Almost there. Add the final touches to your book.
☐ Write Front Matter
Front matter typically includes: copyright page, acknowledgements, table of contents, and an optional call to action. For the copyright page, see sample templates from The Book Designer. For acknowledgements, thank your family, inspirations, mentors, editor, artists, and beta readers. I recommend placing your call to action (email signup offer) at the end of the book rather than the front.
☐ Format for Publication
Use Scrivener for formatting — it handles complex chapter headings and exports to multiple formats. The Mac version offers superior compiling capabilities. I spent three days mastering Scrivener compile settings to get perfect PDF output.
☐ Copyright Your Book
Official registration at copyright.gov provides public record status and eligibility for statutory damages in any litigation. Worth doing.
☐ Get ISBN Numbers
Purchase through Bowker at myidentifiers.com. Get 10 ISBNs for $250 — you need a separate number for each format (hardcover, softcover, audio, ebook). Do not use publisher-issued ISBNs; own your own.
☐ Get Barcodes
Generate free barcodes at bookow.com. Enter your ISBN and price (or 90000 for flexible pricing). Do not pay Bowker's $25 per barcode fee — the free tool works perfectly. Have your cover designer add the barcode to the cover graphics.
☐ Design Cover
Professional cover design costs approximately $300. Resources: 99designs and Fiverr. Do not skip a professional cover — readers absolutely judge books by them.
☐ Price Your Book
Typical price ranges: Trade Paperback ($9.95–$15.95), eBook ($2.99–$5.99). Convention: paperbacks end in .95, ebooks in .99.
☐ Pick Keywords
Select seven keywords strategically on Amazon. Choose words that complement your title and summary, categorize your work, and target your audience. See Kindlepreneur for in-depth guidance on choosing effective Kindle keywords.