General Questions About Publishing Books/Ebooks
(Cover photo: Old books)
Hi everyone,
While I try to get to questions asked of me, my time is limited now that I am publishing at full speed and then some. Use the search engines which can provide a lot of info instantly.
KDP Amazon has excellent training and answers on what you need to do for your book and/or ebook.
Q. How many pages should my book be?
A. That's up to you, but consider where you are going to publish is as they all have restrictions. Maybe you have to break up the book into Vol 1, Vol 2...etc.
Q. Do I need an ISBN?
A. For books, yes. KDP Amazon provides one for free with some restrictions. I also purchase ISBN's from Bowker to use with my other publisher. For ebooks, an ISBN is optional although required on some platform. Not needed on Amazon.
Q. Should I do a book or ebook?
A. An ebook can be of any size, from 1 page upwards. There may be a maximum. See what the requirements are with you will publish it.
Books must be a minimum of 24 pages on KDP Amazon. If I am having trouble reaching that, I will have the size of the book at 5" X 8" and with size 18 font and hopefully it will make it. If not, it will only be an ebook.
Another point is to do every format possible, Books regular & large print, ebook, audio book...etc. I have not done any audio books on Amazon as of yet. Do you have a Youtube channel? You could create an audio book there.
Q. Where can I find public domain content to reprint?
A. Understanding copyright law and what is public domain, then search, there are thousands and thousands of public domain books online.
Another source is the library. I rented a book once then typed out the content.
However, you should note that KDP Amazon may require online proof about the book and not all books can be found online. That's when I will publish the book with LIghtning Source, Inc instead. They have no such requirements.
Q. Will my books be sold in bookstores?
A. Usually No. You would have to market your books yourself to get them into bookstores, but it is possible, I used to have 40 stores that sold my books, now I only have one store left in Colorado, USA.
You could also convince a bookstore to do a promotion and a book signing and take a number of books there to be sold and signed. You would be responsible for unsold books, but the store may keep some on hand since you created local interest and buzz and more buyers may stop in.
Q. What do I use to create my books?
A. In the end, I use Adobe Indesign, but I also use Word 2013 in my case to do a lot of needed editing before I copy/paste it into Indesign.
Q. How do you select what public domains to reprint?
A. In the end, I really don't care as long as the book/ebook has a chance to sell and earn me money. I have books that have never sold a single copy and others that have sold thousands.
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Mel's Suggestions for You
If you are bilingual, why not also publish books/ebooks in a non English language? There is definitely a market for those.
If you take a public domain book in any language and translate it, you can automatically copyright it as the translator. How cool is that?
Just get started, don't over think the process. That's what I did and still do. I don't know what might be the next big hit for me or the next flop. For me, its a numbers game.
I am going to play around more with AI writing books in the style of well known public domain authors. Sounds intriguing to me.
Large Print is consider Font 16 or higher. Size Font 12 is regular or normal. Smaller than that and its difficult reading.
Don't forget you can also right Courses and sell them even on Amazon.
Well that's what's off the top of my head for now. I need to get back to work today.
To Our Success!
Mel Waller
Recent Comments
33
You are most welcome Rudy.
I would still submit my digital files for interior and exterior there, plus provide an ISBN. There set up fees are around $125 approx. I can choose the wholesale price which is 40% off retail for resellers/bookstores. I don't accept returns. I do belong to IBPA and I am able to get promos for Free setup each month vice the $125, but I still need to provide the ISBN.
Let's say you had the physical book to give them. They will take it apart and scan the book and that file would be used for your book. Helps if no online content is available. That does cost a lot more for that service.
They also have a yearly fee to keep your title included in their catalog that goes out to bookstores, libraries...etc. $12 a year per title.
Mel
See more comments
Thanks for the tips, Mel. I have a book that I was hoping have published later this summer when it is completed. I am thinking of breaking it into a series of ebooks to see what happens. I think I am going to use some of your tips to accomplish this.
Jim
You could certainly release each chapter as an ebook and maybe generate interest, Jim. Then the book later.
Mel
Very true... thanks. Another question.... when I a book is published, who actually owns the book - author or publisher?
Jim
You would hold the copyright Jim. The publisher may have some control over its publishing/marketing. It good to clarify that with whoever you are going to work with.
Mel
Thanks.
You are most welcome Jim!
Mel