Parts of Your Book

Half Title Page

The half title page is the first page of your book and contains your title only. This page does not include a byline or subtitle. The designer will add this to your book layout.

Series Title Page

Use the second page of your book to list any of your previously published books by title. It is customary to list the books chronologically from first to most recently published. Listing the title only is standard, but in nonfiction works, you may also list the subtitle if you feel it is essential. A common way to begin this page is, "Also by [author's name] ..."

Title Page

The title page is the part of your book that shows your full book title and subtitle, your name, and any co-writer or translator. iUniverse will add its logo and locations at the bottom of the page. The designer will add this to your book layout, although if you have a specific idea of how you want this to look, you may include it.

Copyright Page

The copyright page contains the copyright notice, which consists of the year of publication and the name of the copyright owner. The copyright owner is usually the author but may be an organization or corporation. This page may also list the book's publishing history, permissions, acknowledgments, and disclaimers.

Copyright Page

The copyright page contains the copyright notice, which consists of the year of publication and the name of the copyright owner. The copyright owner is usually the author but may be an organization or corporation. This page may also list the book's publishing history, permissions, acknowledgments, and disclaimers.

Please note: iUniverse provides you with a standard copyright page that incorporates your individual information and the International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

(Table of) Contents

A table of contents, or simply “Contents,” is the part of a book that is usually used only in nonfiction works that have parts and chapters. A contents page is less common in fiction works but may be used if your work includes unique chapter titles. A table of contents is never used if your chapters are numbered only (e.g., Chapter One, Chapter Two). If your book requires a contents page, please make sure it lists all the chapters or other divisions (such as poems or short stories) in your manuscript. Chapter listings must be worded exactly as they are in the book itself.

Please do not include page numbers in your contents page—iUniverse will add page numbers during the formatting stage.

List of Illustrations

If your book includes several key illustrations that provide information or enhance the text in some way, consider creating a page that lists them. If this material is included simply for comic relief or as a visual aid, a page listing may not be necessary. Just as with the table of contents, you won't need to list the page numbers.

List of Tables

If your book includes several key tables that provide information or enhance the text in some way, consider creating a page that lists them. If this material is included simply as a visual aid, a page listing may not be necessary. Just as with the table of contents, you won't need to list the page numbers.

Foreword

The foreword contains a statement about the book and is usually written by someone other than the author who is an expert or is widely known in the field of the book's topic. A foreword lends authority to your book and may increase its potential for sales. If you plan to include a foreword, please arrange to have it written and included in your submitted manuscript. A foreword is most commonly found in nonfiction works.

Preface

The preface usually describes why you wrote the book, what your research methods are, and perhaps some acknowledgments if they have not been included in a separate section. It may also establish your qualifications and expertise as an authority in the field in which you're writing. Again, a preface is far more common in nonfiction titles and should be used only if necessary in fiction works.

Acknowledgments

An acknowledgments page includes your notes of appreciation to people who provided support or help during the writing process or in your writing career in general. This section may also include any credits for illustrations or excerpts if not included on the copyright page. If the information is lengthy, you may choose to put the section in the back matter, before or after the bibliography.

Introduction

The introduction describes something about the main text that your reader should know before proceeding to read the book. Unlike a preface, which usually addresses the qualifications of the author, an introduction refers to the main body of the work itself. For example, if there are questions at the conclusion of each chapter, here is where you might prepare the reader and give tips on how best to use them. The introduction may also describe, in more detail than a preface, the research, methods, and overall concept of the book.

List of Abbreviations or Chronology

If many abbreviations are used or if a few are used frequently, a list is useful. Its location should always be given in the table of contents. Alphabetize terms by the abbreviation, not by the spelled-out form.