How to Make an Ebook Cover: For Non-Designers
Page 3
23. After you are done, click on the checkmark in the upper right.
24. Notice that you now have a new layer.
25. Experiment with different colors and fonts. You can add a second layer of text a different size, color and font.
Do font edits in this order:
1. Make sure you are on the correct layer (blue box highlight in layers palette)
2. Select the Type Tool. (T button)
3. Highlight the section you want to change by dragging your cursor.
4. Make the edits
5. Click on the Checkmark when you are done.
26. When you are finished, select SAVE AS a JPG file.
Now you can upload your book cover to the eBook store, just like you did in step 10 of the first tutorial!
~
Publishing an eBook is a great opportunity for writers. Now you can upload your book and sell it online in prominent stores like Amazon.com and the Apple iBookstore. This is comparable to having your own free marketing department.
I hope that this book helps free you from any initial obstacles you might encounter when trying to create a book cover. If you continue to publish eBooks, you will learn a lot about book covers, and you might meet a professional designer you want to work with. But until then, this book can equip you with some basic steps to get started.
I hope you have success in your eBook publishing experience. I have personally found it to be an exciting career for me because I was formerly a teacher and I really enjoy creating technical manuals and tutorials.
If this tutorial was helpful to you, then take advantage of my freebie at the end of this book.
Enjoy! -Kate
~
PART D: Resources
For more information on eBook publishing, I personally recommend the following resources:
Where to Publish Your eBook
Kindle Direct Publishing
How to publish your document through Amazon: http://kdp.amazon.com/ If you want a detailed overview of with step-by-step instructions on how to upload your article, and fill out the Amazon submission form, watch this video: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A2M7MM0UP7PHK0
Kindle “Singles”
How to submit your essay, memoir, reporting and short stories that are between 5,000 and 30,000 words.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000700491
Barnes and Noble Pubit
http://www.pubit.barnesandnoble.com/
Kobo Writing Life
How to submit your book for the Kobo reading device.
http://www.kobo.com/writinglife
Smashwords
Distributes your book to multiple stores such as Apple iBookstore, Sony, Kobo, Diesel, Barnes and Noble and eBook apps. Also offers free ISBN’s.
http://www.smashwords.com/
How to Self-publish an ebook – One of the best articles I’ve read that explains in depth how and where to publish and distribute your ebook (or article). It has a thorough and updated comparison of all the options.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-20010547-82/how-to-self-publish-an-ebook/#addcomm
Free Books on eBook Publishing
Smashwords Style Guide - This free eBook will help you through the Smashwords publishing process and teach you how to format documents for their distribution process.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52
Smashwords Book Marketing Guide – This free eBook is the best book I’ve ever seen on creative ways to market your eBook.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/305
Building Your Book for the Kindle – Free eBook published by Amazon that explains basic book formatting.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007URVZJ6
eBook Publishing Podcasts
Kindle Chronicles - Best Podcast I know of that covers recent news on anything to do with the Kindle, along with interviews and tips for Kindle readers. This is one of my favorite podcasts. New episode available every Friday.
http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-Kindle-chronicles/id286625140
eBook Ninjas - This is a great podcast that talks about the latest news and technology about eBook publishing. Folksy, technical and humorous all at the same time.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/eBook-ninjas/id287297639
eBook Writing Webcasts
Digital Book World Free Webcasts - Great free webcasts you can sign up for ahead of time that talks about eBook publishing on all kinds of topics.
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/events/webcasts/
O’Reilly Media Webcasts - Dig through their lists of webcasts and you will find eBook publishing topics.
http://oreilly.com/webcasts/
Best eBook Writing Blogs
The Passive Voice - All about disruptive changes in the publishing industry, including: self-publishing e-books, e-readers and e-bookstores, emerging legal and contract issues.
http://www.thepassivevoice.com/
Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Excellent blog by best selling author on how to deal with the changes in publishing industry. Check out the series of articles called “Surviving the Transition.”
http://kriswrites.com/
Dean Wesley Smith - Best selling author discusses changes in the publishing industry and how to help writers with the new world of publishing. Check out “Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing” articles.
http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/
Newbie’s Guide to Publishing - If you can only read one blog about why you should self-publish eBooks, read this one. The author Joe Konrath is a successful self-publisher on the Kindle and gives all his sales figures upfront. He also requires the same of his guest bloggers. You will get a lot of information on how to market your Kindle publications here.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/
Smashwords Blog - Blog written by Mark Coker, owner of the company Smashwords, leader in the independent eBook publishing world.
http://blog.smashwords.com/
Savvy Book Marketer - More of a traditional publishing blog, but great content and tips.
http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com/resources/
TheBookDesigner.com - A nice blog on the whole topic of publishing and good design
http://bookdesigner.com/
View from the Publishing Trenches - An author, book designer who writes about publishing.
http://waltshiel.com/
Publishing/Writing: Insights, News, Intrigue - Latest publishing and writing industry insider news.
http://gator1965.wordpress.com/
Self-Publishing Review - http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/
Kindle Expert (Publishing your content to Kindle) - A Kindle conversion consultant who also writes a blog.
http://www.Kindleexpert.com/
Kindle Nation Daily - Stephen Windwalker's resource for authors and indie eBook publishers.
http://indie.kindlenationdaily.com/
EBook Endeavors - An indie fantasy author talks about e-publishing, marketing and blog promotion.
http://www.lindsayburoker.com/
O’Reilly Radar - Not specifically on the topic of Kindle, but a lot of news about on what’s going on in publishing.
