Self-publish your work online as a softcover and e-book
To begin, click on the following link for the print on demand service hosted by Amazon--Publish your book with CreateSpace: get high royalties, low book prices, and expanded distribution.
It cost me nothing to design and publish my book with them. It even had free cover designs to choose from and all I had to do was plug in my images and words (they also provide some images at no cost or you can pay them to do the work for you). You can start an account at no charge at:
Publish your book with CreateSpace: get high royalties, low book prices, and expanded distribution.
I chose to do the print version before the e-book version of the Mytsic Seafarer's Trail because the tools on CreateSpace gave me more templates and directions that were easier to understand. I was then able to use the cover I produced on CreateSpace and use it on my e-book version.
I chose to use the free ISBN provided by Amazon for my print book. You have to use theirs if you want the book available through Baker & Taylor (libraries like to go through that distributor) and Ingram (bookstores like to use that distributor). I had to pay a $25 fee to make my book available through those distributors. You don't need an ISBN for the e-book version.
I was then allowed to take the book cover I designed on Create Space and use it for my e-book on the Kindle site also hosted by Amazon. They are two separate companies, so you have to have two accounts and transfer your print book set up over to it. The Kindle site is: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing
This free e-book tells you how: http://www.amazon.com/Publish-Amazon-Kindle-Publishing-ebook/dp/B004LX069M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372337855&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+self+publish+on+amazon
For my future print books, I may use the ISBNs I purchased several years ago.
http://www.bowkerlink.com
You may also want to make your book available as an e-book on Smashwords as Barnes and Nobles distributes their e-books on Nook. Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/about/how_to_publish_on_smashwords
Smashwords has an agreement with Podiobooks. I am going to turn my book into an audio book at some point: https://www.smashwords.com/links/podiobooksExit
Note: Just so you know, the e-book version cannot handle having an Index at this time (because there are no fixed page numbers in an e-book).
Do you want advice on how to get traditionally published and promote your work? Click on my free e-book, How to Get Published.
Good luck!
Lisa Saunders
