Book Country at Penguin U.S.A.

PaidContent has a story about Penguin Group USA’s  Book Country, an online genre fiction meeting place that now offers three self-publishing packages ranging from $99 for a user-formatted eBook to $549 for a professionally formatted print and eBook. These are then distributed through various distribution packages from: Basic (via Book Country) to Wide (books appear at all the usual suspects: Amazon, Apple…etc.)

While it’s hardly surprising that a publisher wants to get into the eBook publishing game, this service’s focus on pay-to-play is reminiscent of the antiquated vanity press experience. Amazon’s publish, sink or swim approach is easier to gauge, since the writer and reader are able to meet on a fairly even (Indie) playing field.

Still, it’s too early to say whether it’s more than a cash grab by the publisher. We’ll have to see how these professionally formatted print and eBooks are promoted and produced before we can judge the product or the consumer reaction.