Creating eBooks with Markdown and Open Source Tools

by David Herron

Authors can easily and quickly write eBooks using the popular Markdown format, using the open source tools described in this book. The process is light-weight, using simple text editors and simple processes. The eBook content can be packaged as an EPUB3 document which can be sold through any eBook marketplace, or be incorporated into a website. Markdown is easily edited with lightweight text editors. You can focus more on the craft of writing and less on the formatting toolbar and other distractions that come with Word Processors. The toolchain described in Create eBooks with Markdown and Open Source Tools is fast, easy to use and is portable to any computer thanks to being developed around the Node.js ecosystem. With a couple simple configuration files you control every detail of EPUB3 metadata. Sprinkle in a few images, fonts and a stylesheet and you can create a great looking book with ease. This book shows you start-to-finish how to create an eBook, packaged according to the EPUB3 specification, covering topics The EPUB market What is AkashaEPUB and AkashaCMS Installing the AkashaEPUB toolchain Using Markdown to create chapters and sections Structuring an EPUB eBook, including metadata, table of contents, and asset files Using custom fonts in an EPUB eBook Validating the EPUB eBook Converting it to Kindle’s format EPUB3 is a widely used electronic book publishing format that is used by almost all the eBook reading platforms. Every eBook marketplace supports EPUB3 giving you huge flexibility for selling books.

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2015