Self-Publishers Get Help

In a sign that major book publishers are now recognizing the potential of the digital self-publishing industry, Penguin Group (USA) is launching a service to help writers publish their own books.

For a fee of between $99 and $549, plus a cut of any sales revenue, Penguin's subsidiary Book Country will offer an array of tools—ranging from professional e-book conversion to a cover creator—to help a writer make their work available through digital book outlets and print-on-demand services. The self-publishing venture could help Penguin discover new writers while creating an additional revenue stream. Penguin Group (USA) has invested "a substantial amount of money" in technology to launch the new service, said Chief Executive David Shanks. "If some of these books hit the best-seller lists, it could be very successful."