Barnes & Noble is the latest company to take some of the red tape out of getting published. The book retailer on Monday launched PubIt, a platform that allows independent writers and publishers to upload their work for digital publishing and distribution.

"We're delighted at the enthusiastic response we've received from thousands of independent writers and publishers who are eager to introduce their exciting works to a broader audience of readers," Theresa Horner, Barnes & Noble director of digital products, said in a statement.

The self-publishing platform was originally announced in May, and went live on Monday with those who pre-registered. The site allows authors to upload their books, set a price, and track sales.

Barnes & Noble takes a percentage and awards royalties to the author based on the price of the title. Book prices can be set from $0.99-$199.99. Authors get 65 percent of the sale price for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99 and 40 percent of the price for books less than $2.98 and more than $10.00. Once uploaded, the e-book is said to be available 24-72 hours later on BN.com, the eBookstore, or on any device fitted with Nook software. Books are also accessible in Barnes & Noble retailers where users can utilize the "Read In Store" feature via on-site Nooks.

Barnes & Noble boasts a few incentives for PubIt users. Authors can lend a title to friends for 14 days and have the chance to be featured on PubIt's bestseller list. It also automatically converts Microsoft Word, RTF, TXT, and HTML files into the ePub format. Through the Nook emulator, authors can get a glimpse of what their text will look like, too. Apple, Sony, and Kindle also have self-publishing options through their e-books software.