Publishing Your Christian Ebook

When you've completed your manuscript, you may believe it's time to publish. But don't rush into things. Has your manuscript been polished? Have you reviewed it carefully, gotten feedback and made any recommended changes? Have you had the book edited. Another pair of eyes is invaluable. It's good to get professional help, but even a volunteer sharp with writing and grammar may prove useful.

Before you publish, take time to review the manuscript and be sure it is as good as you can make it. Check for spelling errors, errors in grammer and -- of course -- clarify of expression and thought. Is your book well put together? Does it accomplish its mission? Is is clear and to the point? Or is it redundant?

When you can say yes to all of those, then you are ready to begin the process of epublishing. Read on...

If you want to reach readers through a variety of digital formats, Smashwords.com may be for you. It is free so price is no barrier. It's also fairly easy to do. The only thing it does not have is digital rights management (DRM), which means you are going to trust your readers not to give away free copies of your ebook. Or you won't mind it if they do.

To use DRM or not is one of your choices as an author. Those who favor it are trying to reduce theft and boost profits. You don't want to leave the key in the ignition so the car is easy to steal, that idea. Those who are against DRM say you should trust your reader. Most folks are honest and any who do not behave accordingly are going to give you some free advertising. Obscurity is the big obstacle to new authors, they believe, and DRM just makes your book harder to utilize when it has DRM.

Smashwords is in the latter camp. So if you want to publish on Smashwords, you don't have DRM. What they advise is a statement to readers that if they somehow obtained the book without paying for it, they should visit Smashwords and support the author's efforts.

For many of us, a statement like that may be sufficient. Maybe it is sufficient for some books, but maybe with others you don't want to take a chance. If you believe you are making it too tempting for folks to steal by not having DRM, Smashwords is not for you. But don't worry. There are more options.

On Smashwords, you'll be uploading a .doc file. Don't try to use an HTML or PDF file. They don't take them. Microsoft Word .docs are the preferred. So if you've used Microsoft Word to write your book, you are positioned for Smasnwords. It's easy to upload and let readers have access to your book.

At Smashwords, there is traffic so folks can find your book. But if you're not promoting it as well, you may not make any sales. You should know that in advance. A few links here and there from other websites will help people find your book. Having affiliates will help people find and buy your book. Promoting Smashwords as a website will help people find your book.

Now one of the most exciting things about Smashwords is the free distribution. To do this, you must be accepted into their Premium Catalog. Don't worry. It is free too. The only thing is you have to have your book formatted acoording to their specifications. This is just so retailers will be happy with you. The standards are not grievous. They are not unreasonable. So why not go for the gold?

You'll need a cover and you'll need to format it preferably in Microsoft Word. There is a style guide with explicit instructions. You can find it here. Follow it. Be prepared to upload and test your manuscript, maybe a few times. It's worth it. You can get accepted into the Amazon store, the Apple store, the Barnes and Noble store, Sony, etc.

Smashwords even throws in a free ISBN number if you want one. You also can supply your own if you want to be able to use the same ISBN number to sell your ebook in other venues.

Tapping into the huge Amazon.com market is a boon for any author, so why not take advantage of Amazon's offer to publish for the Amazon Kindle? With Amazon, you do have a choice to use digital rights management, if you prefer. So using Amazon is a go if DRM is important to you. It's an option, so it is not required, either.

Visit Amazon Digital Text to sign up for free. There's help available on the forum, so formatting should not be an obstacle to you. Amazon will give you global distribution and assign you an ASIN number which they use to track your book. The website will offer you instructions for getting started, formatting, and managing your titles and sales.

Do not think that just because you've made it to Amazon.com your book will sell. It is still very important for you to create interest in your book and drive traffic to the website to buy. And you will be sharing a portion of the proceeds with Amazon, so you may very well want to have several other sales venues available to you including your own website or blog, your church blog, and even a Squidoo website where you can claim an Amazon affiliate fee on any sales.

Just so you know, the Kindle format is not only just for those who have purchased an ereader. Kindle books can now be read on a number of other devices with a free application from Amazon. They can be downded here: Kindle for PC, Kindle for iPad, Kindle for Mac, Kindle for iPhone, Kindle for Android.

As a new Christian, I realized I had missed out on many years of Bible study. I was behind, and I looked for a way to catch up. When I didn't find what I longed for, I wrote it myself.

This is that book, a book which encapsulated the biblical wisdom we need to start living the victorious Christian life. It is jam-packed with God's wisdom for our lives, wisdom we might have to learn the hard way.

I share practical lessons God taught me after I surrendered my life to him as an adult after suffering from a devasting disease. In this book, you'll learn the truths that set us free to truly love and forgive others, set aside pride, deal with tragedy and death, and lots lots more.

A non-denominational book based on the King James Bible, Fast Track contains 40 short lessons geared at all God seekers, but particularly new and young Christians.

Download a free preview here.

Publishing your own book is the fastest way to get your book in front of readers. What You Should KNOW About Self Publishing tells you how to get rolling. From start to finish, this book is packed with candid and useful advice about how to develop your idea into a salable book.

