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First I created my cover using Paint Shop Pro 7. Most authors aren't virtual artists, though, so I would suggest picking your ebook cover as an opening page. Word allows you to insert a jpeg and a great cover grabs a reader's attention immediately. For
next page, I used Word's WordArt feature. There are a number of fancy designs, but I would suggest selecting one of more subdued, professional looking patterns. I titled this page Howard Hopkins' Virtual Press Kit. Not particularly original but it gets point across. On next page I placed my contact information, my email and webpage address. I would suggest not entering your mailing address, unless you have a post office box specifically for that purpose. Anyone in need of your mailing address can contact you through your email.
On next page I placed my bio.
Beyond that, I set up a section listing all my hardcover and paperback credits, then my ebook credits. I keep a number of pages after that for my print and ebook covers. Next, I inserted press releases for my most recent novels.
Last I offered an information section and samples of my artwork for covers, cards and postcards. I included some of my favorite works and pricing guidelines.
That's all there is to it. If you are skilled with graphics, then pretty it up in whatever way suits your style. If you have Acrobat, print it to PDF then research places that might be interested in seeing your work, perhaps local newspapers -- if you can find local reporter's email listing in paper, all better. I got an interview this way.
For those who would like to see a virtual copy of my kit for ideas and set up feel free to download it at: http://howardhopkins.com/media.htm
Howard Hopkins is the author of six horror and western ebooks from Atlantic Bridge Publishing (www.atlanticbridge.net) under his own name and more than twenty print westerns under the penname Lance Howard. His novels can be purchased at bn.com,www.amazon.co.uk and amazon.com and he lives in Maine.
