A digital version of a book that readers can buy and read on phones, tablets, e-readers, and computers.
An ebook is a book published in digital format, readable on devices like Kindle, Kobo, tablets, phones, and computers. Unlike a PDF of a printed book, a properly formatted ebook uses reflowable text that adapts to different screen sizes and lets readers adjust font size, margins, and spacing. The most common ebook formats are EPUB (the universal standard) and MOBI/KF8 (Amazon's formats). Ebooks can be sold through retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play, or directly from an author's website.
For most indie authors, ebooks are where the money is. They have no printing costs, no shipping, no inventory, and royalty rates are significantly higher than print (up to 70% on Amazon versus roughly 40-60% on print-on-demand paperbacks). Ebooks also reach readers instantly, globally, and at price points that encourage impulse purchases. Even if you dream of seeing your book on a shelf, understanding the ebook market is essential because it will likely account for the majority of your sales.
A poorly formatted ebook with broken chapters, missing paragraph indents, or images that don't display correctly will tank your reviews. Invest in proper ebook formatting or learn to do it right with tools like Vellum, Atticus, or Calibre.
Ebook readers expect lower prices. For indie authors, the sweet spot is usually between $2.99 and $6.99, where you get the 70% royalty rate on Amazon. Pricing too high reduces volume; pricing at $0.99 drops your royalty rate to 35%.
Amazon dominates the ebook market, but Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, and direct sales through your website can add 20-30% to your revenue. Going wide takes more effort but reduces your dependence on a single platform.
Take one chapter of your manuscript and convert it to EPUB format using a free tool like Calibre or Reedsy's book editor. Open it on your phone and your computer. Check that chapter breaks, paragraph spacing, italics, and any special formatting survived the conversion. Note everything that looks wrong. This exercise teaches you what ebook formatting actually requires and where things break.