Atticus is the tool I use to format most of my books. It is a powerful and user-friendly platform that simplifies the formatting process.

Some key features of Atticus include:

• Seamless integration of the manuscript - You can easily import your manuscript and make edits directly within the tool.
• Customizable formatting options - Atticus provides a variety of templates and settings to ensure your book has a professional layout and appearance.
• Scene break management - You can easily add scene breaks with just a few clicks.
• Versatile content integration - Atticus allows you to incorporate images, callout boxes, text messages, and other elements into your book.
• Flexible font and styling controls - You can adjust the font, size, and other visual aspects of your content during the editing process.
• Automated margin and gutter adjustments - Atticus takes care of ensuring proper margins and gutter spacing for print-ready files.
• Reusable templates - You can save custom formatting templates and apply them to future books, saving time and ensuring consistency.

Once the formatting is complete, Atticus makes it easy to export your book as EPUB and PDF files, ready for publication. The platform's intuitive interface and powerful features make it an invaluable tool in my book formatting workflow.

Attekus provides a range of formatting templates that you can use to style your book. However, you can also create and customize your own templates to achieve the exact look you desire.

I created a custom template called "pulp/locraft" that I use for this type of book. Here's how I went about customizing it:

1. Font Selection: I spent time finding a font that fit the style I was going for. I ended up selecting the "Voltater" font, as I felt it had an art deco-esque look that worked well for this type of Gothic horror story.

2. Chapter Numbering: I wanted the chapter numbers to be spelled out rather than just numerical. I was able to select this option in the formatting settings.

3. Ornamental Breaks: I chose a simple, minimalist ornamental break to use for scene transitions. Attekus allows you to customize the width and appearance of these breaks.

4. Margin Settings: One important aspect is ensuring the gutter margin (the margin on the inside of the pages closest to the spine) is larger than the outer margin. This helps prevent text from getting lost in the binding. Attekus handles this automatically, but I was able to preview the layout to confirm it looked correct.

5. Preview and Refine: After making these customizations, I thoroughly previewed the formatted book to ensure everything looked exactly as I wanted it. I was able to make additional tweaks until I was satisfied with the final result.

The great thing about Attekus is that once I've created this custom template, I can reuse it for any future books in this series or similar styles. This saves a lot of time and ensures a consistent look and feel across my publications.

Once you have formatted your book in Atticus, the next step is to export the ebook file. Here's how you can do it:

1. In the Atticus editor, go to the "Export" tab.
2. Select the "EPUB" option to export your book as an EPUB file.
3. Atticus will automatically generate the EPUB file for you, which you can then use to publish your ebook.

The EPUB file is the standard ebook format that can be read on various devices, including Kindles, Nooks, and other ebook readers. This file contains all the formatted content, including the text, images, and any other elements you've added to your book.

After exporting the EPUB file, you can proceed to the next step of the publishing process, which is uploading the file to the desired ebook platforms, such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or other ebook retailers.

Once you have formatted your book using Atticus, the next step is to publish it on Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing). Here's the process:

1. Go to kdp.amazon.com and click on "Create" to start a new ebook.

2. Fill out the ebook details:

   • Title, subtitle, series, author name, etc.
   • Book description (use AI-generated content as a starting point, then edit and refine it)
   • Publishing rights, reading age, primary marketplace, etc.

3. Choose relevant categories and keywords:

   • Use a tool like Publisher Rocket to research competitive keywords and categories.
   • Select the most relevant categories and 7 keywords that describe your book.

4. Upload your formatted manuscript file and book cover:

   • The recommended cover size is 1600 x 2560 pixels.
   • Disclose any use of AI in the content creation process.

5. Preview the ebook to check for any issues.

6. Set the pricing and royalty options:

   • Price your ebook between $2.99 and $9.99 to get the 70% royalty rate.
   • Consider pricing the first book in a series lower (e.g., 99 cents) as a loss leader.

7. Publish your ebook and wait for Amazon's review (usually 24 hours).

That's the entire process of publishing your ebook on Amazon KDP. By using Atticus and following these steps, you can efficiently format and publish your books with minimal hassle.

When it comes to keywords and categories, the author emphasizes the importance of thorough research. They use a tool called Publisher Rocket to analyze the competitiveness and search volume of potential keywords.

For the book "The Tomb of the Hides", the author selected keywords like "Lovecraft retelling", "Gothic fantasy books", and "Lovecrafty" based on their relevance to the book's content and their performance metrics in Publisher Rocket. The tool provided insights into the competitive landscape and estimated monthly search volume for these keywords, allowing the author to make informed decisions.

Similarly, the author researched relevant categories for the book, such as "Kindle Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Suspense > Paranormal" and "Kindle Books > Literature & Fiction > Horror > Occult". They analyzed the category insights provided by Publisher Rocket, including growth trends and competition levels, to ensure the book was placed in the most appropriate and profitable categories.

The author's approach emphasizes the importance of aligning keywords and categories with the book's content and target audience, rather than solely focusing on trending or high-volume options. By carefully selecting and optimizing these elements, the author aims to improve the book's discoverability and chances of success on the Amazon platform.

The process of formatting and publishing a book can be streamlined and efficient with the right tools and approach. Atticus, a powerful formatting software, makes the task of preparing a manuscript for publication a breeze. By utilizing features like scene breaks, custom formatting, and templates, authors can create professional-looking books without the hassle of manual formatting.

Once the manuscript is ready, the process of publishing on platforms like Amazon KDP is straightforward. By carefully selecting relevant categories, keywords, and pricing, authors can optimize their book's discoverability and sales potential. The use of AI-assisted tools, such as for book cover design and description writing, can further enhance the publishing process.

The key takeaways are the importance of using dedicated formatting software, conducting thorough market research, and leveraging technology to streamline the publishing workflow. By following this approach, authors can focus on their creative work while efficiently bringing their books to the market.