eBook publishing at The Author Publishing means we turn your finished manuscript into a professional eBook and put it on sale in the stores your readers use, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books and Barnes & Noble Press. We prepare the file, the cover and the listing, and we set up every store account in your name. You keep your rights, your royalties and your accounts.
An eBook is a book in digital form that people read on a phone, tablet, computer or e-reader. Most stores accept EPUB, an open file format whose text reflows to fit the screen and the reader’s chosen font size. A well-made eBook has a working table of contents, clean chapter breaks, consistent styling and a cover that stays readable as a small thumbnail. This service is part of our book publishing services. If you plan to sell first on Amazon, see our Kindle eBook publishing page.
eBook publishing services: what we prepare for you
- File preparation. We build a clean EPUB from your manuscript, with a linked table of contents, front and back matter, and styles that display well on every device.
- A cover made for digital screens. Your cover is sized and tested so the title stays legible at thumbnail size in store search results.
- Listing and metadata. We write the book description, choose categories and keywords, and complete the author biography and any series details.
- Store setup. We create or use your accounts on each store and guide you through entering your own payment and tax details, so income goes straight to you.
- Pricing guidance. We explain the price options and royalty rules for each store, and you set the final price.
- Preview and approval. You review the eBook on several devices before it goes on sale.
Reflowable or fixed-layout eBook: which one fits your book
Most novels, memoirs and non-fiction books use a reflowable eBook. The text adjusts to the screen, and readers can change the font, the size and the spacing. This is the simplest format, and every major store supports it.
Picture books, comics, cookbooks and other heavily designed books often need a fixed layout, where each page keeps the exact arrangement of text and images. Fixed-layout files are larger and are not supported on every device or store, so we tell you which stores and devices your book can reach before we build it. For illustrated books for young readers, see our children’s book publishing service.
Selling direct to each store or through a distributor
There are two routes to wide distribution. In the direct route, you upload your book to each store yourself, and each store pays you directly. This gives you the most control over pricing, promotions and sales data, and it avoids a middleman’s share. The cost is more accounts to manage.
In the distributor route, you upload once to an aggregator such as Draft2Digital, which delivers the book to many stores and collects the payments. This saves time and reaches smaller stores and library services, but the distributor usually keeps a percentage of each sale. Many authors combine the two, going direct to Amazon and using a distributor for everywhere else. We explain the trade-off for your plans. See our eBook distribution and Draft2Digital pages.
How this service works, step by step
- Plan and scope. You share your manuscript, your goals and the stores you want. We agree the format, the schedule and a fixed price.
- Check the manuscript. We confirm the text is final. If it needs editing, we can help through our book editing services.
- Build the eBook. We prepare the EPUB and test it in reading apps and on e-reader software.
- Create the listing. We write the description, choose categories and keywords, and prepare the cover and author details.
- Approve. You review the file and the listing and ask for any changes before anything is published.
- Publish and check. We submit the book to your chosen stores, confirm each listing is live and hand over the final files.
KDP Select, exclusivity and going wide
Amazon’s KDP Select program gives an eBook extra promotion tools and Kindle Unlimited borrowing income, but it requires that the digital edition is sold only on Amazon during each enrolment period. Going wide means selling the eBook in every store, which reaches more readers but gives up those Select benefits. Neither choice is right for every book. A new author with one title may start in Select and go wide later, while a series author may prefer wide distribution from the start. Read more on our KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited page.
ISBN, copyright and your rights
Some stores assign their own identifier to an eBook and others ask for an ISBN, the international number that identifies a book edition. We explain what applies to the stores you choose. Your copyright belongs to you from the moment you write the book, and nothing about eBook publishing with us transfers it. See our ISBN and copyright page.
Who this service is for
- Authors with a finished manuscript who want to sell it as an eBook
- Self-published authors who want to avoid technical file and upload problems
- Authors moving a book from print to digital, or from one store to many
- Writers who want their store accounts and royalties kept in their own name
What affects the timeline and cost
Once the manuscript and cover are final, preparing and publishing an eBook typically takes a few weeks. Your quote sets out the scope, the schedule and a fixed price before work starts. The main factors are:
- The length and complexity of the book, including images, tables or footnotes
- Reflowable or fixed layout
- The number of stores and whether you go direct or through a distributor
- Whether the manuscript and cover are final, or still need editing and design
- How quickly you review the files and send feedback
See our packages and pricing or ask for a free quote. We reply within 24 hours.
Your rights and what you receive
You own the book, the store accounts and the royalties. At the end of the project you receive the final EPUB, the cover files and the listing text, so you can update or republish the book at any time. We do not guarantee sales, rankings or reviews. Read more about how our process works or browse our frequently asked questions.
Accessibility and readability
An accessible eBook can be used by more readers, including those who use screen readers, larger text or high-contrast settings. That means proper headings, alternative text for images, a linked contents page and no text locked inside pictures. Accessibility rules are expanding in some regions, such as parts of Europe, so building these features in from the start is wise. We prepare files that meet current good practice and test them in several reading apps.
Metadata, categories and sample quality
Readers find eBooks through search and categories, and they decide using the sample. Good metadata includes a clear title and subtitle, a persuasive description, well-chosen categories and keywords, and accurate series details. The sample should start with the story or the main promise, not pages of front matter. We prepare these elements together so the book looks strong in every store.
Updates and long-term care
An eBook is not frozen. You can correct a typo, refresh the cover, add a note about your next book or update links. Keep a clean master file and a list of what changed. We recommend a quick check every year, because links, series information and store details change. A well-kept eBook continues to sell long after launch.
Questions about eBook publishing
What is eBook publishing?
eBook publishing is the process of preparing a manuscript as a digital book file, creating a store listing and making the book available to buy in online stores. It covers file formatting, the cover, metadata, store accounts and pricing.
Which file format do eBook stores use?
Most stores accept EPUB, an open standard for reflowable eBooks. Amazon accepts EPUB and converts it for Kindle devices and apps. We prepare the format each store requires and test it before you approve.
Do I keep the rights to my eBook?
Yes. You keep your copyright, your royalties and your store accounts. We set up accounts in your name and hand over the final files at the end of the project, so you are free to update or move the book later.
Do I need an ISBN for an eBook?
It depends on the store. Some stores assign their own identifier, and others ask for an ISBN. An ISBN also makes it easier to track the edition across stores. We explain what applies to the stores you choose.
Can I update my eBook after it is published?
Yes. You can correct errors, change the description or the price, or upload a revised file at any time. We can make the update for you, and the new version replaces the old one in the store.
How long does eBook publishing take?
Once the manuscript and cover are final, it typically takes a few weeks to prepare, approve and publish an eBook. Stores also review new uploads, which can add a few days. Your quote lists a schedule.
How long does it take to publish an eBook?
Once the files are ready, uploading and review take a few days, though timing varies by store. Preparing the manuscript and cover usually takes longer.
Which format should I use?
Most books use a reflowable format. Fixed layouts suit picture books and complex designs.
Related services
- Book publishing services
- Self publishing services
- Book formatting services
- Book cover design
- Book distribution services
Why authors work with us
- You keep your rights, your royalties and your accounts
- You receive a written scope and a fixed price before any work starts
- You approve every file before it moves to the next step
- One project manager keeps you informed at every stage