Books & Titles
Create and manage your book projects. Track everything from initial idea through publication—metadata, variations, chapters, and more.
What is a Title?
In StorytellerOS, a Title represents a single book or work. Each title contains:
- Basic information (name, description, genre)
- Metadata for publishing (blurb, keywords, categories)
- Chapters and scenes (your manuscript)
- Characters and story notes
- Variations (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)
Tip
Think of a Title as the container for everything related to one book. It holds your writing, your planning notes, your publishing data, and all the different formats you sell.
Creating a New Book
- Go to Project Studio → Books
- Click + New Book
- Enter the working title
- Select the pen name
- Optionally assign to a series
- Click Create
Basic Book Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | The book's name (can be a working title at first) |
| Subtitle | Optional subtitle |
| Pen Name | Which author identity this book belongs to |
| Series | The series this book belongs to (if any) |
| Series Order | Position in the series (1, 2, 3, etc.) |
| Status | Planning, Drafting, Editing, Published, etc. |
| Genre | Primary genre category |
| Subgenre | More specific classification |
Publishing Metadata
When you are ready to publish, fill in the metadata section:
Blurb
Your book description that appears on retail sites. Write compelling copy that hooks readers without giving away the ending.
Keywords
Search terms that help readers find your book. Amazon allows 7 keywords or phrases. Choose terms readers actually search for.
Categories
BISAC categories that determine where your book appears in store catalogs. You can select multiple categories.
Age Range
Target reader age (Adult, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Children's). This affects which store sections show your book.
Note
Metadata can be different for each variation if needed. For example, your audiobook description might mention the narrator.
Book Variations
A variation is a different format of the same book:
- Ebook — Digital download (Kindle, ePub, etc.)
- Paperback — Print-on-demand soft cover
- Hardcover — Print-on-demand hard cover
- Audiobook — Narrated audio version
- Large Print — Larger text for accessibility
Variation vs Edition
Variations are different formats (ebook vs paperback). Editions are different versions (1st edition vs 2nd edition with revisions). StorytellerOS tracks variations. Each variation can have its own ISBN, price, and retailer links.
Creating a Variation
- Open your book
- Go to the Variations tab
- Click + Add Variation
- Select the format type
- Add format-specific details (ISBN, price, etc.)
- Save
Autocomplete Title Details
If you have an ASIN or ISBN, StorytellerOS can automatically create all available variations for you:
- Open your book
- Go to the Variations tab
- Click Autocomplete Title Details
- Enter an ASIN or ISBN
- StorytellerOS fetches all available formats from Amazon and Audible
- Review and confirm the variations to create
Tip
Autocomplete creates all available variations at once. For example, entering a Kindle ASIN might create ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook variations if all formats are available. Duplicate ASINs or ISBNs are automatically skipped.
Note
Autocomplete supports all Amazon marketplaces (Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, etc.) and Audible stores. If a cover image cannot be uploaded, you will see a warning but the variation is still created successfully.
Variation Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook, Paperback, Hardcover, Audiobook, Large Print |
| ISBN | International Standard Book Number (if applicable) |
| ASIN | Amazon Standard Identification Number |
| Price | List price for this format |
| Page Count | Number of pages (for print) |
| Publication Date | When this format was published |
| Cover Image | Format-specific cover (paperback may differ from ebook) |
Book Status
Track where each book is in your workflow:
| Status | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Idea | Just a concept, not started |
| Planning | Outlining, plotting, character work |
| Drafting | Writing the first draft |
| Revising | Self-editing and revision |
| Editing | With professional editor |
| Formatting | Preparing files for publication |
| Published | Available for sale |
| On Hold | Paused temporarily |
| Abandoned | Not continuing this project |
The Book Page
Click on any book to see its detail page with tabs for:
- Overview — Summary and quick stats
- Chapters — Your manuscript structure
- Characters — People in this book
- Story Bible — World-building notes
- Variations — Format details and links
- Marketing — Blurb, keywords, categories
Book Covers
StorytellerOS provides flexible cover image management with automatic fallbacks and variation-specific covers.
Title Cover Image
The Title Cover Image serves as the default cover for all variations that don't have their own cover uploaded. This saves time when you want the same cover across all formats.
How to Upload a Title Cover
- Open your book detail page
- Click on the cover image area (or "No cover image" placeholder)
- Select an image file from your computer
- The image uploads automatically to your GitHub repository
- The page refreshes to show the new cover
Tip
When you use the Quick Create wizard or Autocomplete feature to create variations, the first variation's cover is automatically set as the Title Cover Image.
Variation-Specific Covers
Each variation can have its own unique cover image. For example, your paperback might have a different cover than your ebook, or your audiobook might have a square format optimized for audio platforms.
How to Upload a Variation Cover
- Open your book detail page
- Go to the Variations tab
- Find the variation you want to update
- Click on the cover image in the 3rd column
- Select an image file from your computer
- The image uploads automatically and updates
Cover Display Priority
StorytellerOS uses a smart priority system to decide which cover to display:
- Variation Cover — If the variation has its own cover, use it
- Format Cover — If not, use the format-specific cover (Ebook Cover, Paperback Cover, Hardback Cover)
- Title Cover Image — If not, use the title's default cover
- Placeholder — If no covers exist, show a placeholder
Note
This priority system means you can upload one Title Cover Image and all variations will use it automatically. Then override specific variations when you need different covers.
Where Are Cover Images Stored?
All cover images are stored in your private GitHub repository, not on StorytellerOS servers. This aligns with our privacy-first architecture where you own and control all your data.
- Storage location — Your GitHub repo at
storytelleros-data/cover-images/ - Filename format —
<recordId>.<extension>(e.g.,rec123456.jpg) - Privacy — Images are accessed through an authenticated proxy
- No size limits — Limited only by GitHub's file size limits
File Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Formats | JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP |
| Max Size | 5MB per image |
| Recommended Size | 1600x2400 pixels minimum (2:3 aspect ratio) |
| Audiobook Format | 3000x3000 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio) |
Replacing Covers
To replace an existing cover, simply click on it and select a new image. The old image is overwritten in GitHub, so keep backups of your original files if you might need them later.
Cover Replacements Are Permanent
When you upload a new cover, the old one is permanently replaced in your GitHub repository. Make sure to keep original cover files backed up in a separate location.
Cover Tips
Your cover is your most important marketing asset. Invest in professional design that matches your genre. Readers judge books by their covers—literally. Use the Title Cover Image for consistency, then override specific variations when you need format-specific covers (like print wraps or audiobook squares).
Best Practices
- Complete metadata early — Fill in genre, keywords, and categories while writing so you understand your market.
- Update status regularly — Accurate status helps you track your pipeline.
- Add all variations — Even if you only sell ebooks now, add paperback when you publish it.
- Keep covers organized — Use consistent file names and upload final versions only.
- Link to series — Always connect series books for better organization and reporting.