Smashwords – About Smashwords

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <link href="/static/img/swlogo57x57.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" type="image/png" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/static/img/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="verify-v1" content="RebhOpUlThetsH2YAKc+VKN3GjFkPbLvUbJtxDYCkUM=" /> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="317207F45DDF86C6BCBE95113BF6A23A" /> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" /> <meta name = "format-detection" content="telephone=no" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/dist/css/main.250d4a3d.chunk.css"> <title>Smashwords – About Smashwords</title> </head> <body ng-app="smashwords-core"> <script src="/static/dist/js/runtime.680643fe.js"></script> <script src="/static/dist/js/1.53d1787a.chunk.js"></script> <script src="/static/dist/js/4.679651dd.chunk.js"></script> <script src="/static/dist/js/main.b3a307fc.chunk.js"></script> <script> window.angularData = {}; window.angularData.user = {"firstName":"","lastName":"","id":-1,"fullName":"Anonymous","profPicURL":"\/static\/img\/person_reading.png"}; window.angularData.user.canPublishBooks = true; window.angularData.user.loggedIn = false; window.angularData.user.SSLBaseUrl = 'https://www.smashwords.com'; ; </script>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-0HDVFTDL0S"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} function getEroticaValue() { var value = "; " + document.cookie; var parts = value.split("; " + name + "="); if (parts.length == 2) return parts.pop().split(";").shift(); return "no_erotica"; } var eroticaPreference = getEroticaValue(); gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-0HDVFTDL0S', {'erotica_preference': eroticaPreference}); </script>  <div id="wrap"> <div id="header"> <div id="header-md-bar"> <div id="header-logo"> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/"> <img src="https://dwtr67e3ikfml.cloudfront.net/static/1/swlogo.png" height="67" width="250" alt="Smashwords"> </a> </div> </div> <div id="header-right"> <div id="header-search-container"> <form action="/books/search" method="get" class="header-search"> <label for="primarysearch" class="sr-only">Search</label> <span class="input-group search-input-group"> <input class="form-control" type="text" name="query" placeholder="Search for books, authors, or series." id="primarysearch"> <span class="input-group-append"> <button class="btn btn-header btn-black btn-search" type="submit" value="Search"> <i class="icon-search"></i> </button> </span> </span> </form> </div> <div id="header-buttons"> <div class="btn-help"> <a class="btn btn-header btn-header-square btn-black" id="showTop" href="#showTop" title="Comments/Questions/Support"> <i class="icon-question"></i> </a> </div> <div id="header-status-widget" user-status-widget></div> </div> </div> <div> <div id="navMenu" class="d-none d-xs-block d-sm-block cf"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs sw-nav-tabs"> <li className="nav-item sw-nav-item"> <a class="nav-link sw-nav-link" href="/" title="Browse books by categories, or view our authors"> Home</a> </li> <li className="nav-item sw-nav-item"> <a class="nav-link sw-nav-link" href="/about" title="Learn more about Smashwords"> About</a> </li> <li className="nav-item sw-nav-item"> <a class="nav-link sw-nav-link" href="/about/readerfaq" title="Read our FAQ"> FAQ </a> </li> <li className="nav-item sw-nav-item"> <a class="nav-link sw-nav-link" href="/signup" title="Sign up with Smashwords">Sign Up</a> </li> <li class="nav-item sw-nav-item adult-control ml-auto"> <div> <a data-toggle="dropdown" class="nav-link sw-nav-link" title="Erotica controls" > Filtering </a> <ul id="filterMenuMenu" class="dropdown-menu"> <a type="button btn-filter" class="dropdown-item active" style="margin: 0px; " onclick="oldsw.contentFilteringChange('no_erotica');" title="Blocks erotica books from appearing on the home page and in search results." > Exclude erotica </a> <a type="button btn-filter" class="dropdown-item " style="margin: 0px; " onclick="oldsw.contentFilteringChange('no_taboo');" title="Mainstream erotica is carried by most major ebook stores. Excludes 'taboo' erotica." > Include mainstream erotica </a> <a type="button btn-filter" class="dropdown-item " style="margin: 0px; " onclick="oldsw.contentFilteringChange('no_filtering');" title="Allow all erotica, including