This document provides instructions for self-publishing an e-book. It outlines 7 key steps: 1) having a publishable manuscript, 2) converting the manuscript to PDF or Word format, 3) obtaining a free ISBN number, 4) copyrighting the work, 5) including CIP data for library cataloguing, 6) making a cover in JPG format, and 7) using e-book publishers like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Smashwords to distribute the e-book worldwide.

1. How to E-Publish Your Book
Presented by: Hans V. von Maltzahn
Author of
THE BLACK SUN ASCENDANT:
An Assassin's Tale

2. 1. Remember to have a
publishable manuscript ready!

Does the book
have all you want
in it?

Fully edited i.e. All
spelling and
grammer done?

Is it as clean as it
can possibly be?

3. 2. Turn your manuscript into:

An Adobe Reader
document (i.e.
PDF file:
nameofbook.pdf)

A Microsoft
WORD & “THE BLACK SUN ASCENDANT:
RichText doc (i.e. An Assassin’s Tale”
nameofbook.doc
A Novel by Hans V. von Maltzahn
or nameofbk.rtf )

4. Note: to create an Acrobat
(PDF) document...
Open your Adobe Acrobat Reader (mine is
Adobe Reader 9)
• From the “File” pulldown menu choose:
“Create Adobe PDF Using Acrobat.com
• Or visit:
http://www.adobe.com/go/reader9_create_pdf
• Your WORD program may even have a
conversion package in it (mine is
OpenOffice with one button conversion).

5. Note!
If you intend to publish your book through
one of the self-publishing firms such as:
I-Universe or Trafford Publishing
Then they will take care of your e-book
publishing needs for a fee.
You need not stay for my presentation!

6. 3. Get a free ISBN number!
• Visit the Canadian ISBN Service System
(CISS) at:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ciss-ssci/index-e.html
• Read the introduction and instructions on how
to join CISS , then fill out the online
application at the above address.
• No internet access? Call CISS at:
1-866-578-7777 (select 1+7+3). ISBN
numbers are issued within 10 days.

7. 4. Copyright your work!
• Visit the government's website for
information about how to copyright your
book: www.cipo.ic.gc.ca
• Read “A Guide to Copyright” then follow
the steps to fill out the form on-line (or
print out the form, fill it in manually).
• Problems? Call: 1-866-997-1936 or
email cipo.contact@ic.gc.ca

8. 5. Do I Need CIP Data?
This is what “Catalogue In Publication” (CIP) data
looks like:
NAME (S): von Maltzahn, Hans V. (Hans Victor), 1965-
TITLE (S): The black sun ascendant: an assassin's tale: a novel /
By Hans V. Von Maltzahn
PUBLISHER: Mississauga, Ont.: Hans V. Von Maltzahn, 2011
SERIES: The black sun series; bk. 1
NUMBERS: Canadiana: 20119006456
ISBN: 9780986793301 : $19.95
CLASSIFICATION: PS8643 054 B53 2011 C813/.6 22

9. Why CIP Data?

Libraries use “Catalogue In Publication”
(CIP) data to order and catalogue the
books in their library.

Libraries will usually only order books,
real or e-books, if they've got CIP codes
that the library can use.

Your book can also be listed on the
government's North American book
catalogue the “New Book Service”

10. For CIP Info and Form:
Website:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/cip/index-e.html
Email: cip@lac-bac.gc.ca
Toll free number in Canada: 1-866-578-7777
Fax: 819-997-7517

11. 6. Make Your Cover In JPG
Format!

Have your cover
ready in JPG (an
image) format so
that you can up
load it to the e-
book distributor of
your choice.

12. 7. Two E-book Publishers That
I've Used.

Amazon.com's Kindle Publishing: Visit
http://amazon.com and read Kindle Publishing
information.

Sign-up as a Kindle Publishing member, then
fill out their form, up load your PDF book file
and JPG cover and you're done!
https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin

After a few weeks Amazon will have set up
your account and your book is on sale
worldwide!

13. Here's the second e-
publisher...

Join Smashwords at:
http://www.smaswords.com/signup

Download their “Style Guide” at:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52

Follow their guide's instructions very carefully
to re-format your manuscript into a plain text
document.

It might take a few months to upload an
acceptable copy to them - but Smashwords
distribution network is worldwide & extensive!

14. 8. There Are Others You Can
Try!

Try an internet search on e-book publishers, e-
book self-publishing and e-book distributors.

There are hundreds of choices, of which the
two above are only a sample.

All will essentially ask you for either a WORD
or PDF copy of your manuscript, and then they
convert your book.

I won't go into the different formats of e-books
(See Smashwords' Style Guide for an very good
explanation).

15. GOOD LUCK!
And now for your questions...