How to Publish your Book

BOOK PUBLISHING

IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN YOUR BOOK OR PLAN TO WRITE A BOOK THEN THIS GUIDE WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY.

Many great books never fully see the light of day or get lost in obscurity simply because their authors were not 100% clued up on the various processes involved in getting a book published properly and did not know how to take best advantage of all the tools and resources that are available in today’s modern world of accessible publishing.

In this eBook, I’m going to give you a quick and simple run down of the key steps that you need to follow to give your book the best chance of success.

Also consider that great book marketing is not a single step, it is a process that you should be thinking about and implementing throughout the entire life cycle of your book – from the day you start writing it, through to its 1st year anniversary and beyond.

Obviously the very first step in publishing a book is to WRITE it in the first place. I’m going to assume that you have already done that or are well on your way. We will pick up the process from the time that you finish the first draft of your manuscript.

Copyright © 2022 Mark Gedye

www.interprosolutions.co.uk

All rights reserved. No part of this Publishing Guide may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission in writing from the author except when using as a reference from the original author.

"I am seeing more and more posts from people offering help to take a book from concept to publication.

As with most offers, they range from good to just OK.

I wrote a Children's book and was very proud of it. Unfortunately, I didn't think many people would buy several sheets of typed paper.

I really didn't have any idea as to move it on, after meeting Mark of InterPro Publishing Solutions, I saw the book grow into reality.

Some offers are good some are just OK, but Mark was brilliant!

I have now written three and am about to start number four. It is almost a certainty that without Mark, I would still be looking at a handful of typed paper."

You will never regret contacting him."

ABOUT INTERPRO PUBLISHING SOLUTIONS

InterPro Publishing Solutions was founded by Mark Gedye in 2017. The idea was to utilise his publishing expertise as a means of helping independent authors to get theirwork self-published professionally and affordably from ‘Creation through to Publication’.

Having had many years of experience within the book publishing industry as well as all forms of print production. Mark was approached by several authors to see whether he could help them with their manuscripts, this led to the creation of this unique publishing service.

InterPro Publishing Solutions specialises in providing professionally project managed, affordable book design and self publishing services to independent authors throughout the UK and worldwide. Since then, we have been involved in the design and publication of over 50 books covering a wide variety of subjects from business and travel guides, biographies, recipe books, children’s stories and novels.

Services that InterPro Publishing Solutions offer include: -

To find out more about InterPro Publishing Solutions, visit our website at www.interprosolutions.co.uk,or follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn

ABOUT MARK GEDYE

My journey started in publishing in 1980 joining my father’s golf travel guide business and increasing the staff from 1 to 2.

It was a great experience travelling the world meeting golf course and hotel owners, writing, taking photos and selling the advertisements.

As you can imagine without a large team to rely on, you learn multiple skills and how to achieve tight deadlines very quickly.

Also organising professional golf events worldwide setting up the first Ladies Asian Golf Circuit, Ladies Spanish Open, marketing for events as well as tourist offices and exhibition matches featuring major name players.

These experiences have helped in a thorough understanding of the publishing market.

Since then, I have worked in Book Publishing, typesetting, printing, set up an on demand print company and project managed a wide variety of projects both on site and remotely.

With over 30 years of experience within the Publishing, Project Management and Printing sectors, predominantly within the book publishing arena.

Mark is passionate about books and enjoys helping others bring their book ideas to life. Recent quote: “without you it would still be a dream”.

With a wealth of marketing, commercial and technical experience, Mark helps guide authors through the process to help create professionally managed books.

Mark lives in Kent, he is also Chairman of the Galley Club a debating society for publishers and printers specifically focused on publishing and books.

A father of three, grandfather, keen golfer, rugby follower and school governor.

Tell your story

We all have our own stories to tell about the things that have happened in our lives. Maybe you’ve recovered from illness, overcome a major obstacle or escaped a damaging relationship. Perhaps you have an interesting family history or unusual hobby. Have you discovered a unique way of living or working that you think would benefit others? Or do you have an inventive imagination – is there an amazing fictional world in your head simply waiting to get out? No matter what your story, it’s worth telling … so why not do just that?

Share your expertise

We all have a wealth of knowledge in our heads that deserves sharing with a wider audience. You might think, “But there are hundreds of books on a wide variety of subjects out there already!” –but they aren’t written by you. They don’t include your unique viewpoint and experience.

