There are many options available to authors these days, for both print and ebook formatting. You can do it yourself and keep control, or you can hire others to do it for you.
Consider cost and timings for publication, as well as options for updates later (as there will be an inevitable typo or two!). You'll need to book formatting in advance as professionals are always busy. Rates may change over time, so please check the formatter's site for up-to-date pricing.
There are some free options for ebook formatting:
- Draft2Digital have a formatting tool
- Reedsy have a writing and formatting tool
- PublishDrive have an ebook formatting tool
- Amazon KDP have Kindle Create, a Kindle only formatting tool
My personal choice for ebook (and some print) formatting is Vellum. It's Mac only (sorry!) but it is absolutely brilliant and makes formatting fun! (I never thought I'd say that!) Click here to watch my tutorial on how to use Vellum to format an ebook and a print book.
Book Design Templates – brilliant design templates that will you do it yourself with a step by step guide
Reedsy have a marketplace of vetted book designers with experience in every genre. Click here to check out their options. They also have book cover design and marketing professionals and use an extensive vetting process so you can be sure of the quality.
Ebook Launch – professional ebook and print book formatting
[Please note: I am an affiliate of the services above because they are excellent quality and have been recommended by readers of this blog. That means I receive a small % of the sale for the referral, but with no extra cost to you. Thanks for checking them out!]
Other formatting options
Guido Henkel – author of Zen of Ebook Formatting. Guido also formats for authors
Indie Book Designer, for print and ebook
GunBoss – Dean helped me with one of my non-fiction print interior designs
Lighthouse24 – Interior book design and cover design
Mark Coker's recommended list for Smashwords formatting. Many of these will also format for Kindle and ePub as well for Smashwords.
Jane Dixon Smith Jane does my own interior book design for print.
Polgarus Studio Ebook and print formatting. Professional and great turnaround. I've used Jason for some tricky files for NOOKPress.
StreetLight Graphics Professional quality Fiction and Non-fiction formatting and typesetting.
eBook Converting A self-publishing solution that gives you options. Maybe you’d like to start with an ebook but have the option of going to print later. OR you’re more interested in having a print book now, with the option of doing your ebook later.
BookBaby formatting. BookBaby is a services company who offer a lot of different packages at reasonable prices. If you are particularly tech-challenged and need more personal help, it might be a good option for you. If you have print books from previous publishing adventures that you need converting into Word for re-editing and re-publishing, they also have a scanning option.
Susan Daffron Production and Design
Hazel Lau at Kindle Station
Audria Wooster at Design by Indigo. Over 20 years' experience.
Candescent Press. Recommended by a student. They also do cover design.
Magdalena Rogier at Papeair – book design and ebook formatting
Ebook Launch – A professional, fast and affordable ebook and print book formatting service. Since 2009, they have formatted thousands of fiction and non-fiction titles.
Reedsy Book Editor Write and export a professionally typeset book. (This is a DIY option.)
Kindle Create Transform your manuscript into a Kindle ebook. (This is a DIY option.)
Draft2Digital Open an account with D2D (no charge) and use their formatting tool which will convert Word or Text documents into an ebook. (This is a DIY option.)