In this book, you'll look at: Art selection, researching and writing your manuscript, why editing is important, how to get free publicity, how to market your book, and -- most of all -- how to avoid costly mistakes.

Use this discount code at checkout and save: GS38M.

Learn more here.

Cheryl Rogers is a self-published author with several books on Smashwords and one book on Amazon. A former newspaper reporter, Cheryl now writes magazine articles for print and online publications as well as assisting authors with self publishing. She is active on Squidoo, Constant Content, and Elance, where she offers writing, editing, proofreading, layout and design and print brokering.

Cheryl has witnessed a great evolution in the media since she took her first newspaper job in 1977. In those days, she penned stories on a manual typewriter and took photos with a 35 mm using manual lenses. Soon afterwards, the newspaper world became computerized.

These days interviews can be conducted not only in person or over the telephone but through email. While some readers still prefer print news, others opt to receive their news over the Internet or directly into their Kindles and other reading devices. The revolution has impacted book publishers, who appear reluctant to take a chance on newbie authors. As a result, many self publish, some quite effectively. They are reaching out to readers through their websites and blogs, speaking engagements, through ebooks and sometimes print-on-demand books.

"It is challenging to be a writer these days," she says, "because you must wear many hats. But it is exciting, too, because there are many opportunities open to writers today that simply did not exist before."

One of those is the ebook, a fantastic way to reach others for Christ.

"It is my hope that this lens is helpful to you as you share the gospel with others," Cheryl says, "please let me know if I can assist you further."

Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, exagerrated tales of woe for youngsters, teaches there is a price to pay when you disobey! These modern day Jonah-style stories feature youths who have made bad choices and gotten themselves in a heap of trouble. The good news is: They turn to God.

This books delivers a lot of biblical truth in a fun and fictitious format, enabling kids to pray along with the youths in trouble for God's salvation and intervention in their lives.

"It is my goal to help others sidestep the emptiness that comes from not having God in their lives," says author Cheryl Rogers. "I know what it's like. I learned the hard way."

Learn more here. Download the preview.

Scriptural Pattern of The Holy Spirit by Rodney Mire. $5.99 from Smashwords.com
The Holy Spirit dwells in us 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We should find out everything we can about this Spirit. God gives us the Holy Spirit as a gift. All we need to do is receive and enjoy.

Pray What God Says by Christine Martin. $9.99 from Smashwords.com
"Pray What God Says" is a valuable resource that will help the believer gain a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer. Learn how you can: Develop unbroken communion and fellowship with God; Experience the manifestation of blessing in every facet of life by declaring the scriptures over your circumstances; Pray effectually for spiritual growth, family, health and finances.

Captivated Anew: Restored to Pursue Him by Linden Wolfe. $3.99 from Smashwords.com
God desires restoration for His people. He can mercifully "restore the years that the locusts have eaten" in our life. He wants us to pursue Him and He is infinitely worthy of that pursuit and the greatest treasure imaginable. I pray you are captivated anew as God restores you to pursue Jesus in all of His worth, His wisdom, and His ways.

Chapter 1, Verse 1 by Tom Allen. $4.99 from Smashwords.com
The Book of Revelation is not about physical death and destruction, it is about our spiritual death and resurrection. "Chapter 1, Verse 1" explains how and why the seven seals, trumpets and other symbols represent expressions of Christ within us as we experience the mystery of God.

Faith In The Grace by Michael Wilson. $24.95 from Smashwords.com
We are all children of God, and as such, we are all brothers and sisters of Christ, whether we have come to accept him as our savior or not. True Christianity is universal and unwavering. True Christianity is an opportunity given to all of God's children regardless of race or region. These are the lessons I taught my children.

Finding God: Biblical Answers to Questions about Our Maker, an ebook by your lensmaster Cheryl Rogers, is a book designed to help readers establish the most important relationship of their lives, the relationship with God. "When we don't know God, we are so vulnerable to lies," says Cheryl, "so I have written this book to encourage others to seek God."

The ebook covers important questions like who is God, who is Jesus, what God expects of us, how to find God and how to accept the gift of salvation. It is short and to the point.

"I came to know the Lord as the result of a devastating immune disorder," says Cheryl, "so I know what it's like to wonder if your prayers are being heard."

The ebook is free for a a llmited time at New Christian Books Online Magazine and at Smashwords.com with the coupon code SQ34D at checkout.

Marketing is an important part of a writer's job, especially these days. So while you are planning your publishing project, you need to think ahead to marketing and promotions. A good place to publicize your book is New Christian Books Online Magazine, a publication specializing in kingdom-building books.

New Christian Books is published by your lensmaster, Cheryl Rogers, as a service to Christian readers and authors. It's a place you, as an author, can post book announcements and excerpts. Post a pre-release announcement, a post-release announcement, and an excerpt to keep your name and book title in front of readers. Visit regularly and leave comments on the other books as well.

"It is my goal to make New Christian Books an online destination for readers and authors," says Cheryl Rogers.