Pass on advice

Whatever you’ve been through in life, you’ll have picked up a wealth of tips and advice that other people can benefit from. Think about the times when friends asked you for advice – they came to you because they respect your opinion. Take the most important things you’ve learned in life and turn them into a book that will help other people.

"Thank you for being such a good friend and helping get my book to print. without you it would still be a dream."

Raise your profile

If you run a business this is an especially important reason why you should write a book. Sharing your knowledge, expertise and experience raises your profile within your industry. It serves as proof that you know your stuff and it sets you apart from all the others in your industry because you can demonstrate your knowledge in a very public way. It positions you as THE expert in your field.

Authors I have worked with have said “it is the best business card I have ever had”!

Open the door to new opportunities

This is a very good reason for writing a book, and one I had heard but didn’t quite believe until it happened! Telling your story, sharing your knowledge and experience also raising your profile as an expert in your field leads to more opportunities. When you publish your book, you could be invited to speak at seminars and conferences, have articles published in leading specialist magazines, and appear in local and national media. It’s amazing what opportunities can come your way if you keep your eyes, ears and mind open. Don’t dismiss the idea that writing a book will change your life completely…

Reasons you shouldn’t write a book!

Don’t write a book solely to make money. It can be a useful source of a secondary income, and if you write a series of books, you could find that income becomes quite substantial, but unless you are the next JK Rowling you’re unlikely to make your fortune being a writer! Look on any income as a bonus and focus on the benefits.

Want to become a published author and start enjoying the benefits?

Please get in touch for a no obligation conversation.

Mark

a man of various

including helping authors to get their books published so if you're writing, or thinking of writing a book, then give him a shout and I'm sure it'll be a valuable conversation."

Identify your Topic

What are you passionate about?

What problem do you see needing to be resolved?

What do you have experience in to be able to add value to a conversation?

Clarify your Audience

Who is this book focused on?

What’s your target age, gender, occupation, calling?

The more focused this is the more effective your book will be.

Create the Book Outline

Before you begin trying to write a full chapter, begin by doing a basic chapter outline (Skeleton) for the whole book. This can change as you go, but if you begin with this approach then it will help bring better clarity to the flow of the book.

Begin with a chapter outline, then add in 1 or 2 bullet points under each chapter to flesh out a little more clarity. Then adjust and shift the chapters and sub points until you’re excited about the direction and flow of the book.

Begin Writing the Book

Now that you have the strong outline, then you begin filling in each of those chapters. You’ll find that the content flows more quickly now that you have the chapter focus and direction.

Now that you have the chapters in mind then you’ll be able to pull insight and

is

talents,

content from everyday life.

Writing tip. Write daily. Don’t try to wait for a big writing weekend or getaway or try to wait for inspiration. Even if it’s just 30 min a day, you’ll be impressed by how fast the book begins to come together.

Note on Book Length: Research your topic and audience to set a general direction on how long you want your book to be.

Get Feedback and Input on your manuscript

This is a key part of success as a writer; getting the input and feedback from trusted friends and experienced leaders in the field the book is focused on. The key is to not get defensive when people provide feedback. It’s not that you have to change the book to whatever people say but in general you want to make sure that what and how you’re writing is connecting with your target audience. Make revisions and updates based on the feedback. Do that process a few times.

Send Manuscript to Editor

This can be a more advanced or basic process. From basic grammar editing to full content development and rewriting. At a minimum get your book grammar/spelling checked.

Usually as editors try to “figure out what you said” it can really help you shape and clarify your thoughts.

Build A Book Launch Team

Get a group of friends, influencers and recruit professionals that match the target of your book.

Create a private Facebook group to give special access to content and input. A team that can help in the development of the book and ultimately in promotions.

Book Design & Website

I can’t stress enough the need for this to be top quality and engage professionals with the right experience. Not your friend or aunt who is good with design programs. This is where first impressions are key.

Using a professional Book designer can pay dividends and potentially save time and money in the long term.

Editing & Proofreading

There is nothing worse than publishing a book and finding a typo? Or perhaps, it’s finding two or more typos. Don’t let typos happen to you. And watch out for haphazard storytelling, uneven plots, and forgettable characters. These can all derail your book, and cause readers to lose faith in your storytelling.

Before you publish your book, get a professional reader to give you an honest critique of your work. While you should self edit your book, remember that there are limits to self editing. You’re too close to the material and you will miss both glaring and subtle mistakes. Not just typos, but also characterization, plot holes, perspective changes, and tiny details that you’ve gone blind too but will annoy your reader to no end.

