Aspiring Ebook Authors: Learn this Program

Attention aspiring ebook authors... feeling a little overwhelmed with the process of turning your deathless prose to ebook formats that can actually be sold through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple ibooks? Then you need to download this awesome, easy-to-use and, best of all, FREE epub editor. The program is called Sigil, and there are versions available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Download Sigil Here

This is by far the easiest to learn epub editor I have tried. It allows you to split your view between how your ebook will look on ereaders and the invisible html coding underneath. When you're done tinkering with your project, it produces an epub formatted document that can be used with all the major ebook sellers, even Amazon's Digital Text Platform, which will take your epub and convert it to Kindle's proprietary AZW format.

You will  have to learn some html, but I found that by observing how changes in the code affected the look of my books, I was able to grasp the way it all worked without too much difficulty... even an old fart like me.

If you have any aspirations to eschew the traditional publishing route and strike out on your own as an indie author, you have to get this program and become familiar with it.

The New Kindle is a Tablet?

Rumor has it that Amazon's next device will be a 10" tablet. It will supposedly be released sometime in the next couple months and will be a direct competitor to the Apple ipad. I've seen a couple websites calling it the Kindle tablet. The LCD screen will employ a type of display technology called "fringe field shifting" which is supposed to render a better picture and help to control light leakage. Amazon expects to sell between 400,00 to 800,00 units per month after release.

Personally, I'm a little disappointed they aren't talking about a new Kindle e-ink ereader. I already have an Ipad. What I would like is a touch-enabled  Kindle ereader with a slightly larger E-ink screen.  I recently purchased the Nook Easy Touch ereader (because I am a gadget junky) and it is one sweet device. Unfortunately, it is also tied to Barnes & Noble's hideous web storefront. I much prefer Amazon for browsing and purchasing ebook content, so if they'll just release a touch-enabled Kindle 4 ereader with a 7" screen, I'll be one happy ebook ejunky.

Bezos, the keyboard on the Kindle has to go!