Before submitting your formatting project, please read the sections below (especially the subsections about FRONT and BACK matter), so that I can give you the best book format possible. If you’d like assistance with creating your front and back matter, please let me know.

SPECIAL REQUEST FILES. If you’d like an RTF, Word file, or MOBI file, let me know.

Word files are available as of Nov 16, 2022 (when this new export feature was added to Vellum). Word files and/or RTFs make good backup files. RTF (rich-text files) can be opened by most word processors or simple text editors like Notepad or TextEdit. MOBI files are no longer used on Amazon KDP but are still useful on sites like Bookfunnel etc. Amazon KDP announced this change on March 15, 2021: “Starting June 28, 2021, we will no longer support files in MOBI, PRC or AZK formats when publishing new reflowable eBooks or updating the content for previously published eBooks.” 

1) MY RATES

• $50 for eBook only. You will receive a Kindle EPUB file formatted for Amazon KDP and (if you do not include the word “Amazon” in your back matter) a Generic EPUB file. Please let me know in advance if you plan to publish only on Amazon KDP or plan to also publish on iBooks/Kobo/etc. This flat-rate fee includes the addition of your book’s Amazon KDP sale-page link or a universal book link that contains multiple vendor links (if you don’t have these links up front but would like to email the links to me as soon as you do). If requested, I will also send you an RTF, Word file, and/or a MOBI (see note on “special request files” below). 
• $60 for Print book only. You will receive a PDF file with typeset margins, headers, page numbers, line spacing, etc. If requested, I will also send you an RTF and/or Word file (see note on “special request files” below).
• $90 for eBook and Print book. You will receive the files listed above.
• Box sets and collections are $20/hour (rounding up or down to the nearest 1/4 hour) or contact me to discuss a fixed rate. 

ADDITIONAL FORMATTING ASSISTANCE (at $20/hour, rounding up or down to the nearest 1/4 hour)

• If you have any complicated or time-consuming elements (as described in section 5), let me know before I begin your formatting project.
• If you’d like help creating (or would like me to review) your front and back matter, let me know before, during, or after your format. 
• Format updates. After your format is completed, if you need any updates or additions, email me at any time. 
• A formatting option. If you’ve already formatted a book using Vellum and would like me to update your Vellum source file (or review it and make suggestions for updates that I can do for you—or you can do yourself), contact me to discuss this option.

2) WHAT I PROVIDE…

• My how-to-review-your-formatted-files TIP SHEET featuring the free programs Kindle Previewer (for PC or Mac), Adobe Acrobat (for PC or Mac), and the Preview App (for Mac). 
• My TURNAROUND TIME is usually 1 to 2 days but will, of course, depend on what you send me, how quickly you review the files I send back to you, and the changes or additions you might request. Please check my Publishing Assistance webpage for my out-of-office days. 
• UPDATING formatted files I’ve created for you or Vellum source files. For every hour of work, the fee will be $20/hour (rounding up/down to the nearest 1/4 hour). Or email me a detailed list of updates, and I can provide a fixed-fee quote. Examples of updates? You (or your readers) find errors in your manuscript that you then want to be updated in your book files. Or you receive reviews and want them added to your book’s front and/or back matter. Or you write new books and want to include them in your previous book’s back matter.

3) WHAT YOU SEND ME (3 things)…

Before we start your project, make sure you read this section—and also 4 and 5.

• For eBooks, send me your eBook cover as a JPEG (or TIFF) of industry-standard resolution and dimensions. If you’re unsure whether your cover meets online vendors’ such as Amazon KDP’s dimension and resolution requirements, please contact your designer. Click here to view KDP’s eBook cover specifications. Click here to view Vellum’s eBook cover size recommendations.
• For print books, send me your print TRIM SIZE. If you’re unsure what to choose, I’d suggest 5 x 8 inches. My formatting software, Vellum, includes the following basic print TRIM SIZES (in inches): 5 x 8, 5.25 x 8, 5.5 x 8.5, and 6 x 9 (plus more specialty sizes). NOTE: Formatted print book files do not (like formatted eBook files) include the print book cover inside them, so no need to send me your print book cover. After I create your print book format, you will have a page count that you can give to your cover designer, and they will use this to calculate your print book cover’s spine.
• For eBooks and/or print books, send me YOUR COMPLETE BOOK FILE in one single Microsoft Word document (see the details below).  

