Self Publish Your Book 3 Ways on KDP.Amazon.com

Kindle Digital Publishing (KDP) now offers hardcover books (with a case laminate cover) as an option for authors who self publish their print-on-demand books. Previously Amazon’s KDP only offered paperback books which are not ideal for coffee table / photo feature books.

Over the years many of the authors I have helped publish have wanted to offer a hardcover version but without the expense normally associated with this option. Usually the author would have to order a certain number of books, store and sell them. Now, Amazon’s KDP allows authors to create a hardcover version of their book as a print on demand book! That means, no additional production expenses out of pocket. Amazon does take their usual share of profits, however in exchange they offer a trusted global distribution system to sell all versions of your book: eBooks, paperbacks and now hardcover books, too.

What is Self Publishing?

In case you are considering whether to publish your book, it may be useful to know that self publishing is an avenue of publication of media by its author without the need to involve publisher. The term usually refers to written media, such as books and magazines, either as an ebook or as a physical copy in paperback or hardback using print-on-demand (POD) technology.

Trim Size

Now Amazon offers 16 trim size options for paperback books, and five trim sizes for any book you also wish to offer in hardcover:

5.5 x 8.5”
6 x 9”
6.15 x 9.21”
7 x 10”
8.25 x 11”

Page Count

Another difference between Amazon’s paperback and hardcover specifications is the page count.

Paperback can be anywhere from 24 to 828 pages
Hardcover must be between 55 and 550 pages

Design Your Cover

KDP has cover design software to design an elegant cover for your paperback and hard cover books. You will need to change your cover size for the hardback. Here are some tips:

Note that the case laminate covers Amazon produces are made of chipboard, and wrapped with laminated paper. Amazon does not offer the usual clothbound or dust jacket option you may be familiar with. As a result, be sure that your cover design wraps around the edges of your cover. Simply extend your design beyond the actual cover dimensions (this is referred to in the industry as “bleeding”).

The basic requirements for Amazon hardcover cover designs are:

Your background should extend 0.51” past the edge of the front cover;
All text and images should be 0.635” from the edge of the book; and
No text or barcodes should be within 0.4” of the spine.

Get Help from a Professional

Having trouble with the layout, or worried you are formatting your book or cover incorrectly? To ensure your book layout and cover look as good as possible, you can hire a book designer who can help maintain your ideal aesthetic while working within Amazon KDP’s rules.

Healing Time Books Publishing and Website Services

Healing Time Books helps authors utilize today’s digital technology to publish their books.

Contact info@healingtimebooks.com for help with your self publishing project.

Photo credit: Studio Media Inc on Unsplash

HTBphotos ‘Spring’ Series available exclusively on Dreamstime

In celebration of Spring with its budding plants, warm weather and longer days, we are pleased to announce HTBphotos ‘Spring’ Series by John and Katharina Notarianni, now available for purchase exclusively from stock photography provider Dreamstime.com.

HTBphotos Spring Series by John and Katharina Notarianni — HTBphotos ‘Spring’ Series by John and Katharina Notarianni

Tips on which stock photo license to buy for your marketing needs

Dreamstime.com offers Royalty Free stock photography, which is the most affordable and most popular license type of paid for stock photos. The “free” in Royalty Free means you don’t have to pay extra royalties. Instead you pay a one-time, flat-rate license fee, sometimes as little as 20 cents per image. You are entitled to use the image in a wide variety of uses such as on a website or a marketing brochure, a banner, in a video, etc. You have permission to use it unlimited times without paying extra royalties. This makes Royalty Free stock photography the best choice for budget-minded buyers.

If you plan to sell or distribute items, pay for an Extended License so you can use the stock photo on items to be distributed or sold further afield, such as on a mug or a t-shirt, or a digital media item.

Exclusive Rights are worth considering when you find a stock photo that is perfect for your company branding. Your exclusive license ensures others will not use the same image thereby securing your brand.

HTB photos on dreamstime

HTB celebrates 10 Years – Clients Testimonials

I am pleased that it has been 10 years since I founded my publishing and website design business and so it occurred to me to request written feedback from my clients. I am so glad I did! My heart is full of gratitude for the remarkable people I have had the pleasure of working with over the years. I am thankful for the opportunity to be of service to them.

Client Testimonials

Read what clients are saying about working with Katharina Notarianni of Healing Time Books and HTB Website Design (see Client Testimonials).

