Presenter: Diana Silveira, Novare Library Services
Creating Your Own e-
book Part 1
Agenda (for Both Parts 1 &2)The classes will focus on: The growing trends in publishing and the
movement toward self-publishing Understanding formats and DRM issues Creating covers and cover art Frequent issues and the fixes How to use Kindle Publishing, Nook Press,
Smashwords and Calibre to create your ebook Options authors and libraries have for
distributing and selling their eBook
Trends in Publishing
• EBOOKS!• Micropublishing• Rise of the
Independent Author• Enhanced Ebook
Reading (especially with Children’s books)
• Mergers of the big players
Trends
http://goo.gl/zNDmC
Libraries as publishers
DRM and FORMATS
DRM
Digital Rights Management An automated electronic lock and
key to prevent theft
The Basics on File Types
Kindle AZW, PDF, MOBI
Nook
EPUB (Barnes & Noble, Sony, and mostly everyone else)
Formatting
It is recommended you use a specialty program
If you use word, save a basic version in RTF for the greatest flexibility.
5 Mistakes to Avoid
Improper Indents (don’t use tabs or spaces to create paragraph indents)
Don’t repeat Paragraph Returns Improper Paragraph Separation -
Paragraphs require either first line paragraph indents or the block paragraph method.
Font and Style Mistakes Copyright Page Mistakes
Source- Smashwords
Fonts
Tahoma Verdana Calibri Garamond Times New Roman Want to use a fancy Font – use jpgs
Simple Is Better
http://visual.ly/serif-vs-sans-final-battle
Covers and Cover Art
Covers and Cover Art: Follow-Up
Varies by vendor but “recommend a width of 1,500 to 1,800 pixels to be safe” then customize for each platform
More about Image Size at: http://blog.smashwords.com/2012/06/new-ebook-cover-image-requirements.htmlhttp://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145431 (images from this ebook)
Download Free at: http://calibre-ebook.com/
Calibre
Download Calibre and change the file type of a document. (send these to Diana)
Bonus: Create a Cover
Challenge
www.facebook.com/NovareLibraryServices
https://delicious.com/dee987/epublishing
877-816-9638
Contact Me
Diana Silveira
Presenter: Diana Silveira, Novare Library Services
Creating Your Own e-
book Part 2
Calibre Questions
Why did my fonts change? Can I prevent this?
Expand menu > preferences > Conversion > Common Options
Adding a Cover to Your Book
Alternatives to Calibre
Sigil (Open Source)
Scrivener ($40) Word Processing
then direct with Vendors
Adobe InDesign
Others: http://literatureandlatte.com/links.php
Why didn’t my image wrap?
It will resize and display differently on different devices (CSS can help this)
For example, Kindle will always try and make your image the full screen…
Formatting (when converting title)
body {color: rgb(255,255,255);background-color:rgb(0,0,255);text-align:justify;line-spacing:1.8;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:4px;margin-right:50px;margin-left:50px;text-indent:2em;}h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {color:white;text-align:center;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;}
DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
Buy My
EBook
Amazon
• CreateSpace-Assigned ISBNs • *Custom ISBN ($10)• *Custom Universal ($99)• https://www.myidentifiers.com/ - $125 for
one…discount on multiple
ISBN Options
https://www.createspace.com/Help/Index.jsp?orgId=00D300000001Sh9&id=50170000000I1ec
Interior
Cover
Upload PDF of your own or use their creator
Complete Set-up
Set-Up Distribution Complete the Review Process
Tip: Its Well Worth the Price – Pay for a Print Proof
Cost of Doing Business
http://goo.gl/u152M
About 26% of a sale is yours
Kindle Publishing
https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin
Categorize Correctly
Categorize in “Super Niche Categories”
Feminist Theory
Lifestyle & Event Photography
Science Fiction – Fantasy
E-commerce
By Being in Smaller
Categories – it is easier to
“trend” and be found
Create a Giveaway or Sale
24-48 hour
“book-buying” period
Calculating Royalties
Any price – over $.99 You pick country
distribution Includes distribution
costs Lending/Text to
Speech Optional
Sell Between $2.99 - $9.99
Author Pays delivery Give Amazon all
Distribution Rights List Price is at least
20% below the list price in other sales channel
Lending/Text to Speech and other Amazon Features required
35% 70%
http://goo.gl/5fVglhttp://goo.gl/6icJ1
Nook Press
Royalities
Smashwords
Apple iBookstore (32 countries) Barnes & Noble Sony Kobo Diesel Baker & Taylor (the Blio.com e-
reading app and the Axis360 platform for public libraries)
and others.
The Basics
(1) Read and follow the Smashwords Style Guide(2) Create a Word document with simple, clean
formatting,(3) Upload that Word document to Smashwords
and let them convert it for you, (4) Enter your book’s information, description,
price, etc. at Smashwords, and(5) Opt in to all the distribution channels you
want.
http://goo.gl/ftx1T
Royalties
Earn 60% of the list price for sales through our major retailers, and earn 85% net for sales at the Smashwords Store (70.5% for sales originated by our network of affiliate marketers).
Lulu.com
Self-Distribution
• Direct Purchase through your website• Direct download/purchase through email
list• App Stores
Sell/Distribute
Create an App of Title for Android or iPad
App
Example - http://goo.gl/cJxrX
ONE SENTENCE!!! WHAT IS IT ABOUT?!
Pitch Your Book
Marketing, Marketing, Marketing
• Social Media• Blogs• Email Lists• Website• Free Speaking – Online
and In-Person• Press Releases in your
community and • Organize bulk sales to
organizations• Be Shameless
Some advise
Consider? – Trademarking Series Titles
Inspiration
www.facebook.com/NovareLibraryServices
877-816-9638
Contact Me
Diana Silveira
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