Barnes & Noble has launched Nook Press, a new self-publishing service for authors looking to write, edit and sell eBooks to Nook owners. Acting as the next generation of PubIt!, Barnes & Noble’s two-year-old service for helping writers self-publish to Nook devices, NOOK Press offers a suite of tools focused on collaboration and content creation. According to Barnes & Noble, NOOK Press’ perks include live chat support; the ability to invite friends to read and comment on any NOOK Press project; and a “Quick Start” feature, which lets authors try the suite of tools before making any commitments. This launch is particularly interesting for Barnes & Noble, as it comes in direct competition with Kindle Direct, a similar offering from rival Amazon. Apple’s iBook Publisher falls into similar territory as well, further complicating the space.