[shawnee_]

After reading the story of self-publishing whizkid Amanda Hocking

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2011-02-09-ebooks09_...

I was inspired to start writing again. Rebuilding emphastic.com, I really wanted to find an easier way to integrate some kind of self-publishing eBook payment system, and this looks test-worthy.

In general, the timing is excellent, too. Google's Samsung Android tablet, the iPad2, etc.; the audience of digital readership is almost ready to eclipse the ebook-ready available content.

[patio11]

If you're just looking for "You give me money, I give you downloadable ebook", a quick plug for e-junkie. I've used them for several years at BCC (which used to be "you give me money, I give you license key" although that isn't relevant to most of my customers anymore), and they'll work for you very cheaply if you have a Paypal account.

[runevault]

If you're looking to self publish I'd just focus on Amazon, B&N (if in the US, otherwise publish there through Smashwords), and Smashwords. Sure it's 70/30 split, but you also get on their lists of also bought if you can manage enough sales. I haven't heard of any author making major money self pubbing through their own website, it's been primarily through the major ebook retailers.

It's what the big players like Hocking, Konrath, John Locke, and more do to make a living writing.

[mceachen]

+1 -- and having gone through publishing a book on Lulu and Amazon, both services are fine to get dead-tree versions of your book into the hands of your readers (and you don't have to build a payment solution -- or anything other than the marketing verbiage).