http://radar.oreilly.com/
Pixel of Ink - I stumbled on this blog, which also has a faceBook page, updated by a passionate Kindle reader who searches for free books that come available daily, many that are only free for a short promotional time.
http://www.pixelofink.com/
Kindle Chronicles Blog - The blog associated with the Kindle Chronicles Podcast http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-kindle-chronicles/id286625140 . I’ve particularly been impressed by the author who actively responds to emails from readers and listeners. Lots of resources.
http://www.theKindlechronicles.com/
eBook Writing Forums
Amazon Knowledge Base and Community Forums - This is the place where people ask and answer questions about publishing on the Kindle. It’s the
one place I’ve found where people know how to solve problems. It’s not the best interface, but the content is good.
http://forums.Kindledirectpublishing.com/kdpforums/index.jspa
Barnes and Noble Nook Publishing - Where to go to publish your book for the Barnes and Noble Nook. Uploading is quite simple and it has a very clean interface.
http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=pi_reg_home
Barnes and Noble Nook Pubit Help Board - Limited help, but is quite interactive.
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/PubIt-Help-Board/bd-p/pubit
Kindle Formatting Recommendations -Webpage for Amazon publishing guidelines
http://forums.Kindledirectpublishing.com/kdpforums/entry!default.jspa?categoryID=11&externalID=28&fromSearchPage=true for uploading into an e-Reader.
Kindle Image Formatting Recommendations - Webpage for Amazon image guidelines
http://forums.Kindledirectpublishing.com/kdpforums/entry!default.jspa?categoryID=11&externalID=28&fromSearchPage=true for uploading into an e-Reader.
~
Freebie for my Readers!
If you have comments, see errors, or are willing to post a review on Amazon, please email me at kateharp@aol.com, and receive a free pdf booklet: “How to add a table of contents to a Kindle or Nook book.”
How to write a review on Amazon:
Go to this link http://goo.gl/HltZ2and scroll down to “customer reviews.” You will see a button that says “Write a customer review.”
Thanks so much! –Kate
About the Author: Kate Harper has taught art and computer classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys creating visual step-by-step guides for non-technical users. She is a credentialed adult education instructor in the state of California, and is inspired by technologies that encourage people to be more creative. See her blog for professional gift designers and writers at http://kateharperblog.blogspot.com/
~
Publications for the Creative Person by Kate Harper
How to Publish and Sell Your Article on the Kindle
How to Publish and Sell Your Article on the Kindle,is a booklet for beginners on how to publish and sell short documents for the Amazon Kindle, such as short stories, magazine articles, essays, memoirs and instructional materials.
Topics include:
• How to get royalties from selling articles.
• Proper pricing.
• How to submit articles to the "Kindle Singles" (special Amazon category).
• Best ways to sell articles.
• Representing articles accurately in e-Reader bookstores.
• Avoiding unnecessary costs.
• Image formatting.
Tips are also applicable for a variety of mobile devices such as the Barnes and Noble Nook and Apple ipad. You will learn how to publish your article in a word processor, without having to learn HTML coding.
Instructional Appendices Include:
• How to create table of contents and internal links.
• Solving formatting problems.
• Converting your article to a Kindle device.
• Easy preview options before you publish.
• A curated list of the 50 best resources for finding free Kindle books, software, podcasts, help forums and the best blogs on Kindle publishing (10,300 words).
20 Steps to Art Licensing
20 Steps to Art Licensing is a book about how to license your art to companies that publish greeting cards, or manufacture coffee mugs, magnets, wall hangings, kitchen items, and dozens of other gift items. Learn how to prepare your art, what companies to contact, how to find agents, and what trade shows to attend. Includes extensive resources on social media, copyrights, licensing community groups, and lists of interviews with professional designers
7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers Make
7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers Make is a booklet that explains what to avoid when submitting greeting card verse to publishers. Learn how to create a trendy card that reflects the contemporary world we live in, and how to use your own personal experience to create card verse. Topics include: how to avoid limiting your market, when to use adjectives, not creating card for enemies, write like people talk and a list of why card sentiment submissions are often rejected. You can increase your odds of success by 60% just by doing a few simple things. Includes a list of card publishers and their guidelines, links to writer interviews, and writing exercises for how to create good verse.
Unusual Ways to Market Greeting Cards
Unusual Ways To Market Greeting Cards, and 22 places to get your designs featured is a booklet on how to get your cards noticed in non-traditional ways. Everything from why you should send cards to your dentist, to how to get a special feature in national publication. Great tips for designers who are starting out and want to get their cards into the hands of people beyond friends and family. Special Section: 22 Gift Industry Trade Publications who seek out new greeting card designs and feature artists for free.
Get Your Greeting Cards into Stores
Get Your Greeting Cards into Stores explains how to sell cards nationwide. Included are detailed guidelines on: How to price cards for a profit, get professional feedback, find sales representatives and follow industry standards. Information is also applicable to gift items, magnets, journals, calendars, collectibles, etc.
Peer-to-Peer Sharing Directory
The Peer-to-Peer Sharing Directory explains how to use the social web and mobile apps to swap clothes, find a taxi mate, rent out parking space, or lead our own specialized tour that goes off the beaten path.
This guide is a list of peer-to-peer networks that: Exchange goods or services, are conducted through a website or mobile app, allows the recipient to save money, and the giver to make money from underutilized goods.
All Rights Reserved © Kate Harper