Question about e-publishing process

[Melody]

Hi! I am in the process of editing my book. Once it is all edited, I will be ready to try to put it on CreateSpace. I'm excited and nervous. I found a graphic designer to design my cover, so I need to know my page count, and if it is on white or creme paper-does CreateSpace tell me this info? OR do I need to figure it out myself? The specifics are confusing, and makes me nervous :) !
Anyone out there able to give me some help on this?
thanks...

[Melody]

Lou wrote: "PS. I forgot to add: while having a print book is nice, your sales will be in ebooks."

Thanks. I'm new to all of this, and am now questioning what CreateSpace is actually for? I originally thought it was to make e-books and make it available to order in paperback (like i see on amazon when I order e-books). Am I wrong? I'm confused now. Should I make it available thru createspace and then also do KDP, Nook and Kobo (this won't let me enter my bank info)?
It's all pretty complicated-ugh. I just mainly wanted the e-book, then an option for people to buy paperbacks, because I know my family will buy those.

[Sabrina]

Hi Melody,

It's very easy once you get going, and then just follow instructions. Load it on to Amazon KDP first. Go through the process. Then slap it up on Smashwords, unless you are going to go with Amazon select, but that means no one with Nook or Kobo will be able to buy it. Once you get all that settled, you can go to Createspace. The more channels you have your book in the more options readers have. Some readers don't like ebooks, but it's nice to have and is something you can save until last.

[Sabrina]

Oh, I'll add. Smashwords distributes to iBooks, Kobo, B&N, and other formats. So it's nice to go through them. Saves a lot of time and they are easy to work with. They also provide free ISBN, otherwise you'd have to buy your own if you go direct through iBooks and B&N. But they can't distribute through Amazon until you sale 10k books. So just go through Amazon direct.

[Melody]

Sabrina wrote: "Oh, I'll add. Smashwords distributes to iBooks, Kobo, B&N, and other formats. So it's nice to go through them. Saves a lot of time and they are easy to work with. They also provide free ISBN, o..."

Awesome, all info I didn't know. Thanks! I appreciate any and all info I get off of these message boards. I love being able to talk to other people and get a feel for how to do things. :)
I know all the above offer e-books, which is what I want. Is Createspace the only one who offers print books? Or will Amazon offer it too, just at a high price? (I think I have seen e-books for $2.99 and print for like $14.99)
I am waiting on my cover right now, but as soon as that is done, I'm ready to get it out there! Ack...excited and nervous, and just want to do it right and the best way possible.
thanks!

[Melody]

Lou wrote: "You should publish to KDP directly, since it's pretty easy and it's likely to be about 70% of your sales. You can publish your book in ebook format to Amazon going through Createspace, but you shou..."

Thanks. I just noticed last night about making it KDP format through Createspace, and it cost money to do that. I thought, um, why would I do that when I can do it myself for free?
I'm slowly learning the ropes here and truly appreciate any and all help/suggestions. Thanks! :)

[Sabrina]

Melody wrote: I know all the above offer e-books, which is what I want. Is Createspace the only one who offers print books? Or will Amazon offer it too, just at a high price? (I think I have seen e-books for $2.99 and print for like $14.99)

Happy to help, Melody! It's a bit intimidating at first, but easy once you get hang of it. Once you put your book on Createspace and go through the proof process and all, then it will have something like... make it available on Amazon. That's when you click no. But then something comes up where it asks you why (I think). And there is option to click that says: ebook already available on Amazon.

It will automatically link your books on the Amazon site. So you will have the usual box with available versions, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Thread-Tangle-L...

If they don't link the paperback and ebook page within 48 hours, they ask that you email them via 'contact us' and then they will manually do it. Hope that helps.

[Sabrina]

Oh, and Melody. I don't know what you are using to format your book, but Scrivener is super easy to use and formats for .epub, .mobi, and paperback off one document. Highly recommend the program for anyone who is going to self-publish.

[Melody]

I did it! Got it on Amazon, Smashwords and Createspace! I even made a Goodreads option for the book to be added to peoples TBR lists! Thanks for all the help, guys. Really!