional bookmarks; and other ideas so unique the chapter could potentially be worth its weight in gold... If you're thinking seriously about learning more about e-publishing, most of the legwork is done for you here."

--The Writer Magazine

"If you want to be published by an e-publisher, or are wondering if maybe the "e-" route is the way to go, this book is for you. In this updated version of her landmark reference text, Ms. Wiesner outlines everything an author needs to know about the e-publishing industry in her first section, starting with the differences between vanity, subsidy, and traditional publishers, then discussing the technology used for ebooks, advantages and disadvantages to e-publishing, and common misconceptions about e-publishing along with the facts to set people straight. The major bulk of the book, however, is an alphabetical listing of all non-subsidy, royalty-paying e-publishers, along with interviews from the editors and publishers about what types of books they want to buy. There is also a section at the end of the book about how to use the Internet to promote your book after you've sold it. If you read the book on a computer with an active web browser, it contains hotlinks to all of the publishers, organizations, and resources listed in the text. Using the power of HTML links in this way is a good thing."
--Science Fiction Romance Newsletter

"I just read a copy of Karen Wiesner's ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING The Definitive Guide, 2002 Edition, and found myself quite overwhelmed by this exciting roadmap she has compiled to
assist an author through a frenzied journey into the world of e-books and e-publishing. I personally had to take a tough learning curve involving trial and error and hundreds of man hours when I began my electronic writing career in the mid 1970's. I sure wish there would have
been this kind of information for a newbie author when I was struggling to break into e-publishing! I would highly recommend this guide for anyone seriously interested in becoming published in electronic form. It is worth fifty, no, one hundred times the investment. This book should be on every writers must read list."
--Bob Gunner, author, editor and publisher Cyber-Pulp Houston/USA

"Fully updated in the 2002 Edition, Electronic Publishing: The Definitive Guide is a wealth of information for authors who are hesitant to venture into electronic publishing, giving them an in-depth look into this growing industry. Wiesner begins with a definition of electronic publishing
and then focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of -epublishers, pointing out the differences between subsidy and royalty-paying e-publishers. Various myths about electronic publishing are explained in addition to the benefits of the e-publishing industry versus traditional print publishing. An outstanding chapter on the various e-publishers and interviews conducted with them literally saves a new author days of searching the Internet for epublishers to submit manuscripts to. Her impressive table outlining the various e-publisher services is an excellent example of the time and effort that went into creating this publication. A potpourri of additional resources for e-book promotion includes examples of a press release and press kit for a newly published e-book. E-published authors share some creative ideas for ebook promotion varying from ingenious tips on how to utilize the Free Gallery of Author's Voices, where to apply for awards, teaching on-line workshops, free book excerpts, and even emery boards imprinted with the ebook's title and ISBN were used to promote their e-books. A comprehensive list of e-book publishing and promotional resources round off this outstanding guide making one of the best I have come across. Overall, Electronic Publishing: The Definitive Guide lives up to my expectations and I highly recommend it to all e-book authors, whether they have been e-published yet or not. Wiesner's growing knowledge of the e-publishing industry and her meticulous research in producing this e-book definitely shows and the quality shines throughout. In fact, I am so impressed with this resource that I have given it the eBooks N' Bytes Award of Excellence for the ePublishing Book of the Year."

"It was really just a matter of time before someone came out with a title addressing this and it is only fitting that it should be written by Karen Wiesner who has been a true pioneer in the elctronic publishing field. Author of the highly praised GYPSY ROAD SERIES, ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING is admittedly a broad deviation from Wiesner's usual romantic works. However, it's one that I am very happy she took the time for.

"Her book addresses every conceivable question that anyone considering electronic publishing could think of - and then some. Both the known advantages as well as the disadvantages are zeroed in on. This is an honest peek at epublishing - still a virgin venture for us all. Chapter Five sensibly looks at the technology needed to take epublishing into the future. There is a terrific chapter addressing the "13 Myths" of epublishing which gives a real boost to the 'credibility' of the business. Wiesner has wisely included interviews with publishers which are extremely helpful if you are thinking of venturing into the field. It gives you the opportunity to hear from the publishers themselves what they expect in the way of submissions, their royalty structure and what they foresee as the future in this infant business. The last chapter focuses on quotes from successfully epublished authors. All of whom have tested the electronic waters first.

"ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING: The Definitive Guide is a wealth of information. One that Karen Wiesner plans to update on a regular basis. As Wiesner writes in her conclusion of ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING, "There are no limits."

-- Constance Foster for US Times Best Seller List & Review

"Karen Wiesner's ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING is undoubtedly the single most important resource for anyone-author, editor, publisher-with an interest in the future of publishing. I can't recommend it enough."
--Brian A. Hopkins, Bram Stoker Award-winning Author

"Wiesner's book, first published in 1999, remains one of the best sources of information and advice on getting your book published by a royalty-paying e-publisher."
--eBookNet Undiscovered Gem

Before the days of e-publishing, hungry and hopeful writers would scramble to the library for the reference copy of a book called ==Writer's Market==, which is a a comprehensive listing of literary agents and publishers. Karen Wiesner's guide is the equivalent of Writer's Market for the world of e-books. The difference is that in print-book publishing you pray that somebody will take you; in e-book publishing you pick the publisher you want. Wiesner's book lists more than one hundred non-subsidy e-publishers. Each publisher has been given the chance to tell about his practices on Wiesner's detailed questionnaire. The publishers listed here are "non-subsidy" publishers, meaning that authors do not pay them to be published. The book contains well-written articles by Jamie Engle and Mary Z. Wolf, and other supplementary features including practical ideas for promoting your e-book after publication... there is a mountain of useful information here, especially for

new writers, and Ms. Wiesner's enthusiasm for electronic books is healthfully contagious." Michael Pastore for Booklovers Review

"As an electronic author, I get a lot of questions about what electronic publishing is, how it works, who's buying, how much they pay. That's a lot of questions! Now, for the first time, there's a comprehensive guide that has all the answers. Karen Wiesner's Electronic Publishing: The Definitive Guide has all those answers and more. Not only does she explain how electronic publishing works, she tells the advantages, disadvantages, what types of books really fly (you know, those books editors tell you are so great but have no place in their house?). She has a long list of electronic publishers (more than I knew existed), most of which include a comprehensive interview with the publisher answering just about every question you could possibly have, and hotlinks to get you there when you're ready. While it won't eliminate the need for you to investigate your prospective publisher (you are supposed to do that :) ), it WILL give you one heck of a head start. There are interviews with authors who've gone the electronic route and explain how the experience has been. And, as if that weren't enough, Karen includes a bonus chapter on promoting your books once you sell. If you're electronically published, interested in electronic publishing, or even just curious about what it's all about, Electronic Publishing, The Definitive Guide is for you."

-- Lisa Ramaglia for Scribes World Reviews