"Which file formats do I need to load my book to vendors and distributors?" In the beginning, you needed a MOBI for Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), and an EPUB for all the other vendors and distributors. Very few sites accepted Word documents. Formats have evolved since the early days of self-publishing. Let's look at what … Continue reading Book Formats
Category: Self-pub Tips
Pictures in Your Book
"I'd love to include some photos and illustrations in my book. What do I need to know before I contact my graphic artist or start shopping on a stock photo site?" In my hands, I have a 1965 edition of Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Emeralds. One of the pages has a full-colour … Continue reading Pictures in Your Book
Why Do a Print Book?
Why pay extra to have a print book formatted and covered when ebooks sell so much better? It all comes down to a story. 😉 Imagine this... You're sitting at a book-signing with about fifty other authors. The room is buzzing with excitement and energy. Hundreds of readers are strolling the room, laughing and chatting … Continue reading Why Do a Print Book?
Print Book Parameters
"I'm loading my print book to KDP and IngramSpark. Uh... what does all this stuff mean?" The first time you load your print book files to a printer's website can be daunting; all that publishing jargon. Here's a guide to what the terms mean and the standard choices for self-published works. Trade vs Mass Market … Continue reading Print Book Parameters
Pricing Your Print Book
"My cover designer wants to know my list price for the bar code. Where the heck do I get that price from?" The Cast Before we begin, there's a cast of characters for you to meet. Author/Publisher: that's you. Printer/Distributor: companies like KDP Print, IngramSpark and many others. Retailer: bookstore and libraries. Reader: the end … Continue reading Pricing Your Print Book
Moving from KDP to IngramSpark
Want to get into the library distribution systems with your self-published works? IngramSpark is the place for you. Already locked into the Expanded Distribution on Kindle Direct Publishing with your own ISBN? Expect an error message from IngramSpark to the effect that your ISBN is already in use (because KDP has registered your ISBN with Ingram). … Continue reading Moving from KDP to IngramSpark
