How To Publish Anything On Amazon's Kindle

I have been a writer and journalist for quite a while, and have started to consider eBook publishing to Kindle as a viable option for some of my writing. When searching for good advice on Kindle publishing, I found Amazon's documentation to be too sparse, so I started looking for Kindle books that might be a good primer for me.On the high end was Joshua Talent's eBook, which I enjoyed the sample of, but which at $9.99 seemed a bit intimidating. When looking at other, less pricey alternatives (I didn't want to spend more if I didn't have to) I stumbled across Randy Benjamin's book at $2.99Now, price isn't everything; sometimes you get what you pay for. But after reviewing the free sample on my Kindle for PC app, I decided I appreciated his practical, unpretentious voice, and decided to give this book a shot.I can say I was not disappointed; sure, this book doesn't contain reams of information on formatting secrets like Josh Talent's book, but as I am primarily an author of religious essays and suspense/murder mysteries, I don't produce the sort of work that needs high-tech solutions like how to format pull-quotes on Kindle.What I needed was a more verbose primer in the basics of Kindle publishing, and that's exactly what Randy Benjamin provides.About my only major complaint is that, as a book originally published in 2008, I was afraid the information I found here would be a bit dated; it is to a degree, as there is no talk of the most recent editions of the Kindle (such as the new KindleDX) and how that affects Kindle publishing, though I trust an update will eventually be forthcoming.I would also like to see Benjamin update this book to talk about other 2010 developments, just so I know I have the most up-to-date information available. For example, Kindle I and Kindle II apparently only had 4 levels of grayscale... are the current batch of Kindles similarly limited? Or has the level of greyscale been improved in more recent models?That being said, Benjamin's book is an excellent starting point for the indie author/self-publisher, and while the tome is thin, it covers all the practical advice necessary to start someone off in the right direction, at a user-friendly price.Eventually, I may want pick up a book with more formatting details; but unless someone has a complex manuscript, those pricer titles aren't really necessary, and could even prove intimidating to a newcomer.I will say that a third book I looked at on this topic (not one of Benjamin's or Talent's) was a real turn-off because even in the sample I downloaded, he did nothing but complain in his book about the limitations of DTP and what it CAN'T do. (I won't name names...)But that's what I appreciated about Benjamin's book, also; while acknowledging the limitations of DTP, he nevertheless maintained a generally helpful and positive, solutions-based tone. Far better job than some have done.

This book should be on the shelf of every author!Randy Benjamin has boiled down the process of submitting a book for the Digital Text Platform of Amazon. He uses plain (non technical) language to explain the process in detail. Submitting an e-book to Amazon is really not that big of a deal! Randy explains everything!I first bought the printed version of Randy's book, as I had no Kindle then. When I got my Kindle, it was for the purpose of previewing my own book before submission. But the first e-book I bought was "How to Publish Anything on Amazon's Kindle" by Randy Benjamin.Getting a Kindle was Randy's idea, and a good one at that! Being able to preview my own book and make any necessary adjustments, turned out to be a real benefit!I never believed that I would have a website of my own, but thanks to Randy I now have one! Now there is a place where I can direct potential customers to a place where they can see the front cover, read the description and hopefully purchase my book! Thanks Randy!I got the website in place before I submitted my book. Hated to wait, but I had already mentioned the website in my book, so I couldn't have readers go to an address I gave them, only to find the website didn't exist. I think it will be worth the wait! The website will be "up" for ten years and is renewable. I have high hopes! Thanks again to Randy!Randy helped me price my book so that I am eligible to get DOUBLE royalties! The final word is Amazon's, of course, but now at least I have a shot! Before Randy's input, there was no chance!He has also helped me to get "published" with other e-book companies, that I was previously unaware even existed!As a result of his writings and personal assistance, I now have my book listed in the Amazon catalog, with its own web page! Thanks again, Randy!Brad Crouch

I am no computer whiz, but Randy Benjamin makes "Publishing Anything on Amazon's Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook. Apple i Pad & iPhone, Personal Computers, Android Smartphones" sound like a walk in the park. Indeed, the way he describes this activity I could have done it while pushing triplets in a multi-level stroller as I smelled the roses--and changed three diapers.Benjamin has chosen "Process" one of the most difficult forms of essay writing. I taught College level English 1A for many years. I would make an assignment that sounded like a no brainer. For example, "How to Assemble a Kid's Tricycle on Christmas Morning." I collected the essays and found that of the thirty students in class I had only one student whose trike would have worked without causing the kid to have major bruises or a broken leg. I never did learn from the rest of the students why they all had so many parts of the vehicle left over.Benjamin does a great job of taking the reader by the hand and refusing to let (in my case) "her" make a mistake. Read this straightforward advice on creating an HTM file. "Bring up your book and click on <file> and <save as> (not save) at the top left of the page. A new menu will appear: at the bottom of this menu you will find two blank boxes. Move the cursor to the lower box, (save as file type) and click on the down arrow on the right side of the box. This will bring up a list of file types you can use while saving your document." Anyone can do that.I plow ahead. The instructions remain lucid. A day later, I have my manuscript ready to upload to Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, etc.Thank you Randy Benjamin for bringing me to this rewarding moment.Onward and Upward to Publication on Amazon.com and 70% royalty.

This book somehow opens up a veritable Pandora's box of ideas for the creative wordsmith who has no idea how to get his/her book(s)to the wider audience they undoubtedly merit! Pretty soon it is commonplace to burden your overcoat with notebooks to jot down every new idea that arises on bus rides,train journeys, long or short walks in the Malvern Hills, attending plays or concerts in pubs etc. People watching becomes a new art form and for the first time features on buildings ,overall panoramas, colours, weather systems and behavioural systems take on a different meaning. This changes one's own philosophies and indeed one's own attitudes to life and living in general....try it yourself.....and tell me what YOU think. (See you've already begun!) I'm shortly publishing a recipoem book..keep an eye out under GOATSRANT

I bought this because there were a lot of rave reviews on amazon about it. Not as good as 1-2 other books, on self publishing. Not succinct enough for me. Too many opinions and I wasn't sure about the reliability of the author and his advice. I have read books by self published authors, on self publishing, that are far better. This one didn't take you through self publishing in a structured way. A glut of information peppered with the author's opinions.

There are one or two ideas in this book that are original, but mostly, it's the same info that can be found in other books on the subject.It's useful in that: the more you read, even if it's the same thing that you've already read elsewhere, the broader your knowledge becomes.So - it's not so much 'a bolt from the blue' as 'another arrow in the quiver'.

I have already spent hours and hours publishing my first ebook and am researching different ways of doing this. I wish I had read this book ages ago for its explanation of zipping files and why and other facts about book covers and editing. Great read thanks

Good simple practical advice which if followed to the letter will enable you to publish an ebook on Kindle and B&N. After reading this I successfully helped a friend achieve his 30 year goal of being published. Excellent.