The pages at the end of a book after the main text, including acknowledgments, about the author, and anything else that follows the story.
Back matter is everything that comes after your story ends. This includes the acknowledgments page, about the author section, discussion questions, glossaries, appendices, a note from the author, a preview of your next book, and links to your mailing list or website. In traditional publishing, the publisher usually dictates what goes here. In self-publishing, you have full control, and smart authors use back matter as a powerful reader-engagement tool.
Back matter is prime real estate that most new authors ignore. A reader who finishes your book is at peak emotional investment. That's the perfect moment to point them to your next book, invite them to join your mailing list, or ask for a review. For self-published authors especially, well-crafted back matter can be the difference between a one-time reader and a lifelong fan.
Features some of the most extensive back matter in fiction history, with appendices covering calendars, genealogies, languages, and historical timelines that rival the main text in depth.
The acknowledgments tell the story of how the book went from a free serial on the author's website to a bestseller, which became almost as compelling as the novel itself.
Includes an author's note about the real ecology of the North Carolina marshlands, bridging fiction and the author's background as a wildlife scientist.
Grab three books from your shelf and flip to the back. List every element that appears after the story ends in each one. Compare what's included across genres. Then draft your own back matter lineup for a book you're working on, in the order you'd want readers to encounter each section. Include at least one element designed to connect readers to your other work or your author platform.