iBookstore

Apple has announced that self-published authors can upload their ebooks directly to the iBookstore through the iTunes Connect webpage.

You must fill out an application here: https://itunesconnect.apple.com/WebObjects/iTunesConnect.woa/wa/apply

Select "book" and hit continue. Here are their requirements. You MUST upload from a MAC computer. You knew Apple was going to throw a twist into the mix, right?

Requirements for Distributing Content on the iBookstore Technical Requirements: An Intel-based Mac running OS X 10.5 or later At least 1 GB RAM QuickTime 7.0.3 or later. This is so you can encode and deliver content using our dedicated software. At least 10 GB of available hard drive space (more for larger catalogs) is recommended. A broadband internet connection with an upload rate of 128 kbps or faster is recommended. Book Content Requirements: ISBNs for all titles you intend to distribute You must be able to deliver your book content in EPUB format, passing EpubCheck 1.0.5. Financial Requirements: A US Tax ID A valid iTunes Store account, with a credit card on file Apple does not pay partners until they meet payment requirements and earning thresholds in each territory. You should consider this before applying to work directly with Apple as you may receive payments faster by working with an Apple-approved aggregator. You must have a iTunes account or register for one. This is another option for Indie authors to have complete control over their ebooks plus a more favorable royalty rate. Of course, if you don't want to go through the hassle of doing the formatting or don't own a MAC, you can publish through Smashwords.com and they will ship your books to the iBookstore. I have 4 ebooks on Smashwords and all have made it to the iBookstore. I've seen the books on an ipad and the formatting I used from the Smashwords style guide carried over seamlessly to the ipad. I was very pleased with how the books looked. It's great to see all these options that are available to Indie authors now. Can't wait to see Barnes & Noble's new epub platform.