====== Alternatives to Amazon for eBooks ======
(Somewhat WIP)

First, these things will make it easier for you:

1. [[guides:calibre_beyondbooks|Calibre]], if you have a computer

2. An ebook reader app that's not the Kindle one, if you have a phone or tablet (recommendations TBD)

Also this list is highly US-centric because that's where I'm from and all my knowledge is, like, centered around that.

===== Where to Buy eBooks Online =====
Okay, but first a free option:
  * Your local library!
  * Other libraries in your state that have reciprocal agreements -- that's how I got the Los Angeles Library card which is AMAZING for me personally because they have way more gay books than my local libraries.
  * Non-resident library cards -- you can sometimes pay to sign up for a library in another state and get access to their ebooks. [[https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Non-Resident_Library_Cards|Mobileread has a list here]]. A few have international options!

**Buying direct from the author**

Ideally every author would have their own website and would link to various places you can get their books, including possibly their own ebook store, but I'd say that's true maybe only half the time for indie authors. Still, it's worth looking for their homepage (and subscribing to their newsletter) and going from there.

**Buying direct from the publisher**

Well, if the author doesn't have a decent website and they're not self-published, then usually the publisher will have an online store you can buy ebooks from. 

Some small pub websites that sell ebooks directly are:
  * [[https://ninestarpress.com/|NineStar Press]] (LGBTQ+ fiction)
  * [[https://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/|Bold Strokes Books]] (LGBTQ+ fiction)
  * [[https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks|Neon Hemlock]] (LGBTQ+ SFF)
  * [[https://www.baen.com/|Baen Books]] (SFF)

**eBook Retail Stores**
  * [[https://www.smashwords.com/|Smashwords]] -- tons and tons of indie authors and small pubs, and they have a major sale every March. 
  * [[https://www.kobo.com/us/en|Kobo]] -- they have an equivalent to Kindle Unlimited called [[https://www.kobo.com/us/en/plus|Kobo Plus]], but I think it pays the authors more despite being cheaper per month (both good)
  * [[https://www.ebooks.com/en-us/|eBooks.com]] -- I've never used this site but it looks like a normal retail store and is linked to from book publishers so I suppose it's legit
  * [[https://bookshop.org/ebooks|Bookshop.org]] -- ebook purchases can be tied to an indie bookstore and they'll get some money
  * [[https://itch.io/books|itch.io]] -- technically a video game website but there's lots of indie authors on there, too
  * [[https://www.bellabooks.com/|Bella Books]] -- WLW ebook store!
  * [[https://weightlessbooks.com/|Weightless Books]] -- DRM-free ebooks, lots of SFF, not available in the EU

**Other Places**
  * [[https://www.humblebundle.com/books|HumbleBundle book bundles]] -- also not a store but they regularly have ebook bundles on various topics and genres
  * [[https://storybundle.com/|StoryBundle]] -- another book bundle website

===== More Book Guides etc =====
Looking for a Goodreads alt? I've got you covered: [[guides:alt_goodreads|]]

Still like paper books? [[guides:swap_books|]]

See also [[links:bookstuff|]] for links to free books online and other bookish resources.  

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