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Back Matter of a Book: Put Your Final Ebook Pages to Work
The back matter of a book is where a reader goes after “The End.” In an ebook, those final screens can turn a satisfied reader into a reviewer, a newsletter subscriber, or someone who starts your next title. Treat them as part of the reading experience, with one clear action per page.
A practical setup needs only three pages: a review request, an author bio, and a page for the next book. Build them before exporting your manuscript, then test every link in the finished ebook.
1. Define the job of the back matter of a book
Back matter, also called end matter, begins after the final chapter. Copyright pages, acknowledgements, reading-group questions, bibliographies, and bonus material can all belong there. For a commercial ebook, start with the reader who has just finished the story or guide.
Give the final three pages distinct jobs. A review request asks for a small public response. Your bio establishes who wrote the book and where readers can follow you. The next-book page gives an immediate reading choice. Do not combine all three jobs on one crowded screen.
Decide what earns a page
If your book requires sources, a glossary, or acknowledgements, place those before the three action pages. The reader should encounter your most important next step near the actual end of the file, after every appendix and bonus chapter.
2. Put the final ebook pages in reader order
Order matters because readers usually move forward one screen at a time. Begin with the lowest-friction request, then introduce yourself, then offer the next read. Keep each page short enough to scan on a phone-sized Kindle screen.
| Page | Reader’s decision | Include |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Review request | Leave feedback now or later | One sentence of thanks and a review link |
| 2. Author bio | Learn who wrote the book | Brief bio, author site, newsletter link |
| 3. Next book | Choose another title | Cover, title, one-line hook, store link |
| Optional page | Use a reader resource | Workbook, bibliography, or bonus download |
If you are still choosing a production workflow, see which ebook format to write before you add internal page breaks and live links.
3. Write a review request readers can act on
Ask after the reader has received the full ending. Thank them for their time, say that honest reviews help other readers find the book, and provide one destination. Avoid asking for a positive review or offering a reward for one.
For Amazon editions, link to the book’s review page only after confirming that the published URL works in the relevant marketplace. Amazon’s rules and interface can change, so review the current guidance in Amazon KDP Help before publishing.
A compact review page
Try: “Thank you for reading. If this book was useful or enjoyable, would you consider leaving an honest review? Your feedback helps other readers decide whether this book is for them.” Place a descriptive linked line below it, such as “Leave a review on Amazon.”
4. Write back matter pages that introduce the author
Your author bio page should answer the question a finished reader naturally has: why should I hear from this person again? Use 40 to 80 words for most ebooks. Name your genre or subject, one credible detail, and one place to continue the relationship.
Use a stable URL you control for an email list, author site, or reader magnet. A social profile can change names or disappear, while a domain can redirect readers later. If you have no site yet, an author page on your retailer is still more useful than an empty invitation to “follow me online.”
For a quick manuscript draft with a dedicated author page, create-ebook can generate the book files and leave you room to replace the bio and links with your final details before release.
5. Make the next-book page easy to choose
The final page should promote one title, preferably the next book in the same series or the closest follow-up for a nonfiction reader. Show a small cover image if your ebook format supports it, then add the title, a one-sentence promise, and a clear linked call to action.
Do not send a reader to a generic catalog when one relevant book is available. A mystery reader who has completed book one wants to know the title and premise of book two, not browse ten unrelated projects.
If the promoted title is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, explain its availability accurately. Learn what KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited mean before you describe exclusivity or reader access in your back pages.
6. Check links, layout, and store-specific details
Every external link needs a destination that works on a real device. Open the ebook in Kindle Previewer or on an e-reader, tap each link, and confirm that the link text tells readers where it goes. Use full HTTPS URLs in the manuscript rather than shortened links that may later expire.
| Check | Pass condition | Fix if it fails |
|---|---|---|
| Page breaks | Each action begins on a new page | Insert a page break, not repeated blank lines |
| Review link | Opens the intended book page | Replace with the current marketplace URL |
| Newsletter link | Loads over HTTPS on a device | Use your live landing-page URL |
| Next-book link | Matches the displayed title and cover | Update title, edition, or retailer page |
| Images | Cover remains readable at small size | Use a higher-resolution, portrait image |
Keep a dated source file, such as my-book-v3.docx, so you can update a changed link and upload a revised edition without rebuilding the whole manuscript.
7. Export, preview, and update after publication
Export the final manuscript to the format required by your distributor, then inspect the final pages in the exact uploaded file. EPUB reflows according to screen size, so a layout that looks tidy in a word processor can shift once opened on an e-reader.
After publication, buy or download the live edition where possible and test the store links again. Check the book description, price, and series order at the same time. If you need to model the effect of a price change, use the Kindle royalty calculator rather than guessing from a royalty percentage.
For books produced from a short prompt, create-ebook can provide PDF, EPUB, and DOCX files, making it practical to keep an editable master when your next release changes.
Finish with one useful next step
The best final page is specific: one reader, one relevant book, one working link. Revisit the back matter of every published title when you launch something new, especially a sequel. That small maintenance task keeps completed books connected to the rest of your catalog.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the back matter of a book?
Back matter is everything after the main text ends. It can include acknowledgements, an author bio, a bibliography, a review request, bonus content, and information about the next book.
Should a review request be the last page of an ebook?
Usually, place the review request first among your final action pages and the next-book page last. Readers who continue tapping forward then finish with a clear option to read more.
Can I put links in ebook back matter?
Yes, provided the links are relevant and work in the finished ebook. Test them in the exported file on an e-reader or preview application, rather than relying on your word processor.
How long should an author bio be in an ebook?
A bio of 40 to 80 words is enough for most ebooks. State what you write, add one meaningful credential or personal detail, and point readers to one reliable contact destination.
Do I need to update back matter in older books?
Yes, review it whenever a new related book launches or a URL changes. Updating older titles can correct broken links and direct readers to your current series order or newsletter page.