How to Publish and Distribute Ebooks with Smashwords

Back in 2009, I felt a calling on my life to write devotionals that would inspire.  My love of writing had been revived after many years of being dormant.  I began to write and write and I found myself with several devotionals that I wanted to share but did not know how.  I happened upon a website called Smashwords that would become the means for me to distribute the Good News throughout the world.  Because of Smashwords, I was introduced to the world of ebooks and ereaders.  It just so happened that the renewal of my writing life was happening just as ebooks were revolutionizing the book industry.

Smashwords has given my ebooks access to ebook platforms such as Barnes and Noble’s Nook and Apple’s iBookstore.  Without Smashwords as a partner, I probably would never have been able to reach as many readers as I have.  I have found Smashwords to be very easy to work with.  If you follow the Smashwords Style Guide, you should have no problem formatting your ebook for distribution through their premium program ( any you definitely want to be distributed through their premium program).  There are graphic designers that you can hire to create a high quality ebook cover for you.  You could also create your own ebook cover using a free program called Paint.net.  Below is my latest ebook cover that I created using Paint.net.

Smashwords has been a great partner in my writing ministry.  I wish you great success with your writing.

God Bless!

A Word for Today – Luke 5:1-7 (KJV)

And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

Smashwords

Smashwords has enabled me to reach readers all over the world.  Through the Smashwords distribution network, my devotional ebooks are available for many different e-reading devices.  If you are an independent author, you would do well to take a look at what Smashwords has to offer.

Check out the presentation below to learn more about Smashwords!

The Way, The Truth, and The Life

John 14:1-6 (KJV)
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Real Rest

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We get weighed down when we try to endure burdens in our own strength. Instead of being self-sufficient, we would do well to become God-dependent. If we place our trust in Jesus and learn from Him (through prayer and Bible study), He promises to give us relief from our afflictions and refreshment for our souls. Real rest is found in being a disciple of Jesus.

A Shepherd You Can Trust

Luke 15:3-7 (KJV)

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Would you leave 99% of your flock to go after one sheep who got lost? To many, this would seem counterproductive. Leaving your entire flock unattended to recover just one sheep would seem to be a risky proposition. However, to the shepherd who cares for each and every one of his sheep, he is delighted when one lost sheep is brought back into the fold.

Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd, is concerned with the welfare of all of His people. He finds us when we get lost, restores us when we go off track and rejoices when we repent of our sins.

When we make the Lord ruler over our lives, His provision and protection are continually with us. We are safe and secure under the care of the Good Shepherd.

Don’t Give Up

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

When trouble shows up in our lives, it is sometimes accompanied by pain that feels unbearable. When we are suffering, it helps to remember that the pain we experience in this world does not last always. Although we will experience discomfort and discouragement in this life, God’s Word promises that at the proper time, we will bring in a harvest if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9).

The Antidote for Anxiety

Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Anxiety is a real threat to our health. It can cause both mental and physical suffering. Uncontrolled anxiety can lead to chest pain, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea and a number of other illnesses. The bottom line is that anxiety hurts.

Not only does anxiety bring us physical pain but it can also bring us mental anguish. The worry that often accompanies anxiety can ruin our lives. Worry preoccupies our minds and debilitates our ability to live in peace.

There are many life events that can trigger worry. Issues on our jobs, in our families, with our finances and demands on our time can all lead to some serious worry sessions. Thanks be to God that there is a way to overcome worry.

The Bible tells us that prayer is the cure for anxiety. Whenever we feel anxious and overwhelmed, we should immediately go to God in prayer. Especially in these times, we need to pray boldly and with great sincerity. We can and should take everything to God in prayer; both the big and little issues of life.

Confident prayer begins with our remembrance of God’s majesty. God is all powerful and all knowing. He can provide an answer to every prayer. When we think about all of the prayers that God has answered over the course of our lives, we should run to take our cares to God.

The world is at war with the things and people of God. We should expect enemy attacks from time to time. However, when we turn our worries over to God through prayer, He promises to give us a peace that transcends all understanding. This peace will guard our hearts and minds from worldly worry. Through prayer, we receive God’s provision and protection. We also receive relief from anxiety.

From the Hand of God

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 (KJV)

There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Both provision and the ability to enjoy provisions are blessings from God. Without God, we would not even be able to digest the food that we worked so hard to gather.

When we accept that all we have comes from the hand of God and are content with whatever He has given us, we will then find peace and satisfaction. Keep God first in your life because the key to living well is to live a life which is pleasing to Him.

Salting the Water

2 Kings 2:19-22 (KJV)

And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.

And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.

So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

The Lord sends Christians out to be the salt of the world. We are to season the world with the Word of God to make it a more productive and fruitful place.

In this passage we see how Elisha used salt to purify the unproductive water. The water, which was once unproductive, became a blessing to the people of Jericho after it was purified by the salt. In the same way, Christians are called to flavor the world with God’s Word to bless the world and make it a more useful place. Be the salt and enliven the world with God’s Word.