PDF Question

[humbleopinion]

I just asked this question in the Goodreads Forum, but this is a better place to ask it. Forgive the repost.

I chose to publish an ebook through Smashwords partly because of the convenience of its multi-formatting "meatgrinder". However, the source file rules, which are aimed at optimizing for eReaders such as Kindle and Nook, mess up the page-based formatting of the PDF version.

The Smashwords Style Guide sternly warns against using paragraph returns to try to control white space issues, widows/orphans, page breaks, etc. I accepted this as the price to be paid for the optimized eReader version, even though I know many of my readers will prefer the PDF.

However, I noticed that free ebooks produced by Mark Coker, the owner of Smashwords, do have proper page breaks and widow/orphan control in the PDF version and many paragraph-returns-worth of white space. His ebooks do not seem to make the sacrifice the Style Guide says to make.

Are there other Smashwords authors here that can let me know of the secret of getting proper page breaks into the PDF without breaking the "meatgrinder" rules in the Style Guide?

Ps. The ebook in question is "Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship": www.smashwords.com/books/view/209786

[Ted]

I'm not aware of any Smashwords retail partner offering PDF's of a work, other than Smashwords itself, so the potential of PDF is limited in this case.

If you feel a PDF version would be a volume seller then I would produce a PDF from your MSWord document and offer it through your own web site or places like eBay or Amazon. I would then place links in my blog or web site directing viewers to the PDF version at eBay or Amazon or both, or whichever offers the best bang for the buck in your mind.

[humbleopinion]

The ebook is free, so the distribution channels are not an issue for the PDF. The problem is that many of the older readers will prefer the PDF to read on the PC, and they will expect something formatted like a print book.

I can easily make my own PDF, but then I will lose Smashword's download stats - this is the main benefit of using Smashwords in the first place.

Amazon is also uncooperative when it comes to Smashwords. They seem to be insisting that the book be redone in their own Kindle system just to get the book on to the Amazon author page. You would think they would be thrilled to get free quality content.