eARC or secure PDFs creation?

Dawn Schaefer · Oct 18, 2011

Hi guys,

My agency and I would like to distribute eARCs or secure PDFs to early reviewers, but I'm having a hard time finding any info on doing this. We'd like to do it WITHOUT making the book public via Amazon, etc.

Personally, I'd prefer to not do a PDF because - at least on my kindle - the font remains fixed and often too tiny to read. However, if that's my best option, that's what we'll do.

Anyone know how to do this, or have other ideas?

Thanks.

Deleted member 42 · Oct 18, 2011

I hate DRM. It's annoying and doesn't work.

I'd hand produce each digital book file, in whatever format, with a custom code that is on the copyright page. Just the code; something like #158 or a unique and small dingbat image that you associate with a particular email address.

That means if it gets into the wild, you'll know whose copy escaped.

Dawn Schaefer · Oct 18, 2011

Medievalist said:
I hate DRM. It's annoying and doesn't work.

I'd hand produce each digital book file, in whatever format, with a custom code that is on the copyright page. Just the code; something like #158 or a unique and small dingbat image that you associate with a particular email address.

That means if it gets into the wild, you'll know whose copy escaped.

Easy and brilliant.

I wish it were easier for self-pubbers to make eARCs. Seems like a service that's waiting to happen.

Al Stevens · Oct 18, 2011

Medievalist said:
I hate DRM. It's annoying and doesn't work.

I'd hand produce each digital book file, in whatever format, with a custom code that is on the copyright page. Just the code; something like #158 or a unique and small dingbat image that you associate with a particular email address.

That means if it gets into the wild, you'll know whose copy escaped.

Tedious to do if you're doing many books and easy to crack. With malice and some free software I can delete that code from the book's depiction. Not worth the effort.

I'd make it available as pdf, epub and prc with a prominent "Review copy. Not for redistribution" banner on the title page. (Also easy to remove for those of us who know how.)

Use dropbox or another cloud server to make the files available to your recipients, enabling only them to get them. Or just email them as attachments.

For PDFs, you can put a digital watermark on every page.

Good luck. If you find a technique that works for you, let us know.

pangalactic · Oct 18, 2011

With digital media, honestly, you're never going to stop it getting out if somebody wants it to get out, and chances are you're rarely going to be able to trace it no matter what steps you take. I'd just send PDFs out to people and hope for the best - I know it's not ideal, but the people who are going to buy it will buy it anyway and the people who pirate it if it does get out there will just be readers that you otherwise wouldn't have had (in my experience of people who pirate things, anyway).

Deleted member 42 · Oct 18, 2011

Al Stevens said:
Tedious to do if you're doing many books and easy to crack. With malice and some free software I can delete that code from the book's depiction. Not worth the effort.

Thieves will steal; there's no deterrent that will stop a determined thief.

My suggestion is about tracking eArcs in terms of determining who released the file into the wild.

I note that it's trivial to automate such a system, and that I've used such a system with thousands of users; both perl and PHP can insert codes into the files as part of the production process.

It's not that hard to automate such a system, using either text or images, locally, using other scripting languages; in my case, I generally use Apple Script.

Al Stevens · Oct 18, 2011

Medievalist said:
I note that it's trivial to automate such a system, and that I've used such a system with thousands of users; both perl and PHP can insert codes into the files as part of the production process.

It's trivial if you have the skills on staff. It's a bewilderment if you don't. I'd do it with a C++ program if it really had to be done, but why bother?

Dawn Schaefer · Oct 18, 2011

Al Stevens said:
Tedious to do if you're doing many books and easy to crack. With malice and some free software I can delete that code from the book's depiction. Not worth the effort.

I'd make it available as pdf, epub and prc with a prominent "Review copy. Not for redistribution" banner on the title page. (Also easy to remove for those of us who know how.)

Use dropbox or another cloud server to make the files available to your recipients, enabling only them to get them. Or just email them as attachments.

For PDFs, you can put a digital watermark on every page.

Good luck. If you find a technique that works for you, let us know.

Forgive the noob question, but if i create an epub through, say, Smashwords, can I make it private file and distribute as you mentioned above - without it going into their distribution system? Or is there another service I should do it with?

My agency has someone that is going to do the finished ebook conversion, but I'm looking for the easiest approach for a few quick one-offs.

James D. Macdonald · Oct 18, 2011

And if you do learn who leaked the book to the Internet, what then? What do you plan to do about it?

Piracy is a minor problem compared to obscurity.

Dawn Schaefer · Oct 18, 2011

James D. Macdonald said:
And if you do learn who leaked the book to the Internet, what then? What do you plan to do about it?

Piracy is a minor problem compared to obscurity.

We're not so worried about leaks - they happen. What we want is to create an advance copy for review distribution prior to putting it up on public sites. Two totally different things.

James D. Macdonald · Oct 18, 2011

So, create an e-ARC. You can do this by running your word-processor document through Mobipocket Creator and/or Calibre. Both free.

Dawn Schaefer · Oct 18, 2011

And that was what I wanted to know. Thanks.

James D. Macdonald · Oct 19, 2011

The cover doesn't have to be anything spectacular. Why not black type on a white background saying "Advance Reading Copy, <Name of Book> by <Name of Author> published by <Name of Publisher>"?

Dawn Schaefer · Oct 19, 2011

James D. Macdonald said:
The cover doesn't have to be anything spectacular. Why not black type on a white background saying "Advance Reading Copy, <Name of Book> by <Name of Author> published by <Name of Publisher>"?

The cover's done

a gorgeous custom illustrated piece. I can't wait to share it and will probably slap it all over everything I can (lame, I know, but I'm just so proud/excited/crazed).

BUT, that said, maybe the arc should have a boring cover to differentiate.

James D. Macdonald · Oct 19, 2011

dawn miller said:
BUT, that said, maybe the arc should have a boring cover to differentiate.

That would serve the purpose of limiting distribution, too.

Dawn Schaefer · Oct 19, 2011

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you. AWers never ceases to amaze me with their knowledge and willingness to help.

eARC or secure PDFs creation?

Dawn Schaefer

practical experience, FTW

Deleted member 42

Dawn Schaefer

practical experience, FTW

Al Stevens

pangalactic

Gargling blasters

Deleted member 42

Al Stevens

Dawn Schaefer

practical experience, FTW

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Dawn Schaefer

practical experience, FTW

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Dawn Schaefer

practical experience, FTW

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Dawn Schaefer

practical experience, FTW

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Dawn Schaefer

practical experience, FTW