An Indie Author’s Journey: Converting Files

 

ebook.jpg

 

I’m delving into the world of indie publishing. Some authors go the quicker route and use a source like CreateSpace or Kindle Direct to immediately get their books out there.

There’s nothing wrong going that route, but I’ve decided to take a different path.

If you missed the first two installments of this new series you can go here for step one, and here for step two in my process. Now onto…

 

STEP THREE: Choosing The Right Publishing Software

 

When I decided to self publish my novel, LUNADAR: Homeward Bound, I started researching how I needed to convert my Word document into the proper files for publishing. I knew I wanted to offer both an eBook and Print On Demand paper back, so I would need something to convert my manuscript into both an EPub and Mobi files to be able to work with the most distribution channels.

Sites like CreateSpace will convert your manuscript for you free of charge. but it basically restricts you to the Kindle world only, and I wanted more for my first venture into self publishing.

 

book design

 

With so many to choose from, I finally decided on Book Design Templates (http://www.bookdesigntemplates.com). Their state of the art software allows me to copy & paste chapters of my novel into any one of their many book templates with ease and with just a few tweaks, I have a file ready to upload to either eBook or POD format. I purchased two different programs (one for novels and one for chapter books) and the entire package, including a multiple use license allowing Story Catcher Publishing to produce unlimited files only cost me $120. Now, instead of paying someone else each time I need to convert a manuscript, I will be able to use the Book Design Template to convert ALL my books to reduce my overall publishing costs.

I also received my LUNADAR postcards in the mail last week. I am working a booth at the Children’s Festival of Reading next month and with over 12,000 people attending, it’s the perfect opportunity to spread a little writerly love…

 

LUNADAR postcard

 

Next week I’ll talk about editing and accounting as I continue to set up STORY CATCHER PUBLISHING into the best little press on a poor gal’s budget that I can make it!

 

Author Profile Pic

 

International best selling, award winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna’s latest book, My Journey, My Journal, is schedule to be released in the fall of 2018.

 

Donna L

Hybrid award winning author; aspiring sketch artist; and 4th Degree Senior Certified Taekwondo Instructor. Host of BOOK NOOK REVIEWS. Member of SCBWI. Mom to fabulous son and adventurer delving into the tricky world of indie-publishing.

2 thoughts on “An Indie Author’s Journey: Converting Files

  • April 16, 2018 at 3:33 pm
    Permalink

    Thanks for sharing, Donna. I’ve looked at Book Design Templates, but never used them.

    Reply
    • April 16, 2018 at 4:55 pm
      Permalink

      Hi Cheryl and welcome to my new blog! This series is a way of sharing what seems to be working for me and might not be the path for someone else. I am using SPARK for LUNADAR and I like how it turned out so far.

      Fyi…if you “follow” me then you won’t miss out on any of these posts or even the WRITERLY WISDOM ones that come out every Friday…;)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *