How to format Kindle ebooks - title page

There are a lot of complicated guides out there to help you format your Kindle ebook (or Smashwords who supply B&N, Apple etc) so I wanted to create a super simple step-by-step guide that will make your Word doc uploadable quality ready for publishing.

In this installment you'll learn where to put your title page, any why you need one, with examples and tips.

In coming installments I'll show you how to format the entire MS including first line indents, to break pages between chapters, and some trouble shooting tips. I'll also show you how to include the copyright page and 'back matter' with tips on what to include.

Okay, here we go with the title page and I'll pick up any differences between doing this for Kindle and for Smashwords too.

1. For Kindle, start with a title page which is the very first page in your book. This should be your title, then your author name. You might want to include other titles of yours that are available too, or the series title. This will look like this:

Illicit Magic
#1 Stella Mayweather Paranormal Series
Camilla Chafer

Also in the series:
Unruly Magic #2

Now you need to highlight and press the 'centre' button to centre the text. This is absolutely fine in Word and the centering will translate will to the actual Kindle page. I recommend a two line gap at the top of the page so that the text is centred without being too high or too low.

Just so we're clear, here's the 'illustrated' version:

Illicit Magic -- TITLE
#1 Stella Mayweather Paranormal Series -- SERIES NAME
Camilla Chafer -- AUTHOR NAME

Also in the series: --OTHER BOOKS IN SERIES
Unruly Magic #2--ANOTHER TITLE AND ORDER IN SERIES

 

So why include these elements? For three reasons. One, the title page acts as a buffer between opening the book and starting reading. Two, as a reminder of what the title and the author. Three, this page is downloaded as part of a reader's free sample and it will show them what other books you have available if any (if you don't have any, you might want to include your website address instead) - this is encouraging for readers who might explore your back list or purchase a series - 'upselling' is the word here!

Copyright: image

Comments

[Rita]

You mention how to display the Title Page information; however, you don't state whether or not the font (style and size) can be the same as it appears on the front cover of a printed paperback version. This would be helpful information, as well.

Also, can an illustrated cover be included at the beginning, or should it be left out?

Also, can Word documents be submitted for e-book conversion or must the manuscript be in another specific format?

Thank you!

[Camilla]

Hi Rita,

I can't give you a definitive answer on the font (especially without knowing which paperback you refer to) but I would suggest going for a 'clean' style such as Arial in point 12 size. You may want to bold the title on the title page or put it in a .14 size. Fancier fonts don't always convert well so I like to keep it simple.

After writing this post (July 2011), Kindle made it possible for them to include the bookcover in the downloadable file by checking a box in KDP. Smashwords automatically add it. I don't know about B&N. You can also add it yourself using the picture insert feature in Word. I've seen the cover included at the beginning or at the end of the file. Readers seem to like it. As a reader, I certainly like to get the book cover with the download.

Personally, I upload a Word doc file but many people swear by converting to HTML then uploading that HTML file. Whatever you do, make sure you check the file in Preview prior to publishing and also download the free sample to doublecheck the appearance after publishing.

Good luck with your endeavours!

[Brandi]

Really like the blog, appreciate the share!

[@galactick9loafr]

I'm contiually confused between the term "Cover" and Title Page. The former is a picture that uploads separately under KDP.

The title page is something either typed as shown by your example or is it furnished by "Amazon" from information encofurnintered in the upload process?

In short -- Do I include it in the upload or trust to "Amazon" or perhaps specify what I want?

[Pete]

Hi
I recently tried converting my stpry to an ebook.
The text of the title page sat nicely in the middle of the page. When I converted to html and previewed the book, the copyright page and dedication pages (pages 2 and 3 after the title page)the text sat high up on each of these pages.
I went to layout and aligmnet, centred them and centred the text with the button on the main toolbar, but the text still sits high up on these two pages.
I'm using Word 2010 and converted the doc. to webpage filtered as recommended on Amazon.
There are page breaks after the text on each of these pages. The chapters of the book are ok, just the text on the second and third pages.
Any idea what this may be?

Regards

Pete