For readers
How do I read a book I bought?
Open your Library. Every purchase opens in the protected reader, with fullscreen and page controls. Books are read online. If the author has allowed it, you'll also see a Download button — otherwise the book stays in the reader.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, within 7 days of purchase, if the book isn't what its listing described — wrong content, missing pages, an unreadable file. Write to info@authorfirstlibrary.com with the book title and what's wrong. We don't refund simply because you didn't enjoy it; that's a matter of taste, and the author wrote in good faith.
How do I pay?
UPI, card, netbanking or wallet, through Razorpay. We never see or store your card details. Free books need no payment at all.
Why do I need to verify my email?
Verification is required before buying, commenting, liking or reporting. It keeps the platform free of throwaway accounts, which protects authors from manipulated figures and readers from spam. Browsing and searching stay open to everyone.
Something's wrong with a book I bought
Every book in your library has a ⚑ button. Reports fall into three kinds: illegal content, demonstrable harm such as plagiarism, or a listing problem such as a misleading description. Tell us what's actually wrong in your own words — we read every one. Your identity is never shared with the author.
Can I share a book I bought?
No. A purchase is for you. Every page carries a faint watermark with your email address, so a shared screenshot leads back to your account. If the author allowed downloads, the file is still yours alone to read — passing it on is a breach of these terms and can close your account.
For authors
How do I publish?
Open your dashboard, choose Publish a book, upload your manuscript, set the price and cover. A person reviews it — usually within a day — and you'll get an email when it's live. The full walk-through is in the Author guide.
What file types can I upload?
PDF, Word (.docx, .doc), OpenDocument (.odt), rich text (.rtf) or plain text (.txt), up to 40 MB. Anything that isn't a PDF is converted for you automatically.
How am I paid, and when?
Add UPI or bank details in your profile. You keep 100% of every sale — we take no commission, though the payment gateway deducts its own processing fee before the money reaches us. Withdrawals are settled monthly and reach your account by the end of the first week of the following month.
Why can't I withdraw yet?
There are six conditions, shown live in your dashboard with your progress on each: ₹250 balance, 1,000 views, 100 hours of reading time, no serious report open, a verified email, and payout details on file. They exist because money that leaves the platform can't be recalled — the conditions give a book time in front of real readers first. Failing one delays a payout; it never removes your balance. Full detail in the Author guide.
Do my own views and reading count?
No. Views of your own books and time you spend reading them are both excluded. Only genuine readers count toward your figures.
Is my book protected from being copied?
Books are read in a locked reader — no downloads, no copy-paste, no printing — and every page carries the reader's email as a faint watermark, so a leak can be traced. It can't stop someone photographing a screen; nothing on the web can. What it does is make sharing traceable, which is what actually discourages it.
You can choose to allow downloads per book if you'd rather readers keep a copy.
Can I change my book after publishing?
You can edit the title, category, synopsis, price, cover and settings any time. The manuscript file can't be replaced — delete the book and upload again if you need to change it. Edits return the book to review before readers see them.
Someone reported my book. What now?
You'll get an email with the reason and the reader's explanation. Reply within 24 to 48 hours with your side — drafts, earlier versions, dated files, or simply an explanation if it's a misunderstanding. Your book stays available while we review. A report is not a judgement, and many turn out to be misunderstandings. Nothing is decided without hearing from you.
Accounts
I've forgotten my password
Use Forgot your password? on the sign-in form. We'll email a six-digit code, valid for 30 minutes. Email can take a few minutes to arrive — check your spam folder if it isn't there.
One account for reading and writing
The same account does both. You don't need a separate one to sell.
Can I delete my account?
Write to info@authorfirstlibrary.com. Books you've published and sales that have completed are kept as required for tax and accounting, but your personal details are removed. Readers keep access to books they bought.
Still stuck?
Email info@authorfirstlibrary.com. A person reads every message and will answer.