Barnes & Noble Digital created, competing with ePublishers

Company raises author's royalty level to new high

Barnes & Noble.com has announced the creation of Barnes & Noble Digital, an electronic publishing imprint that will publish thousands of eBook titles over the coming years. According to the company the creation will provide authors with a means for going direct to market and will feature editorial support, online sales montioring and exposure at Barnes & Noble.com's eBookstore.

Additionally, the company has raised the royalty rate to a level not yet seen in epublishing -- a 35 percent royalty rate for authors for works sold directly through the Barnes & Noble eBookstore site and its affiliate network.

"In an interesting way, the publisher may become an unnecessary middleman in the distribution of electronic content if they really don't do anything to build the market," said Steve Riggio, vice chairman of Barnes & Noble.com. "We have the technology, the customers, the Web site, the traffic."

Accompanying the release was the announcement that Barnes & Noble.com would be publishing an original eBook work by popular author, Dean Koontz. According to Barnes & Noble.com, the book, entitled "The Book of Coutent Sorrows," was written in response to "an overwhelming demand ... [to] reveal the source of the inspirational verses that have delighted his fans."

Additional points of interest

  • eBooks will be sold in all major existing formats
  • All eBooks will be priced below the paper version, with most retailing for about $5.95 to $7.95
  • 35 percent royalty rate for authors for works sold directly throught the Barnes & Noble eBookstore site or its Affiliate network
  • 50 percent of net revenues made through sales to third parties go to author (essentially these are wholesale sales)

More Info