books with 'taboo' themes." > Include all erotica </a> </ul> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mobileMenu cf d-block d-sm-none d-xs-none"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs sw-nav-tabs"> <li className="nav-item sw-nav-item"> <a class="nav-link sw-nav-link" href="https://www.smashwords.com/about">About</a> </li> <li className="nav-item sw-nav-item"> <a class="nav-link sw-nav-link" href="https://www.smashwords.com/signup">Join</a> </li> <li className="nav-item sw-nav-item"> <a class="nav-link sw-nav-link" href="https://www.smashwords.com/auth">Sign In </a> </li> </ul> </div> <script> $(document).ready(function() { oldsw.mobileBrowseSlider(); }); </script> <div id="mobileBrowseSlider" class="browseMenu card panel-account user-menu" style="display: none; width: 200px; position: absolute; z-index: 100;"> <ul class="list-group"> <li class="list-group-item"> <a href="/" title="Home"> <i class="icon-home icon-fixed-width"></i> Home </a> </li> <li class="list-group-item"> <a href="/about/updates" title="Site Updates"> <i class="icon-bolt icon-fixed-width"></i> Site Updates </a> </li> <li class="list-group-item"> <a href="http://blog.smashwords.com/" title="Visit the Smashwords blog (external)"> <i class="icon-bullhorn icon-fixed-width"></i> Blog </a> </li> <li class="list-group-item"> <a href="/publish" title="Publish a new ebook on Smashwords"> <i class="icon-upload-alt icon-fixed-width"></i> Upload an eBook </a> </li> <li class="list-group-item"> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/about/how_to_publish_on_smashwords" title="How to Publish and Distribute Ebooks with Smashwords"> <i class="icon-book-hand-alt icon-fixed-width"></i> Sell in the Smashwords store </a> </li> <li class="list-group-item"> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/podcast" title="Smart Author Podcast"> <i class="icon-volume-up icon-fixed-width"></i> Smart Author Podcast </a> </li> <li class="list-group-item"> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/about/supportfaq" title="Read our support FAQ"> <i class="icon-question-sign icon-fixed-width"></i> FAQ </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="pageBody"> <div class="commentLink" id="commentLinkTop"> <form action="https://www.smashwords.com/comments/post" method="post"><div><input type="hidden" name="secToken" value="" /></div> <div id="commentBox"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-7"> <h2 style="color: #fff; font-face: Helvetica, sans; font-weight: bold;">FOR FASTER ANSWERS, CHECK THESE LINKS <i>BEFORE</i> YOU EMAIL US:</h2> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/signup/login/library">Where are my ebooks?</a></li> <li><a href="/about/readerfaq">How to read ebooks</a> <ul> <li><a href="/about/readerfaq#q_read_on_mobile_or_tablet">on my tablet or mobile device</a></li> <li><a href="/about/readerfaq#q_read_on_computer">on my desktop or laptop computer</a></li> <li><a href="/about/readerfaq#q_get_book_on_reader">on my ebook reader</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/about/readerfaq#q_buying_books">How to purchase ebooks</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <hr size=1 noshade="noshade" /> <p> Received an email from us, or wondering if something changed at Smashwords? <br/> <a href="/about/updates"><strong>Check our 'Site Updates'</strong></a> for the latest news. </p> </div> <div class="col-md-5"> <p> <strong>Have a question</strong> not already answered in the links at left or on our <a href="/about/readerfaq" ><strong>FAQ</strong></a>? Ask it below. </p> <input type="hidden" name="url" id="url" value="" /> <label for="commentemail">Your E-mail:</label> <input class="form-control" type="text" name="email" id="commentemail" value=""/><br/> <label for="commentsubj">Subject:</label> <input type="text" class="form-control" name="subj" id="commentsubj" value=""/><br/> <label class="sr-only" for="comment">Describe your issue</label> <textarea name="comment" id="comment" class="form-control" rows="10"></textarea><br/> <input class="btn btn-primary" id="btnSendTop" type="button" value="Send"/> <input class="btn btn-outline-secondary" id="btnCancel" type="button" value="Cancel"/> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> <div id="contentArea"> <div class="leftSideBox"> <div class="left-nav-box"> <h1><a href="/about">About</a></h1> <ul> <li> <a href="/about/publishing"> <i class="icon-book