Fixed Layout vs. Reflowable Text
These are the two major types of e-book layouts. There are a variety of discussions regarding the advantages of each. See this link for a discussion by Amazon.com.
The essential point is that while fixed layout gives the author and designer more control of how the finished e-book will look, fixed layout is not supported consistently across e-book readers, and is therefore not accepted by the great majority of e-book sellers who require reflowable text.
From Wikipedia (August 2015)
Comparison of e-book formats
The EPUB format has gained some popularity as a vendor-independent XML-based e-book format. The format can be read by the Kobo eReader, BlackBerry devices, Apple’s iBooks app running on iOSdevices, Google Books app running on Android and iOS devices, Barnes & Noble Nook, Amazon Kindle Fire, Sony Reader, BeBook, Bookeen Cybook Gen3 (with firmware v2 and up), COOL-ER, Adobe Digital Editions, Lexcycle Stanza, BookGlutton, AZARDI, FBReader, Aldiko, CoolReader, Mantano Reader, Moon+ Reader, the Mozilla Firefox add-on EPUBReader, Okular and other reading apps.
Book Services can provide both fixed and reflowable layouts of your book. An EPUB file using fixed layout is simpler to generate from existing printed book layout than a reflowable EPUB file.
The simplest way to distribute an e-book is to use the Ingram Partner Network of 70+ e-book retail & library partners. This requires a valid reflowable EPUB file and cover file, created within outlined specifications that satisfies the requirements of each partner, getting your e-book where it belongs—on every device.
Pricing
PROFESSIONAL E-BOOK DESIGN AND LAYOUT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT AN HOURLY RATE OR AS A PACKAGE. Discounts are available when combined with similar print book packages.
Up to 30-minute initial consultation to determine general book layout, graphic design, and type faces.
Email consultation.
Title page.
Copyright page.
Table of contents, if needed.
Layout of up to 250 industry standard pages (250 words) of text from your Microsoft Word document. Additional pages $1.00 each. Up to of 20 chapters. Additional chapters $5.00 each.
Up to 10 photos. Additional photos $10.00 each.
One EPUB file for proofreading.
One round of corrections (up to 25). Additional corrections $1.00 each
Final EPUB file for your approval.
Cover not included – see below.
BASIC NON-FICTION EPUB PACKAGE: $525.00
INCLUDES all items from the Basic Fiction / Prose-Style Non-Fiction Package
PLUS:
Up to 3 boxed text inserts per chapter. Sidebar or “call-out” boxes.
Additional $5.00 each.
Addition of footnotes/endnotes, and glossary from your Microsoft Word document.
Manual entry of footnotes/endnotes $1.00 each.
Addition of Index from your Microsoft Word Index.
Manual entry of Index $2.00 each item.
Up to 4 tables. Additional tables $5.00 each.
Up to 18 bullet lists. Additional bullet lists $2.00 each.
Two levels of sub-heads.
Cover not included – see below.
EPUB COVER DESIGN: $200.00
INCLUDES:
Up to 30-minute initial consultation to discuss cover images and typeface.
Email consultation.
Up to two original concepts.
You supply high-resolution image (photo or digital file of art).
Up to two rounds of corrections. Minimum for each correction above two is $50.
Final JPG files for EPUB listings.
NOTE: Custom cover art and/or internet research for the cover can be added at $30.00 per hour.