4) YOUR COMPLETE BOOK FILE

Unless I’ve already completed a format for you, you’ll ideally send me a single Microsoft Word document (preferably .docx format but .doc is good as well) containing your front matter, manuscript, and back matter—in the ORDER you wish it to display, with the EXACT TEXT you want your readers to read.

• Why one document? Piecing together a format from multiple documents (or emailed text) takes time and may result in an additional fee. If you are unable to provide all of your content in one Word document, please let me know. We can discuss other options up front to streamline the process and avoid additional fees.
• If I’ve already formatted a book for you, then it’s often best if you choose the option where I use parts of the front and back matter from that previous format (I copy it from my Vellum formatting program) and you send me a Word document with ONLY a title page (with Book Title, Series Title—if any, and Author Name) + your ISBNs + your book’s chapters + any new or updated sections. NOTE: If you plan to include a dedication, acknowledgments, author notes, and excerpt(s), these will probably be new for each book. If they are new, add these as well to your Word document (in the order you wish them to appear in your format).
• Your eBook’s TABLE OF CONTENTS will be generated from the EXACT TEXT that you include in 1) the chapter headings in your manuscript and 2) the titles you include before each element in your front matter and back matter. Please refer to the bullet points listed below for what these front and back matter titles might be. The bullet points below may be titled whatever you want. NOTE: If you’d like a Table of Contents in your print book, please let me know. 
• Consider NOT using the words “THE END” in your format. Due to certain electronic-book retailers’ practices, it’s best to not include these words after the last line of your last chapter or epilogue. Instead, add a call to action. If you need more details on this, please ask—but first, read the Afterword or Dear Reader paragraph in the Back Matter section below. 
• MS Word’s track changes and/or comments. If you’ve been using these, then for the best formatting results, please ensure you’ve accepted or rejected ALL of these (and not just hidden them from display) before you email me your Word document. If you need assistance with this, please ask.

Front Matter

• Book Title, Series Title (if any), and Author Name. These 3 parts will make up your book’s title page.
• Copyright. May go in your front or back matter—or some authors chose to put this in their eBook’s back matter and their Print book’s front matter. Please include your ISBNs on your copyright page. For more on ISBNs, go to ISBN Canada or the U.S. ISBN Agency.
• Praise for [insert your Author Name or Book Title or Series Title] or Reviews for [insert your Author Name or Book Title or Series Title] (optional). May go in front or back matter. This promo section could include book reviews for one or more of your books or series. 
• Bonus Content (optional). Listing a free book for your newsletter subscribers.
• Dedication (optional). May go in front or back matter; or may go in an eBook’s back matter and a Print book’s front matter—author’s choice.
• Foreword, Preface, or Introduction (optional)

Manuscript

With SCENE BREAKS consistently marked with special characters such as two or three asterisks ( ** or *** ) or number/pound sign characters ( ## or ### ). Please do not leave any of your scene breaks as blank lines because this (more often than not) leads to confusion about whether the blank line is a scene break or is there by mistake. NOTE: if I’m asked to add a large number of scene-break characters AFTER starting your project (meaning they have not been included up front in a manuscript), then this would fall into the category of Complicated or Time-Consuming Elements listed in section 5. 