“…Due to a very well managed website and email server, I have received email orders from all around the world connected to my website and email accounts all connected to one. I am extremely happy with all the services Healing Time Books offers and would highly recommend their services for getting your business on the internet!” Ben Huber

“Katharina Notarianni has a powerful and intuitive way of helping you get your message across to your audience. It was fun and fulfilling creating my web presence with Katharina’s expertise…” Francis Parker

“…When Katharina appeared, she was a dream come true. Here was someone who knew the ins and outs of publishing, she did it for her own books and was willing to help me with my several books…” Dr. E. Reenah McGill

“I can’t begin to say enough great things about Katharina. My website turned out exactly as I had envisioned. She was able to bring my creation to life…” Anne Marie Foley

“It has been a wonderful experience working with Katharina Notarianni… I came to the experience a novice to business websites, and tech. She answered all of my questions with patience and mentoring giving me the needed information to make choices when I did not have the background to do so.” Cathy Stubbs

“When I asked Katharina to design and set up my webpage, I found her to be attentive to the way I wanted it. She brought to the table many creative suggestions that I could choose from and she also had a very good feel for what would work well for my audience and customers…” Siri Ekman

“I am especially indebted to Katharina Notarianni, who, as Editor, Publisher, and Good Friend has made the details of putting together a book enjoyable. Her sense of design and ability to read my feelings when it comes to issues of a formal nature is very much appreciated. ” Richard C. Richards

“Healing Time Books does a great job of spotlighting authors and artists of all types, from painters to photographers, and poetry to wellness. The websites Katharina Notarianni designs are attractive and well-constructed, testaments to her wide range of talents in the realms of artistic, visual and digital media…” Paula Mangum

Healing Time Books Celebrates 10 Years

Healing Time Books and HTB Website Design celebrate 10 years of working with authors, artists and business professionals and non-profit organizations on branding vehicles such as books, websites, facebook business pages and stock photography solutions for their marketing needs.

To request a book publishing or website design project quote, please email info@healingtimebooks.com, or fill out the Contact Form.

21 Meditations From ‘Healing With Color’ by Tara Channel Katharina Notarianni

Tara Channel Katharina Notarianni - Healing with Color - - 21 day meditation process Looking for a new meditative process to make a difference in your life? ‘Healing with Color’ features a 21-day process, whereby you meditatively experience one specific color each day following guidance given by Tara:

“…With each color we explore, these twenty-one colors, we will express twenty-one versions of our self, each one working in a particular manner, each one having a particular impact on Soul and Spirit. And so you might say, it is a metaphor for how each of you are in your world. You are a unique expression. You will never be repeated, though you may feel as though you have taken on so much of your family, perhaps your mother or your father. On your journey you do discover that you are indeed a unique expression. And more and more you reveal to yourself your True Self. It becomes a quest, a revealing of the mysterious. For though you see many similarities between you and other people in your reality, once you discover what is the same about you, you are quick to go on to what is unique about “me.” And that is part of your destiny: to express and celebrate You, your uniqueness. It is a never ending journey. There is always more of you to reveal. For as you discover more of who you truly are, you do evolve. It changes you each time you discover something new.”

— from Healing with Color – Experience the Essence of Twenty-one Taras’ by Tara Channel Katharina Notarianni

Wildflowers at Borrego Springs by John and Katharina Notarianni

Wildflowers like these photographed by John and Katharina Notarianni in the Anza-Borrego desert near San Diego will be coming into bloom in the next few weeks. This is a great opportunity for photographers to capture flowering cacti, ocotillo and other subjects in the Southwest desert landscape.

Get HTB Photos on Dreamstime.com

‘Noname’ by Richard C Richards

‘Noname’

The moon sits on the owl’s shoulder.

The moon sits on the mountain’s shoulder

On this most unnatural night

As I feel my way among the images.

The owl is made of fire,

There is fire inside the owl,

His feathers sparkle with it.

There is fire within the tree.

The images blur and coalesce

With moon, owl and fire

Until there is nothing,

No image at all.

In the dark clear light of blankness

Only the sound of the owl: When?

When will the images coalesce?

Being a seer with no sight,

Being a god with no right,

Being a bird with no flight

Is damned hard work.

If I had known it was like this

I wouldn’t have gotten into the racket.

Richard C. Richards, circa 1970

From ‘Poems That Almost Got Away‘, published by Healing Time Books, is available on Amazon.com

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Healing Time Books makes publishing easy

Are you stuck? Need coaching on next steps? Having trouble figuring out how to convert your book into an eBook?

Find out how you can leverage Healing Time Books publishing services to publish your book. Please fill out this online contact form and we will get back to you right away: