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Staci Marquez-Nichols: eBook Creation

There is a lot more to writing an eBook than just writing. Unless you plan to buy your own eBook creation software, you'll need to hire a writer who already has and knows how to use this software. For example, I use a program called "Activ eBook Compiler and PrimoPDF." Some of the features of this award-winning software include:

  • Easy Distribution: Each E-Book is a self-contained Windows program. You can distribute them on any media you like, including by Internet download, by e-mail, floppy disk, CD-ROMs, ZIP disks.   
  • Compatibility: E-Books created using Activ E-Book use the exact same "engine" as Internet Explorer. This means total compatiblility with the world's most popular web browser including support for HTML, DHTML, images & animations, JPEG and PNG graphics, JavaScript, VBScript, and most Internet Explorer plug-ins.
  • Internet Linking: Use standard HTML features to include links to relevant web sites in your E-Book. When a user clicks on a link to a web site, the program even opens Internet Explorer giving them a chance to connect if they're not already connected. ...And yes, you can even link to your own web site to draw traffic!
  • Password Protection:
    • You can password protect your entire E-Book, or just protect selected pages and allow your users to see a preview of part of the book before they get their password.
    • You can boost your ezine subscription rate by requesting readers sign-up before you give them them password.
    • You can customize the message shown when a user accesses a password protected page.
    • You can even allocate up to 1,000 different passwords per E-Book - each user will require a different one from this pool - to prevent password "sharing".
    • You can even link directly to a form or page on your web site for that specific user to get the password that'll work for him.
  • HTML Protection: Right-mouse clicking is controlled by your choice of setting in your E-Books. You can disable it completely or allow access to a limited menu (which does not include View Source). This helps protect your HTML source and stop thieves from easily stealing your valuable page designs.
  • Branding: Every E-Book you create includes your name, your company name, your copyright message, and even a link to your web site - and your e-mail address or auto-responder address if you want it! (various options in the compiler, may allow you to turn off visible display of most of this info, or design your own page for it, if wanted).
  • Unique Serial Numbers: Every E-Book includes a unique serial number (we call this an "ESBN" - it's a similar idea to "ISBNs" used for off-line books). This gives you yet another way to keep track of, and manage distribution.
  • Viral Marketing: You can create and give away free E-Books, and allow others to do the same. As word about your E-Book spreads, more and more people may distribute your E-Book, and each one becomes a Self-Replicating Traffic Generator.
    • Icon Customization: Every E-Book can have its icon. The software comes with over 700 icons for you to choose from - or you can create your own unique icons in your favorite icon editor. (icon editor not included)
    • Shareware-Style E-Books: Set your E-Books to expire after a set number of days or uses, unless the password is entered. Giving your users a free trial of all or part of your E-Book is an incredibly powerful tool that can skyrocket your sales.
    • User Interface Customization: Turn on or off the availability of toolbars, status bars, colors, text labels on buttons, and more. Create kiosk-style E-Books. Customize the colors of "system" pages. Choose the starting screen position and size of your E-Books. You can even set your E-Books to float on top of other windows (great for instructional guides).
    • Splash Screens and Start-Up Messages: Add a splash screen graphic to your E-Book and/or a pop-up message box.
    • Built-in Search Engine: An extremely customizable search engine is built-in to your E-Books. If you are creating references or How To manuals, your readers will love this feature.
    • Auto Installation Options: Your E-Book can prompt users when first run, and add its icon automatically to the Start menu or Desktop.
    • Add-In Programs/Scripts: Kick-off external programs or files on specified events such as when your E-Book is started or closed, or when the correct or incorrect password is entered.
    • File Compression: Creating really large E-Books? You'll be glad to know the latest version of Activ E-Book automatically compresses all your files when compiling E-Books. This can significantly reducing the file size and making it easy and quick for users to download your E-Books.
    • Integrity Self-Check: E-Book's created with Activ E-Book Compiler perform a self-test on start up. If you're planning on distributing E-Books over the Internet, you'll be pleased know this gives you protection from common file corruption problems that can be caused by "noisy" modems or Internet connections.

    Additionally, your eBook will be more sellable with a cover image, like the ones below. I can create not only the actual eBook for you, but a custom-designed cover image to go along with it. The award-winning software I use to create these covers is Cover Factory.




    Some of the features of this award-winning software include:

    • Creates images of books, books with CD-ROMs, binders, binders with CD-ROMs, boxes, boxes with CD-ROMs, Floppy Disks, zip Disks, CD-ROMs.
    • Gradient, Pattern, Texture and Solid Color fills for sides and background.
    • Draw on top of sides using vector objects, including: lines, barcodes, text, rectangles, circles/ellipses, pictures, polygons, polylines, margins...
    • Supports comb and spiral binding styles on binders  
    • Choice of CD-ROM position options on binders, books and boxes.
    • Special effects: including gray scale, lens flare, buttonize, color balancing, brightness, contrast, and more!
    • Set up shadows using multiple lights from an array of 25. 
    • Add reflections.
    • Rotate your object around all 3 axes
    • Vary observer position
    • Render your final image to a file (JPEG, PNG, BMP) or the Windows Clipboard.
    • access to our libraries of 200+ photographic images (spectacular skies, beautiful landscapes, animals, plants and more)
    • Move, Rotate, Align, Change Ordering, Delete or Edit Properties of vectors.





     

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