Could the book back matter be the most valuable part of your book? Your information carries more weight and credibility with the inclusion of an appendix, references, an index, and more. If you have any material at all after the main part of your book, check this guide from Book Design Made Simple to find out the proper order. You’ll learn the nitty gritty about book back matter in chapter 29, Designing your back matter.
Book back matter includes some or all of these pages
- acknowledgments (if not included at the front of the book)
- appendix(es) usually listed as Appendix a, b, c, etc., or i, ii, iii, etc.
- endnotes numbered, sometimes divided into chapters
- abbreviations
- glossary
- bibliography or references
- index(es)
Including back matter in your book is optional. Most nonfiction books include some back matter, perhaps a glossary, bibliography, or index. The order of pages shown above is customary but not mandatory. It’s recommended that the index go last.
Back matter pages are numbered continuously with the main text. If your main text ends on page 138, your back matter will start on page 139.
As a self-publisher, you may want to include a few extra pages at the back of your book, such as a page advertising other products and services you offer, and/or an “About the Author” page with a photo and bio.
Read more: Endnotes go live in InDesign CC2018 »
Read more: Book front matter »
The excerpt above is from Book Design Made Simple, Second Edition, chapter 6, Planning your pages. Copyright © 2017 Fiona Raven and Glenna Collett.
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