A Web 2.0 company called WeBook, based in Bethesda, Md., launched yesterday a beta version of its service that allow writers, editors, reviewers and illustrators to collaborate online on books.

No publishing companies needed, and the works will be sold at online retailers such as Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, in addition to WeBook's site. You can even preview chapters of the site's book via mobile phone texting or a mobile Web browser.

In a statement, Sue Heilbronner, president of WeBook, said the site could be the Linux of the publishing world.

Perhaps the name of the site should be Wikinovelpedia.