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What's Your Biggest Challenge with Your Book?

I'd be interested to learn what authors/publishers on this network think their biggest challenges are with their book. I wonder if there's any common, pervasive challenge we all face.

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Hi, Bill,

I need help for my immediate challenge.

I need to secure my ebooks and I have been looking and trying for months. I've tried a lot of software and services, but can't quiet get all the features I need. Does anyone sale ebooks here? How do you secure them?

These are the features I am looking for (If I can get them all, in ONE place, I'll dance the whole night through.)

I want to do the ebook in the PDF format, which is really easy for me to do.
I want the software/service to allow multimedia (audio, etc in the pdf).
For some products I need a service/software that allows me to deliver monthly installments.
I prefer security that recognizes the computer, not give passwords/keys.
Don't want to be stuck doing password/keys for each product.
I want the readers to be able to download and open fast, no hassles, nothing to install.
I want serious security, so that there is no way to open the book without paying, and I can track and disable, and it's not copied to temporary files, etc.
Finally, I would love it to work with my shopping cart and PayPal merchant.

I could also use a really good multi-media ebook service for more elaborate ebooks that are designed to read online, but they need to be secure.

Yes, I know. That's a long wish list. So where's my fairy? ):

I appreciate any pointers.

Bless you for taking your time to share!

Maria Mar
Maria—
Wow! What a great question. And what a detailed list of requirements for your ebook. This is an area in which I defer to an expert. On matters like this, I contact Ted Treanor at Rosetta Solutions, Inc. His e-mail is ted@rosettasolutions.com.
Thank you Bill,

It is so kind of you to give me a referral to an expert. I'm following up right now.

I've been doing an informal survey among my social network and several months of online research. Here's my conclusion:

It seems that the security capabilities of online services have not catch up to the needs of people creating lots of digital products. The features offer leave a lot to be desired. Ebooks are one thing. In audios the security is even harder to design, and it gets more complicated as we add multi-media.

What amazes me is that when I ask a lot of experts and authors about the security system for their ebooks and digital products, they look at me with a blank stare. It then transpires that they have no clue as to how prevalent intellectual property theft is online, and how it can cost them a fortune in lost income, returns and loss of perceived value of their products, even direct theft of the entire contents, which is then refurbished and sold under someone else's name... and the author may not even know it.

The security issues have been crossing over from the printed books to the digital world.

Just the other day I had to intervene with my friends' list (many of them writers!!) when i received a forwarded email with links for FREE downloads of a dozen books now on the market, including best-selling authors such as Paulo Coehlo.

I investigated the situation and found out that the thieves buy the book, scan it and then place it in the internet for free (or sell it for a very low price.In the case above, the guys in question had a little "ethical" discourse about knowledge being free. They blatantly demanded that authors and publishers not charge for their books. Sounds crazy, right?

Well, I'm an old fox, so I kept searching and sure enough: they were making profits from their little scam by selling all the "free" books in a CD. Everything they did was quite illegal, yet not even professional writers were raising an eyebrow. That's somehow the mentality that the internet is feeding. We can say that it is the Shadow side of the internet, because I love the fact that it is available to all of us for free!

So that's why, even though I don't usually focus on negatives and fears, I am searching for measures to protect my hard work and unique gifts to the world, and why I am sharing this with all of you here. It is a topic I don't often see, but it needs to be addressed so that the solutions start showing up.

Thanks again for your kind referral and for all your great advise. I'm a fan!

Light and love,
Maria Mar
We will be listening for your next posts to let us know what you learn!
Best wishes,
Marlena
I agree with Marlena. I would like to know your findings too.

I did some reading trying to learn from the internet about writing, publishing, and marketing for possible future use. I remember reading about e-book security issues once which mentioned that what was available was not buyer(reader) friendly. I wish I could remember the site and when it was written but I've read so many articles...

btw, I'm new to all of this.
I'm trying something new. My books are about astrology. A contest give-away with a free horoscope didn't seem to catch anyone's interest. Now I'm giving a 6-mo. horoscope reading if a person buys one book; 12-mo. if they buy both books. Heck, an astrology reading costs way more than both books combined!

The catch? I'm also writing a book, sorta fiction, on my astrologer and her clients. I'm using the real horoscopes of the people who agree to let me.

My books (if anyone out there is curious) are FOOLS RUSH IN ($12) and WHERE ANGELS FEAR ($13). The book I'm snagging horoscopes for is THE CHRISTY CHRONICLES.
I've never been one for putting myself out there for all the world to see. When I went to the Navy instructor school I expected to sit quietly while the uniformed folk did what was necessary. When I learned it was a public speaking class for all intents and purposes I had a slight case of light headedness. I did what I had to do and passed, but it took me all of six months to get over the shaking bit while still trying to do my job as an instructor. Of course we all communicate regularly with folk near to us, but standing up in front of people giving a special talk just sort of freaks me. Understand, my presentations at work aren't so bad now that I know almost everyone-650 of 3000 need my special class every six months-and I work with these people every chance I get to get my hands dirty. I put myself out on TWITTER and WEEBLY, here on BMN, and invited people I don't know to help me with ideas on how to get my book-SMALL GIFTS: very short stories with a touch of faith-off the ground. I haven't figured how to use TWITTER properly for marketing. I work so many hours regularly that doing more would be a bit tough. Yeah, I'm just a blue coller "Joe Lunchbucket" without too much time outside the box. So, anyone with a box full of "how to" with some itemized instructions is invited to help out. And, no, I'm not all that tech savvy-be kind, please.
The biggest challenge for me is the marketing and promotion of my work I just don’t have talents which lay in that direction
You might be surprised at the talents you possess... I know that I'm a good speaker and so I'm spending my time (as much as I have) just trying to meet people and set up speaking opportunities. I'm also in the process of building a platform (citizen journalist) and then seeing where I can take it.. So much to do and so little time. I like John Kremer's emphasis on relationship building and I'm sure that's something you CAN do. Best of luck. Susan
I have a question that I need an answer to. Authors say connect to the Media off the Internet. Which sites do you go to for this to happen?
EVERY site that sells or do not sell books lol.
That is what I am doing, because a lot of people go
to a lot of sites, so put you a blog up and make sure
when they go to that site they see your blog about your book.
I know I know I have no idea what I am doing BUT its the only
thing I can do, since noone likes my publisher, I have to market
it myself.
Molested at age 8, run over by a train at age 9,My teen and adult years I was addicted to drugs and alcohol. I wrote this book "My Tragedy My Life My Testimony" praying that it will help or save someone else's life. Publishamerica.com or 3016951707: Written by: Mary Louise Clark

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