Johannes Gottwald
Senior Editor

This hub for writers and self-published authors is a project in progress, intended to eventually house a comprehensive library of resources for the indie publishing community. While new content is being added regularly, a variety of templates, guides, and tools are currently available to assist writers throughout their creative and professional journey.

For those in the early stages of storytelling, the site provides a downloadable PDF worksheet designed to help brainstorm character names and settings. Aspiring novelists can also explore a massive collection of nearly 200 different generators for plots and names, alongside a list of thirteen essential tools to improve writing quality and fourteen tips for streamlining book production within Google Docs.

Visual presentation is also a primary focus. Writers can access lists of free stock image repositories and various software options for designing book jackets. Specifically, the site offers tutorial content on using Canva for cover creation, including a specialized guide for the fantasy and science fiction genres. For technical assembly, the site reviews fifteen applications for ebook creation and explains seven different open-source digital book formats.

The resource bank extends into professional development and digital strategy. It includes a series on author blogging, covering practical link construction and the nuances of guest posting for visibility. Marketing advice is a significant component, featuring a comprehensive directory of both free and paid book promotion services. Authors can also find guidance on how to facilitate book giveaways through their own sites, identify common financial mistakes in book marketing, and evaluate fifteen different email marketing platforms for audience building.

Website management is a central pillar of the site’s offerings. Writers can consult checklists for author websites and book listings, as well as guides on SEO for Blogger platforms. Technical advice covers critical areas such as identifying if a site has been compromised, safely migrating WordPress hosting, and optimizing SEO plugins. Cost-saving tips are also highlighted, particularly concerning the selection of domain names and the configuration of specific web tools.

Additional information is categorized into recommended WordPress themes and curated lists of plugins and services. For ongoing updates, the site offers a weekly newsletter that summarizes recent posts and industry insights. Readers can also reach out for professional consultations via email or contact form, and stay connected through several social media platforms including Twitter and LinkedIn. The Digital Reader is funded through reader donations and participation in the Amazon Associates affiliate program.

A new digital writing device called the NoteSlate is scheduled for release soon, carrying a retail price of $99. Although it utilizes electronic paper technology, this gadget is not intended to function as a traditional e-reader. Instead, it is designed specifically as a digital sketchpad and note-taking tool.

The NoteSlate features a 13-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 750×1080. In terms of aesthetics and functionality, the company plans to launch four hardware versions that utilize different ink colors—black, green, blue, or red—alongside a separate model capable of displaying four colors at once. At its core, the device offers a minimalist user experience focused on creating, storing, and erasing drawings or handwritten notes. However, the manufacturers have indicated that a future firmware update will expand its capabilities to include PDF support compatible with Adobe DE DRM.

Weighing just 240 grams, the tablet is expected to offer an impressive battery life lasting several weeks on a single charge. While the developer of the specific epaper technology remains unconfirmed, industry speculation suggests Kent Displays may be the source. This is due to the fact that the NoteSlate’s screen dimensions and resolution are unique in the current market, and its industrial design shares similarities with the Boogie Board, another writing-focused device from Kent Displays.

The device has generated significant interest for its budget-friendly price point, though it has also faced criticism from users who would prefer support for external keyboards and text entry over purely handwritten input. While the initial announcement created a localized media buzz, subsequent reports have noted delays in the product’s development and availability. Regardless, the NoteSlate represents an attempt to find a niche for large-format electronic paper beyond the standard ebook market.

Industry specialists overwhelmingly agree that podcasting has become a premier marketing channel. To effectively reach an audience today, individuals are encouraged to either launch their own series or appear as a recurring guest on established shows. However, successfully navigating a guest appearance—ensuring the experience is engaging for the audience while meeting your personal promotional goals—requires more than just showing up.

Drawing from eighteen months of experience and several guest appearances, veteran web publisher Nate Hoffelder shares the following insights on how to avoid common pitfalls and excel in the podcasting space.

