Back Matter Matters
Everything That Comes After THE END Is Costing You Readers
Your back matter is your most-read sales page — and most authors treat it like an afterthought. Back Matter Matters shows you exactly how to turn those final pages into your most powerful reader-to-fan conversion tool.
You wrote a great book. Then you just... stopped.
A reader finishes your last chapter. They close the book with a happy sigh. Then they look up — and nothing happens.
No nudge to grab your next book. No invitation to your newsletter. No way to find you again. They move on. And you never had a chance.
Here's the thing nobody tells you: 30–50% of a reader's decision about what they do next happens right there, in your back matter. That's not a small window. That's your biggest sales opportunity — and most authors fill it with a half-hearted bio and maybe a messy list of titles.
The most common back matter mistakes authors make:
- Too many calls to action — so readers do nothing
- Broken links (yes, really — your readers are clicking and hitting dead ends)
- A bio that reads like a LinkedIn profile instead of a conversation
- No clear "read next" path — readers don't know where to go
- Treating ebook and paperback back matter as interchangeable (they're not)
Sound familiar? Good news: every single one of these is an easy fix once you know the system.
A complete system for turning your last page into your best sales tool
Back Matter Matters is a practical, no-fluff course from bestselling romance author Coral Hart. It covers the 7 core elements every fiction author needs in their back matter — and exactly how to use them to build a funnel that turns one-time readers into forever fans.
Not just who you are — a bio that makes readers want to follow you. We cover what to include, what to cut, and how to make it feel like you.
The right layout gets readers clicking to your next book. The wrong one just takes up space. We'll get you the right one.
Your email list is your most valuable long-term asset. Here's how to actually get readers to sign up — with a CTA that doesn't feel desperate.
One clear, well-placed nudge can double your series read-through rate. We'll show you how and where to put it.
One link that works on every retailer, every device. Stop sending readers to broken pages or the wrong store.
Where to include these (and where NOT to) so you're building your platform without cluttering your back matter.
Bonus epilogues, first chapter previews, newsletter-gated extras — the strategies that build genuine reader loyalty and grow your list at the same time.
PLUS: the Golden Rule that ties it all together — the one principle that makes everything else work. (Spoiler: confused readers do nothing. One clear CTA beats five weak ones every time.)
By the end of this course, you'll know exactly how to:
- Structure your back matter so every element works together
- Write an author bio readers actually want to read
- Craft a single, irresistible CTA that gets clicks (not confusion)
- Set up universal links that work across every retailer and device
- Use QR codes and short URLs correctly for paperback readers
- Create bonus content that builds your list and delights your fans
- Build a complete reader funnel from the last page of your book
- Audit and fix the back matter on your existing backlist
- Format your back matter differently for ebook vs. paperback
Everything you need to implement this today
This isn't a course where you take notes and then stare at a blank document wondering where to start. You get done-for-you templates you can fill in and use immediately.
Watch at your own pace. Pause, rewind, implement.
The exact structure and copy prompts for your ebook back matter.
QR codes, short URLs, and formatting — everything adapted for print.
Fill-in-the-blank prompts that result in a bio readers love.
A complete system for organising, testing, and managing your links.
Works for both ebook and paperback. Just slot in your titles.
The complete collection of fill-in-the-blank templates — everything above, packaged together.
Here's what authors said in the live class
"Coral you're such a marketing wizard — your ideas not only pay off, they really do provide reader value. I love it!"
"This was great! I got so many good ideas of things to do. Thank you!"
"Going to update my backlist to have more emojis."
This course is for you if...
- You're an indie or self-published fiction author
- You have at least one book published (ebook or paperback)
- You've been ignoring your back matter because you didn't know where to start
- You want more readers to find your next book — without spending more on ads
- You're building a backlist and want a system that scales
- You want to grow your email list from your existing readers
This course is NOT for you if...
- You write non-fiction (some principles apply, but this is built for fiction and romance authors)
- You're looking for a magic button, not a system you implement yourself
- You're not willing to spend an hour or two updating your books after learning this
Hi, I'm Coral Hart
I'm a bestselling romance author who got obsessed with the business side of publishing — not because spreadsheets are fun (they're not), but because understanding how readers move from one book to the next changed everything for me.
Back matter was one of the first places I saw a real, measurable difference. I fixed my own back matter, watched my series read-through improve, and thought: every author needs to know this.
At PlotProse, I teach indie and self-published fiction authors how to use tools, systems, and smart strategies to build a career around their books. Back Matter Matters is one of those strategies — and it's one of the most direct ROI investments you can make in your backlist.
Questions? Here are the ones I hear most
Does this work for authors with only one book?
Yes — and it's actually the perfect time to implement it. You'll build the right habits from the start, and when your second book comes out, readers from book one are already primed to find it.
I've already published several books. Do I need to update all of them?
Start with your most recent release or your series entry point first. That's where you'll see the fastest impact. The course gives you a system that makes updating your backlist surprisingly quick.
I publish both ebooks and paperbacks. Does this cover both?
Yes — and this is one of the most important things the course covers. Ebook and paperback back matter need to be handled differently. You'll get templates for both.
How long is the course? When do I get access?
You get immediate access to everything as soon as you enrol — two recorded sessions plus the full template pack. The templates are so ready-to-use that many students start implementing before they've finished watching.
Your back matter is already working against you. Let's fix that.
Every book you publish without strong back matter is a missed opportunity. This is a one-time fix with long-term returns.
