NYWIFT Blog

By Jean Criss

I recently designed and wrote my first children’s book and self-published on Amazon Kindle. Once I realized this publishing platform was so simple, I decided to move all book titles over. I learned how to publish e-books, paperbacks, white paper, articles, and/or other newsworthy information in a quick and easy way.

What is Amazon Kindle?

Amazon Kindle is a series of e-readers designed and marketed by Amazon. Amazon Kindle devices enable users to browse, buy, download, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines and other digital media via wireless networking to the Kindle Store.

How to Get Started. Create an account, select language, download app, login, password, setup profile, dashboard within Kindle.

Preview Book Formatting Options. I suggest before you write, design and/or create any content, take a look at the formatting requirements so that you don’t need to go back to rewrite and format page content. That can be quite a cumbersome and time-consuming process. Formatting tips:

What are the standard book sizes in publishing?

• Fiction: 4.25 x 6.87, 5 x 8, 5.25 x 8, 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9.
• Novella: 5 x 8.
• Children’s: 7.5 x 7.5, 7 x 10, 10 x 8.
• Textbooks: 6 x 9, 7 x 10, 8.5 x 11.
• Non-fiction: 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9, 7 x 10″
• Memoir: 5.25 x 8, 5.5 x 8.5.
• Photography: Whatever you see fit!

Create content to upload. Once you’ve decided upon the size of book, then, set the page margins accordingly before you add content.

Free and Paid Book Formatting Apps. There are several apps designed with writers in mind. Tools and tips that help with content development too. Here are some suggestions; Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Jasper, Scrivener, Reedsy Book Editor, ProWritingAid, Grammarly, Evernote, Freedom, Novel Factory, LibreOffice, Pages, Novelize, and more.

Cover Pages. Get Creative! Use graphics, less words, stock images, graphics design.

Front Cover – include Header/Title, Author Name. Subtitle, other images or background images that are relevant should be kept to minimum blurbs on front cover. Keep it simple yet intriguing to sell. Select image(s) that will resonate with readers.

Back Cover should include brief para blurb on book description (150 words), about Author (100 words), copyright, trademark info if available. Add few testimonial quotes (optional). Use an image on back cover to complement book. Can be same as front cover, extension of front cover image, new image/s.

Note – When publishing, do not submit front and back cover pages with inside content. Keep those page files separate, or you will have duplicate cover pages once the content is published.

Spines. All perfect bound (paperback books) and hardcover books have a spine. Some books cannot have printing on the spine of the book because they are not thick enough and the type will be too small to read. Hence, spines are typically not needed for all books, especially books under 32 pages of content. If you do create a spine, add Title, Author Name. There are formatting tools available to ensure the vertical design of spine page, font and sizing when you create this, depends on application you use. Here’s a good tool to calculate if you need a spine.

How to Create Cover Pages. Hire an outside graphics designer if you are not familiar with graphic design – someone who knows Photoshop, Canva, fiverr, or other platforms where book publishing services are readily available.

Paid cover design apps that are worth the price tag are Adobe InDesign, Adobe Spark, Book Brush, PosterMyWall, Placeit, . . . Free book cover design apps are Canva, Blurb BookWright, Visme, GIMP, others. Here’s a sample comparative grid:

 How to Upload Content.

Create Page Content (info about book or piece, links, title, subtitle, where to find, set retail price, S&H, and all other rates where needed, etc.) Amazon populates worldwide pricing and other details so don’t go crazy here. This is where their app will be useful. You just enter your specific content relevant to your book descriptions. Blurbs about what topics, demographics, etc. Critical information to help reach audiences. Note some fields do NOT allow you to edit once entered. So be sure the info is accurate step one.

Page Preview – Double check all formats, pages, URL links, images, page endings, cover pages, etc. Everything matters! Don’t rush basically.

Order Samples – Once you finalize your book, preview, and order yourself a sample copy or two. This is always good habit to double check the production with the source. Be patient. I have found that sometimes the pages won’t fall where you see them on the screen once published. There are other quirky things that come up during print production. Remember, you may only have one chance to upload, so try to get it right the first time.

Approve – After preview and samples are reviewed, approve final e-book, paperback, article or final piece.

Order Author Copies. At fraction of cost, you may order your own copies to use for promotional purposes. Distribute at events and to leverage at future marketing programs for book exposure. Contact jean@jeancrissmedia.com should you need assistance redirecting you to a specific distribution channel and/or industry opportunities.

Mobile preview. Test on your mobile phone to ensure the order process preview looks accurate.

How to Publish Final Content. Open the Kindle app is downloaded, go to your Library. If on a computer, double-click on the book cover. If you’re on a mobile device, select the book cover. A progress bar updates as the book downloads.

How to Merge Amazon Author Central Titles over to Amazon Kindle. Clean up the Author Central platform first, or else old pricing and other content cannot be editable once it’s moved to Amazon Kindle. That happened to me and I was unaware of these limited features. I have 4 titles, it’s considered to be 8 including the e-books and paperback versions and shows as though I have 7 titles in total. Basically, it duplicated the original books and brought over old content. I have tried endlessly to delete the 3 older titles and could not. Kindle does not allow you to edit the Kindle site once these are site pages are merged.

I’m sure I could have deleted the entire site to start over but that seemed foolish and time-consuming. This unpublished info was unknown as a publishing author. Lessons learned. Perhaps there are other workarounds. In the meantime, at least I have more content (duplicate info) rather than none.

Check Order Stats. Amazon provides author insights, book sales, author royalties and other reporting information. I suggest previewing bi-weekly to ensure books are moving and not stuck at order-entry. I did use the pre-order feature before the book was approved by Amazon, which allowed public to become aware, and place pre-order sales. However, I did notice one sale that Amazon overlooked and did not fulfill. It’s always important to review these reports to ensure accuracy and maintain happy customers. To keep a positive customer experience, I sent the customer a free/comp copy of the book before the order resolution got resolved.