icon-fixed-width"></i> Sell your ebooks on Smashwords </a> </li> <li> <a href="/press"> <i class="icon-globe icon-fixed-width"></i> Press Room </a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/contact"> <i class="icon-question-sign icon-fixed-width"></i> Contact us </a> </li> <li> <a href="http://blog.smashwords.com/"> <i class="icon-bullhorn icon-fixed-width"></i> Blog </a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/updates"> <i class="icon-bolt icon-fixed-width"></i> Site Updates </a> </li> <li> <a href="/podcast"> <i class="icon-volume-up icon-fixed-width"></i> Smart Author Podcast </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/Smashwords"> <i class="icon-twitter icon-fixed-width"></i> Smashwords on Twitter </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Smashwords"> <i class="icon-facebook icon-fixed-width"></i> Smashwords on Facebook </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="pageContent"> <div> <h2><strong>About Smashwords<br /></strong></h2> <p><strong>Welcome to the Smashwords Store!</strong></p> <p> </p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Browse nearly one million original ebooks, including approximately 100,000 priced every day at free</li> <li>Powerful search tools make it easy to find your next great read</li> <li>Shop our world famous annual Smashwords sales events, such as Read an Ebook Week, the July Summer/Winter Sale, and our Smashwords End of Year sale.</li> <li>Use our free Smashwords Alerts service to receive new release notifications for the authors you follow.</li> <li>Participate in exclusive presales where you can purchase highly anticipated new books early, before anyone else</li> <li>Purchased books are forever accessible in your Smashwords Library</li> <li>Multiple ebook delivery options: To your Smashwords Library, to your DropBox, to emailed straight to your e-reading device</li> <li>All books are DRM-free, which means you can enjoy your book your way on any e-reading device, now or in the future.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p> </p> <h2><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 12px 6px; float: left;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ww5BFLxGD7o/VgnE3FnmTJI/AAAAAAAAAKI/rN8APRZ_d4g/s1600/mccroppedRaw%2B200%2Bpx%2Bonly.png" alt="Mark Coker of Smashwords" width="200" height="215" /><strong>Q&A With Mark Coker<br />Smashwords Founder and Former CEO<br />Draft2Digital CSO<br /></strong></h2> <p>(Updated March 2023)</p> <p><strong>What is Smashwords?</strong><br /> Smashwords is an ebook retailer serving readers around the globe.</p> <p><strong>What's the story behind Smashwords?</strong><br />I launched Smashwords back in 2008.  Originally, Smashwords was an ebook publishing platform and store.  We made it possible for writers around the world to self-publish ebooks and sell those ebooks in the Smashwords Store.</p> <p>In 2009. in addition to operating our store and ebook publishing platform, Smashwords began distributing our books to major retailers.  In 2009, Smashwords became the first distributor to open up Barnes & Noble to self-published ebooks.  In the years that followed, Smashwords built a global distribution network, opening up several major retailers and library platforms to self-published ebooks. </p> <p>We've always been about breaking down the barriers that stand between authors and their readers.</p> <p>By the end of 2022, Smashwords was helping over 160,000 authors and small press publishers around the world to publish and distribute nearly 600,000 ebooks.  Also by the end of 2022, the Smashwords Store clocked its sixth straight consecutive year of sales growth, another record.  Thank you Smashwords readers and authors!</p> <p>In March 2022, Smashwords was acquired by our former competitor, Draft2Digital, in an all-stock deal.  As part of the combination, I joined Draft2Digital as Chief Strategy Officer and board member.  In addition to helping to guide Draft2Digital's long term business planning, I also act as the manager of the Smashwords Store though that's not my title.  Where's my cat?</p> <p>In 2023, per the plan we laid out at the acquisition in 2022, Draft2Digital began migrating the book publishing and distribution options of Smashwords over Draft2Digitial.  The plan is to transition Smashwords to become a store only.  Yay!