My First Use of Amazon Create Space
I just hit the purchase button for 5 proof copies of my first book.
What a strange and exciting feeling.
Sure it took a while to write it. I actually wrote about 85% over a year ago and it sat on my computer until I could figure out what to do with it.
The next step was to load it on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) as I described in this post a few days ago. Can You Really Succeed With Books?
Finally, I dug a little deeper into an area I have heard about but had not ventured through its doors.
That area was Amazon Create Space.
A site where anyone can upload a book, design a cover, add their details and have real, hold in your hands, books printed.
It took a while last night to do some layout changes due to the size change from 8 1/2″ x 11″ to 6″x 9″, and then I realized I should have some intro pages and not dive right in.
Next came a couple of issues with some pictures I had and the number of pixels but in the end, it was submitted for approval.
The approval email came in today so I logged back in, checked for any concerns and ordered my proof copies.
I ordered 5 because that’s the most I could.
One will go on my bookshelf, not to make me look special or gloat or anything just as a constant reminder that I decided to do something and took the steps to do it, and there it is.
One will be for my wife, autographed of course, for supporting me along the way.
One will be for my parents, my biggest fans and I expect it to get a few miles on it as it makes the rounds of the local coffee shop. So I may have to send a second one so Mom can hold on to it.
I have some thoughts on the other one but I’m not set on that yet.
So you are probably wondering what the book is about? Self-help? How to live forever? The secret to the universe?
None of the above.
It’s a book to help people thinking of owning a Laundromat.
Nothing sexy, or Morning Talk Show worthy but that doesn’t matter right now because this book represents an accomplishment, a stepping stone. Another chapter in my life, pun intended.
And I can’t forget my kids. Will they read it? Maybe? I hope they at least give it a shot but the point is that the Gatekeepers are gone and they can do it too.
Now the hard part……..waiting for the books to arrive.
Ken
