Harlequin Intrigue Romances

PENINSULA WOMAN: Writers' group has its ways with words

E-publishing: A step at a time

■ Step 1: Decide your goal. Who is it for? Family and friends or everyone in America?

Are you willing to invest in some marketing? Study! A Google search can tell you lots. And remember: The e-bookstores have hundreds of thousands of books. Nobody will find yours if you don’t market it. And nobody will recommend it if you haven’t done the basics of quality writing.

Make sure it’s free of typos.



■ Step 2: If you are trying to do it for free, there is a site called www.smashwords.com. However, keep in mind the old adage that you get what you pay for.

Instead, you can go to a site like www.ebookit.com. For about $150, they will do the file conversions — which you need to have for your book to be on Kindle, Nook and the other e-bookstores.

And for another $50, they will help you with a cover for your e-book. Then, for a small percent of sales, they will place your book in all the online stores for you.



■ Step 3: If you prefer total control, you can do everything yourself, from getting ISBN numbers and copyrights to hiring an editor or proofreader.

Each e-bookstore has its own requirements. For Amazon and the Kindle, go to https://kdp.amazon.com. For Barnes & Noble, go to http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com.



■ Step 4: Finally, plan on some marketing unless your book is for family and friends only.

The basics include social marketing in all its forms.

I have my best luck with a website and blog at www.
lindabmyers.com.

Others swear by Facebook and Twitter. You can start a free blog with Blogger or Wordpress. And let’s say your book is about a specific subject like tree surgery.

Start commenting on nursery websites, and you may be invited to become a guest blogger in that category. Be sure to mention your book.

Linda B. Myers PORT ANGELES — Books, as different from one another as children, are born here.