Easy Add-Ons Made to Order
It’s done! I’ve loaded up my manuscript, exactly as I want it to be presented. I’ve selected and uploaded a cover. All the blanks are filled in and all the boxes are checked. I’ve decided how I want my book to look on the outside and the inside. The proof copy is downloaded. And I’m smiling!
Now, Draft2Digital zings in with that tempting morsel. They might as well ask if I want fries with my burger or strawberry shortcake for desert.
Do I want a paperback to go with the ebook?
An actual physical, paper and ink copy – to hold in my hands, display on my bookshelf, sell to my friends, sign my name on the title page at conventions, even sell in my local bookstore…
Well, Duh!
This is probably the easiest decision of all.
Check the box, and D2D takes all the information already entered and used to design the ebook and creates a paperback. Of course there are checkpoints in the process where I can edit or insert something new. They made a full wrap cover from the ebook cover, putting the title and my name on the spine as well adding the blurb, an author photo, and bio on the back. But I could also stop the process at any point and insert my own full wrap cover as well as edit to make design changes for the interior.
I have to say I was pleasantly impressed with the way both the ebook and the physical print copy came out. I’ve received compliments on the paperback and I think it looked great.
The final piece of the process is setting up the sales points for the book. After I set the price I wanted for both the ebook and paperback, I got to select which sales outlets I wanted my books to go to. And there were a lot – including but not limited to the big ones like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple. There were also subscription services, library services, and wholesale outlets. Being a total novice at ebook sales, I just selected every digital sales outlet that D2D offered. The paperbacks are printed on demand. But D2D guided me through each step of this process, too.
Draft2Digital tracks, records, and manages the sales and royalties, with graphs, charts, and statements. Payments are made quarterly into whatever bank account is chosen and entered into My Account page. There is also an author dashboard where all my books are listed, and provides easy access to information about each one.
Draft2Digital served my purpose well. I would definitely recommend it for anyone considering a self-published book. I won’t hesitate it use it again for future books in my
True Ghost Story series. Now that I’ve been through the process once, I anticipate it will be even easier next time.
What’s Next? The annual reconciliation – where did we just come from and where are we headed. We are at the Crossroads, after all.
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