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I guess I just need to know where to go to find answers to questions such as: How do I publish my cowboy Christmas poem (it's a fantasy epic story poem that could be made into a picture book)? Is there some way to get illustrations for an ebook? If so, how would I go about it? What about cover art?
I'd like to get this up and running in time for folks to take a look at it during the Christmas season. I have other stories I'd like to try and get out there as well, but I'm just not sure what steps need to be done in the e-publishing world. I'm still a relic of a bygone age who likes books on paper. However, I can see that the trend has shifted and would like to start figuring this out. Any help would be much appreciated.
I'm surprised n on has answered you yet but I'm sure they will. But Some of those questions can be answered at deanwesleysmith.com even though you may have to search a bit. Smashwords has a free e-book that can help.
Two hatrakers have posted step by step instructions on their blogs.
For cover art. Try google, I found a couple of sites with art one can buy that you an use for covers. I haven't found a good space station yet but I did find some great cowboy pics. For illustrating the whole thing you may want to go with an artist. Writer's Market has a link to an outfit that does that sort of thing but it would cost there. Totally free art that you can legally use can be found too I hear.
There are one or two other sites that can help but I have to find their links, I will if someone doesn't beat me to it.
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Hey Smaug, happy to help answer where I can. I'm still early in the indie publishing journey but I've read a ton and researched a ton (which led me to this particular path as being the most appropriate for my current goals...) and am happy to share what I've learned.
My main learnings are captured in a blog post on my Karen T. Smith author site - including loads of links to the real pros who have either been doing this a long time or have been published traditionally and are now moving toward indie publishing.
But to address your specific questions from your post, too, with my opinions - the cowboy Christmas poem could be a 99c short story you could offer. Ideally you'd find an illustrator eager to indie publish and set up a collaboration deal, but that gets complex with revenue sharing and the like. Know of any high school or college art students who would take a flat fee of a hundred or two to illustrate your book? I'd imagine professional artists/illustrators would be quite a lot more but maybe a student looking to build their portfolio? (flat fee for the artwork has the advantage of not requiring revenue sharing agreements, which can be tricky to manage. "Fee for service" we call this in consulting.)
Cover art can be created from existing art or even just patterns and designs in programs like Powerpoint (photoshop is great if you've got tha skillz, but powerpoint is a reasonable cheat for those of us lacking in that department.)
For my Convergence cover, I used a photo I took (of the daughter of a friend) plus two different pieces of existing art we purchased the license to (my girlfriend Renee does covers at www.thecovercounts.com) It cost $45 for the artwork. Renee charges reasonable rates but I think she's up to $100-125/cover now as her business is *booming*.
For what it's worth, I like books in paper, too. But I'm in love with reading on my nook and ipad, it's fantastic to always have a book with me regardless of where I left it last!
Happy to try to offer any other answers if I can, and I'm sure others on the list who are indie publishing will do the same.
[This message has been edited by KayTi (edited September 23, 2011).]
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I went the Smashwords route, though I've heard that it isn't great with illustrations.
Kindle is another option, and you might want to do both.
I personally do my own covers, (you can see some at www.pdblake.com), but if you don't have the skill set then it might be better to get a pro to do them for you.
Lastly, you need to promote it. As a self-publisher all the selling and marketing is down to you and, despite the success stories you read, it's not easy.
Oh, one final thing, make sure it's edited to death and shining like a new pin before you even think of letting it go anywhere.
[This message has been edited by pdblake (edited September 22, 2011).]
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Hey, thanks for the tips, links, etc. I will study what you've given me and ask more questions as they come up. I appreciate it.
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I guess I'm wondering about the logistics of submitting a picture book type of manuscript for e-book publication. I mean, how does one get pictures (drawings or whatever) from an artist, then insert them into a story at the appropriate location in that story, so that when presented as a download, they look professional?
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Better question, Smaug. How many kids picture-book age do you think have e-readers. I think the number of teens is going to grow shortly, with tweens right behind. But picture books? Not sure that's a big e-book market. (Unless you're Leap Frog)
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Good points. I'm actually not really up to speed technologically speaking. I don't own any kind of e-reader myself (I don't even own a cell, and have no caller I.D on my land line), I'm not sure how they work, and I don't know if parents would download a picture book onto theirs to read to their children. And, even though it's a picture book, it's really designed for all ages to enjoy. Since it's cowboy poetry, adults could appreciate it as well. If you've ever read any cowboy poetry, you'll understand what I mean. But how to market that so that adults actually think they would want to read it? That's another question.
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The primary market for children's ebooks right now is on iPads/tablets (and iPhones/iPod touches) as well as the Nook color. This will change with the supposed Amazon tablet kindle that's slated to come out in late November.
So I wouldn't worry about markets in the slightest, they're there and they will continue to grow. I know people who have purchased iPads for their 2 year olds, four year olds, eight year olds (I personally find it a bit shocking, but it's true) -- they are really phenomenal all-purpose entertainment devices and are replacing things like handheld gaming devices and ipod videos and things. Heck, I survived a recent 4 hour flight with my 7 and 9 year olds with two iPads. TV shows, games, drawing programs, interactive books, a link to our Nook ebook library, Overdrive with loaned content (free) from the library, we had tons of options for what we wanted to read/play/look at.
I haven't done any illustrated works so I can't speak to the specifics of formatting for those platforms, but I'd suggest starting with Barnes and Noble's PubIt, since they have a mainstream product that's been on the market most of a year now that does color and is meant to be friendly with illustrated fare. I'm sure if you google around you can find groups on Lined In or Facebook that are for indie children's illustrated book publishers.
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But I'm in love with reading on my nook and ipad, it's fantastic to always have a book with me regardless of where I left it last!