### Content Preparation
The most significant factor in a successful guest spot is preparing your material in advance. While podcasting often feels conversational, it is actually a form of spontaneous public speaking. Sounding natural and authoritative requires significant groundwork.

If you have experience speaking at professional conferences, you have a head start. Most presentations can be converted into talking points for a digital interview. If you are starting from scratch, consider these steps:
* **The Pitch:** Research the podcast to understand its format and target demographic. Your proposal to the host should clearly explain how your presence will provide value to their listeners.
* **The Script:** A useful strategy borrowed from traditional broadcast media is to provide the host with a list of potential questions and your prepared answers. This helps guide the conversation and forces you to synthesize your knowledge into accessible segments.

### Technical Requirements
Investing in the right hardware is essential to ensure a professional broadcast. While requirements vary, a high-quality headset with a noise-canceling microphone is the most critical purchase. Relying on built-in laptop microphones or lapel mics can lead to audio interference and echo issues.

Furthermore, because many podcasts now record video for social media or live streaming, a high-definition webcam is necessary. Standard integrated laptop cameras often lack the clarity needed for professional-grade video.

### Testing and Strategy
Technical difficulties are common and often take longer than ten minutes to resolve. To mitigate this, guests should advocate for a "dry run" with the host at least one week before the actual recording. This rehearsal ensures that the software, audio levels, and internet connection are all functioning correctly.

In addition to technical checks, guests should study previous episodes to understand the show’s dynamic. It is vital to know if the host expects a formal interview, a casual chat, or a deep-dive educational session. Communicating directly with the host about their expectations and their level of familiarity with your topic will help you tailor your responses effectively.

### Final Considerations
In the podcasting world, you rarely get a second chance to record an episode. Production schedules are tight, and hosts are unlikely to re-record a segment if the guest was underprepared or the audio was poor. Because of this, the preparation phase is the most critical part of the process. Investing time in your equipment and content strategy is the only way to ensure the final product serves both the host and your own professional brand.

An early look at the upcoming Mirasol e-reader has surfaced online, following a previous leak regarding a partnership with PocketBook in late 2010. While specific updates on the PocketBook device were anticipated at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a newly discovered promotional video has provided the first visual evidence of the technology in action.

The footage, which appears to have been released by Qualcomm in preparation for a formal announcement, showcases a device featuring an approximately 5.7-inch display. Based on the video, the unit operates on the Android platform and includes several modern hardware features, such as an integrated camera, an accelerometer for screen rotation, and a capacitive touchscreen that supports multi-touch gestures like pinch-to-zoom.

From a design perspective, the hardware bears a strong resemblance to the existing PocketBook IQ. The presence of wide bezels and four physical navigation buttons at the base of the unit suggests that the manufacturer may be utilizing a modified version of an established chassis to house the new Mirasol display technology.

Industry reactions to the footage have been mixed. While some observers believe this serves as a preview for a specific PocketBook product, others suggest the video might be a conceptual demonstration from Qualcomm rather than a finalized consumer device. Additionally, some critics have questioned whether the video uses computer-generated imagery to simulate the display’s performance.

Further details regarding the device’s specifications, price, and release date are expected as more information is shared during the ongoing CES event. The Mirasol screen technology is highly anticipated for its ability to offer color and motion while maintaining the high energy efficiency typically associated with traditional e-ink displays.

Hanvon is preparing to showcase its latest Android-powered e-reading device at the upcoming CeBIT trade show. This rollout includes the introduction of the Hanvon HPad A112, a 7-inch tablet running on the Android Froyo operating system, which is slated for release in the European market.

The anticipated cost of the device has already generated significant discussion. Current reports suggest a retail price of approximately €399 (or $399). While some sources indicate this valuation applies specifically to the 3G-compatible version, others believe the price point may actually refer to the standard Wi-Fi model.

