the top services for indie authors

As an indie author there is a lot you’ll need to do in order to successfully publish your book, what’s more you are on your own while doing it. But there are some great resources available to you which can help in the process.

We have put together some of our favorite sites to help any Indie author with their book.

Editing your Book

Scribendi are an Editing and proofreading service which have been helping authors since 1977, they offer services from Proofreading to manuscript critiquing and also formatting for eBooks.

NY Book editors have edited books for some of the biggest authors in publishing. James Patterson, Paulo Celho and even Stephen King have had books edited by them.

Edit 911 Provide book editing services to a very high level along with evaluating the content, they can also help with query letters to agents and publishers, resources to attain an agent and writing a press release.

​Novel Gazing, apart from having a great name they offer proofreading, full editing and critiquing of your manuscript. Their rates are very reasonable and offer a free sample edit of your book too.

London Proofreaders founded in 2013 this UK based has helped thousands of writers and authors over the years, they also work with clients from over 60 countries worldwide. 

Formatting your book

Fast Fingers offer a lot for the author, here you can get your book formatted and also set up marketing and an author’s website. Their formatting services cover novels, nonfiction and children’s books.

Polgarus are great value and quality formatters, they will take your existing manuscript (normally Word documents or Pages) and create a PDF for print and/or the EPUB and MOBI files for your eBook. They have a quick turnaround time and can be expedited (if needed).

Press Books is a do-it-yourself service where you use one of their templates to format your book with, the service works for both eBook and printed books alike with an option for both services or just eBook format. 

Publishing Services

Bookbaby does offer a great deal of services other than just publishing and also distributes to Amazon (although you could go directly to them yourself).

KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), if you’re going to publish your book as an eBook (and why wouldn’t you), then the obvious first stop would be KDP, part of Amazon you can set up an account for free and publish your book quite quickly.

Createspace, again, another Amazon owned company, but this time for your printed books, you don’t have to order in large volumes and setting up is free and easy.

IngramSpark, their service offers great distribution along with the option to print your book in hardback as well as paperback and eBook. The services does require some upfront costs though.

Marketing your book

Book Fuel is an online video course which takes you step by step through not only marketing but publishing and planning your book launch, it covers a great deal for the author and is great value for money too.

FSB Associates specialize in book marketing for authors, creating online visibility for your book along with designing websites and your social media strategy.

Author House, offering a whole host of services to promote your book from book signings to cinema advertising, this company provides a great deal of options for any author.

Online communities for authors

KBoards is an online community dedicated to kindle authors and eBooks, it’s one of the biggest forums specifically for eBook authors and has many helpful discussions.

ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) is a well-respected community and offers a great deal of advice to any author, it also has seminars and events for its members.

Goodreads is a very large site aimed at authors and those who love to read, it’s been around since 2007 and allows you to promote your book and interact with your readers too.