It is vital that you understand that your book is an investment – not just in time but also financially. And this is one of those areas where it is in your best interest to open the cheque book and hire a professional editor. They will be able to add the necessary polish to your manuscript that will make it read and flow much easier.

It is also important to get as many people as you can, including your editor, to proofread your manuscript. The more times you read a document, the more your brain learns to expect what it says. It then starts to read what it knows is supposed to be there as opposed to reading what is ACTUALLY there. The more eyes that read your book, the less mistakes it will contain.

"Thank you for your help and for all your hard work in producing my two recipe books."

Book Design

Again, this is another instance where you want to invest in a professional, at the very least to design your book cover, and if you can stretch to it, to typeset the contents too. We’ve all heard the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, but unfortunately that is exactly what most people do with books from an author that they have not heard of before.

I also recommend that you engage your book designer at the same time as you send your manuscript for editing; it saves time in the long run. While your editor is finessing your manuscript, your designer can be designing the cover and working out the template for the contents so that when the manuscript is being edited, they can move straight into final typesetting.

This is also the stage where, with advice from your designer, you decide on what format your book will take and work out what your print specifications will be. Will it be paperback or hardback, what size will it be, do you need full colour printing inside or will black only do? All of these decisions have an impact on your final book, in particular its cover price and whether it is right for your market.

Register with Nielsen as a Publisher

Once your designer has finished typesetting your book and you’re in the artwork review stage, it is time to register with Nielsen (the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) agency for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland) and purchase a set of ISBN numbers. Any print book that you want to sell through traditional retailer channels (such as Amazon) MUST have an ISBN number. eBooks do not require an ISBN number, however it is in your best interest to apply one anyway as it gives your book wider availability within the book trade.

It is important that the details that you provide to Nielsen as the publisher must match the details that appear on the copyright page of your book. You can find more information about Nielsen on their website at www.isbn.nielsenbook.co.uk .

NB If you are based outside of the United Kingdom, you will need to register with the ISBN agency for your region.

Applying your ISBN number’s

Once you have received your ISBN numbers from Nielsen, you need to forward the ones that you are using for this book onto your designer so they can add them to your copyright page (this is a legal requirement) and also to generate a scannable barcode to be applied to the back cover artwork.

eBook Conversion

Not all books are suitable for the eBook format (such as image intensive art books), but you should always consider having an eBook edition of your book available as it increases your potential book sales.

If you chose a good book designer in step 2, they should be able to do the conversion for you as well as perform all the necessary testing to make sure the eBook works on various different types of eReaders such as Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, as well as smart phones and tablets. If they can’t do the conversion as part of the design process, then you will need to hire an eBook specialist who is familiar with the background coding that is required to make eBooks work efficiently.

Register with KDP Amazon and IngramSpark

Registering for a self publishing account with IngramSpark is free of charge, and by far the most robust self publishing service out there right now. I advocate the use of IngramSpark as a publishing platform over using Amazon by itself, because Ingram can give your book access to all Amazon sites, plus a wider international distribution network (such as Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, and over 7,000 other book retailers). Just note that you will need to provide an active credit card and bank account details before you can list your book. Also, think about your imprint name very carefully because it can be difficult to change later. You can find more information about IngramSpark on their website at www.ingramspark.com.

List your Book

Now we actually get to the publishing part of your journey – listing your book. There are a number of things you need to think about beforehand in order to optimise your book sales such as: Title, Description, Author Details, Keywords, Genre & Categories, Metadata, Reviews, Cover Price, Market Availability, Wholesale Discount, Returnability, and On Sale Date.

Artwork Submission

Once you’ve got your title details listed, you need to send over all the artwork required for your book. This includes cover art and contents for your book in both print and eBook (if required). Your artwork will go through a 2 step quality control process to ensure that it falls within IngramSpark’s production guidelines. This process takes up to 3 business days to complete. This is also the stage where you will be asked to pay your book listing fee.

Note that if you are publishing an eBook, it will automatically be submitted to Amazon as soon as the artwork passes quality control. If you have set a future on sale date, the book will still be listed straight away, but set as pre order only until the on sale date.

Test Print

If you are publishing a print book, once the artwork passes inspection it is highly recommended to order a single test print copy of the book before releasing it for distribution. This will be the last opportunity you get to make any artwork changes without incurring extra costs.

