E-book publishingHow does your book read on a screen?
In short: An e-book is usually made as an EPUB: the text flows to fit the screen rather than a fixed page, and the reader picks the type size. Picture books are made in fixed layout instead, keeping each page as designed. On Google Play Books e-books sell in Turkey in lira; on each sale Google pays 70% of the list price, net of tax, to the publisher selling the book.
Proofs
Chapter one
In the back room of the print shop lay the proofs of books printed years ago. Nazlı Hanım read each one and made small pencil marks in the margins.
The apprentice waited in the doorway. “When will this book be printed?” he asked.
Nazlı Hanım smiled without looking up. “When every line is in its place,” she said, “not a day before, not a day after.”
The apprentice had nothing to say. He gathered the proof sheets, turned off the light and closed the door quietly behind him.
Google works out its share on the list price once taxes are taken out.
- 70% shareWith the updated terms accepted in Partner Center
- ₺70.00
- 52% shareWithout them
- ₺52.00
Google pays this share on every sale to the publisher account the book is sold from. The price does not change the share.
Does your file suit an e-book?
Or drop your file
PDF or Word (.docx). Your file is read on your device and never uploaded.
E-book conversion₺2,400.00
Open in the calculatorEPUB, reflowable text, fixed layout
Four terms you will meet when making an e-book.
- EPUB
- The common file format for e-books. Text, pictures, contents and cover sit in one file. Google Play Books, Apple Books and most reading apps open it.
- Reflowable text
- Text without a fixed page. As the screen, type size or font changes, the lines are set again. The right format for text-led books: novels, essays, memoirs.
- Fixed layout
- An e-book that keeps every page as it is in print. Picture books, cookbooks and comics are made this way; on a small screen they are read by zooming in.
- GGKEY
- The identifier Google Play gives a book without an ISBN. It is used only within Google; if you will sell the book elsewhere too, an ISBN for the e-book is the better choice.
What changes from print to e-book?
The same text, two different objects. Making an e-book is not shrinking the print file; it is rebuilding the text for a screen.
- Page numbers
- In printThe same in every copy.
- In the e-bookNone; the text flows with the screen and type size.
- Typeface and size
- In printChosen once, in typesetting.
- In the e-bookThe reader chooses.
- Contents
- In printWith page numbers.
- In the e-bookWith links to the chapters.
- Footnotes
- In printAt the foot of the page.
- In the e-bookLinked notes that open on a tap.
- Pictures
- In printFixed in place on the page.
- In the e-bookMove with the flow of the text.
- Cover
- In printFront, spine and back.
- In the e-bookFront only, as one image.
- ISBN
- In printThe printed book’s own ISBN.
- In the e-bookGets an ISBN of its own.
| Topic | In print | In the e-book |
|---|---|---|
| Page numbers | The same in every copy. | None; the text flows with the screen and type size. |
| Typeface and size | Chosen once, in typesetting. | The reader chooses. |
| Contents | With page numbers. | With links to the chapters. |
| Footnotes | At the foot of the page. | Linked notes that open on a tap. |
| Pictures | Fixed in place on the page. | Move with the flow of the text. |
| Cover | Front, spine and back. | Front only, as one image. |
| ISBN | The printed book’s own ISBN. | Gets an ISBN of its own. |
Selling on Google Play Books
Google’s rules for publishers, in short. Figures can change; the date they were checked is below.
Open in Turkey
Publishers in Turkey can sell e-books on Google Play Books. Prices are shown in Turkish lira and payments can go to a bank account in Turkey. Audiobook sales are not open in Turkey.
A 70% share per sale
Google pays the publisher 70% of the list price, net of tax. For publishers who have not accepted the updated terms in Partner Center, the share is 52%. The book’s price does not change it.
EPUB and PDF accepted
Google accepts EPUB 2 and EPUB 3, fixed-layout EPUB and PDF, and recommends uploading both, so readers can switch between the printed pages and reflowing text.
No ISBN required
Google gives a book without an ISBN its own identifier (GGKEY). An ISBN entered for a book cannot be changed later; settle your number before you upload.
The information in this section was checked on Google’s help pages on October 31, 2026: revenue split, supported countries, file guidelines, ISBNs.
Frequently asked questions
What is EPUB?
EPUB is the common file format for e-books. The text is not tied to a fixed page; it reflows to the reader’s screen and chosen type size. Google Play Books, Apple Books and most reading apps open EPUB.
Can I sell my book’s PDF as an e-book?
Google Play accepts PDFs and shows the book with its printed pages, but on a phone you have to zoom in to read. Google recommends uploading an EPUB alongside the PDF, so readers can switch between the two.
What does an e-book sale on Google Play earn?
Google pays 70% of the list price, net of tax, to the publisher selling the book. For publishers who have not accepted the updated terms in Partner Center, the share is 52%. The book’s price does not change it.
Can e-books be sold on Google Play from Turkey?
Yes. Publishers in Turkey can sell e-books on Google Play Books; prices are shown in Turkish lira and payments can go to a bank account in Turkey. Audiobook sales are not open in Turkey.
Does an e-book need its own ISBN?
An e-book is a separate format from the printed book; if it gets an ISBN, it gets its own. Google Play gives a book without an ISBN its own identifier (GGKEY), but that identifier is used only within Google.
What should an e-book cover be like?
Front cover only, as one image. Google accepts JPEG, PNG, TIFF or PDF for the cover, at least 640 pixels, with no side over 7,200 pixels.
How much is e-book conversion?
E-book conversion costs ₺2,400.00, excluding VAT.
Let your book be read on screens too
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