</p> <p>This transformation is well underway. </p> <p>In March, 2023, Smashwords began instructing new authors and publishers to work directly with Draft2Digital to publish ebooks and have those books distributed to the Smashwords Store.  By the end of 2023, it's expected all authors and publishers that currently manage their books at Smashwords will have their publishing interface moved over to Draft2Digital as well.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>What are your goals with the Smashwords Store?</strong></p> <p>The Smashwords Store has always had a reputation for being one of the most reader-friendly and author-friendly online bookstores anywhere.  Now that we can focus Smashwords on serving as a retailer only, look for us to improve the shopping experience even more.  With the publishing tools removed, the book discovery interface is simplified and more intuitive.</p> <p>We've grown our book selection dramatically now that we can carry Draft2Digital ebooks, and in the years ahead we look forward carrying the books of more authors, publishers, and distributors.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>What's the story behind the Smart Author podcast?</strong><br />Over the last 15 years I've presented hundreds of workshops and keynotes at writers conferences around the world.  Yet I always found it frustrating that most writers couldn't afford to attend these important conferences.  And as much as I enjoyed attending these conferences, I'd never reach them all.  So I decided to share my knowledge with everyone at no cost.  I launched Smart Author in October, 2017 and by 2019 it was pretty much complete as a master class in ebook publishing.  I'm temped to add new episodes, so I'm not ready to say it's over!. The Smart Author podcast guides you step-by-step from the very basics of ebook publishing to more advanced topics.  If you're curious to learn about ebook self-publishing, click below to listen to the four-minute series introduction now, or visit the <a href="https://smashwords.com/podcast">Smart Author podcast home page</a> to listen to all the episodes.  And then when you're done listening, please do publish and distribute your books at Draft2Digital!</p> <p><iframe style="border: none;" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5836169/height/90/width/640/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/backward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/87A93A/" width="640" height="90" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>W</strong><strong>hat is Smashwords’ position on digital rights management (DRM), and do you support it?</strong><br />DRM stands for "digital rights management." DRM is a form of copy protection intended to prevent ebook piracy.  However, its effectiveness at preventing piracy is dubious.</p> <p>I believe most readers are honest, ethical, and well-intentioned.  Readers want authors and publishers to be paid for their books.</p> <p>At Smashwords, we believe most piracy is accidental.  This is why we remind our customers that the books they purchase are licensed for their personal personal enjoyment only, and may not be copied, shared, or resold.  I think our customers already appreciate that we and authors authors (who price their own books) have always worked so hard to keep our books affordably priced.</p> <p>Smashwords has historically opposed DRM because it's harmful to readers and authors alike.  We believe DRM makes it difficult for law-abiding customers to enjoy their purchased books on the different devices they own, now and in the future.  We believe when given the choice between DRM-free books and DRM-infected books, informed readers will choose DRM-free.</p> <p><strong>Will Smashwords ever allow DRM'd books to be sold in the Smashwords Store?</strong><br />We have no plans for 2023 or 2024, so it's about the last thing on our radar right now.  If there was huge demand, either from authors or publishers, maybe we'd do it, or do it earlier.  At the end of the day, we believe the decision to DRM a book or not should be the author or publisher's declsion to make, not ours.  We believe DRM'd books should be clearly labeled so a customer's purchase decision can be fully informed.</p> <p><br /><strong>What is Smashwords’ privacy policy?</strong><br />Privacy is incredibly important to of us at Smashwords.  Whether you're a reader or an author, we have you covered.  