FAQs

What does "affiliate" mean?

Quailsong is affiliated with Bookshop.org (for print and ebooks) and Libro.FM for Audiobooks.  When you buy through those links, we get a small commission for making the sale and that's what pays the bills.  They also share proceeds with small bookshops.

What is DRM?

DRM is Digital Rights Management.  Most publishers require DRM on ebooks and audiobooks to prevent piracy and sellers provide the DRM.  Tor, Baen, and Quailsong do not require DRM, but that is a tiny fraction of the market. 

What is Ecosystem Lock-in?

Each major supplier has its own implementation of DRM. None of them are compatible with each other.  Users often choose to buy all of their ebooks and audiobooks from the same seller rather than have multiple ereaders/apps/players.  When they do they are considered "Locked in."

Who should we lock-in with?

For print there is no lock in.  Just buy through the source you like best.  We recommend bookshop.org because they have good prices, and they share revenue with us, but where the option exists we encourage you to buy from the Author's store to give him or her a maximum share of revenue.

For ebooks the decision is mostly about devices.  Pricing is pretty uniform across sellers.  Author revenue is generally worse with Amazon than the rest, but that may not concern buyers.  So, its largely about the devices.  

Apple has fantastic selection, and beautiful trouble free on device storage,  but they do not have an eink or epaper reader.  All reading is done on Mac's, Iphones, and Ipads.

Amazon has a good selection of ereaders and whispernet push directly to the ereader as well as apps for phones.  

Barnes & Noble and Kobo each have excellent selection and very strong selection of ereaders, but syncing books to the ereaders is a little more work.  They also have apps for phones.

Bookshop.org and ebooks.com only have apps and webreaders (for desktop).  Bookshop.org will be getting an eink or epaper dedicated reader, but it's not clear exactly when.  It will likely be very similar to a Kobo reader and may even be able to read Kobo books as well.

For audiobooks, the decision is harder.  Prices vary significantly across sellers, and most people listen to audio books via bluetooth connection from their phone or desktop computer so device lock in is less significant.  

We recommend Libro.FM because all of their audiobooks are DRM free, their prices are reasonable, and they share revenue with us.  Libro.FM is generally slightly more expensive than the others, but because the audiobooks are DRM free you are actually purchasing the file (like a physical book) and not just a right to listen to a file.

Why do you have more suppliers for ebooks and Audiobooks than print books?

We have all the major suppliers for ebooks and audiobooks because we understand many users are locked in.

With print books we always offer through bookshop.org if they have it.  If not, we offer the best alternative we've found.  If we are aware that another supplier has a significantly better price than bookshop.org, we'll also offer that one too.

Can Quailsong send Quailsong and Classic ebooks directly to my Kindle?

Currently we can't. After downloading your file you can email it to your Kindle email address and it will appear on your Kindle. Just remember to authorize your regular email address in your kindle account. Amazon has instructions you can follow.

Why do I have to use Paypal? Can't I use my credit card?

Paypal is our credit card processor. When you checkout you will have to option to use your credit card or your paypal account.