In addition to the body text, your self-published book will also contain other pages, called the front and back matter. These pages typically do not have page numbers, or they are numbered using Roman numerals. Start the regular page numbering with your introduction or first chapter and end the numbering before your back matter pages.
Front matter includes: a title page, copyright page and a table of contents, and possibly a dedication page, an acknowledgement page, a foreword and a preface, if you want to insert these, as well.
Back matter can include some or all of the following: an index, appendix, glossary of terms, resource guide, bibliography, author information and order form.
Four of the most commonly used front matter pages are described below:
Title Page
The first page your reader will see after opening the cover of your book is the title page. See the example at right. This “right-facing” page features:
• The title of the book
• The name of the author
• The name of the publishing company
• An illustration (optional)
Copyright Page
The copyright page is the second page of your book (also called the verso page because it is located on the left-facing or verso page). This page is reserved for the copyright information.
The book’s title is at the top of the page, followed by the word, “Copyright” and/or ©, the year the book was written and the name of the copyright owner (you).
It must also include the statement, “All Rights Reserved” to protect all rights to the book. Click on the sample copyright page at above to enlarge it.
Other information that should appear on the copyright page:
• Contact information for ordering additional copies of the book or other inquiries (this is usually the publisher’s name, address and website)
• Optional: Printing references (i.e. First printing, the number of copies in the run and the date printed)
• If you have them, list the book’s ISBN (International Standard Book Number) and Library of Congress Control Number. These numbers will be discussed later.
• Optional: A disclaimer paragraph about the information in the book (an example is shown on the copyright page of this book)
• Where the book was printed (Printed in the U.S.A.)
Foreword
A foreword is written by a person other than the author. It is usually about one page long and includes positive comments about the author and the book, plus the name of the person who wrote the foreword. If you want to include a foreword in your book, consider asking for comments from a well-known person in the field relating to your book’s topic. You might also query someone famous whose endorsement could boost your book’s sales. It never hurts to ask. If you do manage to land a “big name” person to write your foreword, be sure to include this fact on your cover.
Preface
The preface is very similar to an introduction, but is a bit more personal and chatty. It is written by the author and might include the story of how he or she came to write the book and somtimes ends with a printed copy of the author’s signature. The preface gives an overview of the book’s content, information about the author’s background or credentials and might also point out special features the book offers and how to use them.
Read more about front and back matter in Self-Publishing On a Budget: A Do-It-All-Yourself Guide.
Read more about front and back matter in Self-Publishing On a Budget: A Do-It-All-Yourself Guide.
Order Self-Publishing On a Budget in these formats:
Print version for $6.95 on Amazon.com
E-Book for $2.99 on Amazon.com
