Book to eBook Conversion Service
We can convert your book to eBook, ready for your title to be sold via the major eBook retailers or through your own website. We can work from digital files or printed books, and will test that your eBook looks wonderful and works flawlessly across a variety of different software and eBook readers.
Once you are happy with your book to eBook conversion we can publish it to the biggest eBook retailers (see our eBook Distribution page) or let you have the finished files, if you would rather be responsible for your own publishing and distribution.
All the book to eBook files we produce will include a linked Table of Contents, searchable and re-sizeable text, and will pass any technical specifications required by the retailers.
The Different eBook Formats
The two most popular eBook formats are Kindle format (PRC or Mobi files) and standard ePUB files.
Kindle Format
Amazon’s Kindle eReader has been a huge success and, via their Kindle Store, Amazon sell more eBooks than any other retailer. We convert your book to eBook as a PRC or Mobi format file, that is ideal for uploading to Amazon’s Kindle Store. The files we produce can be previewed on a Kindle eReader device or Kindle App before they are submitted to Amazon, so that you can see exactly how they look before they are available for purchase.
Kindle format files are produced in full color, and can include graphics, images, photos and tables. The actual Kindle devices only display greyscale, although Kindle Apps for PC, Mac, iPad and smartphone are all capable of displaying color.
There is very limited control over typefaces, font styles and layout within a Kindle file, so if you have a book with a complex layout we will need to simplify how it looks during the conversion process.
Standard ePUB
ePUB files are the sold by virtually all other retailers, apart from Amazon, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Waterstone’s. EPUB files are also produced in color and there is more scope within an ePUB to use different fonts, text styling and advanced layout features. Although the files can incorporate color, some ePUB compatible eReader devices will only display greyscale. For example, a color ePUB file sold via B&N’s Nook Store will not be displayed in color on a standard Nook eReader but will be on a Nook Color eReader.
Once we have converted your book to eBook, we will send you a preview version, which you can look at on a compatible eReader if you have one, or on free software that can be installed on your computer.
Two other eBook formats which are suited to more specific types of book, are Fixed-Layout ePUB and Read Aloud eBooks.
Fixed-Layout ePUB
Fixed-Layout ePUB is a format which is ideal for reproducing books with a high graphic content such as children’s picture books, coffee table books and business/text books which contain heavy formatting and a lots of tables and graphics.
The Fixed-Layout ePUB format offers much more in the way of formatting and styling support, and usually we can produce a Fixed-Layout ePUB eBook that looks virtually identical to your original print layout.
You can only sell Fixed-Layout ePUB files through Apple’s iBookstore/iTunes and the files will only work properly on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch with the latest version of the iBooks app installed.
To request a quote to produce a Fixed-Layout ePUB, please send a PDF of your book if you have it, along with a description of your requirement to helpdesk@ebookpartnership.com.
Read Aloud eBooks
Read Aloud eBooks are Fixed-Layout ePUB files which have been enhanced with an audio narration and possibly a background soundtrack too. They are perfect for children’s story book with all the fantastic graphical options of a Fixed-Layout ePUB, plus they give the reader the choice of hearing the narration on a page-by-page basis, or letting the pages turn automatically as the story is read out. Each word of the book can be highlighted as they are spoken, and the reader can turn the background music or sound effects on or off as they wish.
Read Aloud eBooks are another Apple-only product, and although B&N do offer a similar product via their Nook Store, they have not yet opened this technology up to outside users.
To request a quote to produce a Read Aloud eBook, please send a PDF of your book if you have it, along with a description of your requirement to helpdesk@ebookpartnership.com. We can also arrange for the production of a professionally voiced narration, if you do not wish to organise this yourself.
What we’ll need from you
To convert your book to eBook format, we will need either a digital version of it, or a printed copy in good condition.
Accepted File Types
PDF and Word doc are the most common file types we receive, although InDesign is fine too. If you have your book in a different format, we should still be able to help but please email details to helpdesk@ebookpartnership.com.
Printed Books and Hard Copies
If you only have a printed paperback or hardback version of your book, and do not have a digital copy, we would need to digitize it before we can start the conversion process. This process involves separating the individual pages from the printed copy, scanning each page, and then extracting the scanned text to produce a Word version of your manuscript. The cost of digitizing a printed book starts at $200/£150.
Adding a Front Cover
Your eBook will need a front cover. If you have one already, you can send that through as any type of image file or as a PDF. If you only have a hard copy of your front cover, we can scan that and make any necessary changes before adding it to your eBook. If you need a cover design, we offer a cover design service from $149/£99.
What does it cost?
The cost will depend upon the content and length of your book. The most straightforward books to convert are those that only contain text.
A text-only book of up to 300 pages costs just$199/£125 to convert. This price includes conversion to both Mobi (the Amazon Kindle format) and ePub (suitable for Apple’s iBookstore and most other major online retailer). We also offer excellent value conversion and distribution packages from just $299/£199.
Books with images, graphs, tables, scientific/mathematical formulae and diagrams can be converted to eBook but need more work and sometimes are more expensive to convert depending upon the number of pages. If you have a book that contains any of these items that you would like converted to eBook, please complete our Request a Quote form.
Publishers and Authors with multiple books: If you have more than one book, we are happy to discuss discounted rates for bulk orders.
How long does it take?
The conversion process, from receipt of your manuscript to the delivery of the final converted files usually takes between 2 and 3 weeks. If you are in a real hurry, we do offer an expedited 7 day service – please contact us with details of what you need and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Ready to get started?
If you are ready to get started please take a look at our Getting Started page and complete the short order process.
If you have any questions please visit our FAQ page or Request a Quote.
