An e-book is simply a book-sized PDF document that has been saved in a universally accessible format for web distribution. Software that helps do this include adobe acrobat pro and indesign (page layout programme). These two pieces of software are not the only ones used, but the most common. The real issue with e-books is whether they are distributed free via the web, or whether they go through a marketing process, i.e. an online shop, or somesuch. As most books nowadays are produced digitally anyway, using one of the major page layout programmes, it is a simple matter to save to PDF, and in fact this is a method that is used not just to produce e-documents, but as an integral part of the editing process, allowing multiple editors the ability to annotate and edit books during the whole production process. It also allows for elegant book design from the outset which can make a things a whole lot more interesting for proof-reading etc. Currently there are several e-book readers being developed, some of which use a proprietory format for e-book delivery. It is important to know, however, that distribution of e-documents using e-readers is a very small fraction of the e-docs that are distributed in many ways; peer-to-peer via email, web sites, intranets, and on digital media such as CD, DVD, pen drives, etc; broader distribution via websites, online book retailers and so on. So publishing can actually mean something much broader than it used to be, as is the definition of 'book'. This gives the possibility of an awful lot more than the traditional paper-based object. For instance, it could be possible to create a CD/DVD in time for the WPC at very little cost to produce, and still be in the running for a 'real' book as soon as the means to do so appears. Or even to produce sample chapters to whet the appetite? It gives a lot of possiblities.........

lindy