How to publish on Amazon—an amateur Aussie's guide

I'm no tech expert, don't purport to be, but I have become an amateur expert in my own right and I might be able to help you if you're as eager to self publish as I am.

Over the past few months I have put three ebooks on Amazon and Smashwords (122 sales and counting...) and am now making them all available as paperbacks via Amazon's CreateSpace print-on-demand option.

What an amazing option! Did you know it costs about $4 to get a paperback proof dummied up and another ten to get it posted, express, across the sea to Aus? How insanely cheap is that?

Did you know the whole process took just two weeks? Two weeks, people! That's incredible, and a far stretch from the old days of spending thousands and waiting months...

It's so easy I can't believe more people aren't doing it. All you need is a cover with spine and back cover (a cinch with the right skills or designer on board), about two hours to cut and paste your copy into the template, and Bob's your uncle!

The hardest bit for me was determining what to sell the paperback for. Some books sell for $5.99. Some for $21.87... I chose somewhere in between, and my first crime novel will be available as a paperback for $10.99 very soon.

Wanna know how I did it?

Wanna just get that beloved novel out of the hard-drive and up on the internet? 

Tackling with formatting problems or looking for design/editing tips and contacts?

Get in touch. I look forward to sharing all that I have learned. Us DIYers need to stick together...