Нашел интересную статью (правда, на английском языке): "Creating a book with OpenOffice.org Writer"

(Как сверстать книгу с помощью бесплатного софта OpenOffice.org)

 OpenOffice.org Writer uses templates to store the initial formatting of a document. If you plan to use Writer to write your next book, you will need a good book template, or rather several, for the different components of your book. This article walks you through the process of creating a complex book template that includes front matter (copyright, acknowledgments, and preface), table of contents, chapters, appendixes, and an alphabetical index -- all assembled into a master document.

I'm assuming that you are familiar with the concept of page, paragraph, and character styles and you have a general idea how to define and use them.

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И для тех, кому очень нужно, интересно и вовремя, еще несколько полезных ссылок по теме:

Blank OpenOffice 6x9 book - .sxw file template
Sample Open Office Book
Creating a book template with Writer

P.S.
А мы верстаем в MS Word 2007. Но он совсем не бесплатный. Хотя и намного удобнее.