We will never sell, rent or share our members’ contact information with any third party. We respect the privacy of authors who choose to publish under pen names. We respect your inbox.  We also protect the privacy of book buyers by not revealing their purchases or identity to anyone. Read our complete privacy statement <a href="/about/privacy">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>I'm organizing a writer's conference. Can Smashwords supply a speaker</strong><strong>?</strong><br />Please contact Jim Azevedo, corporate communications manager at Draft2Digital, to arrange for either virtual or personal appearances.  Click the "support" link below and ask to be forwarded to Jim.  We are honored by your invitation.</p> <p><strong>I'm an author or publisher.  How do I sell my books at the Smashwords Store?<br /></strong>Please sign up for a free account at <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/publishing">Draft2Digital</a>, our parent.  Draft2Digital is the world's leading distributor for self-published authors and small independent presses!</p> <p><strong>I'm a book distributor or large ONIX-capable publisher.  How do I add Smashwords to my distribution network?</strong><br />Although the Smashwords Store is currently only able to receive ebooks from distributor Draft2Digital, support for additional top distributors is planned.  Interested distributors or large ONIX-capable publishers can contact the "support" link below and ask to be forwarded to Draft2Digital's business development team and myself for more information or scheduling.</p> <p><br /><strong>What’s next for Smashwords?</strong><br />We are bursting with ideas for how we will make the Smashwords Store the best ebook store in the universe for readers and authors. </p> <p>In 2023, the year we finalize much of the techical integration work remaining after our acquisition by Draft2Digital in 2022, it'll be a quiet year.  Expect to see the store offer a greater selection (DONE! - welcome Draft2Digital authors and publishers!) and a more streamlined bookstore experience (in process!).  In 2024, once the merge work is over, look for some exciting surprises as the Smashwords team gets back to the business of store-building!  If you have specific ideas for how we can make the Smashwords Store your favorite store in the universe, won't you please take a moment to write me?  How can we do better?  My personal email is first initial second initial at smashwords dot com.</p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <footer class="footer"> <nav> <ul class="inline"> <li><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/about">About</a></li> <li><a href="http://blog.smashwords.com">Blog</a></li> <li><a href="/about/readerfaq">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/about/privacy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/about/tos">Terms of Service</a></li> <li><a href="/publishing">Authors / Publishers</a></li> <li><a href="#showTop" id="showBottom">Support</a></li> <li> <div> <a data-toggle="dropdown" class="dropdown-toggle" title="Erotica controls" > Filtering </a> <ul id="filterMenuFooter" class="dropdown-menu"> <a type="button btn-filter" class="dropdown-item active" style="margin: 0px; " onclick="oldsw.contentFilteringChange('no_erotica');" title="Blocks erotica books from appearing on the home page and in search results." > Exclude erotica </a> <a type="button btn-filter" class="dropdown-item " style="margin: 0px; " onclick="oldsw.contentFilteringChange('no_taboo');" title="Mainstream erotica is carried by most major ebook stores. Excludes 'taboo' erotica." > Include mainstream erotica </a> <a type="button btn-filter" class="dropdown-item " style="margin: 0px; " onclick="oldsw.contentFilteringChange('no_filtering');" title="Allow all erotica, including books with 'taboo' themes." > Include all erotica </a> </ul> </div> </li> <li><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/signin">Sign In / Sign Up</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="text-center small d-none d-sm-block"> Copyright © 2025 Smashwords, Inc. All rights reserved. </div> <div class="text-center small d-block d-sm-none"> Copyright © 2025 Smashwords, Inc. <div>All rights reserved.</div> </div> </footer> </div> <script> $(function(){ oldsw.AllSmashwordRules(); }); </script> <script> oldsw.setupAutoSuggest("primarysearch"); </script> </body> </html>

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Smashwords – About Smashwords