Review: eBook Starter by Shelley Lowery

Shelley Lowery, author of the acclaimed web site design course, Web Design Mastery, has just released what promises to be the ultimate ebook creation software, eBook Starter.

eBook Starter is completely changing the way writers are packaging their information products — with breakthrough electronic publishing technology like nothing you’ve ever seen.

If you’ve ever used an HTML compiler, you know they don’t offer any assistance in creating your ebook files — they simply compile files you’ve already created — that’s it. To design and create your files, you need to use another program, such as an HTML editor, and then import the files into the compiler to create your ebook. That’s what makes eBook Starter stand out in the crowd.

Professionally Designed Templates

This quality software will enable you to select a custom template that will instantly give your project the look and feel of a real book, notebook, manual or report. You simply select a template, tell the software how many chapters your project should contain, and specify the number of pages each chapter should contain. You can then title your chapters and edit your new pages within the editor. It functions very similar to a word processing program.

WYSIWYG Ebook Editor

eBook Starter not only provides you with a wide variety of beautifully designed templates, but it is also an actual WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) ebook editor. What this means is that you will have the ability to create your entire ebook — from start to finish — all within this one program. And, best of all, without ANY knowledge of HTML. Very impressive.

What’s more, this unique editor will make creating your ebook a breeze, as it will enable you to format your text, add images, tables, links, and even add special navigational buttons that function just like the standard toolbar buttons.

The editor functions very similar to a word processing program. If you can use a word processing program, you won’t have any problems creating your ebook with eBook Starter — it’s that easy. In addition, the editor was designed to enable you to instantly preview your work simply by clicking on the ‘Preview’ tab. To continue editing, simply click on the ‘Edit’ tab. It certainly couldn’t get an easier.

Using Variables within Your Projects

Another great feature was the option to use variables throughout your ebooks. Variables are powerful little codes that can be used within your ebooks for customization purposes. They provide you with the ability to create customizable fields within your ebooks that may be instantly customized by you or your readers – the choice is yours.

If you create a customizable ebook that you’d like to enable your visitors and/or affiliates to customize, eBook Starter comes with a special additional software program called, eBook Brander. This powerful little software program can be distributed with your customizable ebook to enable your users to customize your ebook. This is a wonderful feature, especially if you have an affiliate program, as you can create a special promotional ebook for your products and enable your affiliates to include their affiliate ID.

Securing Your Ebooks

Although this software is loaded with great and exclusive features, I really liked the security features. Not only can you protect your text from being copied, but you can also password protect the pages of your choice, password protect your entire ebook and even prevent your ebooks from being shared by allowing it to only display on one computer.

What’s more, eBook Starter has a great feature that will enable you to create a shareware version of your ebook, which can significantly increase your sales.

Exclusive Printing Function

Another exclusive eBook Starter feature is the ability to enable your readers to print your ebook with ease. They can simply click on a ‘Print Button Drop-Down List‘ and select the content within your eBook they’d like to print. In addition, they can even preview the content by clicking on a ‘Print Preview‘ button.

If you’ve ever tried to print a web page, you know how difficult it can be. The text may be cut off, the graphics may not display properly and you waste a lot of ink printing unnecessary content.

As HTML compiled eBooks are simply HTML web pages, most do not print properly. The eBook Starter print function was specifically designed to alleviate this problem. This is a great feature.

Top Features

Although eBook Starter has far too many features to list here, following are some of the best:

• Custom eBook Templates – EXCLUSIVE
  Create your eBooks with ease. Simply select one of the exclusive eBook templates and give your ebooks the look and feel of a real book, notebook, manual or report. Or, you can use your own files.
• Custom eBook Editor – EXCLUSIVE
  Edit your eBook templates within an exclusive WYSIWYG eBook editor. It functions very similar to a standard word processing program. There is no need to create your eBooks within one program and compile them with another when you can do it all with eBook Starter.
• Custom eBook Linking – EXCLUSIVE
  Completely customize your eBook’s navigation. Place images that function just like your eBook’s toolbar buttons within your eBook at the click of a button.
• Custom Template Variables – EXCLUSIVE
  Scan your eBook template for pre-defined custom variables. For example, your template may contain special variables for information, such as your name, company name, and web address. Simply edit the variables to instantly customize your template. This feature alone will save you a great deal of time.
• Custom Print Areas – EXCLUSIVE
  Enable your readers to click on a ‘Print Button Drop-Down List‘ and select the content within your eBook they’d like to print. What’s more, they can even preview the content by clicking on a ‘Print Preview‘ button.
• Step by Step eBook Wizard
  Need a little assistance in creating your ebook? No problem … create your ebooks with ease with a step by step eBook Wizard.
• Multimedia Support
  eBook Starter supports the HTML 4 browser platform with plugins, which will enable you to create powerful multimedia presentations, including audio, video, flash and more.
• Custom Security Options
  
  • Single Password
    Protect your eBooks with a single password.
  • Unique Username & Password
    Protect your eBooks with a username & password.
  • Unique Computer Code
    Protect your eBooks from being shared. This feature will only allow your eBook to display on a single computer.
  • Shareware Version
    Set your eBook to expire within a specified number of days and/or views. Once the days or views have been reached, the reader will be required to enter a password or the eBook will lock. This provides a great way to offer a trial version.
  • Secure Only Specific Pages
    Specify pages within your eBook you’d like to secure. This will enable you to offer your potential customers a sneak peak of your eBook. If they’d like to read the entire eBook, they’ll need to purchase a password.
  • Disable Right Click
    Protect your content by disabling the right mouse click within your eBooks. Your source code will also be protected from being copied and pasted using the Ctrl c + v method.
  • No Temporary File Extraction
    Some HTML compilers may extract your files into a temp folder, which is very insecure. Your files may be stolen! It’s simply a matter of locating the temp folder and copying all the files. Rest assured, eBook Starter does not extract files to a temp folder.
• Search eBook Function
  Would you like to enable your readers to search your eBook? No problem — simply add the search icon to your eBook’s toolbar and your readers will have the ability to search for a specific keyword.
• eBook Brander
  Create customizable fields within your eBooks to enable your affiliates to brand your promotional eBooks with their company name, affiliate ID or whatever you’d like.

Extensive Help Files

eBook Starter is not only a high quality software program that makes creating professional looking ebooks simple, but it also comes with extensive ‘Help’ files. The ‘Help’ section not only takes you step by step through each process, provides screen shots, and an FAQ section, but it also contains a complete ebook tutorial that will assist you marketing and promoting your new ebook.

In addition, you will also have access to dozens of helpful tips you can access at the click of a button within the ‘Tips’ window.

Conclusion

I was sincerely impressed with eBook Starter. Although I have tried many other ebook creation software programs, none could even compare with eBook Starter — it’s that good.

If you’re serious about creating your own ebooks, you won’t want to miss this powerful software. It’s top-of-the-line and HIGHLY recommended.

Don’t take my word for it … visit the eBook Starter site to download your free demo. You’ll be so glad you did.

Regards,