Launch of public beta of digital publishing platform for authors launched by Smashwords

Telecomworldwire, May 7, 2008

TELECOMWORLDWIRE-7 May 2008-Launch of public beta of digital publishing platform for authors launched by Smashwords(C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

Digital publishing startup Smashwords has announced the launch of a public beta of its digital publishing platform for authors.

The site can now be viewed at http://www.smashwords.com and it enables independent authors to digitally publish, sample and sell their novels, personal memoirs, short fiction, essays, poetry, non-fiction and screenplays.

The company said that authors receive 85% the net sales proceeds from their works and retain full control over sampling, pricing and marketing.

Authors are provided with free viral marketing tools to build readership via the new site. These tools include percent-based sampling; dedicated pages for author profiles and book profiles; support for embedded YouTube book trailers, author interviews and video blogs; reader reviews; and reader "favouriting".

In order to publish their work on Smashwords authors must upload the Microsoft Word file of their work to the site, assign percentage-based sampling rights and pricing. The book is then converted by Smashwords into multiple DRM-free ebook formats for online reading or download to ebook reading devices.

Before making a purchase readers can sample 50% or more of many Smashwords titles for free.

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