Sony appeals to authors with self-publishing e-book scheme

Sony Electronics has signed a distribution deal with Author Solutions and Smashwords to offer a self-publishing tool for its online e-book store. Sony is hinting that the revenue-sharing agreement it will offer authors is better than rivals’. Amazon reportedly offers authors just 30% of the revenue generated from its Kindle store.

?It’s a better deal than what some other e-book stores are offering,? says Chris Smythe, director of Sony’s e-book store.

Smashwords, which first launched its e-book platform 16 months ago, allows authors to publish their books in online formats. The firm takes manuscripts written in Microsoft’s Word format and converts them into nine other formats, including Adobe PDF, which can be read by most e-book readers. The deal means these e-books can now be uploaded to Sony’s e-book portal where users can buy and download them. Sony also now has a similar deal with indie publishing firm Author Solutions.