Question 1

How do I buy an ebook?

Accepted Answer

Create a free account, browse the catalog, add books to your cart, and check out securely. Once payment is confirmed, the books are added to your library.

Question 2

What devices can I read on?

Accepted Answer

You can read books from your Sọna library in the iOS and Android Reader apps. When the author or publisher enables browser reading for a title, you can also open it in Sọna's protected web reader. The browser reader opens personal PDFs locally without an account, and signing in lets you save a personal EPUB to your own Google Drive and read it in the browser.

Question 3

Do my highlights, bookmarks, and notes sync across devices?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your highlights, bookmarks, notes, and reading progress follow your Sọna account across the iOS and Android Reader apps, so you can pick up where you left off on a supported app device.

Question 4

Why did my checkout total change?

Accepted Answer

Books are priced in Nigerian Naira. Your final checkout total may include payment processing costs based on your account country and payment method.

Question 5

What payment methods can I use?

Accepted Answer

Nigerian reader accounts may see local options such as bank transfer, USSD, QR, and OPay, plus card where available. Reader accounts outside Nigeria pay with supported cards, and Apple Pay may appear on supported Apple devices and browsers.

Question 6

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

All sales are final. Refunds are only issued for technical faults (a corrupted or unreadable file), if the wrong book was delivered, or if a pre‑order cannot be fulfilled because the book is removed before release. Requests must come within 48 hours of purchase.

Question 7

How does DRM work?

Accepted Answer

Every ebook you buy on Sọna is locked to your account with industry‑standard encryption, served only through our authenticated reader, and tagged with an invisible marker tied to your account. Files cannot be downloaded or shared from the app, and any leaked copy can be linked back to the original buyer.

Question 8

I forgot my password.

Accepted Answer

Use the Forgot Password link on the login page. A reset link goes to your registered email address.

Question 9

Can I read books I already own from elsewhere?

Accepted Answer

Yes. On the web, the Sọna browser reader opens a personal PDF locally. After signing in, you can save a personal EPUB directly to your own Google Drive and read it in the same Sọna EPUB experience. Supported mobile apps can also import personal EPUB and PDF files. Personal files remain separate from books bought or received through Sọna.

Question 10

Does Sọna upload a PDF I open in the free reader?

Accepted Answer

Not when you read anonymously. The browser opens and renders the PDF locally. If you sign in and explicitly choose to save it, the file is sent directly to your linked Google Drive; Sọna stores only the related library metadata and reading state needed to help you continue.

Question 11

Can I request an eARC and still buy the book later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. eARC access is a review-copy path, not checkout. The eARC can stay in your library as review-copy access, but buying the store book later is separate and adds the retail copy to your purchased library.

Question 12

Are eARCs permanent?

Accepted Answer

Granted eARCs can remain in your Sọna library as review-copy access unless we must remove access for rights, safety, fraud, or policy reasons. They are not store purchases.

Question 13

How do I become a reviewer and request advance copies?

Accepted Answer

Open Account and turn on your Reviewer Profile, then add the links where you review (Goodreads, StoryGraph, Instagram, and others). Browse advance copies in the eARC catalog, request the ones you want, and the author approves requests. If an author has pre-approved you, you can add their new titles in one tap. Some titles are open to everyone with no approval needed.

Question 14

Where do I read an advance copy?

Accepted Answer

Granted advance copies open in the iOS and Android Sọna readers. When the author or publisher enables browser reading for that eARC, it also opens in Sọna's authenticated web reader. If they enable Send to Kindle, you may request a personalised copy from the browser. Sọna never provides a raw browser download. Once you add an eARC it appears in your library with an eARC tag.

Question 15

How do I set up Send to Kindle?

Accepted Answer

In a browser, open Reviewer Hub → Reviewer Profile → Send to Kindle. In Amazon, open Account & Lists → Content Library → Preferences, scroll to Personal Document Settings, and add kindle@readsona.com under Approved Personal Document E-mail List. Copy your preferred @kindle.com address from Send-to-Kindle E-Mail Settings into Sọna, then confirm the approved-sender step. Return to Reviewer Hub → My eARC Shelf. For a claimed eARC whose author enabled Kindle delivery, Send To Kindle appears on the book card beside Read In App. It does not appear on pending requests. After successful delivery, it changes to Sent To Kindle and is disabled for that version. Your Kindle address stays private.

Question 16

Why is my Kindle request pending?

Accepted Answer

Your request has been recorded but is not ready to send yet. You can continue reading in Sọna, and we will email your normal account address when the Kindle copy is submitted. We do not disclose campaign billing or account details to reviewers.

Question 17

Can I send the same eARC to Kindle more than once?

Accepted Answer

Each manuscript version can be submitted to your Kindle once. If the author uploads a newer manuscript while Send to Kindle remains enabled, your eARC updates automatically in Sọna, you receive an in-app notification, and Send To Kindle becomes available again for the new version. Sọna sends the EPUB only when you request it, directly to your saved Kindle address—never to your normal email or as a download.

Question 18

What if my Kindle copy does not appear?

Accepted Answer

First confirm that kindle@readsona.com is still on Amazon's approved-sender list and that the @kindle.com address in Sọna is correct. Amazon may take a few minutes to process personal documents. Sọna can confirm submission to the Kindle address but cannot see when Amazon places the document on a device.

Question 19

Can I review an eARC after it is unlisted or archived?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If the eARC was already granted to you, find it in your Reviewer Hub and choose Write Review or Edit Review. Unlisting and archiving stop public discovery and new copies; they do not close feedback from existing recipients. External review links are optional unless the author selected a required review channel.

Question 20

How do I publish my ebook?

Accepted Answer

Create a Sọna Publish account, complete verification, upload your book, and start distributing your eBook with Sọna.

Question 21

What file formats do you accept?

Accepted Answer

EPUB or DOCX. If you upload DOCX, we convert it for you.

Question 22

When do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

Payouts are issued on the schedule you select once you meet the minimum payout balance. The minimum is ₦10,000 for standard local African routes in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, and ₦30,000 for Ethiopia and other international or alternative routes. Cross-border transfer and conversion fees are deducted from author payouts. You can see your payout status and history in your dashboard.

Question 23

Can I get paid without a bank account?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you are an individual author in Ghana, Kenya or Ethiopia. Choose Mobile Money in Payout Settings and enter your provider, number and registered account name. Ghana supports MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash and AirtelTigo Money; Kenya supports M-Pesa and Airtel Money; Ethiopia supports Telebirr and M-Pesa Ethiopia. Publisher accounts use business bank accounts.

Question 24

How can authors in Ethiopia receive royalties?

Accepted Answer

Ethiopian authors can provide an Ethiopian bank account or, for individual authors, a Telebirr or M-Pesa Ethiopia account. USDT and USDC are available after wallet review. A PayPal account may be used only if it can receive payments and is approved for payouts. The minimum payout balance is ₦30,000, and cross-border transfer and conversion fees are deducted from the author's payout.

Question 25

How much do I earn per sale?

Accepted Answer

You earn 80% of your book's base price. Sọna retains 20%.

Question 26

Can I set my own price?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You set each book's base price in Nigerian Naira, and you can also choose to make a book free. Readers may see a slightly higher checkout total because payment processing is included in the reader-facing price.

Question 27

How does my account work across devices?

Accepted Answer

One account connects the website and the Sọna Reader apps. Use the same email and password to manage your account on the web and read full books in the iOS or Android app—everything stays in one place.

Question 28

Do you help authors market their books?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We support authors and publishers with eARC distribution, gift copies after launch, and featured storefront placements. Everything happens in-app: you enter an email, and the recipient gets an invite to claim the copy or read the book if they already have an account.

Question 29

How do eARC-only campaigns differ from store listings?

Accepted Answer

An eARC-only campaign distributes review-copy access without putting the book on sale. A store listing is the paid or free retail book readers can buy or claim through the storefront. You can run eARC distribution, a store listing, or both, but they stay separate paths.

Question 30

What does eARC Discovery cost?

Accepted Answer

Listing your eARC in the public Discovery catalog runs in 90-day windows. Discovery is free for 90 days per book; renewing that book's public visibility after the window costs 10 eARC credits. Each grant uses one credit per reviewer. An optional Kindle send uses one additional credit only when the reader requests it. Buy credit packs anytime in eARC Tools.

Question 31

How does Send to Kindle work for authors?

Accepted Answer

Send to Kindle is an optional browser-controlled campaign setting. Enabling it is free. Every Kindle version a reader requests uses one credit, including a newer manuscript version. Readers who do not request a Kindle delivery create no Kindle charge. Uploading a replacement updates the eARC automatically in Sọna and notifies claimed readers; while Send to Kindle remains enabled, eligible readers can request that new version themselves.

Question 32

What happens if I have no credit for a Kindle request?

Accepted Answer

The request waits and you receive a notification to add an eARC credit. The reader is told only that their Kindle copy is pending and can continue reading in Sọna. Delivery retries after your balance has a credit.

Question 33

How are Kindle eARCs protected?

Accepted Answer

Each Kindle EPUB contains a visible advance-review-copy notice naming the recipient and a non-visible random forensic marker. However, once a copy is sent outside Sọna Reader, it is no longer protected by Sọna’s account-bound encryption or access controls. The notice and marker support attribution but cannot prevent copying or redistribution.

Question 34

Do I have to keep an eARC public so reviewers can review it?

Accepted Answer

No. Public listing only controls Discovery and new public requests. Reviewers who already received a copy can continue reading and submitting or editing their review from the Reviewer Hub after you unlist or archive the campaign.

Question 35

Can authors and publishers in any country use eARC?

Accepted Answer

Yes. eARC distribution and Discovery are open everywhere. Seller accounts are only available in supported payout countries; everyone else can use an eARC-only account to run campaigns, invite reviewers, and buy credits.

Question 36

Do eARC-only accounts need bank or business verification?

Accepted Answer

No. eARC-only accounts do not sell books or receive payouts, so they do not need payout, bank, or business-bank verification. They still accept the rights and account-responsibility terms. eARC-only publisher accounts also go through publisher identity review with an official website and, where possible, a matching domain email.

Question 37

When is the final file due for a scheduled store listing?

Accepted Answer

Scheduled listings and pre-orders use a Final File Check. Upload or confirm the retail-ready file at least 7 days before the book goes live, so Sọna can scan and approve the final copy safely.

Question 38

Can I publish my book elsewhere at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sọna takes a non-exclusive licence. You can publish on any other platform simultaneously. You can also withdraw your title at any time.

Question 39

Why do I need verification before payouts?

Accepted Answer

To ensure you get what's duly yours. Seller accounts need account and payout review before books can be published on the store or payouts released. Publisher seller accounts must provide registered business details and a business bank account. eARC-only accounts skip payout verification because they do not receive earnings.

Question 40

How is my book protected on Sọna?

Accepted Answer

Every copy is locked to the buyer's account with industry‑standard encryption, delivered only through our authenticated reader, and tagged with an invisible per‑buyer marker. Files are never served as raw downloads, sharing or re‑uploading is a violation of our terms, and read access is logged. If a question ever comes up about a specific copy, get in touch at copyright@readsona.com and we'll look into it.

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