Independent Publishing FAQs

Documents: How to Prepare the Manuscript | Description of  Services | Book Design Process

Interior Book Design:

Q: How much should I expect to spend for interior formatting of a typical print paperback novel ?

Answer: Book formatting and design fees are all over the board in independent publishing. The going rates can be between $200 and $1500 for the interior design of a lightly formatted book. For cover design you can expect to pay between $100 and $3500.

We, at MyBookDesigner, charge about $400 for the interior design for paperback, of an average 62,000 word manuscript (100% text, like fiction). Get a more accurate quote for your type and length of manuscript, today.  Get a quote…

Q: How do I get my book printed and/or selling on Amazon, with other booksellers, or even on my own website?

Answer: MyBookDesigner offers free consulting about independent publishing when you contract with us for formatting or cover design services.  We will advise you about print-on-demand and how to get your book on Amazon or to other booksellers. We prepare books for printing with popular print-on-demand companies like Lulu.com, Diggypod.com, Createspace, Lightning Source, Ingram Spark or your choice of printer. Besides the printing of your books, there’s the selling. Many authors sell on their own sites.

Q: Is it better to get my manuscript formatted for print or an eBook? If both, then which one first?

Answer: MyBookDesigner has services for both print formatting and ebook conversion. Everyone knows that the eBook market is growing, but rest assured that 70% of the readers still read books in print. Our opinion is that for credibility as an author you still go to print, and better yet, offer both formats. It is a common opinion that if a book is in print then the author is a “real writer”. We can begin formatting either version first. Our pricing offers up to a $100 discount when purchasing both services simultaneously. Read more about eBook formatting or conversions

Cover Design

Q: How do you design my book cover? What’s the process?

Answer: We will have a phone interview to discuss your book; to get a feel for the subject and content. You can provide a synopsis as well as your ideas for the cover. Often the author has an image in mind. We direct you to websites to look over images which may be purchased for the cover. Sometimes the author finds 2 or 3 images from which we create a composite image. Then, we email a pdf sample layout, discuss it with you and make 1 or 2 revisions before we have the final. Some authors want to look at 3 or more designs right from the beginning (there are package options). All covers are custom designed; we never use templates.

Q: Do you use the same cover for an eBook version?

Answer: Increasingly, covers for ebooks are not exactly the same as for their print version. The reason for this is the way they display. It’s best to design a cover that displays well in its intended format, while adhering to the “brand” in order to be recognizable. MyBookDesigner will do whatever will work the best; use the same cover or slightly different.

Q: What is the cost of a book cover design?

Answer: Depending on who you go with, you can expect to spend $200 –$3500. What you spend on your cover has a lot to do with your business plan. We at MyBookDesigner.com offer several cover design packages, which all include design of the front, back and spine as a full layout prepared per printer specifications. All packages are custom designs, using no templates. You and choose to start with 1 cover design (Basic), or 3 (Premium) or 5 (Deluxe). Our Basic plan is 1 cover design with the option of 1 minor revision and starts at $180. Get a quote for your print and/or ebook cover design…

 eBook Conversion

Q: Is there a difference between an eBook with reflowable text and an eBook pdf?

Answer: The set up and formatting is the same up to a point. The fee to format is about the same. An eBook prepared for reading devices has reflowable text  which is helpful when using the device option of changing the font size. There’s code created to define how the manuscript looks and flows on the “page” of a device like Kindle or Nook. The file type is known as an epub or mobi file. These types of files can have links as in web pages, linking Table of Contents and hyperlinks to actual websites.  On the other hand, there’s a pdf eBook that is needed for reading on a monitor, with links, bookmarks and hyperlinks. This type of eBook is often a manual of some sort or an article, but can even be a book. It can be read on a reading device but it not reflowable type; each page is like a picture.  It can be difficult reading it on a device because it requires spanning and scrolling to view a full page.

Q: What is the fee if I just want an eBook and cover design?

Answer: Since every book is different and custom formatted at MyBookDesigner, there’s no price list to offer you. Similar to formatting for print we charge a basic set up fee of between $200-$500 and a per word fee depending on whether it’s primarily text, text with other special handling elements, or primarily images like a picture book. Cover design for eBooks starts at $150. Contact for a quote…

Q: Do you prepare and upload the files to my choice of eBook seller?

Answer: MyBookDesigner can upload the files for you, but many of our clients would rather do it themselves when they set up an account with their personal and bank information. We provide instructions to help you out, but have also done it together during a conference call. It’s actually very simple.

Other Graphic Design Services

Q: If I fulfill the book orders myself, I’d like to include a bookmark or postcard with the book. Is this something MyBookDesigner can do for me?

Answer: Absolutely. Our expertise is in print graphic design, as well as graphic design for websites and ad banners. We’ll design and order your printed marketing materials to be shipped to you ready to include with your many book orders.

Q: How much does MyBookDesigner charge for proofreading and graphic design services?

Answer: Graphic design services are billed by time. In this market you can expect to pay between $35 and $150 per hour. Our regular hourly rate is always $50/hr.

Copyright

Q: Does MyBookDesigner assume any royalties?

Answer: No. Any royalties on selling your book are yours and probably Amazon’s. When we complete our services designing, editing, preparing your book files for print and eBook, you make your final payment and no more. With the exception of course that you require post production editing or corrections.

Q: Do I own and control the copyright of my book?

Answer: Yes. Absolutely. Some independent publishing companies have another arrangement, but MyBookDesigner has no ownership of your copyrighted book and takes no royalties.

Q: Do I need an ISBN for my eBook?

Answer: An ISBN is not required for Amazon or B&N, but it is required for Apple, so it is best to at least assign a new ISBN to your ePub file if you plan to sell at the iBookstore. To purchase one or more ISBNs ($125+) go to http://www.myidentifiers.com or we can provide one  of ours.

Marketing

Q: Will MyBookDesigner.com market my book?

Answer: We are not a book marketing company, nor a distribution company. It will be up to you to market your book, but we can offer you suggestions.  Some authors hire a marketing firm when their book is printed for such promotions as book signings, and listing their books on “New” books directories, as well as optimizing their websites for discovery on search engines. *Note that some companies offer FREE ebook conversions and promise that you get 100% of the royalties when you contract with them to distribute their book… find out how they make their money. Nothing is free. Check our Blog page

Other Questions?

Q: Do you offer editing and proofreading services?

Answer: Yes. We primarily work on design and formatting of books from a format ready manuscript. Most manuscripts that come to us have already been professionally edited and thoroughly proofed.  If you need editing services, do let us know.  We’ll be glad to be of service with:

• developmental editing
• grammar editing
• rephrasing for readability
• manuscript proofreading
• thorough proofreading of the pdf book files

Q: I have a lot of questions. Do you charge for consulting?

Answer: When you sign a contract with MyBookDesigner for book design, ebook conversion or editing services, all consultation is provided at NO CHARGE. Also check out our blog page for more independent publishing information.
Or  Contact us during normal business hours.

Debbi, Just wanted to let you know how pleased Victoria and I were with the Epub formatting you did for us. It was a great experience and I am sure you get a lot of business as your service was great!
– Mark Varley, Cloud People and Other Scary Stories for Children by Victoria Varley

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