Understanding D2D's Activation and Maintenance Fees - Draft2Digital Blog

The AI slop should be banned.

Panzer stopped in at the Draft2Digital Blog site today. There he found a post about their new activation and maintenance fees.

 

 Kris Austin's post explains the activation fee is a result of the large number of AI author accounts and the maintenance fees are to cover the costs of maintaining low sales accounts.

 

 Panzer says, "That AI slop makes us all look bad."

 

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Activation and Maintenance Fees slo

Spotify Adds Bookshop.org Links, Page Sign - Publishers Weekly

Who will be next?

Panzer stopped in at the Publishers Weekly site today and found a post about Bookshop.org.

 

Ed Nawotka's post explains Spotify's partnership with Bookshop.org. Bookshop.org will now carry Spotify author's print books on the platform. Included in the post are links to other information.

 

Panzer says, "Yesterday Bookshop.org added Draft2Digital authors and today added Spotify authors."

 

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a cup of tea to drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to  Bookshop and Spotify Deal

Bookstore.org Teams with Draft2Digital - Publishers Weekly

I feeel better today.

On his way home from the Catosphere Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty boy found a post about Draft2Digital.

 

Ed Nawolka reports Draft2Digital and Bookshop.org have an agreement which allows D2D authors to sell their books through Bookshop.org.

 

Panzer says, "That's a whole new marketplace for indie authors."

 

Note:This is a long-short post. Bring a cup of tea to drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital 

Everand Is New Home for Books at Scribd - Draft2Digital

Everand what? A day? A week?

Today, Panzer made a stop at the Draft2Digital site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about Scribd.

 

According to the blog post, Scribd is making changes to the different reading materials locations. Ebooks, and audiobooks etc. are being moved to the Everand platform. This separates them from the manuals, etc. which will remain on the Scribd platform. With the separation the company feels it will be easier for readers to find the materials they want.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders who picked that name Everand?"

Note: This is a short post. Bring a small cup of cocoa to drink while you read. 

To read the post tootle over to Everand

Draft2Digital Aquires SelfPubBookCovers.Com - Press Release

It doesn't say how much it costs.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was sudden shaken by the sound of clapping and cheering outside. Following all the jocularity took our brave kitty boy to the Draft2Digital site. There he found a press release about the company's newest acquisition was causing all the noise.

 

According to the press release, Draft2Digital (D2D) announced the acquisition of SelfPubBookCovers.Com. (SPBC) SPBC is a platform where illustrators and cover designers showcase their work. Authors can examine the covers and purchase any that will fit their book cover needs. SPBC will be part of D2D's Author Success division. 

Panzer says, "The press release says the author adds their own name and book title to the cover."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade to drink while you read the press release.

To read the post tootle over to SelfPubBookCovers.Com

Free The Creative Penn Podcast: 9 Ways That Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Disrupt Authors And The Publishing Industry.

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Vacation is over.

oday's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Creative Penn Podcast site. There he found a podcast with Joanna Penn and bestselling author Nick Thacker discussing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the publishing industry.

The episode 9 Ways That Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Disrupt Authors And The Publishing Industry is 1 hour 16 minutes long. The show notes are below the podcast. The post contains links to other podcast episodes and information.

 

 Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know Nick Thacker also works for Draft2Digital."

 

Note: Bring a cup of tea, a muffin and a brownie to snack on while you listen to the podcast.

To listen to the podcast tootle over to Joanna Penn and Nick Thacker

Draft2Digital Opens D2D Print to All Authors - Publishers Weekly

Short and to the point.

Today Panzer found a short press release from Draft2Digital at the Publishers Weekly site.

 

According to the press release, Draft2Digital has taken their D2D print on demand service out of beta. It's now available for all authors to use the service to convert their ebooks to print on demand books.

Note: This is a short press release. You won't need to bring anything to eat or drink while you read the release.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital

Smashwords 2022 Year in Review and 2023 Preview - Smashwords Blog

Today, Panzer made a trip over to the Smashwords Blog. There our intrepid kitty traveler found a new post about Smashwords' past and the company's future.

It's like losing a friend.

In the post Mark Coker explains the steps Draft2Digital (D2D) has accomplished in the takeover of Smashwords since the March 2022 purchase of Smashwords. He also explains the steps which remain to be finished in 2023. Once the takeover is complete Smashwords will no longer be an ebook publisher, but, instead, a bookstore.

Panzer says, "This little kitty will be sorry to see Smashwords publishing gone."

This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to 2022 Year in Review and 2023 Preview

Draft2Digital Authors Can Now Distribute to the Smashwords ... - Smashwords Blog

Today, Panzer stopped in at the Smashwords site. There our adventuresome kitty traveler found a post by Mark Coker about Draft2Digital authors.

