e-Book Publishing

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

There are many different roads to travel before a Yoga book, or e-Book, is completed. Sometimes, a book is a published hard copy, which “collected dust” for years. Unfortunately, most authors do not actively pursue the marketing of their book.

This marketing step can be more difficult than writing a book. In fact, Yoga is a niche market in the publishing world. Keeping your book on the shelves of book stores, and wholesale dealers, is a marketing task. This is why an author should also market from his or her web site.

On the other hand, the steps toward creation, publication, and marketing, are very unique because each of us thinks differently. The following questions and answers are in relation to two different authors with unique paths toward e-Book completion.

Q: After three years, I finally have the rights to my own book. My editors and publishers charged me over $2000 for my book, and I earned a little more than $200 in royalties from my book sales. Now, I want to try e- Book publishing. I have trusted, ethical partners who will help me market my book from their sites, for a 50 / 50 split in book sales.

I’m sending you a rough copy of my book. I had to redo it from scratch, in Word, because my editors misplaced the original copy in their archives. I hope that this could work for an eBook. Please send me your comments.

A: Unfortunately, authors often lose money in book deals, where they have to provide the initial investment. On top of that, I am so sorry to read that your editors misplaced your manuscript, and you have to type it again.

A copy of your Yoga book, in Microsoft Word, will be fine. It makes it easier for us to work with, and you have a duplicate copy for your records. When your Word document is typed, proofed, and edited, please feel free to convert to PDF, or send it to us in Word, for a review.

Q: I have an unedited manuscript that is complete. It does not have an outline or a table of contents. What is more important at this point, inserting the pictures, separating my chapters, or creating the table of contents (outline)?

A: Authors and publishers have three basic strategies for the use of pictures, charts, and diagrams.

1. To help the reader better understand the subject.

2. To retain the interest of the reader.

3. To make the chapters look more complete (filling in blank space).

With all of these ideas in mind, you might be best to separate your chapters after drawing up your table of contents, which will serve you as an outline. The outline is usually the first step before a manuscript has taken life.

However, the outline is not carved in stone. You may have designed another chapter that should have explained the gap between two chapters. What you have done is the hardest part first, which is often never finished.

At this point in your Yoga e-Book creation, please take the following steps.

1. Create your table of contents (outline).

2. See if your copy flows, and separate your chapters accordingly.

3. Add your pictures – for all the reasons above.

4. Proof it by reading, and saying the words out loud, slowly.

5. Ask your close friends if they can offer any constructive opinions after reading your book.

6. Design a first, second, and possibly third page, before the table of contents. The first page contains your title, your name, and a photo. The second page shows credits, your copyright (use your name and company), and your contact information. Sometimes, I add a disclaimer on the second or third page.

7. Send it to your editor, publisher, or self publish.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications