Aaron Shepard
Aaron Shepard’s Publishing Page
The NEW Business of Self Publishing
~ How to Publish Books for Profit with
Online Book Marketing on Amazon,
Print on Demand from CreateSpace and Lightning Source,
and Do-It-Yourself Book Design ~


What’s New? | Contact Aaron


Here are free resources for the new business of self publishing, all from author/publisher Aaron Shepard of Shepard Publications and Sales Rank Express. Learn how to publish for profit with online book marketing on Amazon.com, print on demand by CreateSpace and Lightning Source Inc., and do-it-yourself book design in Microsoft Word or any other word processor or page layout program. Good luck in your publishing!

Please note: This page is provided as a courtesy to the publishing community. However, Aaron cannot offer private help to new publishers or technical assistance with Microsoft Word. Sorry!


General


Aaron’s Publishing Blog

News and views, with updates for Aiming at Amazon, POD for Profit, and Perfect Pages.


Lightning Source, CreateSpace, & Print on Demand


In Pursuit of Plan B

Dealing with the reduced availability of Lightning Source books on Amazon.com (with a strategy for maintaining profits). If you have come to this site for updates regarding Lightning Source, please read this first.


Lightning Source 101

A primer on Lightning Source Inc. and its role in print on demand and self publishing.


Is Lightning Source Cheating You?

What it means when Amazon sales don’t match Lightning Source reports.


CreateSpace Connections

Lightning Source, Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and the Expanded Distribution Channel.


Better Color from Print on Demand

How to improve color accuracy, contrast, and vibrancy in POD book covers and color books.


Living Within Limits

How to deal with Lightning Source’s 240% total ink limit on book covers.


Saving The Sea King’s Daughter

How one intrepid children’s author reprinted his own picture book by self publishing with POD.


The Stigma of POD

A hard look at the discrimination against print on demand by Barnes & Noble and other bookstores.


Amazon.com & Online Book Marketing


Linking to Amazon

How to create the shortest, simplest links to your books on Amazon.com.

Amazon Etiquette

Minding your manners on Amazon.com.


Microsoft Word & Do-It-Yourself Book Design


From Word to Kindle

How to format a text-only document in Microsoft Word and convert it to a Kindle ebook—for free.


Books, Publishing, and Word 2007

Do you really want to “upgrade” to a later version of Microsoft Word?


A Typesetting Gallery

Type samples from desktop publishing programs and word processors.


And More . . .


Articles Archive

Older articles by Aaron.


A Publishing Bookshelf

Good books for getting into the new business of self publishing.


About Aaron’s Publishing Books

Info on Aaron’s own books on self publishing, Amazon, Lightning Source, and book design.


Aiming at Amazon Hall of Fame

Books self-published with the help of Aaron’s book.


Other Publishing Resources

Self publishing, book design, print on demand, and online book marketing.