Support for Indie Authors discussion

I've recently come across Overdrive, http://company.overdrive.com/company/...,

Does anyone have any knowledge of it as an Indie author. Can Indie authors have their ebooks marketed by the company?

Sorry, I've not heard of them. From the website, it's not attracting me, so I think you're right to find out all you can.

I have four Indie titles available on Overdrive. Smashwords.com makes them available for libraries via Overdrive.

Great, thank you. I'm with Smashwords so my books are available through them. Interesting.

Ah... I've struck to Amazon so far, so perhaps that's why I know very little!

Smashwords is a distributor and can get your books into some far flung places.

http://promocave.com/about-promocave/ is another place I've just discovered. Anyone got the goods on this? It seems worthwhile. It even seems free!

Overdrive has been around for a while, and most libraries use it.

I've had books submitted to Overdrive by Smashwords, but they never show up in the Overdrive catalog.

Martin wrote: "I have four Indie titles available on Overdrive. Smashwords.com makes them available for libraries via Overdrive."

this is interesting..... as I thought Overdrive was only connected with the library. But I guess since I only have my books on Amazon this is not an option for me. Thanks for the information though as I use Overdrive a lot through my local library. Can always learn something new with this group.....

You're a clever girl, PDR. To come up with a free site is useful. I checked it out and discovered that it currently has approximately 4,000 visits (not sure of the time period for that) and it is down from 15,000 not so long ago. However, it is indeed free. If you use social media, it says it reaches approx 3 million.

Susan wrote: "Martin wrote: "I have four Indie titles available on Overdrive. Smashwords.com makes them available for libraries via Overdrive."

this is interesting..... as I thought Overdrive was only connected..."

I'm in the same boat, Susan. I haven't even got them in paperback yet. Too busy trying to build a little catalogue of ebooks.

I think promocave might be worth a go. Will get our books up there.
Smashwords is good to work with and very helpful.. Email them and ask why your books aren't showing Ken.

Overdrive is a network for distributing e-books to libraries. I learned about it when I approached my local library about stocking my first book.

As far as I'm aware, though, it's not a marketing site, purely distribution. It would be up to libraries to decide whether or not to add your title to their catalogue.

As others have mentioned, Smashwords distributes to Overdrive and all my titles are available there no problem. Don't know what the process would be to get your book listed directly by other means.

In a similar vein, Library Bound is a distributor for paperback versions, I think mostly for the Canadian library network. I got my paperback titles listed there OK, so (again) libraries who want to stock it can do so. In my limited experience, libraries like to go through networks like this rather than buying from general book stores. I think it helps with their cataloguing.

Ian, is this something Smashwords does automatically as long as your books are distributed through them? Or would one still need to contact their local library?

Susan wrote: "Ian, is this something Smashwords does automatically as long as your books are distributed through them? Or would one still need to contact their local library?"

Two separate questions here:

First, Smashwords offers a range of channels to distribute through. You need to make sure you've opted in to Overdrive on your channel manager page then Smashwords will distribute there and the title will be available for libraries to pick up.

But just because it's there doesn't mean they will, any more than having your book on Ingram will magically make it appear on bricks & mortar store shelves. It just means it's available for them to buy if they choose to. You would still need to contact your library, introduce yourself as a local author, and ask if they would consider adding it to their e-book catalogue.

Thanks for the clarification Ian!