Things to think about when typesetting a paper book

In a previous post we mentioned how ebook layout might differ from the layout of printed books, but what should we think about when formatting a printed book? Headers and footers. In a printed book you will probably want to include page numbering at the footer of the page, as well as having a header […]

What to include on the back cover of your book

The back cover (or online wording) of a book is extremely important for any book sold. It is often the deciding factor once a front cover has caught the attention of a potential reader. As a result it is important to get across the right information. About the book blurb/synopsis: This is a brief description […]

What should you include when writing your book?

When writing a book you might be unsure on what to include. Below are some ideas of what you might include or like to think about including: A dedication – who you are dedicating your book to. Try not to be too cheesy! Acknowledgments – people you would like to thank for helping or […]

How to Write a Book – Fiction & Non-fiction

This is all about a potentially damaging myth

Cutting Corners Cuts Sales

Writing a book is a significant piece of work so it’s understandable that authors look for ways to get the job finished sooner rather than later. However, some corner cutting has unfortunate consequences. If you want your book to be worthy of you and to have the quality that will attract readers and generate sales […]

eBook File Basics

The most widely adopted format for eBook files is ePub which is the international standard. ePub files can be read using FREE APPs on PCs, Macs, iOS and Android. Most specialist eBook reader devices are designed to work with ePub files. ePub files can also be loaded onto KDP for use on Amazon's proprietary Kindle devices. ePub files are normally produced from files already created for the production of paper editions, with Adobe Acrobat (pdf) files being a very popular source.

A common misunderstanding

Ebooks are not just like electron copies of paper books as you would get from a scanner. Unlike printed books which have fixed dimensions and a sequence of pages, ebooks have a variable format and don't actually have pages in the conventional sense. They are akin to websites where what you see on the screen depends on a number of factors especially the kind of device and software you are using. This provides great flexibility for the reader. For example, a person with poor eyesight can switch to a large font size. For this reason it is unwise to attempt to force a fixed format on an ebook's contents with the exception of images which need to preserve their own proportions.

If you have written a book and require ebook conversion services we can help.

We can convert your book (from a MS Word or PDF document) to an epub file and ensure the file is free from errors that might prevent it from being published on places like Google Play and Kobo library. Most platforms (e.g. Amazon, Kobo, Nook etc) require an epub file for upload. If you need any other file format please contact us and we can discuss this with you.

If you are a publisher or printer requiring regular ebook conversions we can offer you a reliable and cost effective service based on an an agreed and straightforward tariff.