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I’m personally a fan of Kobo as it’s pretty easy to strip the DRM with a calibre plugin. (I also really like my kobo ereader)
The biggest difference in book quality, IMHO, is a good editor. I honestly think I'd feel it would be fair if the editor and the author split the profit pretty evenly; maybe 60/40. I'm not an author, but I've read plenty of books which clearly did not have one (or had a terrible one), and they're painful. Editors are the unsung heroes of the publishing industry.
That was an interesting read, thank you!
Looks like amazon ebooks are commonly the best=paying way.
Absolutely, but in particular since this is a small-time author I'd really like to pay them!
Do you have any way to get in touch with the author? If they're "small-time" they might have an easy way to contact them through their web site. I imagine they'd love to hear something like "Hi, I love your work! What is the best way for me to buy an e-book and support you?"
They have a Discord but it seems to be locked behind a Patreon, which I now see includes an ebook at some tiers. That's gotta be the best way to go!
If the author lists a Patreon thing, then that is likely the best way to pay them. I emailed one of my favorite authors directly to ask a similar question, and he replied with detailed information, including signing the copy he sent me along with a signed bookmark.
Ebooks.com sells DRM free books when the publishers allow it and you can set filters for that as well. The selection is good but not perfect. I supplement with the kobo store as needed. And make sure you are using calibre to manage your library :)
I looked there as it was on the list of resources that Leraje@piefed.blahaj.zone shared, but sadly they don't have the books I'm looking for.
So does the Kobo bookstore, but it's entirely up the the publishers.
Kobo's now processing sales through Google, though, so I too need to find a new bookstore.
Older than amazon (I think?). DRM free as well and gives you all the options: https://www.baen.com/
Has a free library too: https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/2012
I use various sources, from Kobo to bookshop.org or even finding good books from authors who give their work away for free, but I always donate at least $10-$20 for their work, like I would if I bought a paperback. Regardless, I refuse to pay for anything with DRM on it.
I'd look and see if the publisher or author sells the book directly.
eBay for E books? Huh, I wouldn't have guessed. I'm looking for a sales channel that pays the author, though.
Thanks!
Other than buying from an author directly, I don't think there's any model that directly puts money in the authors pocket, it's all going through the publisher.
https://www.betterworldbooks.com/
Better World Books is your online destination for books offering the widest selection of used and new books. We give booklovers across the world access to the power of knowledge at an affordable price and help them stay connected through reading. We better the world, one book at a time, by making a difference with every purchase made through donations and environmental programs. It's simple: Buy Books. Do Good.
I like the sound of that, thank you.
I get all of my books through Better World Books. I buy them used as much as possible and they're always in fine shape. I then donate the books on if I don't want to keep them. I seriously love BWB.
I buy so many used books at local stores. I think I need to switch to ebooks just to limit the number of tons I'll eventually need to move!
I know friends love their ereaders. I'd need an open one, I refuse to get into the Amazon ecosystem. But I also LOVE physical copies. I think they'd probably be great for books I'm sure about and then buy a physical book later. But lots of ebooks are ridiculously priced compared to physical.
Smashwords is good.
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