Smashwords is kinda stupid.

Smashwords is a distribution service like LULU for independent authors. Unlike LULU, however, Smashwords focus is on ebooks and they can be used to distribute your books to Barnes & Nobles, Sony, Kobo and Amazon.

I looked at Smashwords as a distributor because both Barnes & Nobles, Sony and Kodo won't let independents distribute directly to them. Plus I want to publish my ebooks on as many electronic ereaders as possible for use on my beloved IPad when it ships. So I setup an account and after following their rigid editing standards for ebooks, I had a Smashwords version of my latest books "Revenge - Between my lover's legs..." and "Off the Chain Sampler" in Word format that I uploaded for conversion.

Smashwords converted my books and then demanded that I remove the images from my books and change my book covers because they felt they were too sexual in nature. I was offended to say the least because all of my books are already in print and neither Amazon, Barnes and Nobles or Borders ever expressed...any...issues with my content.

I was doubly pissed off because Smashwords is a 'distributor' not a 'publisher' so they are way out of bounds trying to dictate to an author about their content. I fumed for several days and then did some research and found out how to directly distribute my books to Kobo. I already distribute my books to Amazon so that eliminated two ticks that I needed for Smashwords.

I did some additional research but couldn't find a way to go direct to B&N and Sony without Smashwords. So after fuming so more I removed the images that Smashwords had their panties in a bunch about and changed the cover they found offensive. So to distribute with Smashwords I'll be forced to have two separate versions of all my books.

I thought that was bad and then Smashwords announced that the Style Guide's requirements will change in the future. So after going through a tedious revision process once I may have to go through yet another all over again. I don't think so.

The...second...that B&N and Sony get their shit together and allow publishers to directly upload titles to their sites I will be getting rid of Smashwords as a middle man.

Independent authors and publishers are looking for inexpensive and easy methods to offer their products to market. Smashwords advantage is providing a portal for the distribution to multiple marketing channels. However, being anal about an author's content when they are only providing distribution services and having shifting and tedious editing standards will cause authors to view Smashwords as more problems than what they are worth.

Smashwords could have become a major force in the new age of book publishing. But alas, like all companies with an excellent product at the right time with stupid management they are doomed to failure.

Like I said, Smashwords is kinda stupid.