Smashwords Launches eBook Publishing Platform for Publishers and Authors

Smashwords, a new digital publishing startup, unveiled an ebook publishing platform for authors and publishers. The company began accepting applications for a limited number of beta testers at http://www.smashwords.com. Smashwords allows anyone to become a published ebook author in minutes. The site is ideal for full length novels, short fiction, essays, poetry, personal memoirs, non-fiction and screenplays. Authors receive 85% the net sales proceeds from their works, and retain full control over sampling, pricing and marketing. The site offers authors free viral marketing tools to build readership, such as percent-based sampling; dedicated pages for author profiles and book profiles; support for embedded YouTube book trailers, author interviews and video blogs; widgets for off-site marketing; reader reviews; and reader "favorite-ing."