Industry observers have reacted with skepticism regarding this pricing strategy. Critics argue that the cost is prohibitively high compared to existing market alternatives. For example, some point out that for the same investment, a consumer could purchase both a 10-inch Archos 101 internet tablet and a dedicated Archos 70b LCD e-reader. This comparison highlights the competitive pressure Hanvon faces as it attempts to position its new hardware in a crowded digital reading and tablet market.

Despite its short-lived commercial lifespan, the HP TouchPad continues to see action in the developer community. A new port of Android 5.0 Lollipop has recently been made available for the legacy device, which originally debuted in 2011 before being discontinued by HP just two months later. That sudden discontinuation led to massive clearance sales, which helped the tablet find a second life as a favorite experimental platform for hobbyist developers.

A developer known as "flintman" recently introduced a beta version of Evervolv 5.0 on the XDA Forums. Evervolv is a custom Android ROM, and this latest iteration utilizes the source code from the newly released Android 5.0 Lollipop. Because this release is in its early stages, it remains somewhat unpolished. Current testers report that the system feels sluggish and the integrated camera is not yet functional. However, Bluetooth connectivity is reportedly working, and optimization is expected to improve performance in future updates.

For users interested in trying the firmware, installation details are hosted on the XDA platform. Given its current instability, the Lollipop port is largely recommended for enthusiasts who enjoy troubleshooting. Those seeking a more reliable experience on the TouchPad can still access older, stable versions of the Evervolv ROM, such as those based on Android 4.4 KitKat.

The hardware itself has historically faced durability issues. Many users reported that the plastic casing was prone to hairline fractures, particularly near the charging ports. Additionally, software support was famously limited during its official run. While the TouchPad was considered a bargain at its $100 fire-sale price point in 2011, technology has significantly progressed. By 2014, modern budget tablets offered similar or superior specifications with native Android support for only a slightly higher investment, making the TouchPad more of a nostalgic curiosity than a primary daily device for most consumers.

Regulatory filings suggest that Hewlett-Packard may be moving forward with a new tablet despite the previous termination of its mobile device line. Recently, a new hardware submission from HP successfully cleared the Federal Communications Commission, fueling speculation that a revised version of the abandoned TouchPad could eventually see a commercial release.

While HP has requested confidentiality regarding most of the specific technical details, the FCC documentation confirms the device features Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Identified by the model number HSTNH-I31C, the device is widely believed to be the "TouchPad Go," a seven-inch version of HP’s original tablet. Previously, this smaller model was considered a casualty of HP’s decision to exit the webOS hardware market, as it never reached retail shelves.

The appearance of these documents suggests that HP might still be interested in a U.S. launch, which would provide a significant boost to the longevity of the webOS platform. Notably, this represents the second time this specific model has appeared in FCC records. The repeat filing points toward potential hardware changes; the latest version seems to lack the 3G cellular radio found in earlier iterations and may have been stripped of other features, such as a camera, to lower production costs.

While some industry observers argued the paperwork was merely the conclusion of old administrative business, the filing dates are current, with certain reports signed as recently as October 5, 2011. Whether this indicates an upcoming product announcement or simply the completion of a long-delayed internal project remains to be seen. Unless HP makes a formal statement, further details will likely stay hidden until the regulatory embargo on the filing’s images and manuals expires in several months.

Examining current ebook sales data suggests that remaining with a traditional publishing house may actually hinder a writer’s long-term success. While industry analysts often focus on total revenue, it is the volume of units sold that reveals a massive shift in the publishing landscape. In the United States, digital books are expected to represent nearly 30% of all trade sales in 2012, a dramatic climb from just 0.5% in 2007. Because digital titles are typically cheaper than print, these percentages actually understate their true market share in terms of what readers are actually consuming.

Data indicates that pricing has a profound impact on an author’s ability to build a following. Research into indie publishing shows that while free titles attract the most interest, books priced at $2.99 often generate higher total earnings for the author than those priced at $6.99 or more. Furthermore, a $2.99 price point can attract four times as many readers as a $9.99 price point, and six times as many as a title costing over $10.

This presents a paradox for traditionally published authors. An independent author might earn roughly $2.00 on a $2.99 sale, whereas a writer with a major publisher might only receive about $1.50 for a $9.99 sale. Consequently, authors who stick with high-priced traditional models are at a disadvantage; they earn less per copy while reaching a significantly smaller audience, which slows the growth of their personal brand. Bestseller lists on platforms like Apple’s iBookstore, which appear to prioritize unit sales over dollar volume, increasingly feature independent titles that are successfully capturing the public’s attention.

Furthermore, the historical gatekeeping power of traditional publishers is eroding. In the past, writers needed these companies to access physical bookstores and printing presses. Today, the tools for professional-grade digital production and distribution are accessible to everyone. As physical bookstores decline and digital formats gain dominance, the value of traditional print distribution diminishes.

Traditional publishers are beginning to recognize this shift in power, as evidenced by Pearson’s recent $116 million acquisition of Author Solutions for its Penguin imprint. However, this move is controversial. Author Solutions has been criticized for functioning as a "vanity press," deriving the majority of its revenue from selling services to writers rather than selling books to consumers. Its digital sales figures are also remarkably low compared to specialized ebook distributors.

The acquisition suggests that major publishers are desperate to find a way to stay relevant to independent-minded writers. However, as the barriers to entry vanish and the financial benefits of self-publishing become clearer, traditional firms face an uphill battle in convincing authors to stay within their ecosystem. For the modern writer, reaching more readers at a lower cost may be the most effective way to secure a lasting career.

Your book’s cover is the very first thing potential readers see, and as the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That is why hiring a professional designer is usually the top recommendation.

However, some authors have the DIY skills to pull it off, while others simply want to learn the ropes to collaborate better with pros later on. Whatever your reason, we’ve curated a list of fourteen sites, services, and apps to help you create a stunning book cover.

A quick tip: Before diving into these tools, take some time to read up on the fundamentals of good design.

Have we missed a tool that you love? Let us know in the comments!

The Toolkit:

CreateSpace

Canva

Poster My Wall

3D Box Shot Maker

Quick 3d Cover

MyeCoverMaker.com

Adazing

PiktoChart

Fotor

CoverFactory.com

eCover

MyCoverMaker.com

Boxshot

Book Cover Creator

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a 2013 judgment against Apple for violating antitrust laws. In a 2-1 decision, the court affirmed that Apple conspired with publishers to fix ebook prices.

The Majority: Judge Livingston ruled that Apple organized the conspiracy to facilitate the opening of the iBookstore and raise market prices.

The Dissent: Judge Jacobs argued that Apple’s entry into the market was pro-competitive as it challenged an existing 90% monopoly, and that the company was justified in avoiding a business model that assured losses.

An appeal to the Supreme Court is expected.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Apple Inc.’s appeal regarding e-book price-fixing, effectively triggering a $450 million settlement payment. This move upholds a June 2015 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which found that Apple violated federal antitrust laws by conspiring with five major publishers.

Although Apple argued that the lower court’s ruling would stifle risk-taking and innovation, the Supreme Court let the decision stand. The original case, presided over by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote, determined that Apple played a "central role" in a scheme to undermine Amazon’s pricing dominance, raising e-book costs from $9.99 to as high as $14.99. The publishers involved in the conspiracy included Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, and Macmillan.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Apple Inc.’s appeal regarding e-book price-fixing, effectively triggering a $450 million settlement. This move upholds a June 2015 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which found that Apple violated federal antitrust laws by conspiring with five major publishers.

Although Apple argued that the lower court’s ruling would stifle risk-taking and innovation, the Supreme Court let the decision stand. The original case, presided over by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote, determined that Apple played a central role in a scheme to undermine Amazon’s pricing dominance, raising e-book costs from $9.99 to as high as $14.99. The publishers involved in the conspiracy included Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, and Macmillan.