Kindle Create simplifies the process of publishing eBooks on the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. It offers several useful features, including:
Publishing for both eBook and print formats using a single tool.
The ability to preview eBooks on various platforms and devices before submitting to KDP.
A fast and consistent submission process, that avoids file format conversion.
Support for interactive content and graphic books.
Kindle Create is designed for ease of use and comes with four (4) high-quality themes to choose from. For text-heavy eBooks, it’s a great tool. However, when pushing the boundaries, there are some disadvantages:
Cover design is a crucial aspect of book publishing, but can challenge independent authors who manage every step of the process. While outsourcing to a professional is an option, the cost is not always recoverable through book sales. Alternatively, getting all the tools to create a cover design yourself can be expensive.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Canva offer tools to help you create usable covers, but lack features needed for a truly unique design. Limitations include:
Limited font support.
Limited placement control.
Limited support in end-products. E.g., Ebook, paperback, laminate hardcover, Hardcover with a sleeve.
Figure No. 1. Inkscape workspace of The Grand in paperback.
While the KDP calculator provides dimensions for visual elements, adding front and back covers separately requires precise dimensions and coordinates. Misplacing these elements may get the cover rejected for publishing.
This tutorial shows a cover creator how to create visible templates in Inkscape for both paperbacks and hardcovers. Cover creators need to create four (4) centred rectangles to achieve the desired result.
The #IndieApril movement on Twitter was a boon for independent authors, and this trend seems to have spilled into May. Overall, a good month for reviews for my latest dark fantasy release, The Van Helsing Paradox. In all, I caught six reviews on Amazon.com, and for your convenience they are included below:
Fast-paced, intriguing, and I love Clara as a protagonist.
Five-Star – 6 May 19 – A fantastic read!
I’d recommend reading, especially to those who love a good femme fatale or noir story!
Four-Star – 6 May 19 – Well written with a great plot
An exciting tale packed with adventure and interesting characters…
Five-Star – 22 May 19 – Supernatural thrills and a feisty heroine!
Entertaining and delightful and I look forward to reading more by this author
5-Stars – 23 May 19 – Entertaining and delightful story
This is a very creative, well thought out story
4-Stars – 23 May 19 – The Van Helsing Paradox, A Review
If you enjoy vampire tales, Indiana Jones, detective mysteries and all of that with a slice of horror, this book’s for you.
4-Stars – 27 May 19 – Horror meets Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones
Of note, two of the reviews were removed from Amazon.com. The reasons for which are unknown, and only found out when making this post, because my screen captures of reviews found, did not match what exists on the site now. Either way, I can’t complain. These are unsolicited and positive reviews, what more can a writer ask for?
The #IndieApril hashtag came into being on Twitter this year, and has proven to be a boon for indie authors like myself! Not only could we advertise our books more often, it also reached a greater number potential readers. So what does that mean for an author who gives their work away? Well for other than roughly one-hundred purchases in the month, four times the norm, and translated to a jump in reviews!
Overall, I managed to wrangle up five new reviews under Amazon.com this month. These were also unsolicited, well written, and positive!
For the curious, the reviews are below:
This novel features what I crave the most out of a story: a main character whom I love to follow!
Clara Grey: An intelligent action heroine I love to read!- 4 Stars – Mighty Tid
I had no trouble dropping into this word and enjoying the ride.
A Fun Read – 4 Stars – Reader Who Hikes
Clara, the main character, will be a favorite if you like the intellectual type of heroin that’s always ahead of the game.
Entertaining tale if you enjoy stories about monster hunters! – 4 stars – Samantha Kroese
Clara isn’t ordinary and it’s clear at a young age, she can kick undead arse.
Ghouls and undead monsters abound! – 5 Stars – Nick Braker
In any case, it’s an interesting read with several intriguing scenes and thoughts as well as what is revealed to be The Van Helsing Paradox itself
Interesting Theory of Static Individuals… – 4 Stars – Sahreth ‘Baphy’ Bowden
I am sure this trend will not continue beyond April 2019. Still, this was an interesting experiment to see unfold and remain curious to see if this phenomenon will be repeated next year.
In the mood for dark fantasy story about a girl who grows up to hunt things that go bump in the night? Learn why a gal has to look out for herself after all. So why not check out The Van Helsing Paradox for free? Get it now!
Amazon is separated into regional marketplaces. This is why you will find sites like Amazon.com (United States), Amazon.ca (Canada), and Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom). Not all goods can be purchased in a market outside of your own, and this extends to Kindle Ebooks. How does it work for readers sent to the wrong market? While the answer is nuanced, the end result is often lost sales.
Evelyn Chartres does an amazing job of guiding us through Clara’s journey into becoming a hunter…
Found this wonderful 🌟🌟🌟🌟 review for The Van Helsing Paradox on Amazon.com! The biggest surprise? This was for the paperback edition of the book! It gives me a warm feeling to know that one of my books is adorns someone’s shelf!
In the mood for dark fantasy novel about the life and times of a femme fatale hunter? Curious to find out why a gal has to look out for herself after all? Why not check out The Van Helsing Paradox for free? Get it now!
Besides, she nailed the pronunciation of Chartres! 😉
Curious about this dark fantasy free eBook? Want to know more about Clara Grey, the femme fatal hunter who is not afraid of things things that go bump in the night? Why wait! Get The Van Helsing Paradox now!
