When you self-publish a book through a print-on-demand service like Amazon’s CreateSpace, the digital presses that will manufacture your book need two print-ready PDF files (one for the cover and one for the interior pages). “Print-ready” means those PDF files meet the printer’s technical specifications, and that the cover and interior pages look exactly like you want them to look when printed (the book printer will not add or reformat anything).

When preparing your print-ready files for CreateSpace, you have three basic options:
(1) Use CreateSpace’s paid services (professional - but relatively slow, somewhat impersonal, and very expensive);
(2) Do it yourself (inexpensive - but may involve software and skills you don’t have, and don’t want to acquire or learn);
(3) Use the services of a third-party - e.g., Lighthouse24.

We provide
FAST, AFFORDABLE, FRIENDLY, and PROFESSIONAL services
to self-publishing authors

BOOK DESIGN
  - Interior Page Layout & Formatting
  - Custom Cover Design
  - Interior DIY Layout Pre-Review (we check your setup and design for problems before you do the whole thing)
  - Collaborative Cover Assistance (we work from your mock-ups & artwork to complete the design)
  - Kindle e-Book Formatting & Preparation (including metadata and fully functional navigation)

FILE PREPARATION
  - Conversion to Print-Ready PDF (including preflight tests with CreateSpace acceptance guaranteed)
  - PDF Preflight Check (we test your PDF, then tell you exactly where any problems are and how to correct them)
  - PDF Resizing & Repurposing

PROJECT SUPPORT
  - Project “Coaching” for First-Time Self-Publishers
  - Microsoft Word Document Troubleshooting
  - PDF Troubleshooting & Repair
  - Basic Manuscript Proofreading (for developmental and substantive editing, visit Stylish Edits)
  - Back Cover/Promotional Blurbs
  - Design & Preparation of Marketing Pieces (Bookmarks, Sell Sheets, Rack Cards, Press Kits, etc.)

SEE PRICING INFORMATION

Note: The photo above is not meant to imply that self-publishing is “so easy that even a dog or a blonde can do it” (so please don’t send me hate-mail if you’re a dog or a blonde). We just thought it was a cute picture. I tried one with a brunette and a Calico, but as you might expect, the cat was totally indifferent to the entire process.  - DH

Copyright 2011, 2012 Lighthouse24.  All rights reserved.
Extensive efforts are made to provide information that is useful and accurate - however, change is a constant in the book industry, so no warranty is expressed or implied regarding the accuracy of the content presented herein. Further, many of the guidelines offered are necessarily general in nature, so your specific self-publishing projects and experiences may vary.