Starting Out as an Indie Author: A Beginner's Guide to Preparing, Publishing and Marketing Your EBooks

Have you written your first book and are considering self-publishing? Perhaps you have started looking into the possibility and are feeling overwhelmed by all the options, all the things you need to do and learn in order to become an indie author? Or maybe you aren't even sure yet whether self-publishing is for you or not, and you want to find out more of what is involved before you decide.

STARTING OUT AS AN INDIE AUTHOR was written for beginning self-publishers and covers the basics on where to sell your books, formatting for eBook and print, and developing marketing strategies. It includes a number of step-by-step instructions for everything from cover design, to setting up eBooks for various distributors, to creating ads with Facebook and Amazon Marketing Services. In addition, there is advice on any number of topics: eBook pricing, using distributors, how much to spend on self-publishing, and writing blurbs for your books.

With this sanity-saving book as a guide, you will have a much better grasp on what is involved in self-publishing and will be able to approach the task realistically and with eyes wide open.

Including an interview with Kate Sparkes, author of the bestselling Bound series!

Contents:

Part I: Is Self-Publishing for You?

Chapter 1: Advantages and Disadvantages of Self-Publishing

Chapter 2: Potential Self-Publishing Mudholes

Chapter 3: The Costs of Publishing as an Indie Author

Part II: Getting Ready to Publish

Chapter 4: Why Editing is Important - and Who can Probably Skip the Expense After All.

Chapter 5: Preparing Your Manuscript for eBook Retailers

Chapter 6: Cover Options for Indie Authors

Chapter 7: Writing Blurbs and Descriptions for your Books

Chapter 8: Amazon Delivery Fees and Reducing the File Size of Your EBook

Part III: Publishing Your Book

Chapter 9: EBook Pricing

Chapter 10: To KDP Select or not to KDP Select

Chapter 11: Using Distributors for Getting into Online Bookstores

Chapter 12: The Importance of Keywords

Chapter 13: Formatting the Interior of your Book for Print

Chapter 14: Creating a Wraparound Cover for your Print Book

Part IV: Marketing

Chapter 15: The Big Challenge: Becoming Visible

Chapter 16: How to Develop a Strategy for eBook Promotions

Chapter 17: Alexa Rankings for eBook Ad Sites

Chapter 18: Advertising Sites

Chapter 19: Social Media and Cross Promotion

Chapter 20: Newsletter Basics

Part V: Final Thoughts

Chapter 21: Why "Write the Next Book" isn't Enough; Or: What to do if your Books aren't Selling

Chapter 22: Rolling with the Changes