SELECTING AN ePUBLISHER and SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT

Article Two in a Series

Now that youve decided on electronic publishing, where do you find ePublishers? Assuming you want to be paid a royalty, but not pay a subsidy, look for non-subsidy, royalty-paying ePublishers. Thoroughly evaluate and compare ePublishers sites, guidelines, contracts, and other fine points before you submit your manuscript.

LOCATING ePUBLISHERS
The industry is changing so fast there are few complete listings of ePublishers. Web sites with ePublisher listings is one place to start, such as Mary Wolfs Guide to Electronic Publishers (http://www.coredcs.com/%7Emermaid/epub.html), or Electronically Published Internet Connections (EPICs) ePublisher link listing (http://www.eclectics.com/epic/links.html). Also check the signature lines in emails to writers listservs to see whos publishing fellow list members. "One of the best ways to find the right ePublisher is to ask different authors about their ePublishers," says Marilyn Nesbitt, publisher of DiskUs Publishing (http://www.diskuspublishing.com). "You can get a good idea if they are happy with their publisher by their response to your questions."

Writers organizations are another good source. For example, sub-genre chapters of RWA often keep track of publishers for their sub-genre, and are beginning to include ePublishers in their listings. New release or new sales listings in organization newsletters are other ways to find ePublishers.

EVALUATING ePUBLISHERS
How do you recognize a reputable ePublisher? Evaluate and compare their business, authors, and books.


BUSINESS
The ePublisher web site is their storefront. Is it easy to navigate and organized? Do they accept credit cards, and are the transactions secured?

Look for an "About" page with information about the business itself and the people running it. A good company information page will tell you how old the company is, real names of the people who work there and ways to contact them, and the business address and phone number. Also look for affiliations and memberships in trade groups such as the Association of Electronic Publishers (AEP, http://www.welcome.to/AEP) or other publishers groups.

AUTHORS
Authors pages can reveal the size of the company and the caliber of writers who belong. If there are email addresses for the authors, you could ask about their experiences with that publisher.

BOOKS
Take a look at the titles offered. Eye-catching cover art, neat page layout, and reasonable prices are signs the web site is designed with the customer in mind. Are ISBN numbers assigned to each book? "The acquisition of a publisher prefix (needed to receive ISBN numbers) shows the publisher is serious enough to put their money where their mouth is," says Bonnee Pierson, editor at Dreams Unlimited (http://www.dreams-unlimited.com). ISBNs also aid booksellers when ordering.

Make sure the ePublisher delivers a professional looking final product. Buy books and read them for quality. If you have a mystery to submit, read the line and buy one or two. Are they similar to your book(s) in quality? Are they well edited? Look at the buying process as a consumer would - was it easy to complete the transaction? How fast was delivery?

DOES THE MANUSCRIPT FIT?
Now its time to determine if your manuscript fits the ePublishers catalog. Notice the genre breakdowns on site. Does one fit your manuscript? If your book crosses genre lines, be sure to check for all possible genres. Remember, ePublishers favor non-traditional books, even though the genre listings might look traditional.

Click to the Submission Guidelines. Here you should find more detailed information about the types of manuscripts that the ePublisher is interested in acquiring. If the guidelines are too general in nature, it could indicate the ePublisher has not defined a target reader market.

Some Guidelines mention "minimal editing." This could mean little more than a spelling and grammar check run on a word processor program. Good editing is essential, and its important to have a clear understanding of how much editing the ePublisher does on a manuscript. If the Guidelines are not specific, ask. "Editing is a great deal more than grammar and a spell check and it requires a talent that doesnt come with a degree in English. A good editor strengthens a writers individual style and helps purify that indefinable quality called voice," says multi-ePublished author Sharon L Spinner Reddy.

THE FINER POINTS: CONTRACTS, SALES and NETWORKING
Youve determined the ePublisher matches your manuscript. Look deeper, at the finer points of contracts, sales, and networking.

CONTRACTS
Is there a sample contract on site? If not, ask for a copy. It could be the ePublisher doesnt use a contract, in which case think carefully before proceeding. Emails are binding, but most advise using a contract; AEP requires its members use contracts. With or without a contract, keep a paper trail at all times.