Distribution & Pod Order

Once you are happy with the quality and artwork of the test print copy of your book, it’s time to give IngramSpark approval to release your book for print distribution. This releases the print edition of your book to be available for purchase by trade customers such as bookstores. Now is also the time for you to order a batch of print on demand (PoD) copies for your own sales fulfilment (either through your website or in person).

Nielsen Book Database

If this is not your first book, or you purchased your ISBN numbers online, you will need to manually add your book to the Nielsen Book Database. This database is used by thousands of bookstores and online retailers to monitor new book releases and gather information on titles they wish to stock in store, so it’s in your interest to provide the database with as much information as you can.

You can find more information about the Nielsen Book Database on the Nielsen website mentioned previously.

British Library - Legal Deposit

The last link in the chain is to provide your legal deposit copies. This is a legal requirement for print books in the UK, though not one that is heavily enforced. It simply requires you to send one copy of your book to the British Library, and a further 4 copies to a variety of university libraries throughout the country for public record.

You can find more information regarding legal deposits, including addresses of where to send your books, on the legal deposits website at www.bl.uk/aboutus/legaldeposit.

5 ROUTES TO SELL YOUR

BOOK. "Mark, thanks for all your hard efforts in producing this bookthere's a lot packed in there and thanks to you, I think it all makes sense. When the wife lets me, I look forward to the next production!"

You’ve done it! After many months (or even years) you have published your own book. Give yourself a pat on the back for your achievement.

But wait … the books aren’t going to sell themselves.

What should you do to Sell them?

Put your business hat on. Many of the strategies you can employ to sell books are the same one’s businesses use to sell their services or products. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Identify your ideal reader/customer.

Writing your book is the easy bit. Marketing and selling it is a whole new ball game. You will never please everybody, so do what businesspeople do; get a clear picture of one perfect reader. Identify their age, sex, interests etc. and speak (or aim your posts and articles) directly to them. Other people will still want to listen.

Get known on social media.

Ideally, you should do this before you even start writing the book, but it is never too late to start. Pick two or three channels you would like to concentrate on, for example Twitter and Instagram, and set up accounts if you do not already have them. Think about where your potential readers might hang out.

When writing posts, be yourself and let your personality shine through. Do not be boring or ‘salesy’ – people hate that. Talk about other things as well as your book. A good rule of thumb is to only mention where and how to buy your book in 20% of your tweets or posts. Follow people who fit your ‘ideal reader’ description. They might be sufficiently impressed to go and buy your book.

You will also find forums and groups you can join where you can connect with other authors. You can get good ideas and feedback and support other budding writers too.

Publish eBooks and Print Books.

Some people prefer to hold a ‘real’ book, so do consider print (a short print run or print on demand), the physical value of a printed book is not to be underestimated. Get to know your local booksellers too – this is important as they can influence readers by recommending certain books or displaying them prominently. You could also organise the launch of your book in a local bookshop.

The downside of print books is that they might only sit on the shelves for a few weeks before they get returned, which is a small window of opportunity for enabling your book sales to take off. E-books can potentially have a worldwide readership and be around for many years. They enable you to niche very effectively when you categorise and promote your book. Play with the price points and keep an eye on the Amazon algorithm as it changes from time to time.

Hire a professional book cover designer.

Covers make so much difference as to whether a book will sell or not, so find a professional book cover designer – one who specialises in publishing, not just graphic design. The genre must be clear so that the cover will reach the right reader. It must work well both as a thumbnail (for eBook display purposes) and as a full sized print cover. Finding the right designer is key. Have a look at their portfolio, and if you like it, get together with them to see if you like and trust them enough to work with them.

Contact all the people on your database.

Tell them that your book has been published; if they are on your database, you already know that they are interested in you and what you do. What, you don’t have one? Well now’s the time to start. Email your fans, friends, family and colleagues and get them to sign up. You’ll have to offer something in return, though. How about the first 3 chapters of your book? Your readers might be sufficiently impressed to go and buy the book. If they enjoy what they’ve read, encourage them to leave you a review online.

A book recommendation

There are plenty of other areas in which you can promote your book, but these ideas will get you on the right track.

AREAS TO CONSIDER

Who, What, Where, Why, How, When?

WHO are your ideal readers?

WHAT do you want to tell them?

WHERE is your target market?

WHERE do they shop?

WHY would someone want to buy your book?

WHY do YOU want to publish a book?

HOW much is it going to cost?

HOW will you pay for it?

HOW will you market it?

WHEN do you want to publish your book?