To ask advice on publishing a short book online

[Snowyday1234]

• Has anyone done this?
  
• Can it be done free or low cost?
  
• Any companies I should avoid?
  
• I’ve done a few illustrations so I just send them too?
  
• Any pitfalls?
  
• What about copyright for the book?
  

Any pointers and advice very gratefully received
Thanks!!

[bobbinsblue]

Follow @tetyanawrites on insta - she’s just done this and has shared the journey

[Snowyday1234]

Thanks bobbinsblue!👍
Anyone else have advice or experience of this?

[CarolinaPink]

Hello. If you’re not hoping to make a fortune then you can self publish via Amazon to Kindle. Whizz over to the Amazon page and Google for instructions. I did it and it was straightforward once I’d read them.

[Snowyday1234]

Thanks CarolinaPink- I had a look at reviews of kdp which seems to be amazon to kindle and people are saying that amazon keep all the royalties etc. Is this your experience?

[bridgetreilly]

You don't need to look at reviews, you need to look at the actual platform and do your own research. There are multiple ways to self-publish easily these days, without it costing you money. Do not, however, expect to make much/any money unless you have a massive pre-existing platform to leverage for sales.

Better places to ask for advice: Absolute Write; KBoards.

[Madhairday]

You can self puish both ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon KDP. The royalties are actually great, especially on the paperbacks but ebooks too, to be honest - far higher than traditional publishing (I have done both) - of course, the disadvantage is that it's very difficult to market a self published book unless you have a large platform. What is the intended audience of your book?

It's very easy to do once you do some research - no fees involved unless you want to pay out for editors, book cover design or typesetting. It is possible to do all those things yourself, though, depending how good you are at design. Canva is a very useful tool.

Second asking kboards, also indie writers boards on Goodreads.

[Snowyday1234]

Madhairday- do you mean that the Amazon KDP royalties are higher than traditional publishing?
The reviews seemed very negative. (I am also doing my own research as well as asking on here and looking at reviews)

[Madhairday]

Yes, much higher. My trad published book gets 10% or thereabouts royalties. My ebooks through kdp get 70% (you can choose 70% or 30% if you want to put it at a v low price) and my paperbacks I can set the price so in a sense choose my own payments (I choose to keep the prices low so don't make a lot of profit, for me what I have on there is more about building my platform than making money at the moment.)

It's great if you're prepared to put the effort in to do some marketing work - but very tough to do effectively, unless you're already known. It is possible though and some do it very well. Obviously your book has to be good!

I think it might be more complicated if you're publishing a book with illustrations, though. That will cost a lot more to print on demand so your overheads could be high. Ebooks you could make the high royalties though. I have one on at 1.99 and it makes about 1.30 a book or so. I also have one on Kindle unlimited and get payments for pages read so that can work well if you're prepared to be locked into Amazon for 6 months at least.

What sort of book are you publishing? Best of luck!

[Snowyday1234]

Madhairday- I really appreciate your advice.
Thank you! It’s sort of a book aimed at the tourist market. Was wondering if there’s a way I can specifically aim it eg at American tourists travelling to the country?
1)Do you know if there’s a way to aim it at the market of a specific country?
2) Am I better to keep the price very low and choose 70% royalties?
3) Was planning to do the illustrations myself - it only needs a few. Hope that would make life more simple?
Madhairday- would really appreciate your advice on those queries. I am so grateful, thanks!