Royalty rate is only one thing to consider when evaluating a contract. Read the contract and look at these key points:

What is the royalty rate? Expect from 20 - 50% royalties.
Rights: Does the ePublisher ask for electronic rights only, electronic and print rights, or all rights? If they ask for print rights, are they going to produce print copies?
Is a specific contract period stated, are there start and end dates?
Out of Pocket Expenses: Which expenses are your responsibility? Do you need to provide the cover artist, cover art, or copyright? Who pays for file formatting if multiple formats are offered?
How many author copies are provided? Are additional copies discounted?
How many review copies are sent by the ePublisher, and in what format?
Are promotional copies discounted?
Does the author pay for promotion? What ePublisher promotion is included in the contract?
Are there additional costs?
Is a percentage of royalties given up for using certain distributors or booksellers? For example, if eBooks are offered through Amazon.com, do you get less royalty on sales through Amazon.com?
SALES
Besides your ePublishers web site, where can readers find your eBook? Will it be at Barnes & Noble online, Amazon.com, other online booksellers, or physical bookstores?

Good ePublishers actively promote their site, titles, and authors with contests, newsletters, or other interaction to encourage repeat visitors. They also should keep their web site high on the search engines. Use a couple search engines and see where your ePublisher turns up on the list.

Check if the ePublisher offer formats compatible with handheld devices, such as the Palm Pilot, or formats compatible with dedicated handheld eBook reader devices, such as RocketBook or SoftBook. Dedicated handheld eBook reader devices are expected to make a huge impact on ePublishing when sales take off; however, sales have not taken off yet.

NETWORKING
Ask other writers if theyve heard of the ePublisher or have had any experience with them. Listservs, either writers or ePublishing, are good places to ask about ePublishers.

The E-Pub list was formed November 1, 1998, and is an open forum for discussing the ePublishing industry and the business side of writing. Open to writers (published and unpublished), editors, publishers, and any industry professional interested in electronic publishing. To subscribe, go to http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/e-pub.
Subscribe to eBookConnections.coms ePub Market Update ™ for publisher tips and ePublishing industry news for writers at http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/ebcmktupdate.
To keep up on technology, subscribe to eBookNet.coms weekly Newz (http://www.ebooknet.com). eBookNet.com is also home to The EBook Network (T.E.N.), for professionals interested in the electronic publishing industry. T.E.N. has a member listserv, information is at the eBookNet.com web site.
SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT
Once youve selected an ePublisher, youre ready to submit your manuscript. ePublisher acceptance rates average under 10%, about the same as print publishers. Competition is tight.

The rules are easy:

READ the Guidelines. The quickest way to rejection is to ignore the submission guidelines. Make sure your manuscript fits the guidelines; when in doubt, ask.
FOLLOW the Guidelines. "If an ePublisher says "No Erotica," then dont send it just because you think its so good that they will like it anyway. Search out a publisher who is seeking erotica," advises Marilyn Nesbitt. Along the same line, if a file attachment is requested, send the file attachment; dont embed it in email or direct them to your web site.
BE professional. Sloppy manuscripts or presentation are quick routes to the rejection pile. Edit and proofread before you send.
New ePublishers have a fairly quick turnaround time, but as more manuscripts are submitted, response time will slow down. Be patient. Often the Guidelines will give estimates on response time, and suggest when to inquire. If you havent heard anything after four to six months, ask.

ePublishing is a new industry, but if you know what to look for, you can find the right ePublisher for you and your manuscript. Soon you will be celebrating the contract that makes you a published eBook author. The challenges of selling and promoting your book will be the next thing on your mind.

This article was first printed in GenrEzone Magazine and placed 3rd in the Predators and Editors Poll for Best Nonfiction Article.

About the Author

Jamie Engle is a freelance writer and editor of the eBook Connections web site, the first site to review eBooks exclusively. She edits eBCs ePub Market Update ™ e-zine and the eBook Connections newsletter. Her articles on ePublishing and book and author promotion are widely published, including Writers Online Market Place (Writers Digest Books, 10/2000), and Secrets of Our Success by Angela Adair-Hoy and M.J. Rose. Jamie enjoys giving workshops and presentations to a variety of audiences and is coordinating the booksellers panel on eBooks at the Romantic Times convention in Houston this November. You can contact Jamie at ebookconnections.com.

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