Forum: Author Hangout

Bookapy documentation

Switch Blayde 🚫
Updated:

I know it must be there, but I can't find it. Is there a link to a place where publishing on Bookapy is explained? I clicked on "Publish" but it's only the Terms of Service and "Account Manager" to manage your account.

For example, I'd like to know the process. Do this and then do that. Or information on what to upload, like an epub, mobi, and/or PDF. And maybe some information about doing that. Information about covers. Size, etc. Something that explains the sample the reader sees (how it's created, etc.). I'd like to know about the genres. Do you get to choose only one or can you choose more than one so the novel shows up under multiple genres? For example, if it's an Erotic Western, do I have to choose one or can I choose both and have it show up in both the Erotica category and the Western category?

I guess I'm asking for a "how to" — Bookapy for Dummies.

Replies: Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@Switch Blayde

Just like storiesonline.

Log in.
click publish
At the bottom of the terms of service, agree to the terms.
create your pen name
click publish again and use the bookapy wizard to upload your book.

Replies: Switch Blayde

Switch Blayde 🚫
Updated:

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

click publish again and use the bookapy wizard to upload your book.

Where/how do I set up the PayPal information?

What are the rules governing covers (e.g., dimensions)?

How is the sample created? If I remember right when I helped Beta test the site, I had to supply a sample. Does the system automatically do it now like Amazon does with it's Look Inside?

Can two genres be selected? For example, Erotica Western. And if it can, does the novel show in both categories?

I guess I won't know what questions to ask until I try publishing. I was hoping for documentation to read before I published. Maybe I'm making too big a deal out of it.

ETA: Never mind the PayPal question. I found the place to do that and where to create a profile. I guess my account was set up during the Beta testing.

Replies: bk69 Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster) Ernest Bywater

bk69 🚫

@Switch Blayde

I believe what Laz is saying, is he's tried to make the process idiot-proof.

Now... go prove him wrong.

Replies: joyR

joyR 🚫

@bk69

idiot-proof

The result of highly intelligent minds over many hours... trashed by a moron in minutes.

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@Switch Blayde

What are the rules governing covers (e.g., dimensions)?

Covers should be tall and minimum width 1400px.

Does the system automatically do it now like Amazon does with it's Look Inside?

The system pulls part of the book out as sample. It's automated now and no need for manual intervention. Although, after the moderation of the book you can provide a sample manually if you wish.

Can two genres be selected? For example, Erotica Western. And if it can, does the novel show in both categories?

For now, one genres and then sub-genre.

I guess I won't know what questions to ask until I try publishing. I was hoping for documentation to read before I published. Maybe I'm making too big a deal out of it.

Like on SOL/FS/SFS, the submission system usually provides all the info you need at each step. Go through it once as practice, you can cancel any time without submitting anything.

Replies: Switch Blayde Switch Blayde

Switch Blayde 🚫
Updated:

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Go through it once as practice, you can cancel any time without submitting anything.

Thanks. That's a good idea. I was afraid I'd be partway through the process and come to something I wasn't ready for and get stuck.

Setting up my profile, I saw that I can put in my Twitter and/or Facebook account. I have both, but don't use them. Would it be possible to have another field where the author can put in the URL for his discussion group? I used to use Yahoo Groups but now am using groups.io.

Switch Blayde 🚫
Updated:

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Go through it once as practice

I did. Questions:

1. Under pricing, what does "Sell through all available channels" mean?

2. Under Adult Content, "Extreme Contents" says, "can't be sold using some payment options." What payment options? One character is 16 and has sex.

3. Are Book Tags the SOL story codes?

Replies: Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@Switch Blayde

All your questions are about future stuff:

1. Under pricing, what does "Sell through all available channels" mean?

In the future, we might start sending books through Amazon or Apple Books. They take a chunk of money for that. As an author you can restrict your sales to Bookapy if you wish.

2. Under Adult Content, "Extreme Contents" says, "can't be sold using some payment options." What payment options? One character is 16 and has sex.

It's to guard against future interference by payment companies. It happened with smashwords few years ago when paypal forced them to refuse to sell some content types (like books with underage youth). So this is in case something like this happens. Just future-proofing the submissions.

3. Are Book Tags the SOL story codes?

Those are optional and currently aren't used, but they will be added to search later. You can put whatever keywords you think apply to your book.

Replies: Switch Blayde Switch Blayde

Switch Blayde 🚫
Updated:

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Thanks.

Glad I did the trial run. Good suggestion.

What about my question in the other post:

Setting up my profile, I saw that I can put in my Twitter and/or Facebook account. I have both, but don't use them. Would it be possible to have another field where the author can put in the URL for his discussion group? I used to use Yahoo Groups but now am using groups.io.

Replies: Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@Switch Blayde

Would it be possible to have another field where the author can put in the URL for his discussion group?

I'll think about it when developing the author profile pages which is terribly basic now.

Replies: Switch Blayde

Switch Blayde 🚫
Updated:

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

I'll think about it when developing the author profile pages which is terribly basic now.

If you do it, you will need to establish boundaries. For example, I'm sure you wouldn't allow a link to the author's Amazon Author Central page. But you seem to allow people to use Patreon, so I guess that would be okay. You'll have to decide. You'll also have to decide if you want to allow a link to the author's personal website. In my case, I call my group a discussion group but my members aren't talkative. So it's basically a place to announce new stories or the status of my writing. Like Twitter, if I were to use it.

Switch Blayde 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Sorry, but one more question.

There's a place for two descriptions, a short one and a longer one. The short one appears when you click on the book. Where does the longer one display? Where is it used?

I'm keeping these questions on the forum so that others can learn from it.

Replies: richardshagrin Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

richardshagrin 🚫

@Switch Blayde

others can learn from it

Some don't care. Bookapathy.

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@Switch Blayde

There's a place for two descriptions, a short one and a longer one. The short one appears when you click on the book. Where does the longer one display? Where is it used?

The short one is for search results and listings. The long one is for the book's own details page.

So if you click an author's name, you get their books with the short description for each.

If you click the book's title, you get a detailed page for the book and it uses the long description.

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Switch Blayde

The answers come up as you go through each section.

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Bookapy documentation

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