The eBook format gives everybody the opportunity to become their own publisher. With this two-part class, we will go from creation to final product – providing participants with the options libraries and local authors will have to publish their own work. 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 and Calibre to create yourebook Options authors and libraries have for distributing and selling their ebook. Between classes, participants will be asked to work on creating their ebook from personally created content and/or open source information. Instructor: Rachel Eichen Rachel Eichen is a certified presenter who has had over three years of teaching experience. She has taught computer classes to passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship, which included such topics as Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office. She also taught classes while working within the software industry. She enjoys learning about new technology trends and loves sharing this information with others. Rachel holds a Master’s degree in Library & Information Science and a bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing.

1. Presenter: Rachel Eichen, Novare Library Services
Creating
Your Own
Ebook

2. Agenda
The classes will focus on:
 Trends in Publishing
 DRM and formats
 Decisions about Publishing
 Covers & Creation

3. Trends in
Publishing

4. Trends
http://goo.gl/tKVrKT

5. HTTP://GOO.GL/ZNDMC
Libraries as
publishers

6. DRM and FORMATS

7. DRM
 Digital Rights Management
 An automated electronic lock and key to prevent theft

8. The Basics on File Types

9. Kindle
AZW, PDF, MOBI

10. Nook
EPUB (Barnes & Noble, Sony, and mostly everyone else)

11. Decisions about
publishing

12. Formatting
 It is recommended you use a specialty program
 If you use Word, save a basic version in RTF for the greatest
flexibility.

13. Software for Writers
 Sigil (Open Source)
 Scrivener ($40)
 Word Processing, then
direct with Vendors
 Adobe InDesign
(esp. for photo books)
Others:
http://literatureandlatte.com/links.php

14. 5 Mistakes to Avoid when Writing
 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

15. Fonts
Tahoma
Verdana
Calibri
Garamond
Times New Roman
Want to use a fancy Font – use jpgs
Simple Is Better

16. http://goo.gl/ThgDf
http://goo.gl/tkWFoZ

17. Covers and Cover Art

18. Covers Matter
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.html
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145431 (images from this ebook)

19. Beware of Copyright
http://goo.gl/p2Kmrg

20. Resources for Images
 Istockphoto ($$$)
 Bigstockphoto ($)
 Flickr/Creative Commons (free)
 Where to find royalty-free stock images
 Or take your own!

21. Creating your book

22. Calibre
DOWNLOAD FREE AT: HTTP://CALIBRE-EBOOK.COM/

25. Download Stock Photo
http://www.stockvault.net/photo/1152
33/stones-on-the-beach

26. Adding a Cover to Your Book

27. Challenge
Download Calibre and change the file type of a
document. (send these to Rachel)
Bonus: Create a Cover

28. Contact
Rachel Eichen
adverb@gmail.com
www.slideshare.net/adverb

29. Presenter: Rachel Eichen, Novare Library Services
Creating
Your Own
Ebook

30. Agenda
The class will focus on:
 Homework review
 Where to publish your book
 Promotion

31. Adding a Cover to Your Book

32. Images and Ebooks
 Without adding custom code,
images 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…
 If images are critical to your
book, consider graphic
programs like InDesign

33. DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
Buy My
EBook

34. • CREATESPACE
• KINDLE DIRECT
PUBLISHING

35. https://www.createspace.com/

36. ISBN Options
• CREATESPACE-ASSIGNED
ISBNS
• *CUSTOM ISBN ($10)
• *CUSTOM UNIVERSAL ($99)
• HTTPS://WWW.MYIDENTIFIER
S.COM/ - $125 FOR
ONE…DISCOUNT ON
MULTIPLE
https://www.createspace.com/Help/Index.jsp?orgId=00D300000001Sh9&id=50170000000I1ec

37. Interior

38. Cover
Upload PDF of
your own or use
their creator

39. Complete Set-up
 Set-Up
Distribution
 Complete
the Review
Process
Tip: Its Well Worth the Price – Pay for a Print Proof

40. Cost of Doing Business
http://goo.gl/u152M
About 26% of a sale
is yours

41. Kindle Direct
Publishing
https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin

42. Calculating Royalties
35%
 Any price – over $.99
 You pick country
distribution
 Includes distribution
costs
 Lending/Text to
Speech Optional
70%
 Sell Between $2.99 - $9.99
 Author Pays delivery
(Amazon.com: US $0.15/MB)
 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
requiredhttp://goo.gl/5fVgl
http://goo.gl/6icJ1

43. Matchbook
 Offering a discount digital book with your physical
book
 Promotional List Price of $2.99, $1.99, $0.99, or free;
as long as the price selected is at least 50% lower
than the regular Digital List Price.
http://goo.gl/e1liHI

44. Nook Press

45. Royalties

46. • 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.

47. 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

48. 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).

49. Self-Distribution

50. Sell/Distribute
o DIRECT PURCHASE
THROUGH YOUR
WEBSITE
o DIRECT DOWNLOAD/
PURCHASE THROUGH
EMAIL LIST
o APP STORES

51. ”
“
App
Create an App
for Android or iPad
Example - http://goo.gl/cJxrX

52. Pitch Your Book
ONE SENTENCE!!! WHAT IS IT ABOUT?!

53. 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 

54. 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

55. Create a Giveaway or Sale
24-48 hour
“book-
buying”
period

56. Inspiration

58. Contact
Rachel Eichen
adverb@gmail.com
www.slideshare.net/adverb