 

Not what this little kitty expected.

If you've been visiting here for a while, you know we've used Smashwords for our ebook distribution to all the ebook retailers except Amazon. You also know Smashwords has now joined Draft2Digital (D2D). It's no surprise then to learn that the authors and publishers at D2D will use Smashwords' ebook store since D2D doesn't have a store. The post includes a link to a post at D2D about Smashwords.

 

Panzer says, "You need to read both posts to see what the plan is for Smashwords in the future."  

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital and Smashwords

Draft2Digital vs PublishDrive Review - Kindlepreneur

It's been a long time since Panzer visited the Kindlepreneur site, so our little traveling kitty boy decided to make a stop there today. With no digging at all he found a post comparing Draft2Digital to PublishDrive. The post he found includes the additions to Draft2Digital's platform caused by the acquisition of Smashwords. Panzer told you about that acquisition/merger/sale (you pick what to call it) a couple of days ago.

D2D looks good on the chart.

In his post site owner Dave Chesson does an extensive review of both the Draft2Digital (D2D) and PublishDrive platforms. The post includes a comparison chart of the publishing and distribution services offered, the costs, and pros and cons sections for both platforms. The post includes links to both platforms. At the end of the post he chose D2D as the winner of the comparison review.

Panzer says, "This little kitty has never used D2D and has no opinion."

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, three muffins and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's adventure in learning.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital vs PublishDrive

To read about the Smashwords acquisition tootle over to Smashwords

Draft2Digital Acquires Smashwords - Smashwords Blog

Good or Bad? Not sure yet.

When Panzer checked his email this morning he found one from Smashwords.

 
According to the email, Smashwords is being acquired by Draft2Digital. Following the link in the email, Panzer read all the available information about the sale. The sale will be complete on March 1. The Smashwords name/brand will no longer be used. Although the link included in the post isn't clickable, it says there will be an online Q and A tomorrow about the acquisition.

To read the full announcement tootle over to Draft2Digital

2019 eBook Distribution Round-up ... - DAVIDWOGAHN.COM

Panzer was tootling around in the Catopshere when he decided to stop in at the DAVIDWOGAHN.COM site. With a little digging around there, our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about aggregators and ebook distributions.

I couldn't have found all this on my own.

The post by site owner David Wogahn compares ebook aggregators. The post contains information to help indie authors and publishers determine their choice between using an aggregator for ebook distribution or distributing to each ebook retailer themselves. There's a comparison chart for the eleven current aggregators listed alphabetically. Included in the chart are the usual companies like Smashwords and Draft2Digital, but also companies like PublishGreen and XinXii as well as seven others. The comparisons cover costs, who the aggregator distributes to, their payment method, and their ISBN requirements (and costs for ISBNs, if any). Clicking the Plus button for each aggregator on the chart shows more individual information.

Panzer says, "Every indie author and publisher should check out this post and the comparison chart."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to ebook distribution

Draft2Digital, Baker & Taylor, and OverDrive - Indies Unlimited

Panzer is still helping Mom with her recuperating extended-family relative, so today's trip into the Catosphere was short. On a quick trip to the Indies Unlimited site our speedy kitty found a post about Draft2Digital.

I really need more sleep.

According to Melinda Clayton, Draft2Digital has announced their partnership with Baker and Taylor's 360 Axis 360 ebook distribution to libraries. Authors who use Draft2Digital will now have two platforms for library distribution: OverDrive and Baker and Taylor. The post also includes information about differences between the two platforms and a brief history of a court case between the two. The link to the court case decision includes interesting information about Baker and Taylor. The post quotes extensively from information on The Digital Reader site.

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't think he likes Baker and Taylor's business practices."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital Partners with bibliotheca - Indies Unlimited

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to stop in at the Indies Unlimited site. With a little digging around in the posts there, he found one about Draft2Digital and bibliotheca.

Exactly why are you changing the royalties?

According to the post by Melinda Clayton, Draft2Digital (D2D) and bibliotheca have partnered. D2D already works with Overdrive to distribute their authors' ebooks to libraries. The partnership will allow D2D to offer a better checkout experience for readers. There's also a change to the royalties for library purchases authors will want to read. The post has information about opting into or out of the new programs. There are two links included in the post. One is for information about bibliotheca and the second is for information about D2D's new library pricing page.

Panzer says, "Why do humans have to make things so complicated?"

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and one and half muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring two extra muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital Now Distributes to Overdrive - The Digital Reader

Today, Panzer needed to get the Panzermobile into the repair shop to get the oil changed. So our kitty pilot made a quick trip to The Digital Reader site. There he found a post about Draft2Digital.

