“Convert Microsoft Word documents – calibre does not directly convert .doc files from Microsoft Word. However, in Word, you can save the document as HTML and then convert the resulting HTML file with calibre. When saving as HTML, be sure to use the “Save as filtered HTML” option as this will produce clean HTML that will convert well.

There is a Word macro package that can automate the conversion of Word documents using calibre. It also makes generating the Table of Contents much simpler. It is called BookCreator and is available for free here.”

In short–I can wait. At least until about February.

Soo…between these options, you can buy a Nook and still read your old books. (If you’re willing to spend the 5-15 minutes to download and install the driver or program, and then spend the 30 seconds per book to convert them, of course.)

The Kindle plays audiobooks from audible as well as ebooks? If so, and if it handled public domain books from google as well, it would be my perfect device.

@Angela Sparrow: Actually, the web page for managing your Kindle library has a button that allows you to download each book to your PC. The problem has been that without a Kindle or a Kindle app on an iPhone, you could not read the books. The new Kindle-for-PC app should make that less of a restriction.

Phaze pays the same royalty whether it comes off their site or an affiliate site. I get the same 25%-50% of the price (depending on whether it’s a solo or co-authored piece) whether it’s from Phaze, Fictionwise, BookSurge or Amazon.

Average royalty rates for e-books run between 35-40%. Average paperback royalties can be anything from 3-15%.

The thing that worries me about the Kindle is the whole ability to erase books. Also that the books aren’t physically in your posession. When I buy a .pdf from another site, I can download it to my computer and burn a back-up to CD. I can’t do that with the Kindle.

I’ll hang onto my Sony 505 as long as it works.

heard that buying books straight from Amazon won't actually give the authors any percentage of the money like buying a soft or hardcover would.

That's funny, I heard an author may earn a higher royalty percentage on an individual ebook sale than on an individual print book-book sale.

I can’t speak for adult romance imprints, but I’m happy to share my contract info here. I have a YA hardcover with Random House, and I do get royalties on ebook sales.

When I signed my contract in 2007, they gave me 25% of the suggested retail price of the ebook (including Kindle) before my advance earned out, and 15% of the suggested retail price after I earned out.

In 2008 (before my book came out,) Random House changed e-royalties across the board to be more in line with hardcover royalties. Since my contract won’t change, I get to reap the 25%.

But I think current and future Random House authors will have more like 10-12% on the first 10,000 units sold, with a minor increase after.