Front matter matters

It matters a lot, but sometimes self published authors get confused about what goes where, when, and why
(or why not). It’s not a complicated process, but it is important to get it right if you want to conform to
publishing protocol plus ensure your final manuscript is a top-quality, professional-looking book. Here’s how it
works.

Books are divided into three parts

 FRONT MATTER (see below)

 BODY TEXT with or without illustrations,
 BACK MATTER. The back matter is where you’ll find such components as an index, a glossary, an
appendix, endnotes (except if you have notes at the bottom of each page or the end of each chapter),
a bibliography, possibly a suggested reading list.

REMEMBER:

RECTO means front side of the paper (right)

VERSO means backside of the paper (left) of an open book.

Front matter is notoriously given little thought by self published authors, but front matter matters. Front
mater can include many items. Most self published authors won’t need to include all of these, but here is a list
of what goes where, when, and why, along with a very brief description of each.

 Half title: Only the title appears here. This is usually the first page the reader sees when opening the
book. The verso, or back, of this page can be used to list other books by the author. Sometimes this
page is eliminated to reduce the overall page count
 Frontispiece: in books generally refers to a decorative or informative illustration facing a book's title
page. A frontispiece is therefore situated on the verso

 Title page: Here you will find the title, subtitle, author, and publisher of the book. You can also
include here the publisher’s logo, location, the book’s year of publication, perhaps some short,
descriptive text about the book, and even illustrations. We prefer title, subtitle, author, front cover
illustration and publishers logo as the title page but that is our preference.
  Copyright page: This is almost always on the verso of the title page. It should either be centred
halfway down the page or justified on the left margin, and should include the copyright notice:
Copyright © 2016 by [Your Name or Name of Publisher]. Then a copyright statement such as this: “All
rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.” For
fiction you might want to add: “This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are
drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual
events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.” Furthermore, Catalogue in Publication goes
on this page also. Also found on this page usually at the lower half is Permissions to reprint material
from the text, along with ISBN and e-book ISBN; the book’s edition (e.g. “First Edition”); and credits
for design, production, editing, and illustration.
 Dedication: If you want to include a dedication, it should follow the copyright page.
 Epigraph: A quotation for the front of the book comes next. It could also appear facing the Table of
Contents or facing the first page of text. Sometimes epigraphs are used at the beginning of each
chapter.
 Table of contents: The contents page lists all the major divisions of the book, including parts, if you
use them, and chapters. This is essential in nonfiction books, textbooks, collections, and anthologies,
but not necessary for novels. Lists: Include lists of illustrations, figures, and/or tables here.
 Foreword: This is usually not written by the author, but by someone known and respected in the field
the author is writing about. Often it is signed and dated by the person who wrote it.
 Preface: The author writes this and often explains what inspired the book, and when, where, and how
she/he went about writing it. Usually a preface and a foreword are not seen together but the choice is
yours.
 Acknowledgments: The author thanks those who helped with the writing of the book and often
mentions friends and family.
 Introduction: The author explains the book’s goals, background, and organization.
 Prologue: This is used in fiction to set the scene for the story, and is often told in the voice of a
character.
 Second half title: Not often found in self published books but if your front matter has significant
number of pages to it, you might want to include a second half title page. This will let the reader know
that the body text is about to commence. The following page could be blank or could include an
illustration or epigraph.

You probably won’t need to include all of this FRONT MATTER material, but just understanding this process a
little better will help you make informed decisions on your front matter. It can make so much difference in the
look, feel, and quality of your book.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The Pickawoowoo Publishing Group (PPG) are offering reliable information in regard to the subject
matter covered. It is provided with the understanding that the company are not engaged in rendering, legal,
accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a
competent professional should be sought. The company specifically disclaim any and all liability arising directly or
indirectly from the use or application of any information contained in our support publications.