Back Matter

• Afterword or Dear Reader or A Note from [insert your Author Name] (optional but most authors include this, so you should consider doing so as well—and it can be titled anything you want or not given a title and included immediately after the last line of your last chapter or epilogue). This is where you can get personal with your readers (as if you’re having a conversation with them). Thank them for reading the book and present them with a call-to-action such as… 1. Share with your readers why reviews are important to authors like you and include links directing them to your book (or to your author pages) on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, etc. AND/OR 2. Encourage your readers to sign up for your newsletter and include a link to where they can. 
• Excerpt(s) from another story (optional). Ideally, the excerpt is from the next book in a series. Invest time in ending your excerpt on a hook that will entice your readers to purchase the book (and include a link to where your readers can purchase the book). 
• Acknowledgments or Acknowledgements (optional). For more on the spelling difference (with or without the “e” after the “g”) click here 
• Author Notes (optional). Added extras, story or research notes, etc.
• Also by the Author (optional but most authors include this section, so you should consider doing so as well). If you have additional books, include each book’s title, the series name if in a series, and if the book has been published, then include a sales link where it can be found—or if not currently published, then you might include the text “coming soon” or whatever you prefer. 
• Praise for [insert your Author Name or Book Title or Series Title] or Reviews for [insert your Author Name or Book Title or Series Title] (optional). May go in front or back matter. This promo section could include book reviews for one or more of your books or series. 
• About the Author (optional but most authors include this section, so you should consider doing so as well). This section would include your author bio. And if you have them, links to your website, your social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., and your author pages on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, etc. This is the place to connect with your reader on a personal level and build your author brand. Do not make your author bio bland or like a resume. You want to capture your reader’s interest with your creativity. Include accolades such as awards won or bestselling ranks but if you do, be brief. Questions you might answer in your author bio:
  • Who are you?
  • Where are you from (now and/or in the past)?
  • What inspires your writing?
  • What do you care about in life?
  • What do you do for fun?
• The list of what you might include in your back matter is endless and might also include indexes, glossaries, appendices, and endnotes/footnotes. Please see Complicated or Time-Consuming Elements below.

5) COMPLICATED OR TIME-CONSUMING ELEMENTS

If your book has elements such as the ones below, then the formatting process may take longer and require an additional fee of $20/hour (or a set fee agreed upon before the start of your project). Communication is everything. Please try to let me know about any complicated or time-consuming elements up front. PLEASE NOTE: I use Vellum. And while Vellum is wonderful and can do a lot, it’s not like InDesign, which can do almost anything. But Vellum is a lot less expensive than InDesign, which is why I can offer my formatting services at such a low price.

• Lists, indexes, glossaries, appendices, endnotes/footnotes, special indenting (seen more often in non-fiction than fiction). Note: tables created in Word can not be imported into Vellum, so please change your tables to something else (like a list) BEFORE submitting your Word document for formatting. 
• Many LINKS (not including the links found in your front and back matter). 
• Many BLANK LINES in your Word document (that will need to be removed before the format can look professional).
• Many PICTURES (more than your eBook cover & optionally your author photo. Unless I’ve previously formatted a book (with many pictures) for you, I am no longer able to do new formats that will require the addition of 10 or more pictures).
• Many FONT COMBINATIONS in one format. In my formatting package, Vellum, the body of the formatted text cannot include multiple font TYPES or SIZES. Basic typographical emphasis (italics, bold, underline, small caps) can be included. But if (for example) you need your paragraphs to be in different font TYPES (some in Times New Roman and some Palatino) or SIZES (some larger or smaller), then unfortunately Vellum cannot create this type of book format for you.
• Additions requested AFTER the project has started, such as adding/removing any of the above, adding numerous scene-break characters, or making line/copy/proofreading edits.

6) RECOMMENDATIONS

“Jacqui Nelson has been my go-to assistant ever since I started my KDP journey on Amazon 3 years ago. Not only does she format my books, she assists with countless other niggling details like updating back matter so I have more time to write. Jacqui’s attention to detail is second-to-none, and she helps keep me organized. Her turn-around time is very fast, and with Jacqui’s help I never have to worry about messing things up or missing a pre-order deadline.” ~ Kathleen Lawless, USA Today Bestselling Author.

“You keep writing and Jacqui will take care of your book formatting and everything in-between. Her constant high-level professionalism is second to none. She is thoughtful, caring and delivers top-notch results” ~ Marion Ann Berry, author of Behind the Kitchen Doors ~ The Summers.

“Jacqui is a gift to every novelist. Her efficiency and knowledge made laying out my book easy and informative. She handles her craft with mastery and I felt confident in the process every step of the way. With my book in Jacqui’s hands, the layout stage was fun rather than stressful. I was absolutely thrilled with the results and I would hire Jacqui again in a heartbeat.” ~ Kate Tremills, author of the Great Lands Series.