According to the post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, Draft2Digital has announced a new distribution agreement with Overdrive. Draft2Digital is a distribution service similar to Smashwords. Indie authors can use Draft2Digital (D2D) to distribute their ebooks and audio books to various online retailers. Overdrive distributes ebooks to libraries and schools. With D2D's new agreement indie authors will now have access to the 38,000 libraries and schools in Overdrive's distribution channels. There's a link included in the post to D2D's announcement about Overdrive.

D2D just keeps expanding services.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... Maybe, this little kitty needs to check out all of Draft2Digital's distribution channels."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea and one and a half muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital Overdrive distribution

Draft2Digital Adds Audiobook Distribution via Findaway Voice - The Digital Reader

Panzer had hardly entered the Catosphere today when he heard clapping and cheering ahead of the Panzermobile. Following all the hullabaloo took our speedy kitty to The Digital Reader site. There he found a post about Draft2Digital's newest service.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, ebook distributor Draft2Digital is now offering audiobook distribution through partner Finaway Voice. If you already have an audiobook, Findaway Voice will distribute it through their platform. Or, you can produce your audiobook using Findaway Voice's narrators and, then, they will distribute the audiobook through their platform. Findaway Voice has a distribution network that spans more than 170 countries.

Watch out Smashwords.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Audiobook production and distribution ... Draft2Digital just keeps adding services for indie authors."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and one a half muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital Now Distributes to Kobo Plus - The Digital Reader

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering. Following all the jocularity took our fun-loving kitty to The Digital Reader site. There he found a post about Draft2Digital.

This is worth looking into.

According to site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, Draft2Digital has added Kobo Plus to their distribution channels. Kobo Plus is Kobo's ebook subscription service and distributes to the Netherlands and Belgium. The service is similar in structure to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited (KU) in that authors receive payment from a funding pool. Readers must complete at least 20 percent of an ebook before payment is issued. Unlike KU, Kobo Plus doesn't restrict distribution. However, Kobo Plus does require an ebook to remain in the program for 6 months as opposed to Amazon's three months program requirement. Draft2Digital is a competitor of Smashwords. Both distribute ebooks to online retailers. At this time Smashwords does not offer a Kobo Plus channel. The post includes links for more information about Kobo Plus.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Draft2Digital looks interesting. I already use Smashwords, maybe I should add Draft2Digital for my ebooks too."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection; but, if you plan to follow the links in the post too, bring a muffin as well.

To read the post, tootle over to Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital is Adding Kobo Plus as a Distribution Option, But Not Smashwords - The Digital Reader

Today, Panzer's quiet trip in the Catosphere was interrupted by clapping and shouting. Following all the noise took our intrepid kitty explorer to The Digital Reader site. There he found a post about Kobo Plus. Panzer told you about Kobo's new subscription service yesterday.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Draft2Digital (D2D) has a new distribution agreement with Kobo Plus. D2D's authors' Dutch language ebooks will be distributed to Kobo Plus. Until this agreement between D2D and Kobo Plus books were required to be published via Kobo Writing Life. D2D is an ebook distribution service similar to Smashwords. The Digital Reader post states Smashwords' Mark Coker said they will not be extending distribution to Kobo Plus.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe I should find a translator and use Draft2Digital."

Indie publishing is always changing.

Note: This is a shortish-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Draft2Digital

To read Panzer's post about Kobo Plus, tootle over to Kobo subscription service

Draft2Digital Drops Minimum Payment to PayPal & US Directi Deposit - The Digital Reader

Panzer made a quick trip to The Digital Reader site today. After a little digging around there our inquisitive traveler is doing the happy kitty dance. He uncovered a post about Draft2Digital's new payment program.

According to the post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, Draft2Digital (D2D) will now make payments to authors' PayPal accounts or U.S. bank direct deposits on a regular schedule no matter what the monetary amount. Previously D2D would only issue payments when authors reached a minimum amount. D2D's competitor Pronoun is also offering this payment option. Mr. Hoffelder speculates the shrinking indie author market is driving the better author payment terms.

Always watch your competition.

Panzer says, "Umm ... I think Draft2Digal and Pronoun are both a little late to the party. Amazon dropped the minimum payment requirement three years ago."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital Platform

Let's check it out.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere following the me-wow-s to the Publishers' Weekly site.

Our kitty boy reporter found a post there by Calvin Reid about a three year old ebook publishing and distribution platform called Draft2Digital. According to Mr. Reid, Draft2Digital works the same as Smashwords. The writer uses the platform to convert their document to the various ebook formats and then submit them to the various markets.

Panzer says, "If you're looking for an alternative to Smashwords, this might be worth checking out."

Note: Draft2Digital charges a 10 percent commission.

To read the post, tootle over to Draft2Digital