Book News: Draft2Digital Acquires Mark Coker's Smashwords, Ryan Field Books

 Book News: Draft2Digital Acquires Mark Coker's Smashwords

This news has been out for a few months, but I think it's still fresh and I like to post about websites where e-books are sold. 

I remember going to a dinner party back in the late 90s and one of the guests worked in the art department of Random House. At the time, I was getting short stories published for the Gay/Lesbian Presses like Alyson Books. And I remember this guy telling us that soon there would be digital reading devices that people would use in place of hard copy books. Even though several people just waved him off and laughed, I found it all fascinating. 

And slowly but surely, as the next few years passed, e-books were gaining in popularity by the most avid readers. Of course to this day there are still old timers who refuse to read digital books, and that's fine. However, I have always found that the most serious readers only read digital. They often buy at least 5 books a week. 

With that said, by 2008 digital books became so common almost everyone who really knew book publishing was doing it. And a man named Mark Coker started a wonderful online e-book website called Smashwords. I remember when it all started and I have always had my books there. First, my romance publishers would put them up on Smashwords, and then when I started to do a few indie books. I depended on Smashwords, too. And for what it's worth, I have always found Smashwords to be pleasant and professional. It's nothing like the vipers of Amazon. 

Over the years, since 2008, I have seen so many publishers and start-ups come and go I've lost track. Most have shuttered and disappeared from the Internets. However, Smashwords is still here and it's moving forward, as usual. It was announced earlier this year that Draft2Digital, another e-book publisher that I like, will acquire Smashwords. This is big news for indie authors. 

And Mark Coker will be staying on. 

“I’m thrilled to join forces with Draft2Digital,” said Mark Coker. “Over the last decade, I’ve come to deeply admire Draft2Digital’s team, technology, and commitment to authors. Our shared business model is a key to our two companies’ success. We put authors first. By design, we only make money when our authors make money. This aligns our interests with the interests of our authors. Together we will lead the next chapter of the indie author revolution.”

You  read all about it, here. If you do just a quick simple search you'll find tons of information about this merger. And if you're an author, I'd like to say that all of my books have always been on Smashwords, and you should do the same.  

A Different Kind of Southern Love Story

What readers are saying about “Uncertainty”

Amazon

“A wonderful story that I loved. The characters were well developed and strong. Gus: A sweet young man. Doing something for all the wrong reasons. Craig: his boyfriend, he’ll go along with anything Gus say. Henry: Gus father a no-nonsense man, who’s husband died last year. I enjoyed this story.”



What readers said about “Altered Parts”
“Best Gay Novel In Years. This story will stay with you and you will feel you know every character and the beauty of their home in the mountains of North Carolina.”
In paperback or e-book. #gayromance #Wednesday

Altered Parts

The Wizard of Pride

The Straight Pride Parade

 How to Be a Good Gay Bottom 

Getting People to Read Your Book by Mark Coker, Smashwords

When I got this alert in my inbox about getting people to read books, by Mark Coker, of Smashwords, I figured I would post something for those who might be interested. The article itself was in Huff Po and written by David Henry Sterry, author and book doctor.

Anything I could add would only be redundant. It's a good article you can read in full here.

I first met Mark Coker over the Internet. Which seems appropriate, given how he has done such great things for writers in the world of ebooks. I was trying to upload a book onto his company's website, Smashwords. I have a problem formatting files. I'm very bad at it. It's a weakness. I'm not proud of it. But the first step is admitting you have a problem.
 
That day, I got very frustrated and sent a flaming email full of vicious vitriol and a few flagrant f-bombs. I expected to get back some generic, useless response, which is what you almost always get back from e-companies. Imagine my surprise when the president of the company himself, Mark Coker, emailed me back. He was so helpful and kind and nice. I was completely embarrassed. It led me to formulate a strategy for what to do when I get flamed -- and believe me, I get flamed online every day. Now, before I respond, I think, "What would Mark Coker do?" And I try to give my flamer some love. You'd be shocked by how many times it works wonders.

I have to say I'm relieved to hear that someone else had a problem formatting files on Smashwords, because we nearly pulled our hair out by the roots trying to figure out how to do it there. Tony could explain it better than I can, but for some reason Smashwords was harder than other sites. However, because Smashwords is such an *important* web site for digital books...it really is if you are an indie author...we were determined and we figured it out through a long series of trial and error.