Contentville.com is expected to launch its e-book initiative early next month as it continues to strike deals with publishers for the rights to sell digital versions of new and classic books titles.
The Web site so far has attained hundreds of books for the venture from major commercial, independent and academic publishers, as well as original titles from the site’s editorial staff. Customers will be able to purchase and download Microsoft Reader files in the site’s e-book library.
Contentville, New York, also struck a deal with novelist Anne Rice to offer the first chapter of her forthcoming book “Merrick” to viewers who register at the site by submitting an e-mail address.
In the future, the Web site will make similar offers in a literature giveaway program called First Looks. Registered viewers will receive e-mail updates concerning the newest free book excerpt at Contentville.
The Web site is an e-commerce offshoot of journalism trade publication Brill’s Content. In addition to the e-books, the site also offers magazine subscriptions and archived stories from an array of periodicals.
